List your picks here. Also, a reminder that we have a thread going on the top 10 teams in next year's 13th as well.

 

I'll add mine picks later on, but have them ready as of now and can promise that your posts won't influence who I have where unless it's to do some more research on a player I haven't really heard much on yet.

...

 

 

 

 

Pre-Season 13th Region Player of the Year:

 

Trey Farmer – Clay County, Jr., F

 

 

 

 

My Top 16 Players:

 

1. Matt Barger – Knox Central, Sr., G

 

2. (t) Tyler Miller – Harlan County, Sr., F

 

2. (t) Blake Smith – Clay County, Jr., G

 

2. (t) Peyton Broughton - North Laurel, So., G

 

5. Zac Baxter - South Laurel, Sr., G

 

7. (t) Skylar Griffith – Williamsburg, Sr., F

 

7. (t) Chad Marsee – Knox Central, Jr., C

 

9. (t) Andrew Taylor – Corbin, Fr., G

 

9. (t) James Sasko – Whitley County, Sr., G

 

9. (t) Andrew Griifith – Williamsburg, Jr., F

 

12. (t) Isaiah Collier – Jackson County, Sr., F

 

12. (t) Jeffrey Adams – Knox Central, Sr., G

 

14. Zach Partin – Bell County, Jr., F

 

15. Skylar McFarland - Lynn Camp, Sr., G

 

16. Corey Shelton – Williamsburg, Sr., G

 

 

 

 

 

Pre-Season “Mr. Breakout”:

 

Treyce Spurlock – Harlan County, So., G

 

 

 

My Breakout Players:

 

1. Bryson Asher - North Laurel, So., C

 

2. Zack Maguet – Corbin, So., G

 

3. (t) Casey Crisologo – Whitley County, Jr., G

 

3. (t) Luke Woods – Whitley County, Jr., G

 

5. Zach Lawson – Jackson County, Sr., G

 

6. (t) Ryan House – Clay County, Sr., G

 

6. (t) Cody Carmicheal - Harlan County, So., G

 

6. (t) Donovan Napier – Bell County, Sr., G

 

6. (t) Jared Grubb - South Laurel, So., G

 

6. (t) Levi Barton – Whitley County, Sr., G

 

11. Caleb Hogue - Harlan Independent, Jr., G

 

12. Brandon Hale – Middlesboro, Sr., G

 

13. Corey Johnson – Whitley County, Fr., G

 

14. Brandon Gray – Barbourville, Sr., G

 

15. Tanner Parks – Harlan Independent, So. G

 

16. Cody Collett – Pineville, Sr., G

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Top 16 players are rated on a number of factors, primarily to include:

 

- Individual ability

- Potential to keep improving

- How their team would do if they were replaced with an “average” player***

- How well they would be expected to do on a different team***

- Overall athleticism

- Games which translate to higher levels

(e.g., Could they play in the 7th or 11th? What type of college program will likely show interest???)

 

 

***PAR/WAR/WS advanced stats; just based on rough estimations where:

P= Points, W=Wins, AR = Above Replacement, & WS = Win Shares

 

Obviously, I didn’t go too nuts with these numbers and just tried to eyeball based on available averages, points scored against top teams in big games, my conversations with those around the region whose opinion on the game I respect, and my own personal observations. Basically, this is just a rough estimate on how movement of a given player from one top, contending team to another would likely affect outcomes.

 

 

 

 

My Top 16 Breakout Players Were Based On:

 

- Probability of showing significant movement in the rankings over the course of the season

- Relevance of the name to the average casual fan in the region

- Youth (# of years left to improve)

 

 

 

 

To Conclude:

 

Just wanted to say that I’m sure I left out some deserving players, so feel free to mention anyone you’d like to nominate and give your reasons why. If you think I’m too high or too low on a player, feel free to do the same as well, trust me, I won’t mind at all. Healthy debate is good. I’ve left plenty of ties, so feel free to help break them.

 

Finally, just because I’ve ranked a player near the top of the “breakout” category (or anywhere in it even) does not mean that I don’t think that they could be one of the 16 or so best talents in the region, just that I think of them more as a “breakout” player with a bright future ahead of them and/or as a kid who doesn’t get the kind of recognition that maybe they deserve as opposed to being a name that most in the region are familiar with.

Edited June 21, 201412 yr by JokersWild24

Also, just a note, I finally got some information on some of the Whitley County kids. Seems like they have a really balanced scoring attack and have been playing together for awhile now.

Anyone out there agree or disagree with any of these rankings?

 

Looking back, I might bump Taylor up into the tier where he'd be tied for #7. In terms of skill, I think he's there, I just don't know if he's physically going to be ready to make the kind of impact he will eventually be making by the end of next season.

 

The loss of Hill to LCA looks like it might have hurt Corbin more than some realize.

Just wanted to add to this, and can't believe I left him out, but I think Wes Wolfe of Clay County should be in the discussion for one of the top 15 or so players in the region.

Anyone out there agree or disagree with any of these rankings?

 

Looking back, I might bump Taylor up into the tier where he'd be tied for #7. In terms of skill, I think he's there, I just don't know if he's physically going to be ready to make the kind of impact he will eventually be making by the end of next season.

 

The loss of Hill to LCA looks like it might have hurt Corbin more than some realize.

 

I wonder with Calipari leaving LCA if Hill may come back to Corbin. I heard that he was buddies with Brad from AAU and that was possibly the reason he transferred to LCA to begin with.

 

I'm not sure if there were any bridges burned when he left or not.

I wonder with Calipari leaving LCA if Hill may come back to Corbin. I heard that he was buddies with Brad from AAU and that was possibly the reason he transferred to LCA to begin with.

 

I'm not sure if there were any bridges burned when he left or not.

 

 

That would definitely be a huge boost for the Hounds.

Don't see Freshman-Bayley Rice from North Laurel on the list. Def think he needs to be included as he is ranked nationally and on jrfuture150 they have him listed as 1 in ky.

I'm a little perplexed by Farmer as POY. I guess I haven't seen enough of his high school games to say for sure.

 

I also haven't seen the big kid from N Laurel. Is he that good?

 

I don't know about Broughton being ranked nationally but I really like his game. Well-rounded, good height for a guard and plays very intelligently. By the far the highest ceiling of any kid on that list.

I'm a little perplexed by Farmer as POY. I guess I haven't seen enough of his high school games to say for sure.

 

I also haven't seen the big kid from N Laurel. Is he that good?

 

I don't know about Broughton being ranked nationally but I really like his game. Well-rounded, good height for a guard and plays very intelligently. By the far the highest ceiling of any kid on that list.

 

 

If you are going to replace Farmer there, I'm not really sure who you do it with. He was MVP of the Regional Tournament and had a really nice showing at Rupp. All of this after a year off from basketball during his freshman season. Kid's shot is butter. When he puts it up, you feel like it's going in.

I'm a little perplexed by Farmer as POY. I guess I haven't seen enough of his high school games to say for sure.

 

I also haven't seen the big kid from N Laurel. Is he that good?

 

I don't know about Broughton being ranked nationally but I really like his game. Well-rounded, good height for a guard and plays very intelligently. By the far the highest ceiling of any kid on that list.

 

Rice is going to be a good player for North Laurel, but I he doubt that he will be a top 15 type player this year. He is going to be the the third to fourth option on North Laurel and if he continues to improve, should be a top 10 player in a year or two.

It really doesn't matter what opt he is. I would hope that the 13th Region doesn't base their rankings totally on point percentage and from what u

Ive seen they don't. I believe Rice will be on the list and he will continue to improve.

 

I disagree with Farmer being POY. Yes, he played well down in the 13th Region Tournament and state. At this point I'd say it's up for grabs.

It really doesn't matter what opt he is. I would hope that the 13th Region doesn't base their rankings totally on point percentage and from what u

Ive seen they don't. I believe Rice will be on the list and he will continue to improve.

 

I disagree with Farmer being POY. Yes, he played well down in the 13th Region Tournament and state. At this point I'd say it's up for grabs.

 

 

Definitely up for grabs. I'm not sure if there's a better pick than reigning 13th Region MVP and a kid who dropped 20+ on the State Champs like he did though.

 

Broughton, Barger, Miller, and even Smith, Baxter, Griffith and Marsee are there, but if you put a gun to my head today, he's my pick. Reasonable minds can differ and that's what the site is all about, so anyone making their case for another player is not only welcomed, it's encouraged.

Rice won't be in the top 20, at least not to start the year. He's not done anything yet in varsity competition.

I don't think Farmer will be No. 1. He played well at the end, but not very consistent through much of the season.

Baxter, Barger, Broughton, Smith and Marsee will probably be the top five.

Rice won't be in the top 20, at least not to start the year. He's not done anything yet in varsity competition.

I don't think Farmer will be No. 1. He played well at the end, but not very consistent through much of the season.

Baxter, Barger, Broughton, Smith and Marsee will probably be the top five.

 

I think a big part of Farmer's coming on late was his getting conditioning and game legs under him. Remember, he sat out his freshman year. With the rankings you gave, I'd add Miller in there and say that any of those names could be #1 on a given day.

 

Blake Smith is a big sleeper and the best kid who hasn't "felt the love" in polls so far, but put him in the 2 spot because of how much he'll probably have to play on the ball this year with McDaniel gone on to UK.

 

Tyler Miller could be #1 if he'd stayed at Harlan County last year and is the best overall package if I'm looking at high school and beyond in terms of what he can bring.