IMO I don't see how Wayne cannot be seen as the favorite. Basically everyone back, minus Perkins who I think can be replaced, and the defending champs. Lots of experience and they nearly ran the table last year. As for Boyle, they never even came close to beating Lincoln in three games. Even with the new Bell kid I would simply call it a push at the point guard position vs Taylor. But I haven't seen too much of Bell to know if he is that much better than Taylor.

IMO I don't see how Wayne cannot be seen as the favorite. Basically everyone back, minus Perkins who I think can be replaced, and the defending champs. Lots of experience and they nearly ran the table last year. As for Boyle, they never even came close to beating Lincoln in three games. Even with the new Bell kid I would simply call it a push at the point guard position vs Taylor. But I haven't seen too much of Bell to know if he is that much better than Taylor.

 

Boyle lost by 2 points to Lincoln in the first game that they played.

 

Wayne County is the favorite but it is going to be much tougher for then to repeat than first thought.

Bell is widely considered a top 10 player in the state for class of 2015. Add him with Tyler and Elkins inside that is a deadly trio. People in the 12th region don't realize how good Bell is. They will see soon enough. Can't wait to see him and Timmy Taylor go at it. Two of the best PG in the state.

Bell is definitely good. He would be a nice addition for any team. Top 10, not sure. Would he be regarded so highly had he played for Boyle instead of in a major metropolitan area? Hagen Tyler isn't in most top 20's - which is absurd - so I think that probably answers that question.

 

At the end of the day though, chemistry is what it's all about. Chemistry is the single biggest reason Lincoln is able to do what they do. A team can add talent and it end up being subtraction by addition. Look no further than AAU ball and you'll see that. I know AAU isn't the same as high school, but the thing that can be learned is that adding talent doesn't always make a team better. Additionally, the easiest thing to blend in is a post player and the hardest is a guard, especially a PG.

 

Boyle added a PG and SW added a PG and a center. On paper, either one of those two teams has the players to win the region. But let's not forget that both are about to start big chemistry experiments. It could go either way for those two. Wayne, on the other hand, is a known commodity. They have a group of boys that have played together for 7-8 years. As was stated earlier, no way anyone other than Wayne should be the pre-season favorite. They ended last year as the #6 team in the state and have all of their major pieces back.

Bell is definitely good. He would be a nice addition for any team. Top 10, not sure. Would he be regarded so highly had he played for Boyle instead of in a major metropolitan area? Hagen Tyler isn't in most top 20's - which is absurd - so I think that probably answers that question.

 

At the end of the day though, chemistry is what it's all about. Chemistry is the single biggest reason Lincoln is able to do what they do. A team can add talent and it end up being subtraction by addition. Look no further than AAU ball and you'll see that. I know AAU isn't the same as high school, but the thing that can be learned is that adding talent doesn't always make a team better. Additionally, the easiest thing to blend in is a post player and the hardest is a guard, especially a PG.

 

Boyle added a PG and SW added a PG and a center. On paper, either one of those two teams has the players to win the region. But let's not forget that both are about to start big chemistry experiments. It could go either way for those two. Wayne, on the other hand, is a known commodity. They have a group of boys that have played together for 7-8 years. As was stated earlier, no way anyone other than Wayne should be the pre-season favorite. They ended last year as the #6 team in the state and have all of their major pieces back.

 

 

Except their PG. A position that you said is harder to blend in than any other. I like how Wayne has to blend in a new PG but they'll be fine and Boyle has to blend in a PG who most say is one of the top 20 players in the state but chemistry will be an issue.

 

All this coming from people who haven't seen Bell play and also want to discount the chemistry he already has with Tyler and Elkins.

Wayne County didn't exactly set the world on fire in Rupp last season either, and I think that hurts their ranking.

I will take Boyle and Lincoln over Wayne.

I think Lincoln is going to be very dangerous.

From what I've seen it's going to be a very strong 12th region.

 

Southwestern

Wayne

Boyle

Lincoln

 

Top 4. But they only represent two districts so there's two losers coming into the regional tournament..

 

SW has added Gover and Adeymo (sp) lost Edwards. Will that be enough for them to surpass Wayne?

 

Certainly wouldn't be surprised to see the exact final four as last year. Although there's more talent and capable teams across the board this yr that could say otherwise.

 

Gonna be an exciting year in the 12th.

 

Few notable SR's:

Sean Ross SR (Pulaski), Adam Isaacs SR (SW), Dylan Gaskins SR (SW)

 

** It's "Trey Blevins" not Trevor Blevins as well **

 

AS i write/read this thread there's the realization of the young/veteran talent across the board this yr.

 

 

He was the player that impressed me from Wayne Co when I watched them at MoCo last year.

I bet against Wayne most of the year last year only to be proven wrong. That group of kids just wins. That same group of kids has done nothing but win for years. Travel ball, then middle school state tourney, and now 2 straight regional championships. They are definitely a team where the sum is greater than the individual parts.

 

Granted, they haven't fared well at state the past couple of years, but they've gotten there both times - and they did so easily this past year as they weren't seriously challenged in the 12th region tourney. And there's also the fact that they were 31-1 and ranked 6th in the state heading to Rupp. Given that they lost only one starter and return their 3 headed monster and IMO their 4 best players (including their PG in Blevins), any thought that Wayne shouldn't be favored is based on a lot if "if's." Wayne, on the other hand, is a proven, known commodity.

Wayne is the favorite.

 

That being said don't expect me to drink the Wayne kool-aid this year. I don't think they will repeat.

I didn't see Wayne this summer and I know they're good. Southwestern was impressive when I saw them at the KBA.

Wayne County is the favorite but it is going to be much tougher for then to repeat than first thought.

 

I enjoyed following the 12th from a distance last year (meaning you & others know a lot more about it than I do), but this is how I would forecast the Region for 2014-15.