I think Austin Johnson from Grant County should be on the list. Best PG in the region; unselfish, great passer, great athlete, and can shut down any offensive player in the state. Anyone who saw them play Holmes this summer knows that. Austin played soccer this fall for the first time and came 1 goal shy of tying the school record for most goals in a career. Freak athlete. Then Adkins, who was already the best penetrator in the 8th, improved his jump shot dramatically over the summer and should average 20+ a night. Jordan Saylor is one of the most athletic basketball players I have seen play. Throws it down with authority and has a great jump shot for a big man. The real surprise this year should be Cameron Burk. 6'4, 190 pounds. Extremely athletic and will control the boards on both sides for the Braves. This team is loaded with Seniors who have played together since the 2nd grade and have a passion for the game and a camaraderie that you will be hard pressed to match anywhere in the state. The 32nd district will represent at Rupp this year.

I think Austin Johnson from Grant County should be on the list. Best PG in the region; unselfish, great passer, great athlete, and can shut down any offensive player in the state. Anyone who saw them play Holmes this summer knows that. Austin played soccer this fall for the first time and came 1 goal shy of tying the school record for most goals in a career. Freak athlete. Then Adkins, who was already the best penetrator in the 8th, improved his jump shot dramatically over the summer and should average 20+ a night. Jordan Saylor is one of the most athletic basketball players I have seen play. Throws it down with authority and has a great jump shot for a big man. The real surprise this year should be Cameron Burk. 6'4, 190 pounds. Extremely athletic and will control the boards on both sides for the Braves. This team is loaded with Seniors who have played together since the 2nd grade and have a passion for the game and a camaraderie that you will be hard pressed to match anywhere in the state. The 32nd district will represent at Rupp this year.

 

Agree with you on the Johnson kid. He is also a strong defender and there is little doubt here that he is Grant's best player. Unfortunately I don't know if Grant Co. will play enough defense to win enough games. That's why they are ranked 8th.

Agree with you on the Johnson kid. He is also a strong defender and there is little doubt here that he is Grant's best player. Unfortunately I don't know if Grant Co. will play enough defense to win enough games. That's why they are ranked 8th.

 

Curious as to how you go on and defend the Grant County girls program but don't do the same for the boys? Do you not think that highly of the current roster/staff on the boys side that you do the girls?

 

I saw GC play this summer and they looked impressive from what I saw. If Austin Johnson is indeed that high up in your opinion, that would give Grant 3 top players in the region and in the 8th that should be plenty to win the region.

Agree with you on the Johnson kid. He is also a strong defender and there is little doubt here that he is Grant's best player. Unfortunately I don't know if Grant Co. will play enough defense to win enough games. That's why they are ranked 8th.

 

I respectfully disagree with you on Grant as a defensive unit as a whole. They will rotate three 6'4 players down low with Burk and Schneider being as tough as anyone in the region and Saylor who, in my opinion, is the best shot blocker in the region. Johnson will shut down the opposing best player and Adkins is solid defensively for being a prolific scorer and Rose who might start or come off the bench will shut down the opposing teams 2nd best player. For any team to beat Grant they will have to get 70+ and I just do not see that happening very often.

Curious as to how you go on and defend the Grant County girls program but don't do the same for the boys? Do you not think that highly of the current roster/staff on the boys side that you do the girls?

 

I saw GC play this summer and they looked impressive from what I saw. If Austin Johnson is indeed that high up in your opinion, that would give Grant 3 top players in the region and in the 8th that should be plenty to win the region.

 

Didn't know that I was a fan of the girls program. Just because I think Austin Johnson should be in the top 10 doesn't mean that I agree with the other 2 that are. I didn't see Grant any this summer as my child plays for another team. I am only going on what I saw last season. According to the stats from last season, Grant Co. gave up the most amount of points of any team in the 8th region. That is my basis for my response. Personally, I felt that Austin Johnson should have won District Tourney MVP last year. Without him, Grant is a different team which would be the case for any team and their relationship with their point guard.

Also realized a typo in my initial response, Grant is ranked 5th (not 8th) which is where I think they belong. Just trying to balance out because there were a bunch of people saying they should be higher. I also believe any of the top 7 teams can win the region. Its one of the most wide open tournaments in the state. Should be exciting!

Shelby Co will be really good this year after returning every single player except 1. That 1 player they lost was not a stud but he was the leader of the team. They have a lot of size but don't really have any outside scoring. I look for them to beat teams up in the paint. They also have a great coach in Jason Couch who coached at Eastern a few years ago and took them to the state tourney. Collins lost their former preseason player of the year in Ralphie Stone. This will probably be somewhat of a rebuilding year for Collins.

Also realized a typo in my initial response' date=' Grant is ranked 5th (not 8th) which is where I think they belong. Just trying to balance out because there were a bunch of people saying they should be higher. I also believe any of the top 7 teams can win the region. Its one of the most wide open tournaments in the state. Should be exciting![/quote']

 

You think Grant should be 8th?

Is Malik Manica out for the year?

5th

Is Malik Manica out for the year?

 

I've heard that he could be but I don't know for sure. Without him I don't know who Shelby County has that could play point guard. They would still be pretty good without him but I really don't think they can win the region if he is out.

Shelby Co will be really good this year after returning every single player except 1. That 1 player they lost was not a stud but he was the leader of the team. They have a lot of size but don't really have any outside scoring. I look for them to beat teams up in the paint. They also have a great coach in Jason Couch who coached at Eastern a few years ago and took them to the state tourney. Collins lost their former preseason player of the year in Ralphie Stone. This will probably be somewhat of a rebuilding year for Collins.

 

I agree. Shelby will be the best in the 30th and one of the best in the region. They have a lot of talent to score inside but not a whole lot of shooting and really only one ball handler. Couch is a great coach and should have his team win a lot of games this year. Collins will probably be down a bit after 3 straight 20-win seasons but should still have a decent team. Kidwell is a great guard and Cochran can shoot but they don't have any inside play at all.

By seasons end Matt Mullins wil be a top 10 player. He really opened my eye in the district finals vs Grant. Old School game, a bear on the boards.

 

I know SK will have a decent big man coming up Freshman Zack Kelch I believe he is close to 6'6 maybe taller.

I know SK will have a decent big man coming up Freshman Zack Kelch I believe he is close to 6'6 maybe taller.

 

Any relation to Jason?

Any relation to Jason?

 

I think is dad is Mark.