1. Andre is an excellent coach.

 

2. The Travelers had very good talent the first years after the move to Kentucky. While there were no McDonald's All-Americans on the roster, the talent was very good, as was the depth. That was a key factor.

 

3. Also, those teams were full of great shooters, which overcomes some of the deficiencies in size, athleticism, etc.

 

4. The out-of-state players on the first roster (Zach McCormick, Jeff Thomas, Rob Marberry) were very good. Wouldn't have made Peach Jam without them. Snider was probably the only KY player from that class that would have been an asset to the Travelers in 2013 (counting DeAngelo Russell as a FL player since he played at Montverde).

 

5. In similar states (Arkansas, Oklahoma, Minnesota, for example), the vast majority of the talent plays for one program (Wings, Athletes First, Pulley) in most years. Which is why those teams qualify for Peach Jam more often than not. Pulley has been to Peach Jam every year since its inception. With very exceptions, the best players in Minnesota always play for that program.

 

6. It is unfortunate that some of Kentucky's better players have chosen to compete outside of the EYBL. There is no comparing it to any other league in youth basketball. Miles and miles ahead of any other league. It's not for everybody, but it's a wasted opportunity for some players.

 

7. There may be some down years in KY, but overall, the talent level is good enough to compete successfully in the EYBL most years.

 

8. Talent goes in cycle in most cases, even in bigger cities. I can remember a year or two where none of the New York teams qualified for Peach Jam, and teams from Seattle and Oklahoma were title contenders.

My question is why don't the Travelers get the best players in the state? Do they have tryouts or invites or are they pre picked before hand.

 

This is a great question. Who has some insight to this question? How do the Travelers get their kids? What kids have the Travelers gone after that have turned them down?

4. The out-of-state players on the first roster (Zach McCormick, Jeff Thomas, Rob Marberry) were very good. Wouldn't have made Peach Jam without them. Snider was probably the only KY player from that class that would have been an asset to the Travelers in 2013 (counting DeAngelo Russell as a FL player since he played at Montverde).

 

Sorry but Kelan Martin, Jordan Green, Christian Cunningham, Trey Grundy, etc. would all have helped tremendously. Just like Evan Hall, Aric Holman, Eli Pepper, etc. would have helped last year.

This is a great question. Who has some insight to this question? How do the Travelers get their kids? What kids have the Travelers gone after that have turned them down?

 

They don't do tryouts. They missed on Colton Elkins, Eli Wright and Quentin Goodin this year. Not sure beyond that. They had Quentin and Tray Hollowell at one point.

They don't do tryouts. They missed on Colton Elkins, Eli Wright and Quentin Goodin this year. Not sure beyond that. They had Quentin and Tray Hollowell at one point.

 

Interesting. Thanks for the info.

From the casual eye, I feel we have enough talent in the state with the guard and wing positions. I personally feel that the bigger issue is the lack of quality big men or how few there are to fight over with other programs. The other obstacle we have is there are not any premiere academies or prep schools that get a flood of foreign players who come to the US to develop their skills, but already are 6'9 or taller when they arrive. It is not a coincidence that the kids who happen to make their way over to the states at these basketball factory academic institutions are seem to be tall. The EYBL teams in states with these schools harvest players from them.

Agree on Kelan Martin. Very good player. Inadvertently left him off the list. If I remember correctly, he played in Indiana?

 

The rest would not have helped, although Cunningham might have provided some quality depth behind Beverly.

 

On the wing, Green would not have played ahead of Jeff Thomas, Camron Justice, James Bolden, or Zach McCormick.

 

In the post, Grundy would not have played ahead of Jackson Davis, Rob Marberry, Justin Johnson, or Ray Spalding.

So much for the topic for which the thread was started.....Thanks for all the insight on who some of the big match ups may be for the weekend.

Agree on Kelan Martin. Very good player. Inadvertently left him off the list. If I remember correctly, he played in Indiana?

 

The rest would not have helped, although Cunningham might have provided some quality depth behind Beverly.

 

On the wing, Green would not have played ahead of Jeff Thomas, Camron Justice, James Bolden, or Zach McCormick.

 

In the post, Grundy would not have played ahead of Jackson Davis, Rob Marberry, Justin Johnson, or Ray Spalding.

 

Kelan did play for Indiana Elite.

 

I'm a huge Braxton fan, but Christen Cunningham would have helped for sure.

 

I'll take Green over Jeff Thomas and Zach McCormick.

 

I'll take Grundy over Rob Marberry.

 

Having said that, these are only my opinions and not intended to slight anyone.

What some may be forgetting is that sometimes the best 10 players do not gel together to make the best team. Hard to keep everyone happy in that situation and sometimes the chemistry just ain't there. You put the top ten players from any state together on a team and there might not be enough minutes or balls to go around. Teams need role players and that is sometimes an understandably hard adjustment for kids (and parents) to make.

Agree on Kelan Martin. Very good player. Inadvertently left him off the list. If I remember correctly, he played in Indiana?

 

The rest would not have helped, although Cunningham might have provided some quality depth behind Beverly.

 

On the wing, Green would not have played ahead of Jeff Thomas, Camron Justice, James Bolden, or Zach McCormick.

 

In the post, Grundy would not have played ahead of Jackson Davis, Rob Marberry, Justin Johnson, or Ray Spalding.

 

Come on man, really?

 

You get Snider, Green, Grundy and Cunningham and you probably get Martin and Russell as well. Russell wanted to play in the EYBL and chances are had he been able to play with his Magic team in the EYBL he would have.

What some may be forgetting is that sometimes the best 10 players do not gel together to make the best team. Hard to keep everyone happy in that situation and sometimes the chemistry just ain't there. You put the top ten players from any state together on a team and there might not be enough minutes or balls to go around. Teams need role players and that is sometimes an understandably hard adjustment for kids (and parents) to make.

 

I agree unless you can be like Coach Cal and convince them they can or will win a national championship and everyone get to the next level. It is much harder at the HS Elite travel team level. Many top HS kids in KY play the entire game during the high school ball season and have the responsibility to score at will for their team. They have to make huge sacrifices and many times do not understand that playing for the right team in front of an abundance of college coaches does not require you to play 32 minutes or score 25 points/game. You can gain major interest in a two minute span of game time with the right performance and the right people watching during that time. It happens every Live period.

So much for the topic for which the thread was started.....Thanks for all the insight on who some of the big match ups may be for the weekend.

The peeing contest will never end will it.

 

There is no hope in getting this thread back to the original topic, not a chance.

Did anyone play last night besides TBC? I saw they won their first game of the weekend

Hoop Dreams Orange 17u 1-1

Hoop Dreams Orange 16u 1-1

Hoop Dreams Orange 2-0

 

All finish pool play tomorrow.