I understand the tendency for some to place Elijah Pittman high on their list, and there's no doubt that as a high school player his athletic abilities were advanced and unlimited, and his contributions as a Bulldog were invaluable and memorable.

 

Even when playing limited minutes early in his high school career he showed a certain confidence and body development that screamed that one day he'd be in the pros.

 

I followed his career closely with high hopes of seeing big things happen.

 

With that said, so very often I was frustrated while watching him play seeing him execute poor choices where his basketball I.Q. was severely lacking having him jack up 3 attempts often times during points of a game where the circumstances didn't require it, and at times when it would've been highly discouraged, and where his length was much more needed closer to the basket.

 

I'd often times give him a pass and think that he was still young and had time to come around with all of that and learn, but at the same time there were so many high school players around him with lesser abilities, but still grasping a better understanding.

 

Although different positions and it may sound extreme to say, but using someone like Ruthsatz in comparison who was extremely talented, smart, and making everyone around him a better player, he for me was the complete package, and I'd take him all day over Pittman.

 

Even when keeping an eye on Pittman while he was attracting notice as a Marshall player, I still saw too often the same type of poor choices demonstrated, and was disappointed that by that time he still hadn't shaken all of that.

 

Perhaps now with his pro experience overseas he has developed with regard to all of that, but not having the chance to see him play, I cannot say.

 

I certainly hope that he has, and I'm still not giving up hope that one day he can find his way to the NBA where originally I felt he was destined to be. He's at that sweet spot age wise where he's still young enough, but with maturity to make an impact

Certainly entitled to your opinion. But SK underestimated Stegy in the 98 regional to their demise. As I said earlier, he was better than people thought. As a senior, he was a very good player.

 

96 Highlands team may have been more talented. 97 team was the best of the three because of Glazier. My argument is that the 98 team belongs in the top five.

 

I will grant your point on coaching. But, I think depth is way overrated. It's a 32 minute game played by 17 year old kids. How many subs do you need. Smith never seemed to need a breather...

 

I should have said 97 beats 98 by 10. Sorry about that.

 

As to depth, foul trouble plays into that as well.

I think Tony Campbell from Holy Cross deserves a mention. Defensively, he blocked or disrupted virtually all shots around the rim. Offensively, he had great touch around the rim with solid range. Not a great athlete, but he was so big and long that he put up multiple triple doubles his senior year.

I played with all 3 of them. You are giving Randy too much credit on the hardwood. The 96 team beats 97 by 10. Smith was the best player in the last 20 years. He would have owned Pittman. However, Hensley was a better coach than Messmer and the 09 Holmes team was much deeper.

 

I agree with. Derek Smith was the worst match up for any team in the last 20 years.

If I'm listing top 5 players of last 20 years

 

In no order

 

Derek Smith

Justin Dolleman

Elijah Pittman

Joe Harney

Ricardo Johnson

I think Tony Campbell from Holy Cross deserves a mention. Defensively, he blocked or disrupted virtually all shots around the rim. Offensively, he had great touch around the rim with solid range. Not a great athlete, but he was so big and long that he put up multiple triple doubles his senior year.

 

Campbell also didn't play in the region when there were other bigs to match up with him.

 

He was good but his numbers were a product of simply being bigger than everyone else...IMO, of course.

Campbell also didn't play in the region when there were other bigs to match up with him.

 

He was good but his numbers were a product of simply being bigger than everyone else...IMO, of course.

If I remember correctly, there were several quality bigs while Campbell was at Holy Cross.

 

Holmes - Chames, Hill, Englemon

Covcath - Tobler

NewCath - McDonald, Schulte

Cooper - Manniacci

 

While I do not think Campbell is top 5 of the last 20 years, to say there were no bigs to match up with him is not accurate. Tobler (UC walk-on), McDonald (NKU), and Schulte (USC Upstate) all play DI while Manniacci (Lincoln Memorial) played a year at a high DII.

Campbell also didn't play in the region when there were other bigs to match up with him.

 

He was good but his numbers were a product of simply being bigger than everyone else...IMO, of course.

 

Couldn't you make the same point about every player? Your Holmes guys for example: Bolden played in a region where no one was as quick as him. Ricardo Johnson played in a region in which he was the only 6'4 guard.

Couldn't you make the same point about every player? Your Holmes guys for example: Bolden played in a region where no one was as quick as him. Ricardo Johnson played in a region in which he was the only 6'4 guard.

 

Campbell's only competition was Schulte and McDonald from Newcath and his senior year those two held him to two of his lowest outputs of the year. I think one game he had maybe 6 points, 9 rebounds and another 8 pts, 6 blocks.

 

When Pittman and R. Johnson were seniors, the region was loaded with quality, LEGIT "big men" and size.

 

Just to name a few:

 

6'4 McDaniel/6'5 Collins/6'3 Luther/6'3 Foster- Newport

6'6 Hodges/6'7 Robinson- Conner

6'6 Thelen/6'4 Wellbrock- Covcath

6'6 Stansberry- Dixie

6'7 Stauffer- Ryle

6'6 Earls/6'5 Montgomery/6'5 McQueary/6'4 T Brown/6'3 Cotton- Boone Co (Want to say they had another 6'8 kid too...Crabtree?)

6'7 Geisler- Newcath

6'6 Cheatum- Lloyd

6'6 Grubbs-Highlands

 

I believe Beechwood also had a 6'6-6'7 kid...literally every team in the region had atleast one big that could match up with Campbell. I don't think you can say that about Tony his senior year. I wouldn't consider kids like Hill/Chames/or Englemon big men. They played in the post because they were the only 6'5 kids Holmes had and in Englemon's case, he was one of the strongest kids in the region at 6'3.

 

I'm not trying to take away anything from Campbell...he has had a decent career so far at OU. I just don't think he's even in the conversation for a thread like this and IMO his numbers were inflated because of being bigger than everyone outside of one or two teams.

2009 Boone County (regional runner up) was a pretty good team. 26-5 record, gave state champ Holmes one of its only defeats that year, and lost by only a point or so in the regional championship to them. Actually had a chance to beat them but missed a potential game winning bunny layup with 3 seconds left. Not sure I would put any of Boone's players from that team in "all-time" 9th-region players, but they played great team basketball.

Couldn't you make the same point about every player? Your Holmes guys for example: Bolden played in a region where no one was as quick as him. Ricardo Johnson played in a region in which he was the only 6'4 guard.

 

I may be wrong but I thought Ricardo's twin brother Jeremiah was also on that team, in which case I assume there was more than one 6'4" guard in the region.

I may be wrong but I thought Ricardo's twin brother Jeremiah was also on that team, in which case I assume there was more than one 6'4" guard in the region.

 

Jeremiah. However, and Walter can correct me, I think he was a 3.

Jeremiah. However, and Walter can correct me, I think he was a 3.

 

JJ had a better outside shot and had a little more bounce but wasn't as versatile with the ball as Ric. JJ could beat you off the dribble and get to the rack but didn't have the pull up and mid range game that Ric had.

You can't leav Michael Zimmerman of the NewCath list.

Looking at that roster, I have a hard time believing the 14 team was better than the 04 team. I'm sure my current CCH guys won't like that comment but man that 04 team was loaded top to bottom.

 

I'm sure others will disagree, but I would probably take both the 2002 & 2004 Cov Cath teams over the 2014 state championship team. Of course, the '14 team has one thing that neither of the other two have, which is all that matters.