Okay 5th Region fans, what are your thoughts about the 2015-16 season? Taylor County pretty well plowed its way through the 5th last year (19-0 vs. Region opponents) & from where I sit, the Cardinals seem to be a heavy favorite again this year. Can anyone compete with them?

 

What about Bardstown? They always seem to be in the thick of things. Any of the Hardin County schools?

 

How about top players? We know about Goodin & Sloan, but who else?

 

Let's hear what you have to say.

Won't be as clear cut for TC this year IMO...North Hardin and John Hardin should provide stiff competition. Don't know what or who TC's coach has brought in this year; but if they don't have an inside presence....this could be a lot more interesting than people would think. North Hardin is returning almost their entire line up with an older more experienced Tony Jackson. They gave TC all they wanted in the regionals last year. John Hardin will go as their top 3 players go (Miller, Pearson, and Guillory); but if they don't find someone to provide muscle inside it may be another long year. However, if they get someone to help on the inside they will be pretty good as well.

I would anticipate Bardstown to be right in that mix.

 

As usual, they'll be fast. Santrel Farmer will take over PG full-time and he played very well during the postseason last year, contributing several double-digit scoring games off the bench. He is currently nursing an ankle injury from football, so hopefully that doesn't slow him too much.

 

JuQuintus Mason is a big guard who can get to the hole. Seniors Jarrett Dennison and Voshon Livers are undersized inside but very athletic and can do the dirty work.

The 5th region is all about Taylor County. North Hardin to me is their only challenge.

Bardstown hasn't got anyone over 6'1 and isn't very deep and Central Hardin has lost their shooter.

Taylor county wins it

All of JHs starters stand over 6 feet including 3 new additions that are stil at football that play pretty good. JH will be improved. personally think Miller is 2nd best player in 5th region

For those of us who can't wait until the season, any word on scrimmage times of these top teams?

For those of us who can't wait until the season, any word on scrimmage times of these top teams?

I know JH plays Bulitt East at JH for "Dunking with the Dawgs" that's the Monday or Tuesday of Thanksgiving week but they will be without 4-5 players if football makes it

Thank you!

All of JHs starters stand over 6 feet including 3 new additions that are stil at football that play pretty good. JH will be improved. personally think Miller is 2nd best player in 5th region

 

Matt Miller is a very good player. High quality kid. Always treated me great and always gracious of his opponents. Rarely, if ever, loses his temper.

 

However, Goodin is nationally rated.

Sloan has several offers.

So did Faulkner (before picking NKU).

Jackson has multiple D-I offers.

 

Where is Matt even looking at?

 

D-I offers shouldn't be the end-all, be-all when it comes to judging how good a kid is, but Miller is NOT some hidden gem. He's been a fixture in a solid program for a while.

 

People should/do know who he is by now, which begs the question when it comes to recruiting: How come no one big (at least reportedly) wants him?

Matt Miller is a very good player. High quality kid. Always treated me great and always gracious of his opponents. Rarely, if ever, loses his temper.

 

However, Goodin is nationally rated.

Sloan has several offers.

So did Faulkner (before picking NKU).

Jackson has multiple D-I offers.

 

Where is Matt even looking at?

 

D-I offers shouldn't be the end-all, be-all when it comes to judging how good a kid is, but Miller is NOT some hidden gem. He's been a fixture in a solid program for a while.

 

People should/do know who he is by now, which begs the question when it comes to recruiting: How come no one big (at least reportedly) wants him?

Honest opinon? He's a ball hog. Doesn't move the ball. Even with talent around him he looks to shoot every Possesion forcing ill advised shots. I love Matt. He's a great player but he needs to let some of the other athletes on this team (Pearson, Gulliory Carter) do some work. One thing to look at this season. Also I've heard that WKU EKU Morehead St and Murry at are looking at him but that's sure to rise if he plays team basketball this season

Matt is a great kid and player; he'll be fine this year. Last year he pressed a little due to the youth on the team. They started two freshman two sophomores and one Junior. He had some issues with his grades last season also. He IS in the top 5 in the region and easily could play better than Jackson or Sloan this year. Pearson and Guillory are legit, as most people around the AAU circuit already know. John Hardin will push North and Taylor this season. They'll start slow due to the football team but midseason it'll pick up. Very high ceiling for this team; with not alot of hype surrounding them. That's a recipe for a pretty good season

Matt is a great kid and player; he'll be fine this year. Last year he pressed a little due to the youth on the team. They started two freshman two sophomores and one Junior. He had some issues with his grades last season also. He IS in the top 5 in the region and easily could play better than Jackson or Sloan this year. Pearson and Guillory are legit, as most people around the AAU circuit already know. John Hardin will push North and Taylor this season. They'll start slow due to the football team but midseason it'll pick up. Very high ceiling for this team; with not alot of hype surrounding them. That's a recipe for a pretty good season

 

I think John's NO WORSE than fourth in the 18-team region, behind Taylor (some people's overall No. 1 team in the state), North Hardin (gave Taylor a game last year and returns most everything) and Bardstown (reigning region runner-up, very athletic, always shows up in postseason).

 

John Hardin's fourth and likely because of the unforeseen personnel losses (Witherspoon, Scarborough). That's two key pieces from last season that not many thought both would be gone at this point this year. Even with Miller, Guillory, Pearson (no one else on team is proven, at least stat wise), having Scarborough/Witherspoon back would make it easier to argue JH should be elite (maybe third in the region based on what Bardstown lost).

 

I don't think ANYONE expects JH to struggle this year.

 

Just not gonna be a lot of "hype" based on what they lost and how they finished last year (and, of course, with Taylor coming off one of its best years ever and having two D-I kids with a boatload of offers coming back) and North having one of its most recruited players in a while coming back.

I agree; should be a very interesting year. Witherspoon is an addition by subtraction. Not because of the quality of the kid....(he could be the most misunderstood kid in the program), but because he doesn't have a true position. Because he was so athletic, he had to be on the court. But with him gone, this will force McCurry to get Pearson out of the paint and show his perimeter skills. Kid is primed for a huge season. He looks every bit of the part. They have some interesting transfers.....stay tuned

I agree; should be a very interesting year. Witherspoon is an addition by subtraction. Not because of the quality of the kid....(he could be the most misunderstood kid in the program), but because he doesn't have a true position. Because he was so athletic, he had to be on the court. But with him gone, this will force McCurry to get Pearson out of the paint and show his perimeter skills. Kid is primed for a huge season. He looks every bit of the part. They have some interesting transfers.....stay tuned

 

Talk to me about the transfers.

Big kid from Texas; still playing football though. As is the case with most of the depth of the team. Another guard great defender moved in also. One big transfered in late last year and played some this summer. If they can get some physical play from either of those two, the team is pretty well stocked with athletes. Witherspoon's loss won't be as significant as most think. He only started the last 5 games of the season last year. Should be interesting for JH, with a few breaks they could easily provide stiff competition for the region