So how exactly does your ranking service work? You have two players ranked above Coopers best player. CCH also has a d2 player. Then they have a D1 football player that's top 10 in the region and we can't forget about young Michael Mayer top 3 sophomore in the state, but yet your ranking service has Cooper as the favorite??

 

They have better overall depth where Cov Cath first couple are better. I was not aware Micheal Mayer was top 3 in the state in the 2020 class that is a real real stretch. Love Coopers Chemistry and ability to know their roles. Where kids are ranked do not correlate to wins and losses, many times teams like Xavier - Louisville do not have the best talent in tourney but win huge games because players roles are defined.

Cooper is the favorite in the ninth.....Sully has been able to add a lot of nice pieces with transfers their overall depth sets them apart from Covington Catholic

 

I'm not sure I agree with any part of this statement. I do think Cooper has improved their talent level through transfers (Houston is the only meaningful add IMO) and development (sounds like Baker could step up), and they will challenge Cov Cath this year - due as much to their culture and toughness as their talent.

 

That said - Cov Cath should be the favorite in the 9th and I see few if any teams in the state that can match their 1-12 player talent.

Both are quality teams with significant depth. I would say Cov Cath has more depth, but how is it utilized. I mean they had more depth than anyone last year, but only played six guys in the regional finals negating the supposed "depth". Also to say Michael Mayer is the top sophomore in the state is a stretch. Nice player, but according to what recruiting or ranking service is that?

 

Prep hoops

Prep hoops

 

Michael Mayer is due for a breakout year - more upside than the junior bigs and IMO his older brother. The only question for me is how quickly the Mayers/Lenihan transition from football and where their skill sets pick up. It may take time for those guys to get their legs underneath them, especially given they are primed for a state championship playoff run.

Prep hoops

 

Checked out Prep Hoops today. Currently Michael is ranked 3rd in his class behind Powell of Trinity and Taylor of St. X. I agree with Muskie, Mayer is a nice player, but #3 is a stretch. No matter though, the combination of he, Fleek, Thelan, and Davin fighting for the 5th starter spot along with Lenihan, Nowak & others is a luxury if they are used. If not their talent is wasted.

Checked out Prep Hoops today. Currently Michael is ranked 3rd in his class behind Powell of Trinity and Taylor of St. X. I agree with Muskie, Mayer is a nice player, but #3 is a stretch. No matter though, the combination of he, Fleek, Thelan, and Davin fighting for the 5th starter spot along with Lenihan, Nowak & others is a luxury if they are used. If not their talent is wasted.

Not a stretch at all imo. With his size, strength, motor, athletic ability, and his ability to knock down the mid range jump shot he has the most upside in the 2020 class in nky for sure

Covington Catholic will start Frederick, Ruthsatz, Davin, Thelen, Walter......When AJ Mayer comes back he will be the four as a starter or six man depending how deep the run is. AJ can play the four or five as can the athletic Thelen who they seem to be super high on. That leaves Micheal Mayer, Deere, Nowak battling for the seventh, eight man spot. With their guards being three year starters they will not have to play more than eight deep. Will be interesting.

Since this is top 10 in the region...how is it that Holmes has fallen off so far since their run in the early part of the 2000s? Booher left and then the wheels fell off.

I would think starters for CCH would be Ruthsatz, Fredrick, Walter, AJ Mayer, the fifth spot could be any of the following:

1-Michael Mayer-good size, and last years sixth man at the end of the season (in a six man rotation)

2-Lenihan-started at point and played really really well last year while Ruthsatz was hurt. Sometimes they forget about him, but he is a very good guard.

3-Nowak-brings energy and defense to the lineup. Started several games last year while another player was hurt.

4-Thelen-tall and athletic, but hasn't been able to be the player the coaches expected him to be yet. He is now a junior and I think he breaks out this season

5-Davin-missed all last season. He will need to prove himself as a starter to take the fifth starting spot. He may be doing that at practice, but I have yet to see him play meaningful varsity minutes yet due to injury.

6-Fleek-I got to see him play some over the summer. He is better than I thought he was. If he gets a serious shot at varsity I think he could be a contributor for sure.

7-Deere-I've heard his name being thrown around but don't know much about him. A lot of people say he is really good. Deere, like Fleek, and Davin I believe have not played enough varsity minutes to really make a call on yet. I believe if the rotation is deep enough for them to get a descent amount of varsity minutes they will all play well.

 

The key will be the rotation. How many players are going to get minutes? 6-8? Ruthsatz, Fredrick, and Walter will get 90% of all minutes. AJ Mayer will play 75-80% of all game minutes once he returns from football. That will leave very limited minutes for others to see the floor.

 

Like always, CCH is deep. But will they use their depth. Either way they will be the favorite in the 9th with Cooper a close second.

I would think starters for CCH would be Ruthsatz, Fredrick, Walter, AJ Mayer, the fifth spot could be any of the following:

1-Michael Mayer-good size, and last years sixth man at the end of the season (in a six man rotation)

2-Lenihan-started at point and played really really well last year while Ruthsatz was hurt. Sometimes they forget about him, but he is a very good guard.

3-Nowak-brings energy and defense to the lineup. Started several games last year while another player was hurt.

4-Thelen-tall and athletic, but hasn't been able to be the player the coaches expected him to be yet. He is now a junior and I think he breaks out this season

5-Davin-missed all last season. He will need to prove himself as a starter to take the fifth starting spot. He may be doing that at practice, but I have yet to see him play meaningful varsity minutes yet due to injury.

6-Fleek-I got to see him play some over the summer. He is better than I thought he was. If he gets a serious shot at varsity I think he could be a contributor for sure.

7-Deere-I've heard his name being thrown around but don't know much about him. A lot of people say he is really good. Deere, like Fleek, and Davin I believe have not played enough varsity minutes to really make a call on yet. I believe if the rotation is deep enough for them to get a descent amount of varsity minutes they will all play well.

 

The key will be the rotation. How many players are going to get minutes? 6-8? Ruthsatz, Fredrick, and Walter will get 90% of all minutes. AJ Mayer will play 75-80% of all game minutes once he returns from football. That will leave very limited minutes for others to see the floor.

 

Like always, CCH is deep. But will they use their depth. Either way they will be the favorite in the 9th with Cooper a close second.

 

Michael Mayer starts and is terrific by year end. Davin, Thelen, and Lenihan fill out core rotation.

 

Davin gets a lot of run this year.

I love all your guessing on the starting 5 and or the rotation. Great reading!

Old guy have you been to practice ?

Are there any sophomores or freshmen who could get minutes? Sounds like Muskie & Playa both feel Frederick, Ruthsatz, Davin, Thelen, Walter, the Mayer brothers, and some configuration of Lenihan, Nowak, & Deere could all figure into the rotation, but not Fleek? Hard to believe, but an interesting dilemma. Unfortunately, only five can be on the floor at one time.

Old guy have you been to practice ?

 

Of course but I see nothing, I know nothing and I neither type or speak of practice, other than saying I just enjoy reading all the information about CovCath on BGP's. :walk:

Are there any sophomores or freshmen who could get minutes? Sounds like Muskie & Playa both feel Frederick, Ruthsatz, Davin, Thelen, Walter, the Mayer brothers, and some configuration of Lenihan, Nowak, & Deere could all figure into the rotation, but not Fleek? Hard to believe, but an interesting dilemma. Unfortunately, only five can be on the floor at one time.

 

Tough to get minutes at the 4-5 with a group of players of Walter, Thelen, Mayer brothers......Im hearing Thelen is getting D1 attention, Congrats to him.