article BluegrassPreps.com 10th Region Boys Basketball Preview

[BasketballNeverRests]

Agree that losing a player the caliber of Mason Rusch certainly leaves a void for the Cougars. However, they still have a nucleus of veteran players who will represent them well. Josh Moran is a fine, multi-talented player who led the Calvary soccer team to the 10th Region Soccer Championship.

 

Oh I totally agree that they still have players. I think #15 is still too low for them. Between Moran and Cross Dugan, they have players... but everyone knew that Rusch was the engine. Honestly he was the best player under-the-radar player in the region last year.

[sweet16]

He was at Frederick Douglass his sophomore season (2017-18).

 

He was at Paducah Tilghman in 2018-2019 season.

[16thBBall Fan]

He was at Paducah Tilghman in 2018-2019 season.

 

Looks like he’s making the rounds. :lol2:

[theguru]

ttt

[gold sunrise]

1. George Rogers Clark - The Cardinals lost to only one 10th region team last year and that was to 10th region champion Campbell County, twice. Several key players return from last year’s region runner up team. Jared Wellman (11.4) will be a contender for region player of the year. He is very talented and shoots it well from deep. Lincoln Bush (6.6) rebounds well (6.4 rpg) and provides a good low post presence. He had a big summer and earned MVP honors at the summer HPBC camp in Georgetown. Jerone Morton (6.9) is a really good athlete with high upside. He is one of the best sophomores in central Kentucky. KJ Rucker (4.6) provided a spark last year and will be relied on even more this year. The Cardinals are seeking their first region title since 2012.

 

2. Bourbon County – The Colonels could easily be in the top spot. They won the prestigious KBC summer tournament in June, beating Henry Clay in the finals. Amirion Joyce (a transfer for Paducah Tilghman) was the leading scorer in the KBC tournament. His athleticism is a game changer for the Colonels. Guard Nakyir Joyce (12.3) attacks the basketball well and, along with his cousin Amirion, gives Bourbon two of the top players in region. Starter guard Nakwan Joyce (6.8) also returns along with 6th man Brycen Collins (5.9).

 

3. Montgomery County – This ranking is based on potential. Veteran proven coach Steve Wright takes over for the Indians. Two transfers bolster Montgomery County. Rickey Lovette averaged nearly a double double while playing in Florida last year. He is long, athletic and a hard worker. Big man Zach Benton will be a key player for the Indians. He would have been the top returnee for Ryle. Hagan Harrison (5.8) is projected to be one of the top sophomores in central Kentucky. He produces several steals and is ready to fully break out this year. Starter Austin Eichenberger (5.7) also returns. The 40th district is going to be tough. Gaining the one seed will be crucial.

 

4. Mason County – Alex Schlah (19.7) transfers in from Robertson County and is expected to be one of the top players in the region. He led Black Devils in scoring last year. Outside of the graduated Jaylen Lofton, the Royals return the rest of their starters. Xylon Frey (10.9, 6.6 rpg) will form a nice 1-2 inside punch with Schlah. Other key returnees include Carson Brammer (8.9), Jeremiah Jones (8.6), and Braden May (7.7). Last year was definitely a down season by the Royals standards, but expect them to bounce back behind the veteran returnees and the big addition of Schlah.

 

5. Campbell County - What a season it was last year for the Camels! Undefeated against 10th region competition, a first round sweet 16 victory over an undefeated John Hardin team and a barn burner last second controversial loss to state champion Trinity in the semifinals are some of the highlights from last season’s team. It was no secret the team played through Reid Jolly last year. The Camels not only lose Jolly to graduation, but several other key pieces graduate as well. All is not lost however. Jordan Gross (4.9) and Dane Hegyi (1.7) played valuable minutes on the biggest stage last year. Gross will be the go to guy this year. A winning tradition and a good mix of young players will serve Campbell County well.

 

6. Bishop Brossart – The Mustangs played in the All A state tournament last year and played eventual All A champion (University Heights) closer than any other team did in the whole tournament. Their 4 point loss to Campbell County in the district is another indicator of them being able to compete with the best. Key players Ethan Eilerman (13.5) and Carson Schirmer (9.6 ppg) return. Bishop Brossart is always well disciplined and solid defensively.

 

7. Robertson County – The future looks bright for Robertson County. Sophomore Justin Becker (18.9) is projected to be one of the best big men in state in the 2022 class. He may average 20 and 10 this year. Though Schlah’s transfer to Mason County stings, the combination of Becker and sharpshooter Sebastian Dixon (13.4) gives Robertson enough firepower to make run in the 10th. Expect a big year from these two underclassmen.

 

8. Paris – The Greyhounds had a rough year last year but do return 3 starters from a team that showed some promise last year with big wins last year at Montgomery County and at Mason County. Most of their firepower will come from the perimeter. Starters Ricqiece Washington (8.5), Caleb Johnson (7.8) and Jamaun Clark (7.2) return.

 

9. Augusta – There is some reason for optimism at Augusta and rightly so. Coach Jason Hinson returns to Augusta. His son, freshman Kason Hinson scored 11.4 points per game last year as an 8th grader at Bracken County. Several other key players return for the Panthers.

 

10. Scott – Scott lost a lot of production from last year’s exciting team, including Jacob Meyer’s transfer out of the program. Grant Profitt (4.1) is the only returnee with much experience.

 

11. Harrison County – Last year’s team won 11 games and the top 5 leading scorers have all graduated. However, Harrison County should be able to content for a region tournament appearance.

 

12. Pendleton County – Dontaie Allen played in only 13 games last year before sustaining a season ending injury. He still scored 558 points, was awarded the prestigious Mr. Basketball award in Kentucky, and committed to UK. Without him, Pendleton County really struggled. New coach Sam Elsbernd takes over.

 

13. Nicholas County – The bad is that the Bluejackets struggled last year. The good is all the key players return.

 

14. Bracken County – The Polar Bears won 14 games last year after winning only 5 the year before. They hope to continue the upward trend behind new coach Adam Reed.

 

15. Calvary Christian – Mason Rusch’s move to North Carolina puts a damper on the Cougars expectations. They will struggle to fill his shoes.

 

16. St. Patrick – St Patrick has nowhere to go but up, after winning only 1 game last season.

 

 

Top 10 Players:

 

1. Jared Wellman (Jr) George Rogers Clark – Smooth and talented player leads a very balanced GRC attack.

 

2. Justin Becker (So) Robertson County – Versatile player. One of the top sophomores in the state.

 

3. Alex Schalch (Sr) Mason County – Big man transfer from Robertson County makes Royals instant contender.

 

4. Amirion Joyce (Sr) Bourbon County – Transfer from Paducah Tilghman. Named MVP of the prestigious KBA summer tournament.

 

5. Nakyir “Scrap” Joyce (Sr) Bourbon County – Tenacious player. Finishes well at the rim.

 

6. Rickey Lovette (Jr) Montgomery County – Transfer from Avon Park, FL. Can score and rebound. Good leaping ability and hard worker.

 

7. Lincoln Bush (Sr) George Rogers Clark – Solid and dependable force for the Cardinals. Named MVP of the Blue Chip summer camp in Georgetown.

 

8. Jerone Morton (So) George Rogers Clark – Extremely athletic guard with tremendous upside.

 

9. Ethan Eilerman (Sr) Bishop Brossart – Clutch player and senior leader.

 

10. Jordan Gross (Sr) Campbell County – Good shooter and key returnee from last year's state semifinalist.

 

 

Ten questions for the 10th region

 

1. Montgomery, Bracken, Augusta, Nicholas, and Pendleton all have new coaches. Which coach will have the biggest impact?

 

2. Several teams have a good young core including GRC, Montgomery and Roberstson. Which team is set up best for the future?

 

3. Bourbon, GRC, and Montgomery should all be good. Who will be left out of the region tournament?

 

4. There are several key transfers including Alex Schlah (Mason), Amirion Joyce (Bourbon) and Zach Benton and Rickey Lovette (Montgomery). Which transfer will fit in best with their new team?

 

5. Robertson and Brossart seem to be the All A favorites. Can any other team challenge them?

 

6. Scott, Pendleton and Harrison lost a lot of firepower. Can they reload?

 

7. Augusta and Bracken play twice during the regular season. What will the atmosphere be like?

 

8. Mason won only 15 games last year but return plenty if talent. Can they improve enough to win the region?

 

9. Campbell is coming off a historic final four season, but they lose several keys players. Can they make it back to Rupp?

 

10. GRC, Bourbon, Montgomery and Mason all have high ceilings. Can anyone make a deep run at Rupp like Campbell did last year?

 

Ten Matchups to Watch

 

Who: George Rogers Clark vs Montgomery County

When: 1/17 at Montgomery County and 1/31 at George Rogers Clark

Why it matters: Always an exciting atmosphere. Should be even more exciting this year.

 

Who: George Rogers Clark vs Bourbon County

When: 1/21 at George Rogers Clark and 2/4 at Bourbon County

Why it matters: The 40th district is fierce this year, so getting the one seed will be crucial.

 

Who: Bourbon County vs Montgomery County

When: 12/17 at Montgomery County and 1/7 at Bourbon County

Why it matters: Fresh faces bring even more reason for optimism to these two contenders.

 

Who: Augusta vs Bracken County

When: 12/6 at August and 1/25 at Bracken

Why it matters: Hinson takes over at Augusta. So excited that these teams are now playing!

 

Who: Campbell County at George Rogers Clark

When: December 6 at George Rogers Clark

Why it matters: Cardinals look for revenge after falling to Camels in 10th region finals last year.

 

Who: Campbell County at Mason County

When: January 16 at Mason County

Why it matters: Two traditional powerhouses will battle it out.

 

Who: Bourbon County vs Paris

When: December 13 at Bourbon and February 8 at Paris

Why it matters: Because this local rivalry is always fun.

 

Who: George Rogers Clark at Robertson County

When: January 2 at Robertson County

Why it matters: Several underclassmen stars will be on display.

 

Who: Beechwood (9th region) at Bishop Brossart

When: December 9 at Bishop Brossart

Why it matters: Let’s see how the Mustangs go about trying to slow down Scotty Draud (22.7 ppg).

 

Gateway Holiday Classic

When: December 27-29 at Montgomery County

Why it matters: Robertson, Mason, and Montgomery compete in this 8 team tournament.

 

What a great review. I really appreciate all the work that goes into this. I am looking forward to reading your upcoming reviews.

 

We always have a few players and teams that fly under the radar this early in the season. I believe MoCo will be one of these. The 40th district will be brutal.

[silo11]

He was at Paducah Tilghman in 2018-2019 season.

 

He must have made some big improvements because he didn't impress at all at Tilghman. Maybe it wasn't the right fit for him. Either way, was surprised to see him on the top 10 list.

[Guest]

Yep, Beiting kid can stroke it, also the Freshman Hamilton can flat out play, one of their top jv scorers last year, and Hegyi in the middle should balance them team out well.

Edited November 16, 2019 by bugatti

[RimRacker]

Joyce is an athlete. If he plays to his potential it can only help Bourbon.

[teeroy]

Thank you! And yes, the 40th will be a beast!

[SnottieDrippen]

Blake Reed is one of the top players in this region. I don’t know who he replaces, but there should be a spot in that top 10 for him. An 8th grader who brings individual regional success is a top-10 player.

[KeepItRealYo]

Blake Reed is one of the top players in this region. I don’t know who he replaces, but there should be a spot in that top 10 for him. An 8th grader who brings individual regional success is a top-10 player.

 

I’m always intrigued when I hear someone say a middle schooler or freshman should be included amongst the Top Players for a region over other upperclassmen. So this caught my attention to say the least!

 

Knowing nothing about the Reed kid I went off and looked at who they (Augusta) played last season. To no surprise their schedule was atrocious as well as their record! Their opponents overall records were losing records. Their in-state overall record for opponents was 289 to 414. Thats 12 to 17 for the average!

 

So, you mentioned him having regional success yet they played none of the top teams in the Region. Robertson Co being their best opponent on their schedule. I strongly believe to be considered one of the best you have to play against the best. That just wasn’t the case for Reed last season. While his overall stats look nice for a 7th grader you still have to consider who those stats were against. Averaging 12ppg against lesser teams is not the same as averaging 12ppg against the better teams. His stats against the better teams on their schedule were much much less than his average and therefore nothing to suggest he is one of the top players in the 10th. There’s a lot of talent in the 10th and some players stats are less because they play for better teams with more balance around them and they play much better competition.

 

With all that said, I’m sure the Reed kid is a nice player and will be on the list at some point in his career given he continues to improve and the team he plays for now actually plays some of the better teams in the region.

[SnottieDrippen]

I’m always intrigued when I hear someone say a middle schooler or freshman should be included amongst the Top Players for a region over other upperclassmen. So this caught my attention to say the least!

 

Knowing nothing about the Reed kid I went off and looked at who they (Augusta) played last season. To no surprise their schedule was atrocious as well as their record! Their opponents overall records were losing records. Their in-state overall record for opponents was 289 to 414. Thats 12 to 17 for the average!

 

So, you mentioned him having regional success yet they played none of the top teams in the Region. Robertson Co being their best opponent on their schedule. I strongly believe to be considered one of the best you have to play against the best. That just wasn’t the case for Reed last season. While his overall stats look nice for a 7th grader you still have to consider who those stats were against. Averaging 12ppg against lesser teams is not the same as averaging 12ppg against the better teams. His stats against the better teams on their schedule were much much less than his average and therefore nothing to suggest he is one of the top players in the 10th. There’s a lot of talent in the 10th and some players stats are less because they play for better teams with more balance around them and they play much better competition.

 

With all that said, I’m sure the Reed kid is a nice player and will be on the list at some point in his career given he continues to improve and the team he plays for now actually plays some of the better teams in the region.

 

All fair points. Maybe a sleeper pick would have been more appropriate. I know he’s going to be one to watch.

[Randy Parker]

All fair points. Maybe a sleeper pick would have been more appropriate. I know he’s going to be one to watch.

 

He can certainly play. I might not put him Top 10 quite yet, but he's got oodles of talent.

[mcpapa]

He can certainly play. I might not put him Top 10 quite yet, but he's got oodles of talent.

 

The 39th has three very young point guards to keep tabs on. The jury is still out on who will bring the ball up the floor for Mason County.

[Mustang]

i too like Blake Reed and think that he is going to be a standout player throughout his career, with "is going to be" the operative words. Athletic, talented, aggressive, and fearless are all adjectives that come to mind. I too agree that he needs to be on the "Players To Watch" list this year, and then let him earn his way into the top ten.

 

We (Brossart) played Augusta twice last season. Reed scored 3 and then 19. We weren't chopped liver, so the 19 point performance should raise some eyebrows.

Were he on our team this year, he would possibly be our third guard, and neither of our top two are "Top Ten" this year - one of which certainly merited consideration.

 

I think that perhaps Blake Reed will make enough noise to crack that Top Ten next year. If so, it will certainly be no disgrace making that elite group as a freshman.