Recently, there's been quite a bit of conversation on a game thread about the 8th Region Player of the Year battle...

 

....I don't think personally that we're anywhere close to settling on a favorite...last year, the player who was picked a distant fourth in the pre-season vote for the 8th Region Player of the Year wound up taking home the award after an absolutely incredible junior season (South Oldham's Luke Morrison)

 

To kick off the discussion, I've listed the players (below) who got the most votes in the pre-season poll of 8th Region coaches.

 

(in order of the votes received)

 

Dayvion McKnight - Collins - among top 5 in scoring and top 6 in rebounding in the region

 

Justin Powell - North Oldham 22.2 ppg, but currently injured. Had monster tournament in the King of the Bluegrass #2 in region in scoring

 

Luke Morrison - South Oldham - top 5 in scoring average, top 2 in free throw percentage, 47 of 111 threes (42.3%) averaging 20.8 ppg 84.6% FT

 

Marcellus Vail - Collins - consistent double-figure scorer 16.3 ppg

 

Kelly Niece - Simon Kenton - averaging over 14 ppg; playing through knee injury

 

Sam Conley - Spencer County - had tremendous three game stretch in the South Oldham Classic. 21.9 ppg third only behind Wyatt Supplee (30 ppg) and Justin Powell (22.2 ppg)

 

Jarin Rassman - Gallatin County - one of premier point guards in region 8 17.8 ppg / 6.3 rebounds

 

Trevor Hardin - Henry County - shrugged off injury and has been hot since his return to the lineup. Averaging 17 ppg and hitting 62.8%.

 

Wyatt Supplee - Carroll County - voted only #9 in the pre-season poll; Supplee is the region's AND the state's leading scorer at 30 ppg. He is hitting 54.9% from the field, 41.2% beyond the arc (21 made threes) and 76.8% at the line (109 of 142), while also averaging 4.8 boards a game.

 

Luke Dawalt - Grant County - leads Grant in scoring (14.8 ppg) and rebounds (8.4).

 

Others who got more than 1 vote in the preseason:

 

Seth Johnson - South Oldham - averaging close to a double-double at SO. 18.3 ppg / 8.0 rebounds

 

Jeremy Davis - Simon Kenton - One of the region's premier outside threats. Leads SK in scoring at 14.7 ppg; has hit 50 of 110 threes (45.5%) 89.5% FT

 

Tyler Slone - Oldham County - one of four Colonels averaging in double figures. All-around talent. Slone is a legit inside-outside threat. 12.4 ppg 51.3% FG 82.8% FT 4.8 rebounds/game

 

Dallas Roberts - North Oldham - Freshman is a remarkably talented shooter and a capable point guard. 10.9 ppg 40.4% beyond arc (21 makes) and 82.2% at the line.

 

Lucas Hornback - Spencer County - 12.3 ppg / 4.7 rebounds

 

Sam Campbell - Oldham County - 12.2 ppg Campbell leads the region in free throw shooting at 89.5%.

 

Hunter Penn - Woodford County - 15.9 ppg / 8.7 rebounds. Leads Woodford in both categories.

 

Other notables that received no pre-season votes (oops!?)

 

Keishaun Mumphrey - Carroll County - averaging a double-double 15.4 ppg / 10.5 rebounds tied for #8 in Kentucky in rebounding Leads the region in rebounding.

 

Ethan Lankford - Henry County - averaging over 21 ppg, ranking in top 5 in region 8.

 

Tyler Higdon - North Oldham - so close to a double-double. Averaging 15.3 ppg and 9 rebounds. #2 in region in FG % at 64.9% and #2 in region in rebounding

 

So....who's in the driver's seat right now? Anyone?

 

CM

With Powell be out, my guess is McKnight would be the leader.

If Powell doesn't come back then it would be McKnight first and Conley second at this time.

After KOB, Powell was the front runner for Mr. Basketball, let alone 8th Region POY. His injury is a game changer, and it has proven what a valuable piece he was to North Oldham. They’ve been mediocre without him.

 

I predict the longer Powell stays out, the more McKnight solidifies himself as the leading POY candidate.

Luke Morrison made a strong case for his POY candidacy tonight in a head-to-head matchup up against Dayvion McNight and Collins. Even though South lost, Morrison outplayed McNight all game. Morrison finished with about 30 points and McNight with around 8 or so.

Luke Morrison made a strong case for his POY candidacy tonight in a head-to-head matchup up against Dayvion McNight and Collins. Even though South lost, Morrison outplayed McNight all game. Morrison finished with about 30 points and McNight with around 8 or so.

 

How many assist and rebounds did McKnight have? Not just about points.

Luke Morrison made a strong case for his POY candidacy tonight in a head-to-head matchup up against Dayvion McNight and Collins. Even though South lost, Morrison outplayed McNight all game. Morrison finished with about 30 points and McNight with around 8 or so.

 

Correct, Morrison outscored McKnight, but out played him, that's very debatable. McKnight does so many things for his team that doesn't show up in the box score. How about the two clean blocks on breakaways by SO.

You can make a case for any of those top players for POY, I would agree with any winner, Mcknight, Morrison, a healthy Powell, Vail, Conley. No sane person could disagree with a selection of any of these boys.

McKnight played a much better second half than first. He had one point and several uncharacteristic turnovers in the first half. I’d guess McKnight had around 5 assists and 7-8 rebounds, but my sense was that Morrison had a much better overall game tonight.

 

POY should be a “body of work” award and not based on one night. I just think that Morrison may have narrowed the gap with his performance tonight. Scoring 30 on a very tough Collins defense is impressive.

Correct, Morrison outscored McKnight, but out played him, that's very debatable. McKnight does so many things for his team that doesn't show up in the box score. How about the two clean blocks on breakaways by SO.

 

If you go by the entire body of work in a game, you also have to factor in that McKnight pretty much led all players in turnovers. I love McKnight's game, and have really enjoyed watching him since he first arrived on the Collins roster, but he didn't always help the Titans tonight. South stripped him of the ball numerous times, and he made some questionable decisions passing the ball that turned into turnovers.

 

McKnight even struggled at the line tonight - something very uncharacteristic for him.

 

Tonight, Morrison was clearly the better player in all aspects of the game - scoring, shooting, ballhandling, free throw shooting, etc.. But it was just one game. And I'm sure he would gladly have traded some of his game for the victory instead.

 

I will say that McKnight's blocks tonight were, indeed, spectacular. Even on a sub-par night (for him), McKnight managed to provide the crowd with some awesome displays.

1. Luke Morrison

2. Jarin Rassman

3. McKnight

My top 5 are McNight, Morrison, Rassman, Vail, and Conley!

The POY balloting will be pretty much only between elite-level players, which means that the differences will be razor-thin. A minor "chink in the armor" is amplified in that kind of vote because all the players are SO good in so many facets of the game. Relatively poor shooting - or even poor free throw shooting - could be enough to cost a player votes.

 

The winner will - and should - be an excellent all-round player.

Okay, That’s fine. Rassman is the MVP (much different than Player Of The Year) of the 8th and the most indispensable player in the region.

Okay, That’s fine. Rassman is the MVP (much different than Player Of The Year) of the 8th and the most indispensable player in the region.

 

You might be onto something.