BluegrassPreps.com 7th Region Boys Basketball Preview

[Tigerpride94]

7th Region Preview 

Last year, the Male Bulldogs were the 7^th Region champs after beating perennial power Ballard Bruins 71-61. The 7^th Region will continue to be one of the top regions in Kentucky with multiple teams that could go deep in the state tournament but only one will have the opportunity to do it. The main contenders for the championship should be Ballard, Male, Trinity, Eastern, and Seneca. These 5 teams return considerable fire power to compete for the championship. Ballard and Male look to be top favorites with Trinity, Eastern, and Seneca as the next tier of contenders. The 7^th region also has two of the best players in the state with Ballard’s Maker Bar and Male’s Kaleb Glenn. The projected finish was formulated using last year’s power ratings and looking at what players teams lost and returned.  

1. Ballard Bruins - Last year, Ballard lost to Male 71-61 in 7^th Region championship and had a record of 28-7. Ballard graduated top players Lewis Richards and Rashad Bishop but return 3 talented young players with Sophomore G Gabe Sisk, Sophomore G Jack Edelen, and JR C Maker Bar. This talented trio will have Ballard contending for the regional championship. 

Lost:

Lewis Richards 12.8 ppg.

Rashad Bishop 12.2 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Gabe Sisk 12.0 ppg

Jack Edelen 11.5 ppg

Maker Bar 10.0 ppg, 7.3 rpg. #1 player in KY for 2022 class as rated by 247sports.com

2. Male Bulldogs - Last year, Male won the 7^th Region championship defeating Ballard 71-61 and had a record of 31-4. Male graduated top players Tyren Moore and Howard Fleming but return 2 top players in Sophomore C Keleb Glenn, Senior G Cameron Pope, and bring in talented Freshman G Max Gainey. Kaleb Glenn is one of the top players in the country, and Male has the talent to repeat as 7^th region champions. 

Lost:

Tyren Moore 17.9 ppg.

Howard Fleming 15.8 ppg, 7 rpg. 

Key returnees:

Kaleb Glenn 13.4 ppg, 10.1 rpg. #1 player in KY for 2023 class as rated by 247sports.com.

Cameron Pope 10.9 ppg. Jacksonville State commit.

Max Gainey. One of top freshman in state. 

3. Trinity Shamrocks - Last year, Trinity lost to St. Xavier in 7th Region tournament 58-47 and had a record of 18-15. Trinity only had one senior last year and return their top 3 scorers and will be a contender in the region. They will be led by Senior F Zach Stahlman, Senior G Ethan Hodge, and Sophomore G Miles Franklin. Trinity looks to be improved this year and a contender for regional championship. 

Lost:  

Andrew Brian 3.2 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Zach Stahlman 13.1 ppg, 5.9 rpg.

Ethan Hodge 11.1 ppg.

Miles Franklin 11.4 ppg. 

4. Eastern Eagles - Last year, Eastern Lost to Male in 7^th Region tournament 59-52 and had a record of 22-11. Eastern had no seniors last year so return all their starters except James Jewell who transferred. Also, they gain Shane Bibby who transferred in from Central. They will be led by their trio of Junior G Christian Spalding, Senior G Ben Craig, and Senior Shane Bibby. Eastern with their returning experience will be a contender for regional championship. 

Lost:

James Jewell 13.3 ppg, 6.9 rpg., Transferred to Marion County. 

Key returnees:

Christian Spaulding 12.7 ppg.

Ben Craig 11.1 ppg, 6.6 rpg.

Shane Bibby 11.6 ppg at Central last year. 

5. Seneca Redhawks - Last year, Seneca lost to Male 84-53 in 7^th Region tourney and had a record of 21-10. Seneca returns their top player with Senior G Delshawn Simms, and Senior Darian Floyd, and Senior G Byron Cox. Seneca returns all top players but one and can contend for regional championship. 

Lost:  

Trent Findley 8.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg. 

Key returnees:

Delshawn Simms 16.4 ppg. Courier-Journal 2020 All Metro Louisville team.

Darian Floyd 9.7 ppg.

Byron Cox 9.5 ppg, 5.2 rpg. 

6. St. Xavier Tigers - Last year, St. Xavier lost to Ballard 79-55 in 7^th Region tournament and had a record of 19-12. St. X returns two of their top players with Senior G Ben Varga and Senior F Ayden Mudd. The Tigers will need some younger players to step up to move up in rankings. 

Lost:

Nicholas Mosley 14.0 ppg.

Simon Smith 10.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg. 

Key returnees:

Ben Varga 14.5 ppg

Ayden Mudd 7.4 ppg, 4.8 rpg. Committed to Bellarmine.

Mekhi Smith 3.2 ppg. 

7. Manual Crimsons - Last year, Manual lost to Ballard 92-50 in 7^th Region tournament and had a record of 14-14.

Lost:

Eli Roberts 10.7 ppg.

Key returnees:

JaWaun Northington 9.8 ppg, 9.4 rpg.

Aaron Smith 7.7 ppg.

Koji Anderson 6.7 ppg. 

8. Waggener Wildcats - Last year, Waggener lost to Trinity 52-50 in 7^th Region tournament and had a record of 17-11. 

Lost:

Dallas Rufus 16.3 ppg

Richard White 15.0 ppg, 5.1 rpg.

Alix Berry 8.1 ppg.

Key returnees:

Austin Chiles 5.3 ppg. 

9. Christian Academy-Louisville Centurions - Last year, Christian Academy lost to Eastern 78-55 in 28^th District tournament and had a record of 10-19.

Lost:

Jacob Sangalli 13.3 ppg.

Key returnees:

Brayden Daniels 13.2 ppg., 5.3 rpg.

Stephen Wearsch 9.5 ppg.

Tyler Lagestee 6.8 ppg. 

10. Central Yellowjackets - Last year, Central lost to Eastern 55-38 in 7^TH Region tournament and had a record of 10-21. 

Lost:

Shane Bibby 11.6 ppg. Transferred to Eastern.

Dejuan Parks 7.0 ppg. 

Key returnees: 

Kam Jones 8.1 ppg. 

11. Atherton Rebels - Last year, Atherton lost to Trinity 76-47 in 27^th District tournament and had a record of 12-16. 

Lost:  

Micah Speaks 9.9 ppg. 

Key returnees: 

Da Von Johnson 16.7 ppg., One of top players in region.

Jymare Johnson 10.4 ppg., 4.9 rpg.

Jonathan Lavender 7.9 ppg. 

12. Collegiate Titans - Last year, Collegiate lost 84-59 in 26^th District tournament and had a record of 20-7. 

Lost:

Chez Moore 19.4 ppg., 10.5 rpg.

Joey Leachman 11.1 ppg., 6.9 rpg.

Key returnees:

Cole Thompson 7.8 ppg.

Trevor Holbrook 6.6 ppg.

Keith Brown 6.0 ppg.

13. Kentucky Country Day Bearcats - Last year, KCD lost 99-42 to Ballard in 28^th District tournament and had a record of 15-13.

Lost:

Michael Collis 14.8 ppg.

Anthony O’Neal 13.9 ppg., 5.1 rpg. 

Key returnees:

Will Crockett 13 ppg.

Nicholas Roemer 7.6 ppg. 

14. Shawnee Eagles - Last year, Shawnee lost 41-28 to Central in 25^th District tournament and had a record of 14-13. 

Lost:

Josiah Bivens 14.0 ppg.

Abraham Hull 7.2 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Keyonie Rutledge 13.4 ppg.

Brian Ritchie 8.0 ppg.

Darryl Malone 7.0 ppg 

15. Walden Wolverines - Last year, Walden lost 58-43 to KCD in 28^th District tournament and had a record of 19-11. 

Lost:

Isaiah Cargill 18.2 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Ty High 16.6 ppg., 6.2 rpg.

Charles Ball 12.1 ppg., 6.4 ppg.

Peter Dalmares 8.5 ppg. 

16. Brown Bears - Last year, Brown lost 112-35 to Male in 26^th District tournament and had a record of 5-25. 

Lost:

Victor Henderson 5.9 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Josiah Bibb 20.5 ppg., 5.9 rpg.

Kristopher Watts 5.5 ppg.

Justin Bibb 5.5 ppg. 

17. Portland Christian Eagles - Last year, Portland Christian lost 87-30 to Manual in 25^th District tournament and had a record of 11-18. 

Lost: no key losses. 

Key returnees: 

Mason Skees 15.8 ppg., 9.5 rpg.

Alex Steen 14.1 ppg, 6.2 rpg.

Ethan Heid 10.7 ppg. 

18. Saint Francis Wyverns - Last year, St. Francis lost 63-55 to Portland Christian in 25^th District tournament and had a record of 7-20. 

Lost:

Connor Gorman 10.9 ppg.

Bruce Hamilton 8.6 ppg. 

Key returnees:

Darian Wade 18.9 ppg, 10.9 rpg.

Isaiah Robles 9.0 ppg.

Stevaun Butler 5.5 ppg.

[ColonelMike]

Very interesting!   

I'm going to be broadcasting games involving Male, Eastern, Seneca, St. X, and Waggener this year.....based on your review, I think I'm going to see some pretty exciting basketball.

Thanks!!

CM 

[Tigerpride94]

2 hours ago, ColonelMike said:

Very interesting!   

I'm going to be broadcasting games involving Male, Eastern, Seneca, St. X, and Waggener this year.....based on your review, I think I'm going to see some pretty exciting basketball.

Thanks!!

CM 

Indeed. You will see some great players.

[Tigerpride94]

Highlands Latin is independent this year and will be in 7th Region next year. They will play some 7th Region teams this year so you will see them on KHSAA scores page.