BluegrassPreps.com 7th Region Boys Basketball Preview

[Tigerpride94]

Once again the 7th Region is loaded and possibly the most loaded ever because of transfers and reclassification and several players took advantage of that benefit. It's no surprise that Ballard and Male will be at the top as they return several top players. Last year, Ballard defeated Manual in the regional final 83-55 and Manual returns several starters from that regional final team that upset Male in the semifinals. There will be about 4 or 5 teams after Ballard and Male contending for the #3 spot in the rankings. Ballard and Male will not only contend for the regional championship but will also be state championship contenders as the Courier-Journal Coaches Poll has ranked Ballard #1 and Male #2 in the state. Looks like a fun season as will be high level players to see across 7th Region gyms this season.

1. Ballard

Ballard went 9-1 in the 7th Region last year. They return several players plus had 3 players transfer in. They will also play two national powers this season to see where they stack up. They play Prolific Prep Academy (CA) on 12/3 and IMG Academy (FL) on 12/18. The IMG Academy game is part of City of Palms tournament that will have other very strong teams. Top players:

1. Gabe Sisk 18.1 ppg, 5.1 rpg. 2. Maker Bar 14.6 ppg, 10.9 rpg, 3. Keno Hayden 13.6 ppg, 3.2 rpg. 4. Kaden Stanton(New Albany, IN transfer) 14.0 ppg. 5. Miles Franklin (Trinity transfer) 11.2 ppg. * Miles Franklin has not been ruled eligible yet after transferring from Trinity.

2. Male 

Male went 5-1 in the region last year. They return several players and will be the biggest threat to Ballard.

1. Kaleb Glenn 20.5 ppg, 12.6 rpg. 2. Jack Edelen (Ballard transfer) 3. Dez Lindsay 11.6 ppg, 7.3 rpg 4. Demetrius White 8.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg. 5. Selah Brown 4.9 ppg, 5.1 rpg.

3. Manual

Manual went 8-6 in the region last year and upset Male in the regional tournament. They return several players from last year.

1. Damone King 10.1 ppg, 2.3 rpg. 2. Koji Anderson 10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg. 3. JuWaun Northington 7.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg 4. Brady Hurley 5.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg. 5. Tobias Jones 3.2 ppg, 3.2 rpg.

4. Seneca

Seneca went 4-6 in the region last year. They lost a close 50-45 game to Male in regional tournament last year.  Seneca returns multiple players from last year who reclassified.

1. Delshawn Simms 17.8 ppg, 2.5 rpg. 2. Darian Floyd 11.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg. 3. Marcel Railey 7.3 ppg, 5.8 rpg. 4. Josh Lewis 2.5 ppg. 5. Jordan Harrison 2.5 ppg, 3.4 rpg.

5. Christian Academy Louisville

CAL went 5-4 last year and lost to Eastern 68-48 in district tournament. CAL returns one of the best players in the country with Ohio State commit George Washington, III.

1. George Washington, III 23.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg. 2. Jackson Washington 1.5 ppg, 3. Sean Wilkinson 1.3 ppg, 4. Cole Hodge 2.9 ppg, 2.3 rpg. 5. Abram Stinebruner.

6. Trinity

Trinity went 9-3 in the region last year and lost 79-57 to Ballard in regional tournament. Trinity loses multiple starters including Miles Franklin who transferred to Ballard.

1. Cam McClain 9.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg. 2. C.J. Walls 5.3 ppg, 2.2 rpg. 3. David Pfeifer 1.5 ppg,1.5 rpg. 4. Drew Allen 2.1 ppg, .5 rpg. 5. Greg Cole 4.1 ppg, .6 rpg.

7. St. Xavier 

St. X went 9-2 in the region last year and lost to Trinity 62-58 in region tournament. St. X graduated multiple starters but return their top guard Mekhi Smith and should be a good 3 point shooting team.

1. Mekhi Smith 9.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg. 2. William "Cole" Sherman 5.7 ppg, 1.6 rpg. 3. Ja Vin Jones 2.4 ppg. 4. Nathan Barnes 1.1 ppg, .4 rpg. 5. Tommy Scanlan.

8. Waggener 

Waggener went 1-5 in the region last year and lost to Seneca 97-79 in the district tournament. Waggener will have a good backcourt and return top player Jaylen Carter.

1. Jaylen Carter 26.5 ppg, 6.5 rpg. 2. Austin Chiles 12.8 ppg, 5.2 rpg. 3. Abdi Hassan 7.4 ppg, 2.1 rpg. 4. Josiah Corley 8.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg. 5. Michael Brown 4.4 ppg, 1.5 rpg.

9. Eastern 

Eastern went 3-5 in the region last year and lost to Manual 64-57 in region tournament. Top player Christian Spaulding transferred to Evangel Christian. They return two good backcourt players.

1. Stacey Anderson 9.7 ppg, 2.2 rpg. 2. Chivion Ashby 5.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg. 3. Sosthene Kamba 3.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg. 4. Bryson Spaulding .7 ppg, .1 rpg. 5. Marlo McSwain.

10. Central

Central went 4-6 in the region last year and lost to Ballard 80-47 in region tournament. Central returns their top 2 scorers.

1. Joshua Bivens 12.2 ppg, 2.8 rpg. 2. Kam Jones 10.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg. 3. Keith Young 4.2 ppg, 2.1 rpg. 4. Montez Davis 2.0 ppg, 1.6 ppg. 5. Devin Henderson 2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg.

11. Kentucky Country Day

KCD went 6-7 in region last year and lost to Ballard 87-38 in district tournament.

12. Atherton

Atherton went 1-5 in the region last year and lost to Trinity 87-56 in district tournament.

13. Shawnee

Shawnee went 4-6 in region last year and lost to Manual 73-29 in district tournament.

14. Collegiate

Collegiate went 5-1 in region last year and lost to KCD 68-65 in last game of season.

15. St. Francis

St. Francis went 2-4 in the region last year and lost to Central 76-55 in district tournament last year.

16. Brown

Brown went 1-5 in the region last year and lost to Male 107-35 in district tournament.

17. Portland Christian

Portland Christian went 2-6 in the region last year and lost 82-74 to St. Francis in district tournament.

18. Walden

Walden went 1-6 in the region last year and lost 71-50 to KCD in district tournament.

19. Highland Latin (First year competing in 7th Region)

 

Top Players:

1. Kaleb Glenn, Male - Committed to Louisville

2. Maker Bar, Ballard - Signed with Missouri-Kansas City

3. George Washington III, Christian Academy - Committed to Ohio State

4. Gabe Sisk, Ballard

5. Damone King, Manual

6. Delshawn Simms, Seneca

7. Keno Hayden, Ballard

8. Kaden Stanton, Ballard

9. Jack Edelen, Male

10. Jaylen Carter, Waggener

[Tigerpride94]

Trinity's Greg Cole transferred to PRP. Learned that in 6th Region write up.

[fatsnbul]

Is something going on at Trinity?

[Tigerpride94]

1 hour ago, fatsnbul said:

Is something going on at Trinity?

Good question. Surprised to see all the transfers.