BluegrassPreps.com 16th Region Boys' Basketball Preview 

 

Ashland remains the top boys' high school basketball team in the 16th Region.

But rival Boyd County is among the teams looking to dethrone the Tomcats during the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. 

A look at the 16th Region boys' basketball teams follows. 

 

1. Ashland (22-5): Reigning 16th Region champion Ashland has reloaded for the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. The talented trio of Cole Villers (22.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Colin Porter (17.8 ppg) and Ethan Sellars (13.5 ppg) is back to lead the Tomcats. Over the offseason, Ashland also added James Mayor, a 6-9 sophomore who transferred from Bath County. 

 

2. Boyd County (15-10): Despite losing eight seniors to graduation, Boyd County remains a 16th Region boys' basketball title contender. Boyd County finished runner-up to rival Ashland in the 64th District and reached the 16th Region Semifinals during the 2020-21 season. Leading scorer Rheyce Deboard (14.2 ppg) is back for Boyd County, which also returns Brad Newsome (7.3 ppg).

 

3. Russell (12-8): The Red Devils are a team on the rise in the 16th Region. Russell will be looking to contend for both a 63rd District championship and a 16th Region title during the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. Brady Bell (18.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Griffin Downs (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) are the top players back for the Red Devils. 

 

4. Lewis County (14-9): Reigning 63rd District champion Lewis County won't be looking to relinquish its top spot. The Lions will also be looking to climb up the 16th Region rankings as well. Logan Liles (15.4 ppg) and Trey Gerike (12.2 ppg) are back to lead defending 63rd District champion Lewis County. 

 

5. Raceland (11-8): The Rams are expected to make a push for a 63rd District championship. Andrew Floyd (12.5 ppg) and Kyle Broughton (10.0 ppg) are back to lead Raceland, which finished as the runner-up to Lewis County in the 2020-21 63rd District Boys' Basketball Tournament. 

 

6. Rowan County (15-4): The Vikings will be looking to reload instead of rebuild in the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. Seniors Chase Alderman (9.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Cody Collins (3.1 ppg) are the experienced players back for Rowan County. Remaining the 61st District favorite heading into the latest boys' high school basketball season, Rowan County will have multiple newcomers in its lineup and rotation. 

 

7. Bath County (7-16): Rejuvenated Bath County has made four straight trips to the 16th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament. A contender for the 61st District title, Bath County returns four starters. Zack Otis (24.4 ppg) is the top player back for the Wildcats. Joining Otis, Jordan Wilson (12.7 ppg) and Tyler Buckhanon (6-7) will help to pace Bath County. 

 

8. Elliott County (8-10): The 62nd District's top squad heading into the 2021-22 season, Elliott County is among the best shooting teams in the 16th Region. Elliott County is a perennial contender for the 16th Region All "A" Classic championship. Twins Gatlin Griffith (8.8 ppg) and Eli Griffith (5.1 ppg) combine to lead the Lions. 

 

9. Fleming County (6-14): With four players that averaged double figures in scoring back, frontrunner Fleming County could be the 16th Region's most improved boys' basketball team early in the 2021-22 season. Jayden Argo (12.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Landen Lutz (11.4 ppg), Adam Hargett (11.1 ppg) and Lucas Jolly (10.7 ppg) are all back for the Panthers. 

 

10. Fairview (7-20): Fairview returns an experienced group, which includes seven seniors, one of whom is leading scorer Jaxon Manning (23.1 ppg). Along with Manning, Steven Day (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is back for the Eagles. Fairview will be looking to vie for the 16th Region All "A" Classic championship in early-2022. 

 

11. West Carter (13-7): After nearly upsetting Ashland in the 16th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament Semifinals, West Carter lost five of its top scorers to graduation. However, Landon Nichols (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jackson Bond are back for the Comets. Bond has returned to the court after tearing his ACL five games into the 2020-21 season. 

 

12. East Carter (6-5): COVID prevented East Carter from playing a dozen or more games in the 2020-21 season. Connor Goodman (11.7 ppg) and Evan Goodman (8.8 ppg), brothers, return to lead the Raiders.

 

13. Greenup County (5-17): With its roster from the 2020-21 season intact, Greenup County is poised to show improvement in the upcoming boys' high school basketball season. Trenton Hannah (12.5 ppg), Boone Gibson (9.0 ppg), Beau Barker (8.6 ppg) and Carson Wireman (8.0 ppg) have returned for the Musketeers.

 

14. Morgan County (8-5): Also limited to COVID, Morgan County won eight of its 12 regular-season games during the 2020-21 season. The top two players back for the Cougars are Levi Mayabb (14.3 ppg) and Logan Spencer (7.8 ppg). 

 

15. Rose Hill Christian (7-20): An experienced team is back for Rose Hill Christian as no players were lost to graduation. Stacey Jackson (23.1 ppg), Luke Larsen (11.1 ppg), Tate Akers (9.4 ppg) and Chase Pennington (8.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are each back for the Knights. 

 

16. Menifee County (1-24): After edging 14th Region member Powell County for its only win in the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season, Menifee County is expected to show improvement early during the upcoming campaign. Both Eli Johnson (21.4 ppg) and Brevon Ricker (12.0 ppg) are back for the Wildcats. In addition to Johnson and Ricker, Menifee County will feature Trey Abner. 

 

 

Top 10 Players

1. Cole Villers (Ashland)

2. Colin Porter (Ashland)

3. Brady Bell (Russell)

4. Ethan Sellars (Ashland)

5. Rheyce Deboard (Boyd County)

6. Jaxon Manning (Fairview)

7. Chase Alderman (Rowan County)

8. Zack Otis (Bath County)

9. Logan Liles (Lewis County)

10. Andrew Floyd (Raceland)

 

Boyd and Russell are debatable. Many including the coaches who helped vote for the Catspause ranking think Russell is the 2nd best team in the 16th.

On 11/28/2021 at 4:46 PM, SportsLife said:

BluegrassPreps.com 16th Region Boys' Basketball Preview 

 

Ashland remains the top boys' high school basketball team in the 16th Region.

But rival Boyd County is among the teams looking to dethrone the Tomcats during the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. 

A look at the 16th Region boys' basketball teams follows. 

 

1. Ashland (22-5): Reigning 16th Region champion Ashland has reloaded for the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. The talented trio of Cole Villers (22.7 ppg, 5.1 rpg), Colin Porter (17.8 ppg) and Ethan Sellars (13.5 ppg) is back to lead the Tomcats. Over the offseason, Ashland also added James Mayor, a 6-9 sophomore who transferred from Bath County. 

 

2. Boyd County (15-10): Despite losing eight seniors to graduation, Boyd County remains a 16th Region boys' basketball title contender. Boyd County finished runner-up to rival Ashland in the 64th District and reached the 16th Region Semifinals during the 2020-21 season. Leading scorer Rheyce Deboard (14.2 ppg) is back for Boyd County, which also returns Brad Newsome (7.3 ppg).

 

3. Russell (12-8): The Red Devils are a team on the rise in the 16th Region. Russell will be looking to contend for both a 63rd District championship and a 16th Region title during the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. Brady Bell (18.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Griffin Downs (9.9 ppg, 6.1 rpg) are the top players back for the Red Devils. 

 

4. Lewis County (14-9): Reigning 63rd District champion Lewis County won't be looking to relinquish its top spot. The Lions will also be looking to climb up the 16th Region rankings as well. Logan Liles (15.4 ppg) and Trey Gerike (12.2 ppg) are back to lead defending 63rd District champion Lewis County. 

 

5. Raceland (11-8): The Rams are expected to make a push for a 63rd District championship. Andrew Floyd (12.5 ppg) and Kyle Broughton (10.0 ppg) are back to lead Raceland, which finished as the runner-up to Lewis County in the 2020-21 63rd District Boys' Basketball Tournament. 

 

6. Rowan County (15-4): The Vikings will be looking to reload instead of rebuild in the 2021-22 boys' high school basketball season. Seniors Chase Alderman (9.1 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Cody Collins (3.1 ppg) are the experienced players back for Rowan County. Remaining the 61st District favorite heading into the latest boys' high school basketball season, Rowan County will have multiple newcomers in its lineup and rotation. 

 

7. Bath County (7-16): Rejuvenated Bath County has made four straight trips to the 16th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament. A contender for the 61st District title, Bath County returns four starters. Zack Otis (24.4 ppg) is the top player back for the Wildcats. Joining Otis, Jordan Wilson (12.7 ppg) and Tyler Buckhanon (6-7) will help to pace Bath County. 

 

8. Elliott County (8-10): The 62nd District's top squad heading into the 2021-22 season, Elliott County is among the best shooting teams in the 16th Region. Elliott County is a perennial contender for the 16th Region All "A" Classic championship. Twins Gatlin Griffith (8.8 ppg) and Eli Griffith (5.1 ppg) combine to lead the Lions. 

 

9. Fleming County (6-14): With four players that averaged double figures in scoring back, frontrunner Fleming County could be the 16th Region's most improved boys' basketball team early in the 2021-22 season. Jayden Argo (12.7 ppg, 7.6 rpg), Landen Lutz (11.4 ppg), Adam Hargett (11.1 ppg) and Lucas Jolly (10.7 ppg) are all back for the Panthers. 

 

10. Fairview (7-20): Fairview returns an experienced group, which includes seven seniors, one of whom is leading scorer Jaxon Manning (23.1 ppg). Along with Manning, Steven Day (9.8 ppg, 5.0 rpg) is back for the Eagles. Fairview will be looking to vie for the 16th Region All "A" Classic championship in early-2022. 

 

11. West Carter (13-7): After nearly upsetting Ashland in the 16th Region Boys' Basketball Tournament Semifinals, West Carter lost five of its top scorers to graduation. However, Landon Nichols (7.2 ppg, 4.8 rpg) and Jackson Bond are back for the Comets. Bond has returned to the court after tearing his ACL five games into the 2020-21 season. 

 

12. East Carter (6-5): COVID prevented East Carter from playing a dozen or more games in the 2020-21 season. Connor Goodman (11.7 ppg) and Evan Goodman (8.8 ppg), brothers, return to lead the Raiders.

 

13. Greenup County (5-17): With its roster from the 2020-21 season intact, Greenup County is poised to show improvement in the upcoming boys' high school basketball season. Trenton Hannah (12.5 ppg), Boone Gibson (9.0 ppg), Beau Barker (8.6 ppg) and Carson Wireman (8.0 ppg) have returned for the Musketeers.

 

14. Morgan County (8-5): Also limited to COVID, Morgan County won eight of its 12 regular-season games during the 2020-21 season. The top two players back for the Cougars are Levi Mayabb (14.3 ppg) and Logan Spencer (7.8 ppg). 

 

15. Rose Hill Christian (7-20): An experienced team is back for Rose Hill Christian as no players were lost to graduation. Stacey Jackson (23.1 ppg), Luke Larsen (11.1 ppg), Tate Akers (9.4 ppg) and Chase Pennington (8.6 ppg, 7.0 rpg) are each back for the Knights. 

 

16. Menifee County (1-24): After edging 14th Region member Powell County for its only win in the 2020-21 boys' high school basketball season, Menifee County is expected to show improvement early during the upcoming campaign. Both Eli Johnson (21.4 ppg) and Brevon Ricker (12.0 ppg) are back for the Wildcats. In addition to Johnson and Ricker, Menifee County will feature Trey Abner. 

 

 

Top 10 Players

1. Cole Villers (Ashland)

2. Colin Porter (Ashland)

3. Brady Bell (Russell)

4. Ethan Sellars (Ashland)

5. Rheyce Deboard (Boyd County)

6. Jaxon Manning (Fairview)

7. Chase Alderman (Rowan County)

8. Zack Otis (Bath County)

9. Logan Liles (Lewis County)

10. Andrew Floyd (Raceland)

 

Agree with the team rankings 100%.  Ashland returns 4 starters from a Final 4 team.  In my opinion, they all deserve to be in the Top 10.