Every year, it's fun to look at the "up-and-comers" in the region...

Of course, that includes juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and sometimes even middle-schoolers....

But I always love to look at the sophomore class - the class where the cream of the class is starting to have an impact on the varsity level.

There are doubtless some sophomores I'm not mentioning, but here's some that are really worth mentioning - sophomores making a difference NOW...(NOT listed in any particular order)    Some are stars, some are potential stars, some are subs who are proving that they have the ability to contribute against seniors and juniors now....

Grant Neal - North Oldham      backup guard who has started several games for North due to injuries among the starting five.     6.6 ppg     37% beyond the arc     84.6% at the stripe.   Scored 11 points against Jeffersonville, IN    Probably starts on most teams in the region.

Luke Erhardt - Spencer County     Without a doubt, one of the elite Class of 2024 members on this list.    Averaging 22.3 ppg and 3.8 rebounds as a starter for the Bears.    Hitting 45.6% from the floor, including 39% from beyond the arc (67 of 172) and 78.7% at the line (111/141).   Perhaps a future region POY candidate(?)

Camden Cox - Spencer County   Another Bear.   Third-leading scorer for Spencer County, averaging 13.0 ppg.   Three point specialist; has hit 70 of 178 (39.3%) from beyond the arc.   75.0% at the line.

Travis Krohman - Simon Kenton - one of the region's premier jump shooters.    #2 in scoring on the Pioneers at 11.8 ppg.   34.8% (46 of 132) beyond the arc and 80% at the stripe.

Julian Dixon - Walton-Verona - perhaps the best up-and-coming defender in the class; tremendous leaper and very quick on his feet.    Averaging 7.6 ppg as a starter for the Bearcats; usually draws the toughest defensive assignments.    Capable outside shooter at 39.5% (17 of 43).   73.9% at the line.    Leads the Cats in rebounding at 7.2 a game.

Max Montgomery - Walton-Verona - another sophomore who is currently a backup, but starter-quality for some teams.   Montgomery is averaging 5.3 ppg off the bench as an outside sharpshooter.   Hitting 42.0% from beyond the arc (21 of 50).   

Brax Ward - Owen County - 6'8" sophomore center starts for Owen County, averaging 8.5 ppg / 7.0 rebounds.    Hits 53.5% of his shots, and has proven he can spot up and shoot the three, having hit 9 of 26 (34.6%) on the year.   Vastly improved passer from the high post.  

Kellen Dossett - Gallatin County - Number two scorer on the Wildcats as a sometime-starter, sometime-6th man.   Averaging 12.9 ppg.    40.2% from beyond the arc, where he has hit 43 of 107.  70.8% at the line.   Averages just under four rebounds a game.

Ethan Horn - Trimble County - Averaged 9.7 ppg as a freshman; has improved that as a sophomore, averaging 11.2 ppg (2nd-best on the team) for the Raiders.   

Christian Veirs - South Oldham - may be the best shooter in the region by the time he is a senior.   Had a significant role as a freshman off the bench; is the #3 scorer for the Dragons this year at 10.8 ppg off the bench.   Hitting 55.5% of his shots, including 44.9% (22 of 49) from beyond the arc.   Deadly accurate at the line, where he shoots 78.8%.

Max Green - Oldham County - The OC sophomore is the team's starting point guard, but also is the team's #2 scorer at 14.9 ppg.   Green is a premier outside threat, shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc (58 of 136).   He is a tremendous leaper, and is one of the region's best at coming off picks and hitting perimeter shots.

Colton Feagan - Williamstown - Feagan took over the role of point guard for the Demons as a freshman and hasn't given it up.    He's averaging 12.9 ppg, third-best on the team.

Honore Yangoua - Williamstown -  One of the more athletic members of this group, Yangoua can play the game above the rim.   He's the #2 scorer on the Demons, averaging 13.4 ppg.   He's also #2 in rebounding at 4.6 boards / game.

I'm sure I've missed someone, but this is a good start.

All of the above are making big contributions to their team - some as starters, some as key subs - but all as young players who are contributing above their expected level....

Thoughts on this class?

CM

3 hours ago, ColonelMike said:

Every year, it's fun to look at the "up-and-comers" in the region...

Of course, that includes juniors, sophomores, freshmen, and sometimes even middle-schoolers....

But I always love to look at the sophomore class - the class where the cream of the class is starting to have an impact on the varsity level.

There are doubtless some sophomores I'm not mentioning, but here's some that are really worth mentioning - sophomores making a difference NOW...(NOT listed in any particular order)    Some are stars, some are potential stars, some are subs who are proving that they have the ability to contribute against seniors and juniors now....

Grant Neal - North Oldham      backup guard who has started several games for North due to injuries among the starting five.     6.6 ppg     37% beyond the arc     84.6% at the stripe.   Scored 11 points against Jeffersonville, IN    Probably starts on most teams in the region.

Luke Erhardt - Spencer County     Without a doubt, one of the elite Class of 2024 members on this list.    Averaging 22.3 ppg and 3.8 rebounds as a starter for the Bears.    Hitting 45.6% from the floor, including 39% from beyond the arc (67 of 172) and 78.7% at the line (111/141).   Perhaps a future region POY candidate(?)

Camden Cox - Spencer County   Another Bear.   Third-leading scorer for Spencer County, averaging 13.0 ppg.   Three point specialist; has hit 70 of 178 (39.3%) from beyond the arc.   75.0% at the line.

Travis Krohman - Simon Kenton - one of the region's premier jump shooters.    #2 in scoring on the Pioneers at 11.8 ppg.   34.8% (46 of 132) beyond the arc and 80% at the stripe.

Julian Dixon - Walton-Verona - perhaps the best up-and-coming defender in the class; tremendous leaper and very quick on his feet.    Averaging 7.6 ppg as a starter for the Bearcats; usually draws the toughest defensive assignments.    Capable outside shooter at 39.5% (17 of 43).   73.9% at the line.    Leads the Cats in rebounding at 7.2 a game.

Max Montgomery - Walton-Verona - another sophomore who is currently a backup, but starter-quality for some teams.   Montgomery is averaging 5.3 ppg off the bench as an outside sharpshooter.   Hitting 42.0% from beyond the arc (21 of 50).   

Brax Ward - Owen County - 6'8" sophomore center starts for Owen County, averaging 8.5 ppg / 7.0 rebounds.    Hits 53.5% of his shots, and has proven he can spot up and shoot the three, having hit 9 of 26 (34.6%) on the year.   Vastly improved passer from the high post.  

Kellen Dossett - Gallatin County - Number two scorer on the Wildcats as a sometime-starter, sometime-6th man.   Averaging 12.9 ppg.    40.2% from beyond the arc, where he has hit 43 of 107.  70.8% at the line.   Averages just under four rebounds a game.

Ethan Horn - Trimble County - Averaged 9.7 ppg as a freshman; has improved that as a sophomore, averaging 11.2 ppg (2nd-best on the team) for the Raiders.   

Christian Veirs - South Oldham - may be the best shooter in the region by the time he is a senior.   Had a significant role as a freshman off the bench; is the #3 scorer for the Dragons this year at 10.8 ppg off the bench.   Hitting 55.5% of his shots, including 44.9% (22 of 49) from beyond the arc.   Deadly accurate at the line, where he shoots 78.8%.

Max Green - Oldham County - The OC sophomore is the team's starting point guard, but also is the team's #2 scorer at 14.9 ppg.   Green is a premier outside threat, shooting 42.6% from beyond the arc (58 of 136).   He is a tremendous leaper, and is one of the region's best at coming off picks and hitting perimeter shots.

Colton Feagan - Williamstown - Feagan took over the role of point guard for the Demons as a freshman and hasn't given it up.    He's averaging 12.9 ppg, third-best on the team.

Honore Yangoua - Williamstown -  One of the more athletic members of this group, Yangoua can play the game above the rim.   He's the #2 scorer on the Demons, averaging 13.4 ppg.   He's also #2 in rebounding at 4.6 boards / game.

I'm sure I've missed someone, but this is a good start.

All of the above are making big contributions to their team - some as starters, some as key subs - but all as young players who are contributing above their expected level....

Thoughts on this class?

CM

I've saw all but two of them and you're spot on with your judgment.

I'm familiar with about half of those kids, and based on that it's a good list.  The following observation is so old-fashioned it may not only be quaint but also worthless - and that is the 2 standouts on this list, at least in terms of points per game production if not in other ways as well, are holdbacks and should be (at least) juniors this year.  Someone familiar with the Spencer County team told me this weekend Erhardt won't be eligible his senior season.  Who knows if that's true - my Momma always said believe half of what you see and none of what you hear.  (Aside:  if it is true, I really don't understand what was gained by holding him back?).  As I've said elsewhere on these boards, we live in a different era now, with kids transferring and being held back routinely - it literally happens all over the place.  The only thing you can go by, in this instance, is the "Soph." next to the kids name. Anyway, bunch of good players noted here.  Will be interesting to watch how each develops, or does not, over the next two years.  Good work Mike.