BluegrassPreps.com 6th Region Boys Basketball Preview

A REGION IN TRANSITION IS UP FOR GRABS

The Sixth Region is in transition. Nearly half the region, 10 of 19 teams, suffered heavy graduation losses. Additionally, three of the best players transferred out of the region. More than a quarter of the region underwent coaching changes as five new head coaches will be patrolling the sidelines. That said, some of the best players in Kentucky ply their craft here, including Mr. Basketball candidate Cyr Malonga, the No. 31 center in 247 Sports' composite national rankings for the class of 2023. Some very promising youngsters, including Jordan Bender and Elijah Clinton, are on the rise. The top five teams are pretty good and form a clear top tier: Western, Evangel Christian, Pleasure Ridge Park, DeSales and Iroquois. The regional tournament champion will probably come from that group as defending champ Jeffersontown likely lost too much to repeat. Western, with four college prospects, will open as the favorite despite getting bounced in last season's murderous 22nd District tournament and failing to make the regional. The 22nd District once again looks to be the class of the region. Doss, Fern Creek and Fairdale could surprise.

Regional Rankings

1. Western (23-5 last season): Most of the top players are back including double-digit scorers Trent Hinkle (15.1 ppg), an all-region pick, and 6-foot-6 Julius Edmonds (13.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg) plus leading rebounder Jayden Miles (8.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg). All three have college offers. There's also Ondre Wicks (7.8 ppg), who shot better than 60 percent from the field. Hinkle and Myles hit better than 80 percent from the free throw line and 45 percent from 3-point range. Second-leading scorer Kaden Magwood transferred to Oak Hill Academy, but 6-foot-6 emerging sophomore Elijah Clinton made a lot of noise during summer ball and also began receiving college offers.

2. Evangel Christian (22-11): The 23rd District champion and regional tournament semifinalist lost some key contributors, but the top returnees are two of the best in the region: 6-11 senior post player Cyr Malonga, an East Carolina commit, and junior point guard Kyran Tilley. Malonga, who moved from Pointe Noire, Congo, in 2020 on the advice of a coach there, averaged 10.8 points, 7.8 rebounds and shot 68 percent from the field last season in just his third year playing the sport after concentrating on soccer in his youth. He has, shall we say, massive upside. Tilley (11 ppg), formerly at Male, had solid shooting percentages including 41.3 percent from long range.

3. Pleasure Ridge Park (23-7): Leading scorer Zee McCown transferred out of state, but the 21st District champ and returning regional semifinalist returns two double-digit point producers and three of its top five scorers. Names to know are all-region pick Keith Robinson (17 ppg, 5.9 rpg), Greg Cole (10.4 ppg) and Mali Hamilton (6.9 ppg, 4 rpg). They are part of a massive senior class. Robinson, who is beginning to receive small-school college offers, hit 80 percent of his free throws. Cole shot 54 percent from the field, Robinson 52 percent. Cole hit 41 percent of his 3-point shots.

4. DeSales (14-14): Three of the top five scorers and the top three rebounders are back including 6-6 Liberty commit Will Gibson (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg), Crew Gibson (10.7 ppg, 8 rpg) and shooter Brady Cummins (9.5 ppg, 3.7 rpg). Cummins put up excellent across-the-board percentages: 90 percent on free throws, 49 percent from 3-point range and 54 percent from the field. The Colts should be helped by some key transfers including Jordan Bender, a 6-6 freshman forward from Evangel Christian who's already attracting Division I interest.

5. Iroquois (22-6): The Raiders welcome back three productive starters and a slew of talented sophomores. The starters are Jordan Williamson (12.7 ppg 5 rpg), Jamir Ford (12.3 ppg, 5 rpg) and Alonzo Basemore (8.6 ppg). Williamson shot 44 percent from 3-point range, Basemore 41 percent. Williamson and Basemore both shot better than 50 percent from the field. The Raiders hit 50.3 percent as a team.

6. Jeffersontown (24-9): The defending 24th District and regional tournament champions lost five of their top seven scorers including leading scorer and rebounder Drae Vasser, who transferred to Trinity. That leaves seniors Xavier Price (8.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg) and Brandon Gatewood (4.9 ppg). Senior shooter Genesis Nimely (4.1 ppg) and junior Lukus McDaniels (2.7 ppg) were also part of the regular rotation.

7. Doss (24-8): The defending 22nd District champ and regional runner-up is in transition with a new coach and several new players in the regular rotation after losing three of the top four scorers. A key holdover is Marcus Baker (10 ppg) an 80-percent free throw shooter who takes a lot of 3-point shots (55 for 152). LeeTwon Bray (6 ppg) hit 81 percent of his free throws in limited duty.

8. Fern Creek (11-16): The Tigers were decimated by graduation, losing 10 seniors and nine of their top 10 scorers. They also moved on to a new head coach, former Louisville center Ellis Myles, a starter on the 2004-05 Final Four Cardinals squad. The most productive returnee, senior Camren Trice, was fifth in scoring with 6.9 points per game and second in rebounding (4.6).

9. Fairdale (14-18): Top-heavy with juniors galore. The Bulldogs could have just two seniors. But they could also have a whopping nine juniors, including last season's top two scorers, Dalton Hicks (19 ppg) and Jacob Tucker (17.5), who generated 60 percent of the offense.

10. Bullitt East (17-14): Four of the top six scorers graduated, leaving the bulk of scoring duties to Nolan Davenport (13 ppg) and Camron Brogan (6.6 ppg). The top three rebounders also departed. Brogan was fourth in rebounding at 3.6 per game.

11. Butler (18-14): Seven of the top nine scorers have left. Top returnees are expected to be Dayton Williams (7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), the most active from 3-point range on 36-for-111 shooting, and Markel Meriwether (3.9 ppg), who made nearly 90 percent from the line.

12. Southern (13-14): Gone are six of the top eight in the playing rotation. Likely holdovers Tahj Meadows (8 ppg) and Myles Jones (7.8 ppg) would be the most experienced regulars. Both were high percentage shooters inside the arc, Meadows converting 64 percent and Jones 49 percent.

13. Bullitt Central (19-12): Eighty percent of the offense departed as the top four scorers and six of the top eight in the rotation graduated. Fifth-leading scorer and second-leading rebounder Nathaniel Craven (4.9 ppg, 5 rpg), an 80-percent free-throw shooter, is expected to be one of about a half dozen seniors along with Jacob Hess.

14. Beth Haven (22-7): Four of the top six scorers hit the exits. But second-leading scorer and rebounder Jordan Harris (14.7 ppg, 6.3 ppg) is back as is fellow junior Jeremy Gibson (3.6 ppg). And don't look now but here come the Stinnetts: Freshman Connor Stinnett, who didn't miss a free throw last season, and eighth-grader Michael Ray Stinnett, who hit 43 percent of his 3-point shots.

15. Holy Cross (15-16): The Cougars are in transition after losing seven seniors and making a coaching change. They will deploy a junior-laden roster with a whopping nine juniors plus a sophomore named Junior (forward Junior Skillman). Four seniors provide leadership, led by leading scorer and rebounder Jacob Hand (20.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg), who made 57.3 percent from the field and is receiving college interest.

16. Moore (6-22): Graduation losses resulted in eight departing seniors, including the top four scorers who took 77 percent of the offense with them. There's also a new coach. The most productive returnees are expected to be junior Jonathon Thomas (4.7 ppg, 4 rpg) who shot 43 percent from 3-point range, and senior Jacob Colvin, a 45-percent shooter overall.

17. North Bullitt (9-20): Led by Conner Boley, the Eagles' roster was junior-heavy last season so continuity should be a strength. Boley was second on the team in scoring (10.1 ppg) and rebounding (5.9). But watch out for the youngsters. Braxton Sievert (12.2 ppg) was last season's scoring leader as a freshman. Jayden Reissor (7.4 ppg) was fifth in scoring as a sophomore.

18. Valley (5-24): The Vikings lost the top four scorers from a team that had trouble scoring. They also made a coaching change. Among expected returnees who got into at least 14 games last season, seniors JaMarion Carter (7.4 ppg) and Caron Brumfield (3.5 ppg) were the most productive.

19. Whitefield Academy (8-20): The schedule is once again heavy on Christian, Latin and private schools. Top players are expected to be seniors Caleb McBroom (10 ppg, 4.2 rpg), Seivan Braffet (8.4 ppg) and Tyler Mosby (6.5 ppg, 3.6 rpg).

Top Six Players

1. Cyr Malonga, Evangel Christian, 6-11 Sr. F
2. Keith Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park, 6-4 Sr. F
3. Trent Hinkle, Western, 5-11 Sr. G
4. Julius Edmonds, Western, 6-6 So. F
5. Jayden Miles, Western, 6-8 So. F
6. Will Gibson, DeSales, 6-6 Jr. C
 

Welcome to BGP @Basketball Jones!

Great stuff, thank you.

Well done, @Basketball Jones

Great stuff!!!

Thank you, fellas. I appreciate that.

Top 10 seniors in the 6th Region, according to Prep Hoops:

KY Rank/Player/Height/Position/High School
-----------------------------------------------------
8 Cyr Malonga 6'10" C Evangel Christian
22 Crew Gibson 6'8" PF DeSales
30 Keith Robinson 6'5" PF  Pleasure Ridge Park
32 Trent Hinkle 5'11" PG Western
40 Ondre Wicks 6'5" SF Western
59 Marcus Barker 5'10" PG Doss
63 Jamal Chambers 6'2" PG Fern Creek
79 Xavier Price 6'4" SF Jeffersontown
85 Jordan Blythe 5'11" PG Moore
88 Greg Cole 5'10" SG Pleasure Ridge Park

Butler's Dayton Williams going to have good season.

Four teams from the 6th Region are in the top 25 ranking put out on Wednesday by the Lexington Herald-Leader. What the newspaper wrote:

9. Western (23-5): The Warriors return their leading scorer and leading rebounder from a year ago in 5-11 senior Trent Hinkle (15.1 ppg) and 6-8 sophomore Jayden Miles (8.6 ppg, 8.5 rpg). They also have tremendous length for a high school team with 6-6 sophomore Julius Edmonds, 6-8 junior Jaylen Ellis and 6-6 sophomore Elijah Clinton. “Our biggest strength will be our defense,” Coach Brandon Britt said. “A concern is our youth, but we have a shot at making a run in our loaded district and region.”

12. Evangel Christian (22-11): Cyr Malonga (10.8 ppg, 7.9 rpg), a 6-10 East Carolina commit, returns for another run at the 6th Region and All “A” Classic titles.

18. DeSales (14-14): The maturing of Will Gibson (15.1 ppg, 7.7 rpg), a 6-6 junior committed to Liberty, and brother Crew Gibson (10.7 ppg, 8 rpg), a 6-7 senior, have expectations raised.

25. Jeffersontown (24-9): The defending 6th Region champions return starters Brandon Gatewood and Lukus McDaniels, but lost standout Drae Vasser to transfer. 
 

6th Region rankings by The Cats' Pause.

Top 10 Teams

1. Western
2. Evangel Christian
3. Pleasure Ridge Park
4. Iroquois
5. DeSales
6. Jeffersontown
7. Fern Creek
8. Bullitt East
9. Fairdale
10. Moore

Top 10 Players

1. Cyr Malonga, Evangel Sr. C
2. Trent Hinkle, Western Sr. G
3. Keith Robinson, Pleasure Ridge Park Sr. F
4. Julius Edmonds, Western So. F
5. Kyran Tilley, Evangel Jr. G
6. Will Gibson, DeSales Jr. C
7. Greg Cole, Pleasure Ridge Park Sr. G
8. Nolan Davenport, Bullitt East Sr. G
9. Jacob Hand, Holy Cross Jr. F
10. Jordan Williamson, Iroquois Sr. G

Some final individual scrimmage numbers for Pleasure Ridge Park vs. Ballard:

Keith Robinson 35 points, eight rebounds, three assists, one steal

Jakob Dixon 19 points

Malachi Hamilton 11 points

Greg Cole 5 points

Shawn Irvin 4 points

Nai Quan Williams 3 points

Nolan Haley 2 points

(Robinson recently had an unofficial visit at Austin Peay University.)

 

Is there any word on yet on whether WEB DuBois Academy is going to be in Region 6 or Region 7 once they're in KHSAA district play?

They're going ahead and playing their first varsity season this year with nothing but 8th graders, freshmen and sophomores making up the team.

No word yet, sir. In a bit of an oddity, WEB Dubois has a team but not a region. On the other hand, Piarist and Riverside Christian don't have teams but they've been placed in regions. Stay tuned.

Current Basketball Alignment | Kentucky High School Athletic Association (khsaa.org)

I suspect when the time comes they will be placed in the Sixth, which currently has 18 schools with boys sports.  The Seventh Region already has 20.  Plus, the Sixth makes more sense from a geographic perspective.

 

Fifty years ago, Apollo High School, which had opened as a junior high school but then was converted into a high school, did something similar, although they waited until we had a junior class to compete on the varsity level.  It was a long season.  

 

I am going to try to get out to see WEB DuBois play sometime this week.

Bump.