Was just thinking.... where does this class of seniors rank all-time in the state of Kentucky? SO many D1 players... just to name a few: 

Reed Sheppard
Kaleb Glenn (did not play in Ky this year)
Teagan Moore
Jacob Meyer
Evan Isparo
 

And so many more.... what do you all think? 

2015 was a very talented class. Some notable players that come to mind:

Camron Justice- Knott County Central

Raymond Spalding- Trinity

James Bolden- Holmes

Aric Holman- Owensboro

Jalen Perry- Ballard

Dewayne Sutton- Manual

Evan Hall- Knott County Central

Eli Pepper- Caldwell County

I don’t know where it stacks up all time but 2015 is one of the best in recent memory. 

19 hours ago, Adrian Woj Burner said:

Was just thinking.... where does this class of seniors rank all-time in the state of Kentucky? SO many D1 players... just to name a few: 

Reed Sheppard
Kaleb Glenn (did not play in Ky this year)
Teagan Moore
Jacob Meyer
Evan Isparo
 

And so many more.... what do you all think? 

We'll find out when they play Indiana All Stars.  This will not be a great group because they just have no size.

Really amazes me that in the past 20-25 years (maybe just the last 15) we see a lot more D1 players. Maybe it's my imagination but 50 years ago I know there were some fine players in KY, but I thank AAU and select camps have upped the number signing at that level.

10 minutes ago, 9068 said:

Really amazes me that in the past 20-25 years (maybe just the last 15) we see a lot more D1 players. Maybe it's my imagination but 50 years ago I know there were some fine players in KY, but I thank AAU and select camps have upped the number signing at that level.

I think we produce some fine players, and it's terrific that some are getting recognition. I do wonder how many more D1 teams there are now than there were 20-25 years ago? There are currently 352 D1 basketball schools, soon to be 358, in 32 D1 conferences. 

The colleges may have grown in size and scope, with bigger, fancier venues. But are schools like Bellarmine and NKU, both now D1, really getting players of a different caliber than they were a generation or two ago? 

Many schools are in an arms race to become top tier. I think D1 as a whole is a bit bloated. Every player and family chasing that dream are playing in a vastly bigger pool now than 50, or even 25 years ago.

1944 has Wah Wah Jones from Harlan and Ralph Beard from Male who were part of the Kentucky Fab Five.

 

How about the class of 1956:

Kelly Coleman, Wayland: National High School Player of the Year, still Kentucky's all-time leading scorer, starred at Kentucky Wesleyan, NBA draft pick by the Knicks.

Corky Withrow, Central City: National high school All-American, All-South All-American, played major league baseball for the St. Louis Cardinals. While playing minor league baseball, he played basketball at Georgetown College then transferred to Kentucky Wesleyan.

E.A. Couch, Carr Creek: Captain of the 1956 state championship team, All-South All-American, played at Kentucky.

Byron Pinson, Henderson City: All-Southern Conference player at Furman University where he scored 1,598 points.

Pascal Benson, Henderson City: A multi-sport star, he turned down a contract with the Milwaukee Braves in 1956 so he could play football for Blanton Collier at Kentucky.

Don Mills, Berea: Key reserve on Kentucky's 1958 NCAA championship team (the Fiddlin' Five), NBA draft pick by Syracuse.

Roger Newman, Central City: North-South All-American (The North-South Cage Commission held an All-Star game every year between 1949 and 1956 in Murray, Kentucky), played for Kentucky, NBA draft pick by the Celtics.

9 hours ago, Runcible Owl said:

I think we produce some fine players, and it's terrific that some are getting recognition. I do wonder how many more D1 teams there are now than there were 20-25 years ago? There are currently 352 D1 basketball schools, soon to be 358, in 32 D1 conferences. 

The colleges may have grown in size and scope, with bigger, fancier venues. But are schools like Bellarmine and NKU, both now D1, really getting players of a different caliber than they were a generation or two ago? 

Many schools are in an arms race to become top tier. I think D1 as a whole is a bit bloated. Every player and family chasing that dream are playing in a vastly bigger pool now than 50, or even 25 years ago.

While I agree with your sentiment about D1 being bloated I will state that both Bellarmine and NKU are getting significantly better players than they were years ago. The basketball both those schools are playing is much better than it was 25 years ago.

D1 isn’t for everyone and too many kids (parents ALSO) miss out by thinking that it is the end all be all. 

As far as this years Seniors, there are a LOT of very good guards in the state. 

10 hours ago, 9068 said:

Really amazes me that in the past 20-25 years (maybe just the last 15) we see a lot more D1 players. Maybe it's my imagination but 50 years ago I know there were some fine players in KY, but I thank AAU and select camps have upped the number signing at that level.

Absolutely. Kentucky kids have so many more opportunities to get in front of D1 and collegiate level coaches than ever before. If you are able to get into the right programs you have an infinitely better chance at receiving a scholarship offer than other talented players, simply because you are playing in front of college coaches every single game in some cases. I also know coaches who begin recruiting kids solely because they play for a certain program that they know has produced great players in the past. Just playing for the right team doesn’t necessarily close the deal on receiving a scholarship but it gets you in the door, which is the toughest part. 
 

I’m not a huge proponent of social media, however I have seen it give kids chances to be recruited that they would not normally have. Again, it is getting them exposure that kids weren’t able to get in the past. 

I think Kentucky has always had kids who could compete at the highest level, but maybe did not get the exposure to get there. 

Class of 2008 should definitely be up there. 
1. Darrius Miller. 2. Scotty Hopson. 3. Shelvin Mac. 4 Vic Mosley. 5. Arrez Henderson. And best out that group who didn’t see his senior year Bud Mackey. 

13 minutes ago, Wildcat1993 said:

Class of 2008 should definitely be up there. 
1. Darrius Miller. 2. Scotty Hopson. 3. Shelvin Mac. 4 Vic Mosley. 5. Arrez Henderson. And best out that group who didn’t see his senior year Bud Mackey. 

I played against everyone of those guys growing up and in HS, and Bud was always a stud from Scott Co.  It's a shame he got in trouble because he was destined to be a star @ Indiana.  Darius went on to went a State championship @ Mason Co. and National Championship @ UK.  Scotty was a stud player at UHA and Tennessee.  Shelvin had a great career @ Bryan Station (arguably the best player that has came through Lexington) and played on Final Four teams @ Butler, and had several stints in the NBA.  Vic was an All-American @ Georgetown College and plays professionally.  I know Arrez played @ Holmes, but what he did following HS escapes me.  Definitely, a stacked class that is right up there as one of the best!

In the class of 1998 just in the 11th region you had the following players.

Jaron Brown     Pittsburg

Eric Brown        Louisville

David Graves   Notre Dame

Shawn Fields   Georgia

Rick Jones        Vandy

That is 5 power five players just from the 11th region in one class.  I feel like in KY now we have a lot of Mid major D1 players but not as many power 5 guys like we had in the past. How many power 5 players do we have in KY highschool right now that are power 5?

I think some of the older classes are being underappreciated here.  Consider 1974, my senior year in high school:

Jack Givens - UK, NBA

Kenny Higgs - LSU, NBA

Rick Wilson - Louisville, NBA

Robert Miller - Cincinnati, NBA (very briefly in the NBA)

James Lee - UK

Danny Hall - UK, Marshall

Bob Lindsay - Florida, George Washington

Dickie Keffer - Vanderbilt

I think there are some similar classes from around then but I don't have the stuff where I can look with me right now

My own personal opinions are, most of our better D-1 players are from the past, not the present.

2 hours ago, Wildcat1993 said:

Class of 2008 should definitely be up there. 
1. Darrius Miller. 2. Scotty Hopson. 3. Shelvin Mac. 4 Vic Mosley. 5. Arrez Henderson. And best out that group who didn’t see his senior year Bud Mackey. 

Forgot all about him. TALENTED! Such a shame.