I did a "Way too Early" Top 10 shortly after last season and I have only made a couple minor adjustments since then.  In my opinion, the top two teams of Murray and Calloway are clearly first and second in either order.  I went with the Murray Tigers as my first ranking, and that's mainly because of the quality depth that the Tigers possess. Honestly, teams 3 through 10 all have quite a few question marks, and I believe that any of these teams could beat each other on any given night.  

Here are my preseason rankings:

1. Murray (22-9).  Key Losses - Grant Whitaker (13 PPG), Kobe Watson (10 PPG).

If you will recall, the Tigers played the majority of last season without Whitaker and they did very well.  Lincoln English (11 PPG, 5 Reb) is in the running for Region 1 POY, and Collin Wilson (10 PPG) and Z Carman (8 PPG, 9 Reb) are two of the other more experienced players for the Tigers.  

2. Calloway Co. (21-10) - Key Losses - Aiden Clinton (10 PPG)

The Lakers have two standout players in Eli Finley (21 PPG, 5 Reb) and Jonah Butler (12 PPG, 10 Reb).  I think that both of these players will also be contenders for Region 1 POY, and I honestly think that Finley is probably the preseason favorite.  Other than Conner Lockhart (10 PPG) I do not think that the Lakers have the same quality depth as the Murray Tigers do.  I know one thing for sure - the Crosstown Classics will be quite electric this season!

3. McCracken Co. (28-6). Key Losses - Jack McCune (18 PPG, 7 Reb), Ian Hart (12 PPG, 6 Reb), Carson Purvis (11 PPG)

McCune, Hart, and Purvis are big losses for the Mustangs, and they actually lose six of their top eight scorers.  The main reason that I gave them this 3rd ranking is that they have been the cream of the crop for the 1st Region for a while now, and this is a school that is always going to have a lot of basketball talent.  The only two returning players that I am familiar with are Conner Miller (9 PPG) and Jackson Klope (5 PPG and 5 Reb).  Freshman Jay Martin is a name that you will get to know soon and I could see him being a big contributor as a Freshman.

4. Graves Co. (11-20).  Key Losses - Cole Mills (10 PPG)

The Eagles were better than their 11-20 record last year and they only lose one key player.  The trio of Lukas Pigg, Braden Waller, and Briley VeuCasovic will be the leaders this year for the Eagles.  I think they are the favorites for the 3rd District and I look for them to have a big improvement in their record this year.

5. Paducah Tilghman (21-11).  Key Losses - Jayvion Powell (18 PPG), Mian Shaw (16 PPG, 6 Reb)

Powell and Shaw are very big losses for the Tornado, and they will have a lot of scoring production to replace.  One player who will most likely step up is Miles Woodfork - he scored 7 points per game last year as a Freshman and he will need to pick up a lot more of the scoring load for the Tornado this year.  The two Seniors to watch are Jamie Harris (6 PPG) and big man Omari Williams.  Another name to watch is a WR for the football team - Josh Campbell.  Keep in mind that the Tornado could have a slow start to the season if their football team makes a big run as three or more key players also play on the gridiron.

6. Carlisle Co. (17-15).  Key Losses - None

The Comets have their entire team back and it is possible that this will be the first 1st District team to challenge for a region title in many years.  The Senior trio of Carter Barnett (14 PPG), Zack Grogan (13 PPG) and Keaton Arnold (12 PPG) will lead the way this season.

7. Mayfield (26-6). Key Losses - Sam Stone (11 PPG, 7 Reb), Nolan Fulton (11 PPG, 5 Reb)

The Cardinals will have losses of the two big men in Stone and Fulton.  Brajone Dabney (8 PPG, 4 Reb) should be the leader for the Cardinals.  This also is a team that sometimes will start slow due to a deep run by their football team.  

8. St. Mary (14-17).  Key Losses - Daniel Willett (8 PPG, 5 Rebs)

This is a sleeper team and I wonder if I should have them higher on this ranking.  The Vikings have a Junior trio of Luke Sims (14 PPG), Mikel Owen (13 PPG), Brett Haas (9 PPG) and they also have several Seniors who will provide some depth.  I think the clashes between the Vikings and the Tornado will be very interesting this year!

9. Marshall Co. (20-11).  Key Losses - Wade Moore (13 PPG), Trey Wall (7 PPG), Hunter Wallace (6 PPG)

Many people (including me) under-estimated the Marshals last year and is it possible that I am doing that again this year?  Alex Staples (9 PPG) should lead the scoring for the Marshals and Logan Parker (5 PPG, 5 Reb) is another player to watch.  Unfortunately for the Marshals I think it will be quite an uphill climb to make the Region tourney with Murray and Calloway having such strong rosters.

10. Ballard Co. (20-11).  Key Losses - Kam English (10 PPG)

If you're playing the Bombers you'd better guard Jace Birney.  He scored 20 points per game last season.  Could these Bombers make it out of the 3rd District?  I think it's possible.

11. Community Christian Acad. (18-12)

12. Hickman Co. (14-16)

13. Fulton Co. (11-12)

14. Christian Fellowship (6-23)

15. Fulton City (3-23)

What do you think of my rankings?  Please let me know what you'd change.

D Wolf

Looks good to me. If we did tier rankings, I'd probably have the top 3 in tier 1, Graves in tier 2 by themselves and 5-10 in tier 3. 

A lot of teams with a lot of questions to be answered. It will definitely shake up as we inevitably will have players step up we didn't expect all around the Region. 

Chelsea Ladd is an excellent sportswriter for the Paducah Sun and she compiled a Coaches Poll.  I’ve now seen a couple rankings that have Calloway in 1st.  It was a tough call for me but I chose Murray. The Poll:  1-Calloway, 2-Murray, 3-Graves, 4-McCracken, 5-Tilghman, 6-Marshall, 7-Carlisle, 8-St. Mary, 9-Mayfield, 10-Ballard. 
Player rankings from the Sun Poll:  1-Butler (Calloway), 2-Finley (Calloway), 3-Miller(McCracken), 4-Birney(Ballard), 5-English (Murray), 6-Pigg (Graves), 7-Staples (Marshshall), 8-Woodfork (PT), 9-Sims (St. Mary), 10-Klope (McCracken)

Pretty good poll!

Bump.

I really like Tilghman Pride’s tiers but I would make one small change.

Tier 1 - Murray and Calloway

Tier 2 - McCracken and Graves

Tier 3 - Teams 5 - 10.  Not much separating these teams. 
 

I think that the Mustangs are a big wild card .  Only Miller and Klope have played significant minutes at the varsity level.  But this team always has loads of talent. 

Murray and Calloway will be electric this year!  Big Year for English, Finley and Butler. Big time players all in the area! 

I think I may be in the minority (although in my mind it’s extremely close). Do you all have Calloway or Murray as your preseason #1?

On 11/25/2023 at 7:58 PM, D Wolf said:

I think I may be in the minority (although in my mind it’s extremely close). Do you all have Calloway or Murray as your preseason #1?

Calloway. 

 

Dabney is no longer on Mayfield's roster.