I forgot about Zach Anderson.  Really good physical athlete.

Does anyone close to the Pulaski program know how Fraley's rehab is going?  I understood that he was going to get his knees worked on after the season.  They have a strong team but he's a real factor in their success.  

8 hours ago, theguru said:

Do you have any idea how many of the basketball starters play football?

As @LethalPG mentioned there's only a couple. What is crazy is that if you look at a typical Pulaski County basketball team, about 10 of them will look like football players. Always big, always physically strong.

9 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

I took a look at last year's records and stats and summed them up.  I'm sure I missed some things but here they are:

Best Record in 2024

DCA 25-7

Wayne 24-8

Pulaski 23-11

Mercer 22-12

Somerset 22-11

Best Regional Tournament Performance

Pulaski

Somerset

DCA

Mercer

Solid returning players

Pulaski:  4 + 2 newcomers from Wayne

DCA:  4

Rockcastle:  3

Mercer:  3 + 1 newcomer

Somerset:  3

Lincoln:  2 + 1 newcomer

Southwestern:  2 + 1 newcomer

East Jessamine:  4

Top returning players

Mercer:  Ellis

DCA:  Boyd, Ateny

Pulaski:  Phillips, Anderson, Fraley (if healthy)

Rockcastle:  Craig

East Jessamine:  Jones

Southwestern:  Dumphord

Wild cards (size, athleticism, etc)

DCA:  Size - 7’ and 6-10” on the same team is rare in high school

Southwestern:  Dumphord (outstanding athlete)

West Jessamine:  Size - new player 6-9?

New Coaches

DCA - Busick - excellent record in Indiana, experienced

West Jessamine - Adams - solid record at Boyle

Question marks

Wayne:  Complete turmoil, lost Woods and most of their team, complete unknown.

Given all of these factors I think it would be safe to say that Pulaski looks like an early favorite but they didn't look that great in the summer games and they had their full complement of players with the exception of Fraley. They have more experienced players coming back than any other team in the region.  I can't see how West Jessamine goes from 8 wins to the top of the list, even with a new big man and coach.  I would say Mercer and DCA would be in the next tier down with Southwestern, Somerset, and Rockcastle being capable of moving up if they get some good play from some younger players.  Wayne is a complete unknown.  There are some teams that I'm not that familiar with and I'm pretty sure I missed a few things.  

I don’t think DCA should be that high this year. They lost Dut and Fugate from their starting lineup, and arguably their best sub in Imfeld. They’ll have 3 good players but a huge question mark beyond those three. And one of those three (their big man) isn’t very strong offensively. I think they’ll struggle to put up enough points to be in the top tier.

37 minutes ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

I don’t think DCA should be that high this year. They lost Dut and Fugate from their starting lineup, and arguably their best sub in Imfeld. They’ll have 3 good players but a huge question mark beyond those three. And one of those three (their big man) isn’t very strong offensively. I think they’ll struggle to put up enough points to be in the top tier.

I understand why you say that but other than Pulaski just about every other team in the 12th only has about 3 proven players.  Mercer lost 2 of their top 5 so they only have 3 good returning players plus the new transfer.  They'll basically be a question mark beyond those 4, assuming the new kid meshes with the returnees.  It's just about the same for every team but Pulaski, some of the younger guys will need to step up.  I'm not sure why you're reserving that observation to DCA, it seems to me it applies to pretty much every team in the region but one.  Rockcastle, Somerset, Lincoln, and Southwestern all have about 3 proven players.  Mercer and East Jessamine have 4.  Some of those teams have kids who have seen action and have some experience but didn't score or rebound enough to be considered solid prospects.  

I watched DCA, Pulaski, Lincoln, and Mercer in summer ball and they all looked decent.  None of them stood out from the rest.  DCA either looked really good or really bad.  They were at both extremes but part of that was trying to learn the new coach's system.  Pulaski looked slow, they struggled against quickness.  Lincoln looked good at times but lacked an inside game.  Mercer looked OK but not particularly athletic.  It might be an interesting year because with the turmoil at Wayne just about every team in the 12th other than Pulaski is in the same boat, they are going to have to either get solid play out of some younger and unproven players or their coach will have to figure out how to adapt.  

21 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

I took a look at last year's records and stats and summed them up.  I'm sure I missed some things but here they are:

Best Record in 2024

DCA 25-7

Wayne 24-8

Pulaski 23-11

Mercer 22-12

Somerset 22-11

Best Regional Tournament Performance

Pulaski

Somerset

DCA

Mercer

Solid returning players

Pulaski:  4 + 2 newcomers from Wayne

DCA:  4

Rockcastle:  3

Mercer:  3 + 1 newcomer

Somerset:  3

Lincoln:  2 + 1 newcomer

Southwestern:  2 + 1 newcomer

East Jessamine:  4

Top returning players

Mercer:  Ellis

DCA:  Boyd, Ateny

Pulaski:  Phillips, Anderson, Fraley (if healthy)

Rockcastle:  Craig

East Jessamine:  Jones

Southwestern:  Dumphord

Wild cards (size, athleticism, etc)

DCA:  Size - 7’ and 6-10” on the same team is rare in high school

Southwestern:  Dumphord (outstanding athlete)

West Jessamine:  Size - new player 6-9?

New Coaches

DCA - Busick - excellent record in Indiana, experienced

West Jessamine - Adams - solid record at Boyle

Question marks

Wayne:  Complete turmoil, lost Woods and most of their team, complete unknown.

Given all of these factors I think it would be safe to say that Pulaski looks like an early favorite but they didn't look that great in the summer games and they had their full complement of players with the exception of Fraley. They have more experienced players coming back than any other team in the region.  I can't see how West Jessamine goes from 8 wins to the top of the list, even with a new big man and coach.  I would say Mercer and DCA would be in the next tier down with Southwestern, Somerset, and Rockcastle being capable of moving up if they get some good play from some younger players.  Wayne is a complete unknown.  There are some teams that I'm not that familiar with and I'm pretty sure I missed a few things.  

Zach Hutchinson of Southwestern and Aedyn Absher of Somerset will both have big JR. seasons for their teams. 

1 hour ago, LethalPG said:

Zach Hutchinson of Southwestern and Aedyn Absher of Somerset will both have big JR. seasons for their teams. 

They're both quite capable.  It'll be a bit of a change for Absher going from the role he played last year to being the main man, but you're probably right.  Lewis showed potential as a scorer, he shot a decent percentage from the 3 point line.  

5 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Zach Hutchinson of Southwestern and Aedyn Absher of Somerset will both have big JR. seasons for their teams. 

I think Kole Grundy will have a big year. 

22 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

I understand why you say that but other than Pulaski just about every other team in the 12th only has about 3 proven players.  Mercer lost 2 of their top 5 so they only have 3 good returning players plus the new transfer.  They'll basically be a question mark beyond those 4, assuming the new kid meshes with the returnees.  It's just about the same for every team but Pulaski, some of the younger guys will need to step up.  I'm not sure why you're reserving that observation to DCA, it seems to me it applies to pretty much every team in the region but one.  Rockcastle, Somerset, Lincoln, and Southwestern all have about 3 proven players.  Mercer and East Jessamine have 4.  Some of those teams have kids who have seen action and have some experience but didn't score or rebound enough to be considered solid prospects.  

I watched DCA, Pulaski, Lincoln, and Mercer in summer ball and they all looked decent.  None of them stood out from the rest.  DCA either looked really good or really bad.  They were at both extremes but part of that was trying to learn the new coach's system.  Pulaski looked slow, they struggled against quickness.  Lincoln looked good at times but lacked an inside game.  Mercer looked OK but not particularly athletic.  It might be an interesting year because with the turmoil at Wayne just about every team in the 12th other than Pulaski is in the same boat, they are going to have to either get solid play out of some younger and unproven players or their coach will have to figure out how to adapt.  

DCA’s top 3 is as good as anyone’s. Actually, better than most. I just think that, after those 3, they drop off way more than the public schools. 

On 7/26/2024 at 10:29 AM, LethalPG said:

Zach Hutchinson of Southwestern and Aedyn Absher of Somerset will both have big JR. seasons for their teams. 

I look for Grundy to have a really good season as well.   And, although he might not be a huge scorer, Bartley could really give them a presence on the boards and defensively inside.  

A recent transfer was seen at his old high school this morning.  Could be nothing but it could be something that shakes things up a bit.

13 hours ago, Boyd_Blue said:

A recent transfer was seen at his old high school this morning.  Could be nothing but it could be something that shakes things up a bit.

My guess is nothing. 

If Kendall Phillips is back to school @ Wayne Co.  it's definitely something.  Probably the best pure shooter in the region. 

3 hours ago, LethalPG said:

If Kendall Phillips is back to school @ Wayne Co.  it's definitely something.  Probably the best pure shooter in the region. 

He shot 43% from three and 84% from the line last year.  That's excellent shooting.

Word around both Pulaski and Wayne is that he will not be playing basketball this season.