4 hours ago, Joe LeDuc said:

Lincoln at #2?  Interesting being as they are coming off of a 16-13 season and losing 3 seniors and a transfer big.  But, that is why they play the games.

I think the transfer big was losing minutes this summer to a younger player.  Their guard play should be very good with the addition of Fugate.  Cash Baird also has a high ceiling.

I took a fairly close look at the numbers for the returning players on top 5 on this list.  I included the transfers as well.  I think the conclusion that there is no clear front runner is correct.  Other than Pulaski none of the top 5 teams return more than 3 proven players.  If Carson Fraley is not able to go then Pulaski is in the same boat as everyone else with 3 solid returnees.  

Here's how they look ranked in order from #1 through #5.  This is not including Fraley from PC.

Scoring:  SW, Mercer, DCA, PC, Lincoln

Rebounding:  DCA, SW, Mercer, PC, Lincoln

If Fraley is healthy the only change would be that PC would trade places with DCA on scoring.

Notes:  There are no outstanding high volume 3 point shooters except for Preston, the LCA transfer who is now at Mercer.  He shot 38.5% on 91 attempts.  Ellis from Mercer shot 42% but only took 59 of them.  The only FT shooter who is above 80% is Idlewine from PC at 84%.  Ellis stands out individually as a rebounder, averaging 12.5 per game.

Lincoln is significantly lower than the rest on rebounding, averaging only 10 per game total with their top 3 returnees.  That's compared to at least 20 per game from the other 4 schools.

My conclusion is that for any of these teams to clearly separate themselves from the pack there will have to be some younger players or little used reserves step up.   Just about everyone in this group has a short bench so it's going to be a coaching challenge to develop some more players to go with the three proven ones each team has.  In the traditional powerhouse programs they've got jayvees that are simply waiting for their time and can fill those roles.  That's not necessarily the case in the 12th.

11 minutes ago, 24Rocks said:

I took a fairly close look at the numbers for the returning players on top 5 on this list.  I included the transfers as well.  I think the conclusion that there is no clear front runner is correct.  Other than Pulaski none of the top 5 teams return more than 3 proven players.  If Carson Fraley is not able to go then Pulaski is in the same boat as everyone else with 3 solid returnees.  

Here's how they look ranked in order from #1 through #5.  This is not including Fraley from PC.

Scoring:  SW, Mercer, DCA, PC, Lincoln

Rebounding:  DCA, SW, Mercer, PC, Lincoln

If Fraley is healthy the only change would be that PC would trade places with DCA on scoring.

Notes:  There are no outstanding high volume 3 point shooters except for Preston, the LCA transfer who is now at Mercer.  He shot 38.5% on 91 attempts.  Ellis from Mercer shot 42% but only took 59 of them.  The only FT shooter who is above 80% is Idlewine from PC at 84%.  Ellis stands out individually as a rebounder, averaging 12.5 per game.

Lincoln is significantly lower than the rest on rebounding, averaging only 10 per game total with their top 3 returnees.  That's compared to at least 20 per game from the other 4 schools.

My conclusion is that for any of these teams to clearly separate themselves from the pack there will have to be some younger players or little used reserves step up.   Just about everyone in this group has a short bench so it's going to be a coaching challenge to develop some more players to go with the three proven ones each team has.  In the traditional powerhouse programs they've got jayvees that are simply waiting for their time and can fill those roles.  That's not necessarily the case in the 12th.

PC JV and freshman teams won both of their respective 12th region tournaments so I am going to say they are a leg up with talent there. As I’ve said before it is open but until someone knocks PC off it’s theirs to lose. 

20 minutes ago, BasketballFan24 said:

PC JV and freshman teams won both of their respective 12th region tournaments so I am going to say they are a leg up with talent there. As I’ve said before it is open but until someone knocks PC off it’s theirs to lose. 

PC usually has a good feeder system.  There was a JV tournament at Boyle last year that Lincoln won.  I don't recall that PC was in it.  Lincoln's best player was the young man who transferred to Garrard and as I recall he was a pretty good rebounder which Lincoln sorely needs.  

7 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

I took a fairly close look at the numbers for the returning players on top 5 on this list.  I included the transfers as well.  I think the conclusion that there is no clear front runner is correct.  Other than Pulaski none of the top 5 teams return more than 3 proven players.  If Carson Fraley is not able to go then Pulaski is in the same boat as everyone else with 3 solid returnees.  

Here's how they look ranked in order from #1 through #5.  This is not including Fraley from PC.

Scoring:  SW, Mercer, DCA, PC, Lincoln

Rebounding:  DCA, SW, Mercer, PC, Lincoln

If Fraley is healthy the only change would be that PC would trade places with DCA on scoring.

Notes:  There are no outstanding high volume 3 point shooters except for Preston, the LCA transfer who is now at Mercer.  He shot 38.5% on 91 attempts.  Ellis from Mercer shot 42% but only took 59 of them.  The only FT shooter who is above 80% is Idlewine from PC at 84%.  Ellis stands out individually as a rebounder, averaging 12.5 per game.

Lincoln is significantly lower than the rest on rebounding, averaging only 10 per game total with their top 3 returnees.  That's compared to at least 20 per game from the other 4 schools.

My conclusion is that for any of these teams to clearly separate themselves from the pack there will have to be some younger players or little used reserves step up.   Just about everyone in this group has a short bench so it's going to be a coaching challenge to develop some more players to go with the three proven ones each team has.  In the traditional powerhouse programs they've got jayvees that are simply waiting for their time and can fill those roles.  That's not necessarily the case in the 12th.

Pulaski- Gavin Cook will be a top player in the region and one of the best shooters, if not best in region.  He backed up a good regular season with a better postseason. 

Who are some sleepers or up and coming players to keep an eye on for other schools? 

1 hour ago, catfan09 said:

Pulaski- Gavin Cook will be a top player in the region and one of the best shooters, if not best in region.  He backed up a good regular season with a better postseason. 

Who are some sleepers or up and coming players to keep an eye on for other schools? 

You’re right.  For some reason I thought he was a senior last year.  When you add in his points and rebounds PC is clearly in front when it comes to returning talent.  My mistake.  
 

I think Eli Perez can be a solid contributor for DCA.  He might not be a big scorer but he can play defense and help take some me of the load off of Titus Boyd by bringing the ball up.

On 10/28/2024 at 1:10 PM, 24Rocks said:

PC usually has a good feeder system.  There was a JV tournament at Boyle last year that Lincoln won.  I don't recall that PC was in it.  Lincoln's best player was the young man who transferred to Garrard and as I recall he was a pretty good rebounder which Lincoln sorely needs.  

That was only for their district.  The region has a JV & Frosh tournament every season towards the end of the year.  JV is @ Rock, and Frosh is @ SW.  Pulaski won both of these tournaments last season.  

19 hours ago, catfan09 said:

Pulaski- Gavin Cook will be a top player in the region and one of the best shooters, if not best in region.  He backed up a good regular season with a better postseason. 

Who are some sleepers or up and coming players to keep an eye on for other schools? 

I'll give some other southern school sleepers other than Pulaski.  Cook was automatic from 3 last year! 

Somerset- Kole Grundy F.  I think he will be a solid #2 scorer behind Absher for the Jumpers.  Can bang in the post and will be called on to make the 3 consistently.

Southwestern- Jarrett Simpson PF.  I think he has a chance to be one of the best posts in the region.  Big Kid, that can stretch the floor from 3.

Wayne Co.- Korbyn Edwards PG.  Him and Phillips will be a nice 1-2 punch in the backcourt.  Kid is tough as nails.  I believe I saw where he rushed the ball 40 times from the quarterback spot a few weeks ago.

5 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

That was only for their district.  The region has a JV & Frosh tournament every season towards the end of the year.  JV is @ Rock, and Frosh is @ SW.  Pulaski won both of these tournaments last season.  

Did any other teams look pretty good?

2 minutes ago, 24Rocks said:

Did any other teams look pretty good?

I do not remember who was in the finals for the FR. tournament, but I know Pulaski Co. beat McCreary Central in finals for the JV tournament.

Who was the top 10 players in the Cats Pause magazine? 

in order

Trevor Ellis 

Walker Craig 

Kendall Phillips

Antajuan Dumphord

Carson Fraley

Titus Boyd

Hagan Preston 

Leek Atney

Trevarion Page 

Miyo Jones. 
 

18 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Wayne Co.- Korbyn Edwards PG.  Him and Phillips will be a nice 1-2 punch in the backcourt.  Kid is tough as nails.  I believe I saw where he rushed the ball 40 times from the quarterback spot a few weeks ago.

Edwards (soph) has played varsity since 7th grade and has started at point guard since 8th.  Between he and Phillips, that's quite a bit of backcourt experience coming back.

Ryder Bell (soph) will be another player to watch for Wayne. He was the sixth man last year, has a high motor and high basketball IQ. He also just won region in XC last weekend.

It's hard to get a read on Wayne's younger players since last year's freshman only played 4-5 games and neither JV or Freshman played in any tournaments. Woods also only went 6 deep and sometimes Bell only got a couple minutes.  And then there are the newcomers that no one has seen.

It will be really interesting to see how new faces step up (or don't) and how experienced players react to a brand new system for a new coach and where Wayne falls in the 12th region pecking order.

Does Wayne County have any decent size with Farmer and Dumphord gone?

31 minutes ago, Boyd_Blue said:

Edwards (soph) has played varsity since 7th grade and has started at point guard since 8th.  Between he and Phillips, that's quite a bit of backcourt experience coming back.

Ryder Bell (soph) will be another player to watch for Wayne. He was the sixth man last year, has a high motor and high basketball IQ. He also just won region in XC last weekend.

It's hard to get a read on Wayne's younger players since last year's freshman only played 4-5 games and neither JV or Freshman played in any tournaments. Woods also only went 6 deep and sometimes Bell only got a couple minutes.  And then there are the newcomers that no one has seen.

It will be really interesting to see how new faces step up (or don't) and how experienced players react to a brand new system for a new coach and where Wayne falls in the 12th region pecking order.

I expect them to very solid.  They will contend for their district IMO.  Contrasting matchup between them and SW.  Wayne will have solid guard play, while SW will rely heavily on their size.