9th Region Boys Basketball Preview

[1Forrest1]

One could say top Region in the state of Kentucky. Lots of Solid talent in the region and great coaches. let's get into it. 

Pre-Season Rankings

1.    Newport

2.   Covington Catholic

3.   Cooper

4.   Lloyd

5.   Ryle

6.   Conner

7.    Holy Cross

8.   Highlands

9.   Boone County

10.  Dixie Heights

11. Beechwood

12. Ludlow

13. Bellevue

14. St. Henry

15. Newport Central Catholic

16. Villa

17. Heritage

18. Dayton

19. Holmes

Pre-Season Key Players (No Particular Order)

·       Andy Johnson- Cooper

·       EJ Walker- Lloyd

·       James Turner- Newport

·       Athens McGillis- Covington Catholic

·       Yamil Rondon- Newport

·       Cash Harney- Covington Catholic

·       Jack Sullivan- Beechwood

·       Landon Lorms- Ryle

·       Finn Louden- Conner

·       Griffin Starks- Newport

 District Projected Winners

33rd: Cooper

34th: Lloyd

35th: CovCath

36th: Newport

Newport

32-4 last season 

First game: at Dayton Dec 2nd

 

Taylen Kinney took his talent to OTE. However, the addition of Yamil Rondon should help ease the burden a bit. He will be out until mid December due to having shoulder surgery. Newport returns James Turner and Griffin Starks down low who proved to give teams problems. Amontae Lowe and DeShawn Anderson are returning guards look to help fill key roles. Anderson looks to be Newport’s key defender in addition to the length of Turner/Starks combo. AJ Lowe transfers back to Newport and looks to have a productive season. Adds an additional big body to bang with bigs for Newport 

How does Coach Snapp adapt to the loss of Kinney and chasing a 3rd consecutive regional championship since the 50’s?

Covington Catholic 

26-6 last season 

First game: Lexington Catholic Dec 7th

Coach Jake Thelen’s first year with the Colonels. Juniors Cash Harney and Athens McGillis return. They look to be one of the best back courts in the 9th region this year. Junior Donovan Bradshaw steps into the role as the starting forward. Theresa Junior will have some big shoes to fill with Caden Miller graduating. Nolan Ruthsatz is looking to become more of scorer but his presence will be felt on defense. Covington Catholic looks to get back to the regional title after looking like heavy favorites the last two years and falling short. 

How does Coach Thelen get Covington Catholic back on top in his first season and avoid the early exit at the regional tournament? 

Cooper 

24-9 last season 

First Game: at Simon Kenton Dec 10th

The departure of transfer Yamil Rondon and graduated Shaun Pouncy leaves Andy Johnson’s hand full with scoring. Andy will take on most of the offensive production this year for them. Senior Isaac Brown will more than likely step into a roll of getting the Jags into an offense. Isiah Johnson and Jaiden Combs will bring that tough football mindset and great athleticism. Coach Sullivan will have his team ready to play on the defensive side of the ball, the question this season, outside of Andy Johnson, where can the Jags find scoring production. Chris Rodriguez will look to play a lot of valuable minutes this year with the departures of Yamil Rondon, the three Pouncy brothers and Evan Blackburn. 

Can the team find scorers and get back to the regional Championship?

Conner

11-17 last season 

First Game: at Simon Kenton Dec 3rd 

Nathan Browning’s first year as the cougars head coach. Finn Louden and Landon Warner are the top two scorers for cougars last season. They also return their top 5 scorers from last season. Brady Bushman averaged nearly 9 points game while shooting 44% from the arc. 

With experience from last season, can Browning and Co get back to the top of the 33rd district and potentially mix things up in the region? 

Lloyd

25-9 last season 

First Game: Dayton Early College Academy (Dayton, OH) Dec 3rd

EJ Walker is looking to have a great senior campaign with a hopeful run at the region. Walker will be close to averaging a double. Junior Anthony Blackaar is set to have a great junior season, he’s tough at attacking the rim and looks to expand his game beyond the arc this season. Isaiah Sebastian will be a leader for Lloyd and get them into their offense. Isaiah is also one of Lloyd’s best defenders. 

Jayden Humphrey looks to stay healthy this season, as he missed quite a few games last season and be a productive part of the offense. Elijah Collins and carter Bresser will be the outside threat for this Lloyd team, they both shot above 40% from the arc last year. 

Can Lloyd make the run in the 9th region tournament this year as they have for the past two years? 

Ryle

19-12 last season 

First Game: at South Oldham Dec 2. 

Raiders being back Landon Lorms who averaged 16 points per game. Anthony Coppla is looking to boost his scoring form 9 point per game last season. Top rebounder Jonathan DeGroffs returns coming off averaging 9 points and 7 rebounds per game. 

How will the Raiders handle playing 3 top 10 NKY teams away and a top 10 Covington Catholic team at home? If they can grind out two of the 4 the light at the end of the tunnel could be bright. 

Boone County

last season: 18-10

First Game: at Newport Central Catholic Dec 4th

Rebels lost the majority of their scoring last year. Look forward to seeing who steps up and takes over. Last season the team saw 4 plays average double digits in points. Top 2 rebounders no longer on the roster. Will be keeping an eye out here. 

Dixie Heights

last season: 18-14

First Game: at Campbell County Dec 3rd

Dixie returns Griffin Derry who accounted for 15 points per game and 4 rebounds. Look for him to be the heavy shooter. Max Rubmeyer and Owen Niehues look to help Derry out on the scoring side. Start off the year will Campbell County and a brutal February with match up’s with Newport, Covington Catholic and Cooper

Highlands

last season: 17-16

First Game: at Scott Dec 2nd

Returning Daniel Shick who averaged 10 points per game looks to be the leading scorer for this Bluebird team. Nathan Rickard averaged 5 rebounds per game last season, look for him to be on the board this season and help on the scoring side. 

Holy Cross

last season: 16-13

First Game: Ryle Dec 3rd

Big fan of Coach Ricardo Johnson who is going into his second year. Looking forward to him coaching his team up and making some noise. The Indians return top scorers Nate Rominger (16ppg), William McElheney (10pm), and Luke Arlinghaus (12ppg). Rominger and McElheney top rebounders from the last year’s team. 

Beechwood

last season: 16-16

First Game: Dec 2nd Grant County

The Tigers return top scorers Jack Sullivan and Carson Blackburn. Blackburn shot 53% and Sullivan 43%. Tigers will be looking at Owen McCormack to help with some of the scoring load as well. 

Ludlow

last season: 18-13

First Game: Trimble County Dec 5th

Ludlow return Spencer Brandenburg who averaged 16 points per game and 5 rebounds. Next leader was Joesph Scott at 6 points per game and 4 rebounds. 

Bellevue

last season: 19-12

First Game: at Villa Madonna Dec 5th

Bellevue returns scorer Zach Mertens who averaged 15 points per game. 

St. Henry

last season: 10-18

First Game: TBD Dec 5th

Caden Kunstek’s 8 points per game and 3 rebounds leads this team in stats after the departure of key players from last seasons 

Newport Central Catholic

last season: 8-22

First Game: at Holmes Dec 2

NCC returns 2 top scorers from last season on Ian Mann (13 points per game) and Louie Collopy (11 points per game)X 

Villa Madonna

last season: 14-15

First Game: Bellevue Dec 5th

The Vikings lost lead scorers in Thole and Day. The next in line returning is Brandstetter (6ppg) and Thomas (6ppg). 

Heritage Academy 

last season: 12-15

First Game: Berea Dec 3rd 

Eagles will be senior led by returners Cade Holman (14ppg), Elisha Schults (11ppg, 5rpg), and Alexander Palmer (9ppg, 5rpg)

Dayton

last season: 5-23

First Game: at Newport Dec 2nd

Devils return 3rd leading scorer Chad Nickell who averaged 10 points per game. 

Holmes

last season: 2-22

First Game: NCC Dec 2nd

The Bulldogs have a new coach in Samuel Elsbernd. Hate to be that guy but I beat Holmes is kicking themselves in the butt not hiring Ricardo Johnson now coaching at Holy Cross. Can Elsbernd bring the Bulldogs back to the way of old? 

 

Look forward to seeing if any underdogs can come out and make some noise. Newport, CovCath, Cooper, and Lloyd are heavy Favorites but can they dethroned in their districts? Will Newport be top dogs without Kinney. Bring on High School Basketball!

[Tigerpride94]

St. X will be scrimmaging Covington Catholic on 11/27 at 11:00 AM at St. X so I'll looking forward to seeing them.

[1Forrest1]

1 hour ago, Tigerpride94 said:

St. X will be scrimmaging Covington Catholic on 11/27 at 11:00 AM at St. X so I'll looking forward to seeing them.

Be a solid first test for them and New Coach. 

[theguru]

Bump.

[Honey Badger]

On 11/14/2024 at 12:51 PM, 1Forrest1 said:

Hate to be that guy but I beat Holmes is kicking themselves in the butt not hiring Ricardo Johnson now coaching at Holy Cross.

@1Forrest1What do you think would be the biggest difference if Holmes would have hired Ricardo a few years ago? Do you think there would be athletes enrolled at Holmes that are currently at different schools now? Do you think the overall player development of the current athletes at Holmes would be further along then where it stands now? Do you think his pedigree and knowledge itself would have the Holmes basketball program ahead of where they are now if he had the same roster that's at Holmes now?

[Shotwhisperer75]

Looking forward to the scrimmages at Simon Kenton this weekend. I have the Colonels winning the Region this year. Newport losing Kinney sealed their fate. I think the Cov Cath guards in McGillis, Harney, and Ruthsatz is going to be too hard to deal with. Lots of fire power coming from this trio! 

Who are the other players not on this Top 10 list that we should be watching for this year? 

What team on this list will surprise everyone the most? 

[1Forrest1]

On 11/19/2024 at 6:09 PM, Honey Badger said:

@1Forrest1What do you think would be the biggest difference if Holmes would have hired Ricardo a few years ago? Do you think there would be athletes enrolled at Holmes that are currently at different schools now? Do you think the overall player development of the current athletes at Holmes would be further along then where it stands now? Do you think his pedigree and knowledge itself would have the Holmes basketball program ahead of where they are now if he had the same roster that's at Holmes now?

You hit it on the head. He is a winner. He is someone who made it out and made a name for himself. Played/Coached college ball. He did not become a product of his environment. He would have been an amazing leader at Holmes. Compare it to a Mark Pope at Kentucky situation as well. 

[1Forrest1]

2 hours ago, Shotwhisperer75 said:

Looking forward to the scrimmages at Simon Kenton this weekend. I have the Colonels winning the Region this year. Newport losing Kinney sealed their fate. I think the Cov Cath guards in McGillis, Harney, and Ruthsatz is going to be too hard to deal with. Lots of fire power coming from this trio! 

Who are the other players not on this Top 10 list that we should be watching for this year? 

What team on this list will surprise everyone the most? 

I do not see many other teams being in the mix. 1-4 will be in your regional championship. It’s way too early but pretty confident. 

[Cov_Cath_Hwy]

On 11/22/2024 at 2:42 PM, Shotwhisperer75 said:

Looking forward to the scrimmages at Simon Kenton this weekend. I have the Colonels winning the Region this year. Newport losing Kinney sealed their fate. I think the Cov Cath guards in McGillis, Harney, and Ruthsatz is going to be too hard to deal with. Lots of fire power coming from this trio! 

Who are the other players not on this Top 10 list that we should be watching for this year? 

What team on this list will surprise everyone the most? 

Any word on how the scrimmage at SK went today for the Colonels?

[dshoe40]

Is Yamil Rondon  playing for Newport he isn't listed on the KHSAA roster ?

[The Double Deuce]

People are SLEEPING on Nate Rominger at Holy Cross.  

[ChickenWyngz]

On 11/22/2024 at 5:16 PM, 1Forrest1 said:

I do not see many other teams being in the mix. 1-4 will be in your regional championship. It’s way too early but pretty confident. 

It’ll probably be from 1-3, really.

If Rondon never shows up in Newport’s KHSAA roster, it’ll be 2 or 3.

[1Forrest1]

Newport scrimmaged hazard today. played well enough to beat them by 8 without James Turner. Newport simply had too much size and athleticism.

On the Yamil issue, the team’s statistician has not updated the roster on KHSAA. My close source says not to fret Yamil will be playing for the Wildcats this season. 

[I gotta go to work]

54 minutes ago, 1Forrest1 said:

Newport scrimmaged hazard today. played well enough to beat them by 8 without James Turner. Newport simply had too much size and athleticism.

On the Yamil issue, the team’s statistician has not updated the roster on KHSAA. My close source says not to fret Yamil will be playing for the Wildcats this season. 

Guess they have one more day to get it done. Head Coach, AD, and whoever else they delegate access to can do it.

[1Forrest1]

22 hours ago, I gotta go to work said:

Guess they have one more day to get it done. Head Coach, AD, and whoever else they delegate access to can do it.

Looks to be correct From my view.