4 hours ago, UnderPar21 said:

But does it really indicate good coaching? Sometimes, yes. Sometimes, I'm not really sure. Do you think there was a coach in the 12th region who couldn't have great defensive numbers with Big Lou, Leak, and Titus on their team? Seriously, I usually agree with a lot of what you're saying, but as far as defensive numbers are concerned, I'm pretty sure just about anyone could have had competitive numbers there.

There are several coaches who could have had a good defense with DCA's personnel.  But, they wouldn't have done it without coaching them.  I don't think "just about anyone" could have had a defense that good.  There are a lot of subtleties to a good team defense that have to be taught.  That's even more apparent when you're running a 3-2 like DCA did.  How and when to trap, how to handle dribble penetration, how deep to sag on the weak side, etc.  All of that is from coaching.  It's similar to blocking out and rebounding.  Blocking out is completely counter-intuitive and has to be taught.  A player's natural instinct is to turn and move toward the basket, not to seal his man and move away from the basket.  

There's more to it than just having good athletes.  A year ago DCA had a good defense when they went 25-7.  They lost 2 of their quickest athletes and then got better this year.  That's with a new coach and a new system.  Once you got past the top 3 all of the next 6 players in the rotation but one had very little varsity experience.  There was a lot of good coaching going on.  Not only that, it took a lot for the coaches to get the players to buy in and play with the effort on defense they demonstrated all year.  

Why is it that of those top 6 defensive teams I mentioned as I complimented their defenses and their coaches, DCA is always the one that gets the "anyone could win with 2 big guys" or "anyone could coach them" comments?

1 hour ago, 24Rocks said:

There are several coaches who could have had a good defense with DCA's personnel.  But, they wouldn't have done it without coaching them.  I don't think "just about anyone" could have had a defense that good.  There are a lot of subtleties to a good team defense that have to be taught.  That's even more apparent when you're running a 3-2 like DCA did.  How and when to trap, how to handle dribble penetration, how deep to sag on the weak side, etc.  All of that is from coaching.  It's similar to blocking out and rebounding.  Blocking out is completely counter-intuitive and has to be taught.  A player's natural instinct is to turn and move toward the basket, not to seal his man and move away from the basket.  

There's more to it than just having good athletes.  A year ago DCA had a good defense when they went 25-7.  They lost 2 of their quickest athletes and then got better this year.  That's with a new coach and a new system.  Once you got past the top 3 all of the next 6 players in the rotation but one had very little varsity experience.  There was a lot of good coaching going on.  Not only that, it took a lot for the coaches to get the players to buy in and play with the effort on defense they demonstrated all year.  

Why is it that of those top 6 defensive teams I mentioned as I complimented their defenses and their coaches, DCA is always the one that gets the "anyone could win with 2 big guys" or "anyone could coach them" comments?

Because it’s probably true. If you have two 7 footers in the back line you can sit in a 3-2 zone and be successful with little coaching. If you watched there zone and pressure looks it was always random and had little structure. Good teams with good coaches got good shots consistently! The size is something that is hard to prep for. Imo it had little to do with coaching schematics. Credit to the coach for winning though you definitely can’t take that away from him! I just think there’s several coaches that would’ve won with that team as well. This upcoming year will be more of a true testament to his abilities. 

Way to early to make any valid predictions for the 12th region. One of the weakest regions in the state last year,  could be a little stronger this year. Any team with the addition of one outstanding player or at the same time a loss of one can change the complexion of this region in a moment. The seven footer at DC is not in any way comparable to a seven footer like Moreno that was certainly a game changer. Many times two big guys in the same lineup can end up getting a coach fired rather than being a dominant force. Just look back at the history of high school basketball in the state and you will see what I mean. How far did it take DC this year against really good competition?

12 hours ago, 24Rocks said:

There are several coaches who could have had a good defense with DCA's personnel.  But, they wouldn't have done it without coaching them.  I don't think "just about anyone" could have had a defense that good.  There are a lot of subtleties to a good team defense that have to be taught.  That's even more apparent when you're running a 3-2 like DCA did.  How and when to trap, how to handle dribble penetration, how deep to sag on the weak side, etc.  All of that is from coaching.  It's similar to blocking out and rebounding.  Blocking out is completely counter-intuitive and has to be taught.  A player's natural instinct is to turn and move toward the basket, not to seal his man and move away from the basket.  

There's more to it than just having good athletes.  A year ago DCA had a good defense when they went 25-7.  They lost 2 of their quickest athletes and then got better this year.  That's with a new coach and a new system.  Once you got past the top 3 all of the next 6 players in the rotation but one had very little varsity experience.  There was a lot of good coaching going on.  Not only that, it took a lot for the coaches to get the players to buy in and play with the effort on defense they demonstrated all year.  

Why is it that of those top 6 defensive teams I mentioned as I complimented their defenses and their coaches, DCA is always the one that gets the "anyone could win with 2 big guys" or "anyone could coach them" comments?

If you recall, it wasn't stated that just anyone would have those numbers with that team, but any HEAD COACH in the 12th region could.  I'm confident that any of the region's head coaches could have been just as good.  Heck, they may have even switched up once in a while, a man-to-man, or even changed the trapping pattern used.  

My point is this.  The 7-footers help for sure, but to be honest, most of the turnovers that the other teams had were because of Boyd having the ability to read the next pass.  That's not coaching, just instinct. 

Again, I'm just saying that you can't determine if a team will be good next year based solely on defensive numbers.  I can assure you they will miss Lou, but they will miss Boyd even more.

39 minutes ago, Country said:

Way to early to make any valid predictions for the 12th region. One of the weakest regions in the state last year,  could be a little stronger this year. Any team with the addition of one outstanding player or at the same time a loss of one can change the complexion of this region in a moment. The seven footer at DC is not in any way comparable to a seven footer like Moreno that was certainly a game changer. Many times two big guys in the same lineup can end up getting a coach fired rather than being a dominant force. Just look back at the history of high school basketball in the state and you will see what I mean. How far did it take DC this year against really good competition?

They won the All A State Championship.  Yes, South Oldham beat on them pretty good but they also went to the Final 4 of State Tournament, so not a shabby team.  I don't think DCA played their best game in that one as well.

14 minutes ago, UnderPar21 said:

If you recall, it wasn't stated that just anyone would have those numbers with that team, but any HEAD COACH in the 12th region could.  I'm confident that any of the region's head coaches could have been just as good.  Heck, they may have even switched up once in a while, a man-to-man, or even changed the trapping pattern used.  

My point is this.  The 7-footers help for sure, but to be honest, most of the turnovers that the other teams had were because of Boyd having the ability to read the next pass.  That's not coaching, just instinct. 

Again, I'm just saying that you can't determine if a team will be good next year based solely on defensive numbers.  I can assure you they will miss Lou, but they will miss Boyd even more.

Boyd was lethal getting into the passing lanes for sure!

Bump.

On 4/25/2025 at 7:44 AM, Country said:

Way to early to make any valid predictions for the 12th region. One of the weakest regions in the state last year,  could be a little stronger this year. Any team with the addition of one outstanding player or at the same time a loss of one can change the complexion of this region in a moment. The seven footer at DC is not in any way comparable to a seven footer like Moreno that was certainly a game changer. Many times two big guys in the same lineup can end up getting a coach fired rather than being a dominant force. Just look back at the history of high school basketball in the state and you will see what I mean. How far did it take DC this year against really good competition?

I understand your point but it depends on the athleticism and skill set. As good as Shaq was, 2 of him on the floor could hurt a team. Add KD to Shaq,who is only an inch shorter than him, and that’s a lethal pairing any coach would want.

I think DCA had a true 5 in Lou, but his lack of strength hurt him if he was forced to guard a strong big man in man.Atteny, while I guess the second tallest player in the region , has a wing skill set. I think he’s a kid that most any coach would put in the floor with another true big. I don’t consider him a “big.”

I guess I'm saying it depends on the athleticism of those two bigs/taller kids, primarily their ability to guard the perimeter. Defense is where it can be a liabilityif it forces the team to slow things down or play strictly zone.

Has the big from Danville transferred?

6 minutes ago, Thakattack said:

Has the big from Danville transferred?

Not that I'm aware of.  He tweaked his ankle a few days ago and played against Frederick Douglass but wasn't at full speed.  He sat out the Pulaski game later that afternoon.  He looked good in the KY/Indiana junior all star game with 10 points in 15 minutes of playing time.

Prep Hoops KY is reporting Jaycion Graves 6”6 PF from Danville is playing summer ball at Caverna. 

If true, that’s a big blow for the Ads who I thought could be a sleeper team in 25-26. 

54 minutes ago, Thakattack said:

Has the big from Danville transferred?

I'm sorry, I misinterpreted your question and thought you were asking about Ateny from DCA.  My mistake.  

On 4/25/2025 at 8:11 AM, UnderPar21 said:

If you recall, it wasn't stated that just anyone would have those numbers with that team, but any HEAD COACH in the 12th region could.  I'm confident that any of the region's head coaches could have been just as good.  Heck, they may have even switched up once in a while, a man-to-man, or even changed the trapping pattern used.  

My point is this.  The 7-footers help for sure, but to be honest, most of the turnovers that the other teams had were because of Boyd having the ability to read the next pass.  That's not coaching, just instinct. 

Again, I'm just saying that you can't determine if a team will be good next year based solely on defensive numbers.  I can assure you they will miss Lou, but they will miss Boyd even more.

Boyd was truly the engine that drove the team, there is no doubt about that.  However, it was also try that having the 2 bigs protecting the basket, made it a lot easier to sell out and jump in the passing lanes.  If he read it wrong, or didn't quite get there, he had 2 big mistake erasers behind him.  They were a really nice combination.  

@LethalPG I had heard earlier in the spring that the Jumpers might be getting a freshman transfer from Taylor County for football.  It looks like he also played basketball.  Did that come to pass, and will he play both at Somerset?