3 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Now that dead period has hit, and teams are on a break I thought I’d take a shot at top 5.  (I had the opportunity to watch most of the teams in our region this summer)

1. DCA- All of their kids look physically bigger.  Their zone is very rangy, and their kids play extremely hard and active in it.  They added a piece for their bench to boost the interior.  I expect the Steifeld kid to have a breakout year. 

2. Wayne Co.- Honestly, 2-6 is pretty interchangeable but I’m giving them a nod because the day I seen them all of their kids were there and they were playing with great energy.  Getting the Bell kid back for them is huge.  Their issue is interior size, but their center does work his tail off.  Kendall Phillips is a lethal shooter, and the other guards will benefit from last year’s experience. 

3. West Jessamine-  They struggled some with W/L results.  But, projecting out I think they have a well rounded team with great size and experienced guard play.  Tut is a physical specimen that can dominate the game.  Murphy and Thornton are capable and seasoned guards in the region. 
 

4. Somerset- They played really well this summer without Grundy and Bartley most of the time.  I believe this is another team that is well rounded, and can lean on an experienced backcourt.  Brock Stevens emergence can help take the pressure off Absher and Lewis.  He shot the ball extremely well all summer, and that gives them 3 of the best shooters in the region.  Collectively, a really good 12th region backcourt.  
 

5. Lincoln Co.  Sim. To Somerset, with Baird and Robbins they have a seasoned backcourt.  I worry about their collective size but I could see them using a 5 out offense some as well.  Penegraft did appear to improve throughout their summer games, and he will be their small 5.  Their kids play super hard, and picked up a nice W over Newport in the KABC.
 

Pulaski Co, Southwestern and Rock were all on my radar as well but the times I saw them they had key guys not playing .

 

I agree with your assessment.  I've seen all of those top 5 teams plus Southwestern (at least on video) and I think you're right.  DCA's biggest problem this summer was taking care of the ball, they'll definitely have to tighten that up.  Stiefel is way more comfortable this summer than he was during the season and Ben Mikel is a big addition for them.  He'll not be the defensive presence that Lou was but he's a lot more of a scoring threat.

Somerset's shooting was impressive.  The competition for the Class A regional this year could be a lot of fun.  

Sleeper team to me is Rockcastle County, I'm sticking to what I said earlier Walker Craig will be the best player in the Region next year if he stays healthy! DCA will have the best team. 

9 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

Sleeper team to me is Rockcastle County, I'm sticking to what I said earlier Walker Craig will be the best player in the Region next year if he stays healthy! DCA will have the best team. 

Walker will certainly be in the conversation.  Modern therapy has changed the game on ACL tears.  Ateny is the best player in the region right now.  He was dominate in the two games I watched of them this summer.  He was playing stronger and more aggressive. 

20 hours ago, Statsdontlie said:

Sleeper team to me is Rockcastle County, I'm sticking to what I said earlier Walker Craig will be the best player in the Region next year if he stays healthy! DCA will have the best team. 

DCA have any transfers? Or just what they return? Seems like they have some big pieces to replace. 

33 minutes ago, catfan09 said:

DCA have any transfers? Or just what they return? Seems like they have some big pieces to replace. 

They had a student enroll named Ben Mikels who had been homeschooled.  He previously played for LIGHT and will be a senior at DCA.  He's in the 6-4 range (maybe 6-5) and solidly built.  I was impressed with his game, he's a strong inside player with good footwork and patience.  He won't be the defender that Lual Ayiei was but he'll be a lot bigger scoring threat.  

Jeremiah Stiefel, the homeschool student who enrolled in January is much improved.  He doesn't even look like the same player.  He's 6-4 and very athletic.

@24Rocks who is Ateny playing AAU with? Any offers at this point?

3 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

@24Rocks who is Ateny playing AAU with? Any offers at this point?

I know he’s played some AAU but I’m not sure who with.  The report I received was that he’d held his own against some good big men in a tournament in Tennessee but I didn’t get any details.  
His ankle was bothering him and he missed some summer games.  It may have been a problem in AAU.

It’s the same with offers.  Some mid-majors are definitely interested but I don’t know if they have offered yet.  I heard that he visited Wright State but I don’t know what the outcome was.  
 

He looked good in the Indiana/Ky Junior all star game.  10 pts and 4 rebounds in 15 minutes.  2/3 from three.  He was wide open a couple of times and his teammates didn’t pass it which is typical of those games 

I’ve been out of touch with the people I know from there.  I’ll see if I can get an update.  

5 hours ago, QueenoftheSouth said:

@24Rocks who is Ateny playing AAU with? Any offers at this point?

Grand Park Premier out of Indiana. 

Sad news out of Wayne County.  Sixteen year old Sophomore-to-be Cayleb Rice was killed in a car crash on Friday.  He was a member of the Wayne County football and basketball teams.

His family is starting a scholarship in Cayleb’s honor. Donations can be sent to Wayne County High School, 2 Kenny Davis Blvd., Monticello, KY 42633.

Prayers and condolences to the friends and family.

Cayleb was a phenomenal young man. The whole community is shaken to the core by his passing. He was a fierce competitor on the court/field, hard worker in the classroom and just an all around great kid. 

Seth Farmer, who was at Pulaski Co. last year appears to be headed back to Wayne Co.  

Would be huge for the Cards. 

14 hours ago, LethalPG said:

Would be huge for the Cards. 

It will definitely hurt Pulaski but if Anderson is healthy he can be a capable post player for them.

No shade to any of these players, but how is transferring multiple times within your four years of high school allowed?

1 hour ago, 24Rocks said:

It will definitely hurt Pulaski but if Anderson is healthy he can be a capable post player for them.

Yes, my guess is they play smaller with Anderson at the stretch 5.