13th Region Boys Basketball Preview:

With the weather turning colder and the first round of the KHSAA Football Playoffs starting, that means the round balls are bouncing in full force. Basketball season is here, and week 1 will be here before we know it. Last year, North Laurel got hot when it mattered and won two OT games, likely upsets, to knock off the region favorites to win the 13th. 

North Laurel is going to look to repeat with Reece Davidson leading the way after blowing up at the state tournament. The Jaguars only graduate one senior off of a team that made it to the elite 8, so they should be well set to make another run at it. The region did lose a lot of talent by way of transfer, but things are always really competitive in the 13th and it should make for a fun season and a fun 13th region tournament at the end. 

If I’ve missed anything, chime in and let us know how you feel about the 13th as a whole. 

Rankings:

1. North Laurel - The only production that North Laurel loses off their team from last year is Kole Jervis, the starting PG who put up 8.1 and 1.7 per game. They’ll need someone else to man the offense, but as long as Reece Davidson is back I don’t think they’ll have any problems finding that. Reece put up 21.6 and 9.4 and should be a sneaky candidate for Mr. Basketball and a sure fire favorite for 13th region player of the year. Jordan Rawlings, RJ Noble, and Corey Cunagin will all step into larger roles for the Jags and I think they’ll have a real chance to make some noise in the Sweet 16 if they make it out of the region. 

2. Bell County - If North Laurel is 1A, then I’d have Bell County 1B. Last year I believe they had arrived a year early to the scene. Cameron Hall was the lone senior on the squad and he was a fine player that put up 13.7 and 2.3 per game. Ethan Buell and Blake Burnett may provide the best 1-2 punch from anyone in the 13th this year. They both averaged 17.6 on the year. I think Braxton Ferguson is a kid that can have a breakout year this year. I’ve also heard Bell is getting a monster big man that may just push them over the edge if that comes to fruition. 

 I think there’s a massive drop off from 1 and 2 to the rest of the region, so don’t get after me too bad if this changes a lot during the season. 

3. Harlan County - Losing Maddox Huff, Jaycee Carter, and Brody Napier to graduation will be a lot to withstand. However, they do return Trenton Cole and Reggie Cottrell to lead the Black Bears. I’ve enjoyed watching Cottrell these past two seasons, and I think he will have a big senior year. He’s a high energy player who consistently is flying around making plays. They will need more from the likes of Brennan Blevins and Braydon Smith as they look to take on a larger role for the team. 

4. Clay County - Clay is another team that loses a lot to graduation with Dezarn, Hooker, Roark, and Jackson. However, they return two big pieces in Adon Grubb (12.1) and Aiden Wagers (11.9). Those two also added 9.8 and 7.0 boards per game. Both are high level players. I’m not sure they will be enough to knock off the Jaguars though. A lot of their success though will ride on Wagers injury he got during football season and if he will be able to comeback and be a force on the court. I think Michael Jones is one of the best coaches in the region and will get the most out of Clay that he can. 

5. Corbin - Losing Ryder Akins to GRC is probably a bigger blow than the guys they lost to graduation. He averaged 19 per game and was a stud. They also lost their second leading scorer to graduation and their glue guy in Reynolds. They do return Evan Ellis and he will be primed for a huge season. Pair him with Pietroski and Dawson Farmer, Corbin will have their own big 3. Coach P does a good job with what he has every year, and once they get the football guys up to speed they should be able to make a run to win the district and compete at region. 

6. South Laurel - To be honest I probably have them too low. It’s weird seeing SL this low after the years they’ve been putting together. They were primed last year to win it all before being upset in the region finals by crosstown rival North Laurel. I’m pretty sure they lost their entire starting five to graduation. There are tons of places for new guys to step up, and I’m sure they will. Garrison Brown, and Brendan Murphy are two I think will step into larger roles and have a great season for the Cardinals. Coach Davis will get the most out of his guys. 

7. Harlan - I got two names; Eli Noe and Jaxson Perry. Freshmen a year ago on a team that only won five games, they are ready to put the region on notice as the favorites in the All A. Noe put up 9.9 and Perry put up 8.2, and I think they will both have big time sophomore years. Izack Saylor is another sophomore that put up 11.7 per game and who will put up a big year. Harlan could be a team like Pineville last year, that makes a run at it their senior season. 

8. Whitley County - Whitley is a team that gets closer and closer every year to making the region. Last year they split Corbin in the district games, but lost to them in the district tourney. Could this year be the year they make the jump? I think they got a shot. Led behind Bryson Mahan (16.7) and Riley Fuson (14.9), this will be the year to do it. Both of these young men are also sophomores. There’s a ton of young talent in the region right now, we can only hope it stays.

9. Knox Central - It’s been a tough offseason for the Panthers. Coach Madden had to step away for health related reasons. Then star freshman Grayson Burton enrolled at Madison Central. The good news is Coach Patterson who led the Panthers to many years of success is back at the helm. He’s a guy that understands the scenery and what it takes to win at a place like KC. With Burton and Summers both gone, Evan Hubbard and Hayden Melton are both going to have to step up in big ways. The plus side is the 51st district is ripe for the taking and they should still be able to compete for a district title. 

10. Barbourville - The Tigers return Eathan Fisher, Chase Wilder, Andre Simmons, and Albert Moen from last year's squad. Fisher put up 10.7 and 5.4 per game. They lose a lot to graduation but the 51st is a district where you can compete to make the region. I’ve also heard they’ve added a Bell transfer that will help. 

11. Jackson County - The Generals lose their top 3 leading scorers to graduation, but they do return their next three. Wyatt Gray, Tansen Truett, and Braxton Coyle should all have bigger roles and better seasons this year as sophomores. They ended the season on a big losing streak, so they have to continue to try to grow as the season progresses. 

12. Williamsburg - As always with small schools, your talent comes and it goes. Last year the Yellow Jackets went 0-7 in district in a year they needed to try to find at least one district win. The win-loss record was nice finishing at 17-10, but they weren’t able to make it out of districts. They’ve now lost five to graduation and it’s going to be hard to replace that. Reece Hatcher will get the first shot as an incoming sophomore that put up 6.9 a game. 

13.Middlesboro - The Yellowjackets are actually returning most of their production from last year. They bring back Joseph Killion (13.1), Jacob Tinnell (9.8), and Mekhi Young (7.3). These top three should be able to help Middlesboro make a run at the All A. 

14. OBI - The Mountaineers bring back Jacob Rogers who put up 15.2 per game as a freshman and Skyler Robets who put up 13.5 as a freshman. Two electric guards who can score points in a hurry. Its tough to say who OBI will have and who they won’t because of the  nature of the school, but if they keep all the kids on their roster from last year who didn’t graduate they may be able to make a quick climb in the rankings. 

15. Pineville - What a year Pineville just had. They won the 51st district, and then they knocked off Clay County in the region tournament. Those types of years don’t happen often at small schools like Pineville. Unfortunately, they graduated 9 seniors and those were the majority of who they played this year. They are going to be young, young this coming season. Expect them to have growing pains and figure things out as they go. 

16. Lynn Camp - It was nice seeing Coach Dinky Phipps out on the floor one last time this past season. I wish he could’ve mustered up some of his magic and made a run. The Campers have added Coach Mckeehan as the new Head Coach, and he looks to build a formidable team and roster with what they have. He does return leading scorer Ethan Chafin to the team. 

17. Red Bird - The Cardinals finished winless last year at 0-23. None of their stats got posted so I’m not sure what they have coming and going. They do graduate two seniors, but they bring back everyone else. Here’s to rooting on Red Bird and hoping they can get at least one win this next year!

Bell Co. has also added a 6"8 2027 Center Gavin Burton from TN.   They will have a massive front line with him and Buell. 

I believe this is the massive addition you were referring to!  Great write up!

28 minutes ago, LethalPG said:

Bell Co. has also added a 6"8 2027 Center Gavin Burton from TN.   They will have a massive front line with him and Buell. 

Yes that's the addition I had heard of!