Don't know if it was the last time, but didn't Rex Chapman's Apollo team get upset in district his senior year?

You could be right. That was in 1986 if I remember correctly. That's 21 years ago. Mike Jones was promoting Nic Sanford for Mr. Basketball at Cawood in 1986. Good thing there was not internet message boards back then.

The thing is basketball is a team sport. Matt Walls had an outstanding season and led his team to a state title. Without him this would not have happened.

Pettigrew had an outstanding season. But they were not a top 2 team in the district. Without him they are in the same boat. And its not like he was in a district with Henry Clay and Bryan Station. Walls had to play the best competition all year long, while Pettigrew did not.

Steve Nash or Kobe?

The thing is basketball is a team sport. Matt Walls had an outstanding season and led his team to a state title. Without him this would not have happened.

Pettigrew had an outstanding season. But they were not a top 2 team in the district. Without him they are in the same boat. And its not like he was in a district with Henry Clay and Bryan Station. Walls had to play the best competition all year long, while Pettigrew did not.

 

Outstanding post. A point could be made that Matt Walls not only had strong stats, but that he was able to still have big numbers even with the collection of talent around him such as Bud Mackey. The 11th Regions was this year's toughest region and Walls stilled excelled.

 

On the other side of the coin, teams could not truly focus on stopping Walls since Mackey, Hundley, and Lee could all hurt you if they were trap or double team Walls. With Pettigrew, he was doubled and tripled team every night. If there was a press, Pettigrew would have to help bring the ball down the court. If they denied the middle, Pettigrew had to go out on the wings, and if they trapped on the wings Pettigrew had to fight through or go down on the block and take on two defenders. Yes, the talent in the 5th was not the same as the 11th, but Pettigrew was the focal point of every team's defense.

 

In the end, I believe Pettigrew wins the award and will deserve it. But if Walls were to win it, I could understand that as well. Both had great seasons.

Outstanding post. A point could be made that Matt Walls not only had strong stats, but that he was able to still have big numbers even with the collection of talent around him such as Bud Mackey. The 11th Regions was this year's toughest region and Walls stilled excelled.

 

On the other side of the coin, teams could not truly focus on stopping Walls since Mackey, Hundley, and Lee could all hurt you if they were trap or double team Walls. With Pettigrew, he was doubled and tripled team every night. If there was a press, Pettigrew would have to help bring the ball down the court. If they denied the middle, Pettigrew had to go out on the wings, and if they trapped on the wings Pettigrew had to fight through or go down on the block and take on two defenders. Yes, the talent in the 5th was not the same as the 11th, but Pettigrew was the focal point of every team's defense.

 

In the end, I believe Pettigrew wins the award and will deserve it. But if Walls were to win it, I could understand that as well. Both had great seasons.

 

I can see Pettigrew's argument. Hes a great player who had a great season. Both players have had great seasons and honestly deserve the award. But to me it has to be very very close! I think Walls edges him out.

Don't know if it was the last time, but didn't Rex Chapman's Apollo team get upset in district his senior year?

Yeah. Apollo drew Owensboro in the first round of the district tournament that year.

 

The district loss didn't make Chapman any less of a player, as we all know, Given the benefit of time, it would seem like a strange reason to take the award away from Chapman.

Yeah. Apollo drew Owensboro in the first round of the district tournament that year.

 

The district loss didn't make Chapman any less of a player, as we all know, Given the benefit of time, it would seem like a strange reason to take the award away from Chapman.

 

The award has changed this year to allow the post season come into play. Walls played 9 post season games and IMO solidified himself as the best choice during that time.

The award has changed this year to allow the post season come into play. Walls played 9 post season games and IMO solidified himself as the best choice during that time.

You're entitled to your opinion, but Chapman was the best player in the state that year, regardless of what Apollo did or didn't do in the postseason.

 

It seems that Walls' supporters want to assign inordinate weight on the fact that his very talented team (the most talented in Kentucky) won the state title while Pettigrew's team (which lacked a strong supporting cast) made an early exit in the postseason.

 

The talent around Walls afforded him an opportunity that Pettigrew's team didn't provide him, and some seem to want to use it against Pettigrew.

This is the first year that Mr. Basketball votes weren't turned in before the district tournaments started so to argue about past winners and their teams in the postseason is pointless. Voters were never able to consider the posteason. They used postseason performances from previous years and sometimes it swayed voters away from the best players (i.e. Walt Allen).

 

Again, I think both kids are deserving and will succeed at the next level whether they win the golden basketball or not. I would still cast my vote for Mr. Pettigrew.

You're entitled to your opinion, but Chapman was the best player in the state that year, regardless of what Apollo did or didn't do in the postseason.

 

It seems that Walls' supporters want to assign inordinate weight on the fact that his very talented team (the most talented in Kentucky) won the state title while Pettigrew's team (which lacked a strong supporting cast) made an early exit in the postseason.

 

The talent around Walls afforded him an opportunity that Pettigrew's team didn't provide him, and some seem to want to use it against Pettigrew.

 

I think Matt Walls is the best senior in the state this year. He is an excellent shooter and passer. He plays great defense and he hits big shots. All those big scoring games that Pettigrew had against good competition was meaningless because they were blowouts. I think Walls deserves it because he got the job done in so many big games this season when the game was close and on the line against much better competition.

I think it is more impressive for Walls to score 26 against a team like Holmes and hit numerous big shots in the win than to get blown out by them and score 29 points.

I think Matt Walls is the best senior in the state this year. He is an excellent shooter and passer. He plays great defense and he hits big shots. All those big scoring games that Pettigrew had against good competition was meaningless because they were blowouts. I think Walls deserves it because he got the job done in so many big games this season when the game was close and on the line against much better competition.

I think it is more impressive for Walls to score 26 against a team like Holmes and hit numerous big shots in the win than to get blown out by them and score 29 points.

So, in effect, you're penalizing Pettigrew because he didn't have much talent around him. Not to mention that Pettigrew put up those points despite being the focal point of the defense. Walls, with an excellent group of teammates, never had to deal with that.

 

In your view, it seems that Mr. Basketball can only come from an elite program ... and that simply isn't the case.

So, in effect, you're penalizing Pettigrew because he didn't have much talent around him. Not to mention that Pettigrew put up those points despite being the focal point of the defense. Walls, with an excellent group of teammates, never had to deal with that.

 

In your view, it seems that Mr. Basketball can only come from an elite program ... and that simply isn't the case.

 

And your penalizing Matt Walls for being on a team that had a good supporting cast.

Heres the thing. Matt Walls played on a team that played by far the toughest schedule in the state. This team accomplished more than any team in the state since 1948. Matt Walls was the man on that team. Bud Mackey was unbelievable at times, but he was up and down sometimes while Walls was great night in and night out.

One game I saw Pettigrew, they were getting blown out and he was racking up points against the bench. I would rather reward Walls for leading the ultimate successful team than reward Pettigrew for merely putting up a lot of stats.

And your penalizing Matt Walls for being on a team that had a good supporting cast.

Not at all. I've seen both players, and I think Pettigrew is the better of the two.

Heres the thing. Matt Walls played on a team that played by far the toughest schedule in the state. This team accomplished more than any team in the state since 1948. Matt Walls was the man on that team. Bud Mackey was unbelievable at times, but he was up and down sometimes while Walls was great night in and night out.

Good for him, but Walls played on a great team that had a lot of weapons and could have contended for a state title without him. Don't tell me that doesn't have an impact on his performance.

One game I saw Pettigrew, they were getting blown out and he was racking up points against the bench. I would rather reward Walls for leading the ultimate successful team than reward Pettigrew for merely putting up a lot of stats.

That's just it. You're basing your view of Pettigrew on one game ... just one game.

 

And Pettigrew didn't have the same opportunity to succeed, team-wise, that Walls did ... so the team comparison simply isn't very valid.

Not at all. I've seen both players, and I think Pettigrew is the better of the two.

Good for him, but Walls played on a great team that had a lot of weapons and could have contended for a state title without him. Don't tell me that doesn't have an impact on his performance.

That's just it. You're basing your view of Pettigrew on one game ... just one game.

 

And Pettigrew didn't have the same opportunity to succeed, team-wise, that Walls did ... so the team comparison simply isn't very valid.

 

First off I have seen Pettigrew 3 times, all on video. I think he is a great talent, but like I pointed out earlier, he did not make players around him better in what I seen. Say what you want about Wall's supporting cast, he did make them better. He was always setting them up with great passing and he played very intense.

Now, point blank from what I have seen I think Walls is a better high school player. He is the ultimate winner in high school as well. He will do whatever it takes to win ball games. And thats exactly what he did.

So you've seen one player several times in person, it seems, and another guy three times on tape ... quite a disparity there, and perhaps even a hint of bias.