How does the locals look this year in 7th and 8th grade?

Highlands 7th grade looks good this year, post PG with some depth at PF and C.

They may move this thread but I would have to think Gray Middle (Ryle Feeder) will be strong as will the Georgetown Middle schools. Rose Hill 8th grade team is stacked down in the Eastern part of the state. The somerset middle schools are very good also.

Turkeyfoot always seems to have some good teams although I can never seem to figure out who they play to get their lofty records? Gray MS always seems to consistently have powerhouse teams as well.

 

On the NKY Catholic side, I've heard that St. Joes-Cold Spring will have their usual fine MS teams and St. Mary's has a real good 7th grade team. St.Pius, Blessed Sacrament and IHM usually have good teams as well. Heard the sleeper may be Sts. Peter & Paul, who may have their best team since their heyday about 10 years ago; and may be a serious contender for the Diocesan Tourney? Would be fun to see a school that small contend against the big boys again!!

R.A Jones in Boone County will have another strong team this year. They looked good in their two preseason scrimmages. This should be the 3rd year in a row that RA will be strong.

St Mary's and St. Joe's Crecent Springs seem to have the best two 7th grade private teams right now. Both are very athletic and have good height. St. Mary's won't lose many private school games this year.

R.A Jones in Boone County will have another strong team this year. They looked good in their two preseason scrimmages. This should be the 3rd year in a row that RA will be strong.

 

I'mthinkin you are talking of their 8th grade team because Highlands played their 7th grade team on Sat and beat them like a drum. They only had 6 kids dressed and most looked not very skilled at all.

Highlands plays St. Mary's in the St. Henry Tournament semis on Friday night. I know of a few kids on that team that are good players. Outside of that, depth will have to be an issue for them being private. Highlands goes 10 deep and plays intense pressure man-man with a lot of athleicism. I 'm hoping it a good game.

If you look at the big picture, it seems Gray Middle {Ryle feeder} is always 1 or 2 in the 6,7,8 in their conference, for the past 10 plus years. They do well at the state level also. But for some reason, this hasn't translated to the high school level. Most of those boys play AAU. Can you peak too soon?

How many of Highlands 7th grade team are 6th graders? Last year about half the team were 6th graders is that true of this year?

If you look at the big picture, it seems Gray Middle {Ryle feeder} is always 1 or 2 in the 6,7,8 in their conference, for the past 10 plus years. They do well at the state level also. But for some reason, this hasn't translated to the high school level. Most of those boys play AAU. Can you peak too soon?

 

You have to look at how many of these boys end up playing all four years in High School. You have a very football crazy school and the best football players end up not playing basketball as passionately as they do football. If you play basketball for Cov Cath, you most likely don't play football for Cov Cath and if you do you get left behind because the players want to play basketball and get better in the football season. If Ryle could get these players to commit to basketball like they do football, then they would win more games.

 

Throw this in to the mix as well. Ryle has a relatively inexperienced Varsity coaching staff. Coach Mullins is a great guy and might be a great coach but he will have to take his bumps before he gets that experience needed to win consistently and also has to change the mindset of the players he has that were inherited from the previous regime.

We recently played the 7th grade Highlands team and had our heads handed to us. How many boys tryout for this program. If there is a team who can beat them I would be shocked. Very impressive speed and height.

I'mthinkin you are talking of their 8th grade team because Highlands played their 7th grade team on Sat and beat them like a drum. They only had 6 kids dressed and most looked not very skilled at all.

 

Yes, RA's 8th grade team will be good this year. The 7th grade team you are talking about struggled last year. I think they were something like 0-18. However, the players that come to RA in the 6th grade for the most part do not play AAU and are very behind in basketball skills. Usually by the time they reach the 8th grade they start to catch up to everyone else in NKY. RA Jones over the last few years have sent some pretty good talent to Boone Co. and Ryle.

Yes, RA's 8th grade team will be good this year. The 7th grade team you are talking about struggled last year. I think they were something like 0-18. However, the players that come to RA in the 6th grade for the most part do not play AAU and are very behind in basketball skills. Usually by the time they reach the 8th grade they start to catch up to everyone else in NKY. RA Jones over the last few years have sent some pretty good talent to Boone Co. and Ryle.

 

Good to hear, they did have one kid that you can tell spends a ton of time with a basketball. He was wheeling and dealing the only problem was the other boys were not in tune with his no look passes and he was a one man show out there.

How many of Highlands 7th grade team are 6th graders? Last year about half the team were 6th graders is that true of this year?

 

Last year 6 of the 6th graders made the team mainly due to lack of talent in the 7th grade class. It paid off as those kids played a ton and earned alot of experience for this season. One of those boys that made it last yr as a 6th grader is no longer playing. However, with that said they have picked up a couple pleasant surprises. One in a boy who was mainly a grade school baller who has ton of athleticism and is very aggressive. Once he learns the game he will be a dandy and the other is a 6'1 transfer who moved to the district. This kid actually just turned 12yrs old so he is an immature kid for his age and will develop even more. Dr. said he could get to 6'8 or 6'9. Outside of that, most of the kids on this years squad are all 7th graders. Nine of them have played AAU ball for atleast the last 3 yrs and some as many as 5 yrs. They are aggressive, fast and get after you and know the game very well.

 

He did keep 3 6th graders for experience and they are all decent players at the guard position. I give this team 3 more weeks and the machine will be well oiled.