I have to go with a tie between Warren Central and Ballard, both have had great success over the years.

Scott Co. has the #1 basketball program in the State but many of those wins came when they were in the weaker 8th Region. Mason Co. is a close second.

 

:thumb:

I think Ballard has to be included on any list of the top programs in the state looking at what they have accomplished over the past 20 years!

 

I agree with Ballard, year in and year out they are tough. And of course Scott Co., LexCath, and MAson county. A few other Louisville area teams that are tough about every year also.

My vote for the top program in the state based on two factors:

 

1. I have been following KY high school basketball since 95 so the team I pick will obviously have to have done well from 95-present.

 

2. I also want to give some credit to past hisory so I will also look at performace before 95 even though I am heavily weighing performance after 95.

 

Okay that being said in my opinion I am going to go with the Ballard Bruins. They have made four sweet 16's since 95 including one title and two 2nd place finishes. Also they won titles in 77 and 88 and finished 2nd in 87. They produced a solid NBA player in Allan Houston. Also they have made 12 trips to the state tournament while playing in the brutal 7th region.

 

So that is my pick, Ballard.

 

Don't forget Jeff Lamp, Lee Raker and Jerry Eaves in 1977. Their whole starting 5 went D1 plus had future NBA players. Jeff Lamp was a first team McDonald's All American and played in the NBA. That team was unbelievable.

The same can be said for Mason County. In the last fifteen years they had one good run (the Chris Lofton era). Paintsville also had one good run (the Tackett, Vanhoose era). The bottom line is since 95 Mason only made the tournament one time outside of the Lofton era. That was in 06 when the made they made the quarters.

 

3 good runs actually.

 

State 3 year' in a row 91,92,93 with out Loften and add this years group who doesn't have Loften. State in 2006, missed last year but could redeem themselves this year.

 

Also the did a few good this in the 80's. State finalist one year. I am not sure about regional titles.

Scott Co is the first school that comes to mind.

Plus Scott county Coach Hicks just won his 700 game against Henry Clay last week!

Scott County is the Best Program.

Plus Scott county Coach Hicks just won his 700 game against Henry Clay last week!

Scott County is the Best Program.

How many of those wins have came at Scott Co? I know Hicks had some good teams at Corbin and Harlan, but those teams never made it to Rupp.

With Mason County also throw in the Maysville Bulldogs who consolidated with Mason County. Maysville was definately a top program.

 

I would also include PRP, Ballard, Warren Central, Scott Co,CovCath, Holmes, Henry Clay & Lexington Catholic as the top programs year in and year out.

If we're going back to 1995, it's hard not to go with Scott County ... two state titles and a runner-up finish, even with their share of controversy.

 

What does controversy have to do with anything? A couple of players transferred in. Its a much bigger deal just because its Scott Co. and they have a great program. If you look around everyone gets transfers. I believe Mason Co. got 1 from Bryan Station (correct me if I'm wrong). LexCath got 1 this year from Lafayette. Hazard got 2 from Bell Co. Scott Co. got 1 from Henry Clay.

Is this what your talking about being controversial?

BellAlum was right. If you have a very good program kids are going to want to come play for that school and be a part of the tradition.

1.Scott County

2.Lexington Catholic

3.Mason County

They reload every year!

 

I agree with your three picks, I can't think of another one overall better year in / year out program that is any better than these.

Right now I would give Scott the narrow edge over Mason and LC.

Before it gets there, lets have a review of Rule 4:

 

4. No school-specific (or general) recruiting comments or allegations of KHSAA rules violations by any school, coach, player or booster are allowed. No talking about where any player lives, has lived, or where they are from in a recruiting context. This is not the place to report KHSAA violations. Feel free to contact http://www.khsaa.org to report such violations, but do not discuss violations here.

What does controversy have to do with anything? A couple of players transferred in. Its a much bigger deal just because its Scott Co. and they have a great program. If you look around everyone gets transfers. I believe Mason Co. got 1 from Bryan Station (correct me if I'm wrong). LexCath got 1 this year from Lafayette. Hazard got 2 from Bell Co. Scott Co. got 1 from Henry Clay.

Is this what your talking about being controversial?

BellAlum was right. If you have a very good program kids are going to want to come play for that school and be a part of the tradition.

How many of those transfers you mentioned were future Mr. Basketballs? Scott County got more than just "a couple of players" when Rick Jones and Scott Hundley moved into town.

How many of those wins have came at Scott Co? I know Hicks had some good teams at Corbin and Harlan, but those teams never made it to Rupp.

Hicks got Corbin to the Sweet 16 quarterfinals in 1991. They lost to eventual champion Fairdale, if I remember correctly.

How many of those transfers you mentioned were future Mr. Basketballs? Scott County got more than just "a couple of players" when Rick Jones and Scott Hundley moved into town.

 

Can you name anymore? I cant think of anyone else from SC that has won Mr. Basketball.

 

Would Rick Jones have been Mr. Basketball at Corbin? A D1 ball player?

 

Hundley is another case of wanting their kid to play for a very good program and get exposure. Worked out pretty well. I have to wonder if things would have been the same at Dunbar.

 

It's like I said. All the great programs are going to get transfers, and they are usually going to be good ones. SC has shown they can get kids to the next level, so they are going to keep getting players like that.