Everyone likes to say that, but seven of the top eight in the preseason poll made it to the regional tournament.

M'boro at 10? Are you joking? With Brown, Green, and Smith they will be incredibly explosive and a match up nightmare.

 

If M'boro keeps the same coaches they had this year, they will have the same result (if not worse) next year that they had this year.

 

M'boro has wasted a lot of talent the last 4/5 years.

1. South Laurel

2. Corbin

3. Clay Co.

4. Bell Co.

5. Harlan Co.

6. Lynn Camp

7. Whitley Co.

8. Middlesboro

9. Knox Central

10.Williamsburg

Williamsburg 10th? That's a gutsy call. They looked awful in the game I saw, but I know I shouldn't judge them on one game.

 

I'm working on next year's rankings for a season-ending column. Who started for Whitley County, by position, last year? I didn't get to see them this past season.

 

Also, it's interesting for the people ranking North Laurel. Only two players on the team coming back averaged at least 2 points a game in varsity competition. A big school like that, though, can rebuild pretty quickly.

I think that our information is a little off here. I don't think those guys at Whitley are going anywhere for a while. I also believe that in reference to the top 10 13th region teams next year, that Corbin would have to be the heavy favorite due to the amount of returning players that they have, but as far as 2-10, I wouldn't be surprised to see a lot of flip flopping throughout the year. All of these teams are going to be pretty close as long as they remain healthy, and continue to improve in the off season :thumb:

 

I agree Corbin should be the early favorite in the 13th since they are returning all their starters and most of bench. Don't think I would go so far as to place them as heavy favorite in class by themselves and put all of the rest of the region in a fight for 2nd. In fact I believe that was the same thoughts most people expressed at the beginning of this year since Corbins' 2007 Regional Runnerup team returned almost their entire sguad.

As Corbin returns all their starter and most of their bench from a team that has finished runnerup the last two region 13 tournaments they will obviously start out as the frontrunner next year. Clay Co. lost their PG(Smith) and SG/F(Hobbs) but return a host of kids that played a lot and Coach Spurlock either started or played 3 or 4 Fresman substantial minutes all season. The freshman team won the 13th region 9th grade tournament and probably the best 9th grade team at Clay for several years. After winning the 2007 13th Regional tournament Coach Wrights' South team won the 2008 13th Region with 4 new starters along with big kid(St John). South will return three starters including St John; a deep bench and a very talented group of freshman that won well over 20 games including the Bell County JV. tournament. Even though Knox Central lost some seniors Coach Elam still has the core of the team returning which includes Miller which could arguably be the best inside/out player in the region. Coach Strange at Pineville will loose his big kid (Day) but returns his son and the rest of the squad that won the 13th All A. I would also expect the consolidation the Harlan Co schools to produce a pretty competitive squad. Should be fun to see how 2008/2009 season unfolds.

Williamsburg 10th? That's a gutsy call. They looked awful in the game I saw, but I know I shouldn't judge them on one game.

 

I'm working on next year's rankings for a season-ending column. Who started for Whitley County, by position, last year? I didn't get to see them this past season.

 

Also, it's interesting for the people ranking North Laurel. Only two players on the team coming back averaged at least 2 points a game in varsity competition. A big school like that, though, can rebuild pretty quickly.

 

The big problem that North Laurel faces is that most of the basketball talent in the county ends up at South Laurel. When teams are successful, they often get kids who transfer in to be a part of it, which has happened at South Laurel and is often at North's expense.

 

Williamsburg may be ranked a little too high, but I kind of like them and didn't know who else to put there.

I thought Seidel for North was just a junior?

As Corbin returns all their starter and most of their bench from a team that has finished runnerup the last two region 13 tournaments they will obviously start out as the frontrunner next year. Clay Co. lost their PG(Smith) and SG/F(Hobbs) but return a host of kids that played a lot and Coach Spurlock either started or played 3 or 4 Fresman substantial minutes all season. The freshman team won the 13th region 9th grade tournament and probably the best 9th grade team at Clay for several years. After winning the 2007 13th Regional tournament Coach Wrights' South team won the 2008 13th Region with 4 new starters along with big kid(St John). South will return three starters including St John; a deep bench and a very talented group of freshman that won well over 20 games including the Bell County JV. tournament. Even though Knox Central lost some seniors Coach Elam still has the core of the team returning which includes Miller which could arguably be the best inside/out player in the region. Coach Strange at Pineville will loose his big kid (Day) but returns his son and the rest of the squad that won the 13th All A. I would also expect the consolidation the Harlan Co schools to produce a pretty competitive squad. Should be fun to see how 2008/2009 season unfolds.

 

James David does return but they lost the other four starters.

I thought Seidel for North was just a junior?

 

He is. Seidel and Adrian Wardrup are the only players back with extensive varsity experience.

Ray Shears returns for North, too. He played a lot of varsity toward the end of the season.

What about Barbourville? Won't they be any good at all next year? How many seniors will they have?

What about Barbourville? Won't they be any good at all next year? How many seniors will they have?

 

IMO B'ville will be much improved over the past season, they lose Messer for sure their best player, but you never know you may show up there to play. Their big man has came a long way (he had a long way to go though) and may prove to be a force yet. A new face or two and Coach Phipps will be ready to play again.

He is. Seidel and Adrian Wardrup are the only players back with extensive varsity experience.

 

Does North have a big kid who might step in to play the post next year either off this years bench or off this years young kids?

James David does return but they lost the other four starters.

 

Didn't realize Pineville lost 4 starters. At a small school like Pineville even with the return of a player the quality of James Strange Coach Strange will have his work cut out for himself to make them competitive next year. I did not see their JV or freshman teams. Do they have any young kids that may mature enough over the summer to step in and be effective varsity players next year?