Newport will be a district title contended with Newcath in the 36th but won't be able to compete with the likes of Boone, Holmes or CovCath.

 

If this is true, will Newport this year decide that a seed just might be best for them, instead of taking a chance on a blind draw?

If this is true, will Newport this year decide that a seed just might be best for them, instead of taking a chance on a blind draw?

 

How can they seed, if they don't all play each other?

How can they seed, if they don't all play each other?

 

Couldn't they play each other? I can only assume that they have time to schedule at least one game agaisnt each other before next year?

Only Bellevue and Dayton don't play NCC or HHS but they all play Newport, so that's only two extra games each for those four teams!

We overlooking Highlands next year?

 

Highlands will be good next year, but they will not contend for the regional title.

Highlands will be good next year, but they will not contend for the regional title.

 

Define contend. I would say if you make the regional tournament then you are in contention to win it. I believe Highlands should make the regional again next year, thus would be contending for the championship. Am I saying they will win it, or even get to the finals, no. I'm not saying they won't either. Way to early to say a team like Highlands won't contend. Too much can and will happen by next March.

Define contend. I would say if you make the regional tournament then you are in contention to win it. I believe Highlands should make the regional again next year, thus would be contending for the championship. Am I saying they will win it, or even get to the finals, no. I'm not saying they won't either. Way to early to say a team like Highlands won't contend. Too much can and will happen by next March.

 

I think we'll see another year out of Highlands like we saw not this past year but the year before. Will probably be a bit above .500 with the folowing year, Kowolonek's senior year, being another year where they are one of the favorites.

 

Forgot about Watson in my previous post where I mentioned Lother, Kowolonek, and Grote.

 

Dill will be good enough down low to rebound the ball and get it to Kowolonek but I don't see him being much of a scoring option. The JV team had a few kids who could really stroke the 3 ball so they'll need them to step up next year.

IMO the only irreplaceable loss will be McGraw. Eaton and Hurtt played vital roles but can be replaced by Grote/Watson. They showed they can play without Simpson and will show again next year. Kowolenek will be the leading scorer and Grote/Watson will be very good as well. Lother will get stronger and be the point guard. Dont forget about Grubbs either. He is a load down low and there wont be many teams able to move him off the blocks. I do think they will take their lumps during the season and probably end up 17 and 10 or something like that but like MC said, they will reach the Regionls and with a good draw (opposite Holmes) they may advance further than this year.

 

Next year's Highlands team will be a blue collar workhorse type team with no McGraw type leader.

 

Newport is my darkhorse to make some noise around tourney time. Alot of athleticism on that team so if Russell can coach em up they will be very much improved.

Here is my preseason top 10 for next season.

 

1.Holmes

2. Cov Cath

3. Boone Co

4. Highlands

5. Ryle

6. Newport

7. St. Henry

8. NCC

9. Holy Cross

10. Dixie

Ryle will be pretty darn good the next few years.

IMO the only irreplaceable loss will be McGraw. Eaton and Hurtt played vital roles but can be replaced by Grote/Watson. They showed they can play without Simpson and will show again next year. Kowolenek will be the leading scorer and Grote/Watson will be very good as well. Lother will get stronger and be the point guard. Dont forget about Grubbs either. He is a load down low and there wont be many teams able to move him off the blocks. I do think they will take their lumps during the season and probably end up 17 and 10 or something like that but like MC said, they will reach the Regionls and with a good draw (opposite Holmes) they may advance further than this year.

 

Next year's Highlands team will be a blue collar workhorse type team with no McGraw type leader.

 

I think that sums it up best. Grote, Watson, and Kowolonek will be key for Highlands though. If all three can play to their potential Highlands could end up being a top 5 team. If I had to rank em now I'd see it something like this:

 

1. Holmes

 

2. Boone

3. Covcath

4. Ryle

5. Highlands

6. Newport

7. St Henry

8. NCC

9. Dixie

10. Conner

 

Holy Cross, IMO will take their lumps next year. Without Sorrell they will struggle as teams will bey able to double Giwa at the point and force him in to turnovers.

I think that sums it up best. Grote, Watson, and Kowolonek will be key for Highlands though. If all three can play to their potential Highlands could end up being a top 5 team. If I had to rank em now I'd see it something like this:

 

1. Holmes

 

2. Boone

3. Covcath

4. Ryle

5. Highlands

6. Newport

7. St Henry

8. NCC

9. Dixie

10. Conner

 

Holy Cross, IMO will take their lumps next year. Without Sorrell they will struggle as teams will bey able to double Giwa at the point and force him in to turnovers.

 

I agree now that I think about it. HC will struggle and I forgot about the resurgent Conner Cougars. They have Thomas and Avery back next season among others so they might even slip up to 7 or 8 by end of the year.

I agree now that I think about it. HC will struggle and I forgot about the resurgent Conner Cougars. They have Thomas and Avery back next season among others so they might even slip up to 7 or 8 by end of the year.

 

If your talking bout Eric Thomas he is a senior this year. Conner returns Avery,Chris Lang (suprise player to watch) Tyler Brake, Arron Stephans. I think the key for Conner will be if Jayce Jordan returns to play his senior year due to ACL injury.

Ryle will be pretty darn good the next few years.

 

I have heard this same thing for the past 4-5 yrs and Ryle didn't even make it to the regional tournament during this time frame. When it comes to Ryle being good: I will believe it when I see it.

I have heard this same thing for the past 4-5 yrs and Ryle didn't even make it to the regional tournament during this time frame. When it comes to Ryle being good: I will believe it when I see it.

 

 

:thumb:

If your talking bout Eric Thomas he is a senior this year. Conner returns Avery,Chris Lang (suprise player to watch) Tyler Brake, Arron Stephans. I think the key for Conner will be if Jayce Jordan returns to play his senior year due to ACL injury.

 

Conner will definetly be a team to watch that could pull a few upsets here and there with what they return.

 

Thier main focus will to be able to find a player who can take over where Thomas left off. I don't think some realize how valuable he was to them offensively and defensively.

Hate to sound biased but with the group Holmes returns next year, they could very well make a run like we saw this year.

 

They will be junior dominated but once again, very long and athletic and probably even bigger than this year's team. Their starting lineup should look something like this:

 

PG Jamel Riley (6')

G/F Ricardo Johnson (6'5)

G/F Jeremiah Johnson (6'4)

G/F Elijah Pittman (6'5)

C/F Keyvon Arnold (6'6)

 

Coming off the bench will most likely be Dom Johnson (6'3 G), but he could very well be inserted in the starting lineup with Arnold coming off the bench.

 

Holmes weakness imo next year will be depth. Not too sure about their freshmen outside of Herndon and Arnold.

 

The JV team was very good (20-1).

 

Holmes has a lot of upside though.

 

With Pittman and both Johnson brothers already at 6'5 as sophomores, it looks like they will grow another inch or two. SO we could possibly see three 6'6 guys in Holmes starting lineup with all of them being guards. Kind of scary to think about that.

 

As for the rest of NKY:

 

Boone returns a good junior to be class and if I'm not mistaken their freshman class was pretty good as well. IMO Boone and Holmes will be 1-2 preseason and throughout the year.

 

Covcath returns POY candidate in Luke Maile as well as a very good guard in Shover. The key for them is whether or not they can get Isler to step up like J.D Schmerge did this year. If they can and get a few role players to step up like a Brandon Brown from the 06 team, don't be surprised to see Covcath give Holmes and Boone all they can handle.

 

Newcath returns a solid core of players and had a good JV team so don't count them out. Pangallo will be huge for them.

 

Ryle, yes I know we say this every year, could be the darkhorse or sleeper. They had a solid nucleus of younger players who could contribute next year.

 

At the end of the year though, I think the region will run through Holmes with Boone and Covcath being the teams trying to knock them off.

 

I wouldn't be surprised if Elijah Pittman gets to be about 6'8 when his legs catch up to his long arms. He just has that look that he's got room to grow. That will be unbelievable in the coming few years with the Bulldogs and all of their height. They really are building a program worthy of of a state title at Covington Holmes. Most teams (not all) have a much easier time running through the Sweet 16 with an endless bench. They certainly have that and they are the smartest, most unselfish fired up Holmes Bulldogs TEAM I've seen in quite awhile. These cohesive elements and a deep bench can only take them further than they were ever capable of in the recent past. Having seen Rupp's floor last year can't hurt any either. I like their chances. They seem to be clicking on all cylinders right now, and are extremely focused on the ultimate goal that they appear to have developed a mature healthy mentality to face. They're now down to a 1 in 16 chance at taking the big prize, but I think we all know that their chances are way better than that. Wouldn't that be fantastic if all of their hard work finally pays off. :thumb:

 

GO DAWGS !!!