As I said earlier, Bender wasn't even the best player in Louisville when he was a senior ... Larry O'Bannon was, in my opinion. So why did Bender deserve the Mr. Basketball award?

O'bannon became a better player in college but in high school he wasnt better then Bender. He wasnt on the wing like he was at UofL. Wasn't shooting the three like that either. Saw him at the LIT and in the KY/IN that year. Folks had to convince Ricky P too offer. Never was a state champion either. Thats' huge! Had Bender not won state everybody would be holding it against him. So why was Bender not the best player ,IYO, his sr. year? Read my past posts to see why he shoulda got it IMO.

O'bannon became a better player in college but in high school he wasnt better then Bender. He wasnt on the wing like he was at UofL. Wasn't shooting the three like that either. Saw him at the LIT and in the KY/IN that year. Folks had to convince Ricky P too offer. Never was a state champion either. Thats' huge! Had Bender not won state everybody would be holding it against him. So why was Bender not the best player ,IYO, his sr. year? Read my past posts to see why he shoulda got it IMO.

I saw both O'Bannon and Bender play their senior year, and I thought that O'Bannon was the better player. I thought O'Bannon did more to help his team win, and I felt that he was the best player in the state that year .. and that was a quality group of seniors. Who offered and when has nothing to do with it.

 

And so what if Bender won a state title and O'Bannon didn't? O'Bannon got to the state tournament twice, once more than Bender, and played in the championship game ... he just didn't win it.

Sparks probably was the best player that year truthfully. Outplayed Chris Thomas(McDonalds then Notre Dame) in both games. Just didnt have that ring on his resume or he was Mr. Basketball. Carrier didnt have the resume either but to keep from giving it to Bender he got it. Every other year its the body of work. Like this year, if Mackey had stayed straight he wins it. Well maybe not since he commited to IU and Miller goes to UK. But based on the hype going into the season it was his to lose.

Sparks probably was the best player that year truthfully. Outplayed Chris Thomas(McDonalds then Notre Dame) in both games. Just didnt have that ring on his resume or he was Mr. Basketball. Carrier didnt have the resume either but to keep from giving it to Bender he got it. Every other year its the body of work. Like this year, if Mackey had stayed straight he wins it. Well maybe not since he commited to IU and Miller goes to UK. But based on the hype going into the season it was his to lose.

Sparks was overrated ... with his father as the coach, his shot selection was terrible, and I saw him shoot Muhlenberg North out of a state tournament game. On my high school team, I would've rather had Ronny Dawn, who let the game come to him, instead of Sparks.

 

Carrier was a one-dimensional guy that played no defense ... in the 5/3 at LexCath that year, every single player he was assigned to defend took to the basket on the dribble.

 

I simply loved O'Bannon's game, because he did a little bit of everything. Carlos Hurt may have been the most talented player of the bunch, but he sometimes tried to do too much to try and live up to his reputation. Bender and Chiles were nice players, but O'Bannon was better. If anyone was underrated in that class, it was Brian Thornton.

The award wasn't Mackey's to lose. He wasn't the frontrunner, even ... he and Miller were probably neck-and-neck coming into the season, with Miller maybe having a slight lead.

So why was O'bannon better? I liked Bender because whenever I saw him play he demanded the paint area. I remember Ballard played Trinity at the L-ville Gardens in the 7th region finals I beleive. Trinity had a big frontline that year. Bender goes to the post, calls for the ball, splits a double team and throws it down on like a six-seven kid! Big time move for a soph.! Showed great aggressiveness. I just saw and liked what the college coaches and recruiters did. A big physical aggressive kid that wasnt scared to tussle underneath! Most big kids the state produces dont have that streak in them. And most people would say the game is more then dunks.... and their right.... but an aggressive dunk can ignite a team and the fans. Also a lot of times one team may be intimidated by the other so its always great to have that aggression in the post to block a shot, pull down that tough rebound in traffic, or posterize your man! Thats why I liked Bender. Would love to see some numbers for his high school career.

Agree with the Brian Thornton thing. Saw him play Carrier in the LIT. Posted up his wide body well. Didnt have the lift Bender did or the aggressiveness. BG had Carrier handle the ball a lot that game, actually was better with the ball then I would've thought. Still wasn't impressed. Did see tape of the game in the KOB where he hit all those deep threes! Pretty amazing. Sparks pretty much was his team, so he had the super green light. Used to be around the 3rd region so I got to see him a lot. Really shined in the KY/IN game. Handed Chris Thomas(Mcdonalds PG) his lunch! 26 in Naptown and almost a triple double in Owensboro. Had a sick length of the court bounce pass. The game is a great measure of talent cause everyone is a college level player. Plus the game is high intensity! Every year since I've been following whoever does pretty well in that game does well in college. There are exceptions of course.

A high D1 talent. Coming off a state championship(that his 20 second half pts won by the way) ,with MVP honors, and you play at a top teir school! That award was his to lose! Had he committed to UK its a wrap. Now I will say this, if Miller does what he did this year with the ring and all its a way closer race. But if Miller loses in regionals and Mackey went back to state, even if he loses its his.

\ Bender dominated in state and nationally what else needs to be said. \

 

nationally???

 

It seems to me that you are the only one that is defending Bender as the greatest to every play in KY.

 

Again. I ask before, how many times did you see Van Hoose play?

See "Sweet Sixteen" you gotta read all my posts before you come in with some off the wall comments. Not once have I said Bender was the best nothing. Actually nobody has told me why he wasnt good, other then what he did in college. The post is about high school. The man won state averaging a double double as a Soph. Had a national rep. And he was productive. As I've said before a lot less talented less productive folks have had more state wide recognition then Bender and its crazy to me. Somebody tell me something this man did as a prep player that he shouldnt have gotten any respect for and I'll leave it alone.

See "Sweet Sixteen" you gotta read all my posts before you come in with some off the wall comments. Not once have I said Bender was the best nothing. Actually nobody has told me why he wasnt good, other then what he did in college. The post is about high school. The man won state averaging a double double as a Soph. Had a national rep. And he was productive. As I've said before a lot less talented less productive folks have had more state wide recognition then Bender and its crazy to me. Somebody tell me something this man did as a prep player that he shouldnt have gotten any respect for and I'll leave it alone.

 

I quoted directly from your post. I did not make anything up. You said he dominated nationally.

 

Again. How many times did you see Van Hoose play in HS?

Saw VanHoose against Owensboro when they won state. And I saw him as a sr. in both KY/IN All-Star games. Didn't do it for me. Nothing personal. I love talking basketball but I give examples of why I feel the way I do. Sure wish somebody could give me some solid claims to why they feel the way they do.

Saw VanHoose against Owensboro when they won state. And I saw him as a sr. in both KY/IN All-Star games. Didn't do it for me. Nothing personal. I love talking basketball but I give examples of why I feel the way I do. Sure wish somebody could give me some solid claims to why they feel the way they do.

 

So you make you evaluation after watching Bender play numerous times but only see Van Hoose play three times and only once in a true HS game and you make your evaluation of him.

 

I believe there has been numerous claims on why people think that Van Hoose was a more solid player than Bender.

 

By the way, I have read every post.

Do your homework! They played in many national tourneys while he was in high school and he produced. Know for a fact they beat one of the Cali powers pretty easy. USA Today had them (Cali team) like 4th. Many big kids on their roster. Still did what he wanted. A top 50 recruit. Played in the Roundball Classic with many Mcdonalds. They just dont give you that! Come on people get serious. Like I said earlier if you dont like him as a person thats one thing but gotta acknowledge dude had a high school career most folks would kill for.