What does Henry Clay need to do to improve in 2008/2009? What do they need to keep doing to be successful? Remember, please be constructive.

Rebuilding year for Henry Clay, which will start 4 new players this season. Only returning starter is Prince Stewart.

 

Some of the key returning players .....

 

TJ Barnes - Senior

Bradley Tilford - Senior

Marquel Johnson - Junior

Brandon Wilder - Sophomore

Justin Henderson - Sophomore

Trey Stewart - Sophomore

 

Although they will be younger and inexperienced, they do have a lot of potential. They should improve through the year, and should be even tougher by next season. The 3 sophomores (Wilder, Henderson, Stewart) all played as 8th graders for Henry Clay, so this is actually their 3rd year on the team. Their Freshman and JV teams were very good last year, and each only lost 4-5 games throughout the season. Look for the sophomores to be key players on this team.

 

Of course their district and region are very very tough.

Edited August 22, 200818 yr by gswilder
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I have seen most of the teams in the 11th several times over the last few years. Seems like Henry Clay had a lot of talent the last couple of years, but never really achieved their potential. Outside of their district, they did pretty well. But they cannot seem to get by Bryan Station or Scott County the last 4 years or so.

 

I have seen the younger players for Henry Clay. They do have a good group coming up through the ranks. I think their Freshman and JV teams beat most of the Lexington/11th region teams at least once last year.

 

Prince is a pure shooter. When he is on, one of the better 3 point shooters around. Saw Barnes play some this summer. Pretty smooth and athletic around the basket. Unfortunately, he will be their primary "big man", but only looks to be about 6'3" or so.

 

The Wilder kid is really good and needs to be watched. He started for their Freshman team as an 8th grader, and was the 6th man on a senior laden team last year. Quick, smart, versatile, great fundamentals, good shooter both inside and out. Only downside is he is kind of thin and only about 6' tall. I have seen him in AAU and he can really shine. He and Ryan Fucci (another Lexington kid to watch) took over the state AAU finals and beat a really good Shining Stars. I think Wilder is one of the top 10 Sophomores in the state.

 

Henderson and Stewart have potential, but seem to be up and down. They have a couple of other mid-size guys, but so far they haven't shown much.

 

This year will be tough for Henry Clay. Although talented, they are in a brutal district and region. The 11th is not a place for the young and feint of heart.

 

By the way, I think there are some really good 2011 class guys out there. In addition to Wilder, Fucci, Barksdale, Kimbro, Pawsett, Stenzel are all players to watch. I am glad to see the level Kentucky players rising again the last few years.

Henry Clay will be much smaller this year. They have been really big with Moses, Boyd, Gardner, etc. Its hard to believe those guys didn't make it out of the district in the last 3 years, but at the same time its easily been the toughest district in the state IMO.

 

That being said I am sure that they will try to use their speed and quickness this year as that seems to be an advantage for them.

Henry Clay will be much smaller this year. They have been really big with Moses, Boyd, Gardner, etc. Its hard to believe those guys didn't make it out of the district in the last 3 years, but at the same time its easily been the toughest district in the state IMO.

 

That being said I am sure that they will try to use their speed and quickness this year as that seems to be an advantage for them.

 

Will they be ranked in the State this year?

Will they be ranked in the State this year?

 

I doubt they would be ranked in any top 20 or 25 list to begin the year. But they will be very athletic so that wouldn't really surprise me.

I doubt they would be ranked in any top 20 or 25 list to begin the year. But they will be very athletic so that wouldn't really surprise me.

 

That is what I thought to...but a poster from Mason Co thought they would be ranked...so I was just curious.

Seeing HC this past 2 years and the summer, they have a lot of potential. Their freshman and JV teams were very good last year. Each team probably lost 4-5 games all year.

 

They will be small as the previous poster noted. But they are quick, smart, and should be good shooters. The key is will they play well together.

 

They have 3 sophomores who played/started for their freshman team as 8th graders (Trey Stewart, Brandon Wilder, Justin Henderson).

 

Keep an eye on the Wilder kid. He is probably one of the top sophomores in the state. His AAU team (ICE) has won the KY state 2 of the last 3 years. Came in 3rd in Nationals a few years ago, and 7th this year I believe. He is one of the smartest players I have seen (along with the Fucci kid from Tates Creeek), is an above average shooter, pretty fast, and decent defender. Can play 3-4 different positions. He should really have a breakout year this year.

 

Also, they have a junior (Johnson) who is a very good pure shooter. I have seen him get on streaks and be unstoppable. TJ Barnes is a decent post/wing player, with good around the basket moves.

 

But they will start 4 (possibly 5) new players this year. So it will be tough, considering one of the toughest districts and regions in the state. But by next year, they will be top 25 in the state I believe.

I agree they are young, but I think they may surprise some teams.

 

Their young players are pretty good, although they don't have a lot of height.