Everyone knows that Holmes is the team to beat for the next two years. However, after that it is going to be wide open again. I like Dixie's chances with having Tammel, Pike, Hatton. Also, Dixie has a pretty talented freshmen team without Pike and Hatton. Ill be glad in two years when Holmes talent graduates and the 9th region goes back to normal...about 7 teams with a chance to win the tournament

 

I agree it will be more wide open in two years, but don't count out Holmes. They'll still have Arnold, Jones, and Mcclendon plus Arnold's little brother who's a freshman is another stud coming through. Don't forget about Baby Gates either (David Smith) who is already 6'7 as a freshman and cousin of UC player Yancy Gates.

 

Holmes will be one of the favorites to win the region for the next 5 years.

Well Dayton has some really good talent with the freshman level coming up. With Jordan Smith being 6'4 already, Thomas Rogg getting varisty time, Timmy Smith starting JV, Danny Sparks playing alot of JV, and a great bench with Ben Murnahan and Brandon Simmons. So thats what Dayton's got to look forward to also the junior class being a great class to.

 

Dayton has alot of talent for the next few years. Like Brandon Simmons alot. Rogg Has good basketball Knowledge for his age.T.R smith needs to mature as does Sparks.And from what I hear Jordan Smith cant keep his grades up.Loaded with JRS this year looking for big years the next few.Never herd of Murnaham

Not to hijack your thread but I don't think the 9th will see any advantage next year as compared to this year. Although I agree that Holmes will be stacked and Boone and Highlands will be solid next year, the reality is that the 7th will also be even tougher!

 

The major impact players at the top 7 teams, with the exception of Jenkins at Manual and Cox at Ballard, are all underclassmen.

 

Eastern, Ballard, Jtown, Trinity, Seneca, Male will return the majority of their starters and this includes multiple D1 quality players (Cosby, T. Jackson at Jtown, Sewell and Harrison at Trinity, Jones and Chiles at Ballard, Abell at Eastern and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

 

Look at the the 10th with Clark Co and the 11th with Scott County and I think it's safe to say that Kentucky basketball will see one of it's best years ever in the 2010 season.

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Not to hijack your thread but I don't think the 9th will see any advantage next year as compared to this year. Although I agree that Holmes will be stacked and Boone and Highlands will be solid next year, the reality is that the 7th will also be even tougher!

 

The major impact players at the top 7 teams, with the exception of Jenkins at Manual and Cox at Ballard, are all underclassmen.

 

Eastern, Ballard, Jtown, Trinity, Seneca, Male will return the majority of their starters and this includes multiple D1 quality players (Cosby, T. Jackson at Jtown, Sewell and Harrison at Trinity, Jones and Chiles at Ballard, Abell at Eastern and I'm sure I'm missing a few.

 

Look at the the 10th with Clark Co and the 11th with Scott County and I think it's safe to say that Kentucky basketball will see one of it's best years ever in the 2010 season.

 

I really don't see what the 7th, 10th, and 11th have to do with this thread, but I couldn't disagree anymore that the 9th won't see any advantages next year as compared to this year.

 

Boone loses Mcfarland but return the nucleus of their team with Gabbard, Popp, Earls, and Cotton. They also won the JV and freshman championships this year, which tells you they have talent coming up.

 

Holmes loses Riley, Housely, and D. Johnson but return a Mr. Basketball candidate in Pittman to go along with another Mr. Basketball candidate and probably the best player in the state next year in R. Johnson, and a top 10 senior in J. Johnson. They also return a deep sophomore class that only lost I believe 4 games all year at the JV level and that was without their best player in that class, in Arnold, who will be seeing his third year of varsity ball as a junior.

 

Highlands doesn't have any seniors this year and will be the deepest team in the region and will go probably 10 or 11 deep, led by a very talented duo in Kowolonek and Grote. They also have two solid underclassmen in Jack Stewart and Ryan Egan who will make a contribution off the bench.

 

Ryle will be another deep team with a lot of talent. They return a solid junior class and several sophomores who are contributing this year. They will be a very big team with 6'7 Nichols, 6'5 Stauffer, 6'4 Coleman, and 6'2 Mcleish.

 

Conner also could make some noise not only in region, but also against teams not in the 9th. They only lose 2 seniors from this year's team who actually beat GRC earlier in the year.

 

Next year the 9th will see some of the best basketball they've seen since the years we watched a Doellman led Ryle, a Brock led SK , and Neltner led Highlands battle it out with a very good St Henry team. Holmes is the overwhelming favorite for next year, but IMO it will be much tougher for them to win region next year, than it will be this year. There will be atleast 5 teams in the 9th next year that can consistently compete with and beat top 20 teams from around the state.

I don't think anyone can count out Conner next year. They will return Avery and Stephens as seniors. They have started varsity since their sophmore year. They also bring back Robinson, Hodges, and Liechty who all contributed this year as sophomores. They shoudl also have a full time point guard back in Flesch who was out most of this season with an injury. They will start two seniors and three juniors with alot of experience on the bench.

I don't think anyone can count out Conner next year. They will return Avery and Stephens as seniors. They have started varsity since their sophmore year. They also bring back Robinson, Hodges, and Liechty who all contributed this year as sophomores. They shoudl also have a full time point guard back in Flesch who was out most of this season with an injury. They will start two seniors and three juniors with alot of experience on the bench.

 

I agree. Conner will be tough next year. Losing Lang and Broyles will hurt them, but they have enough talent and will be deep enough next year to make up for the loss of those two. Avery could very well end up being a big time player if he works hard in the off season.

CovCath should have plenty of expierence next year.

Totally agree with you.:thumb:

 

Holmes will be in control of the 9th for at least the next 3-4 yrs.

 

I wouldnt be so sure of that my friend.

CovCath should have plenty of expierence next year.

 

I don't see Covcath being a legit title contender again until the 10/11 season...too much talent at Boone, Holmes, Highlands, Ryle and Conner.

There is no doubt you have to have Holmes in the running every year but that is not just because they have the horses but also because they have the best coaching staff in NKY. After Pittman and the Johnson's graduate I do think it evens out a ton. I know Kevon is there and McClendon should project to be a very good player but he hasnt done anything yet so lets not put him on the pedestal until he does. Its my opinion that after 8th grade Brandon Hatton will switch to Holmes and play with McClendon/Jalen Beal/Jalen Avery and the rest of the Tar Heels he grew up playing with. Just an opinion of mine so dont everybody start going crazy.

 

Highlands is hard to read as far as prognasticating future success because they are primarily a football school. There is some nice talent coming up the ranks. The 7th grade team won 18 games, 8th grade won 20 and the biggest kid in the 7th grade (Nick True 6'4 200lbs) played Frosh ball. There are a few kids in the Frosh class that will definitely be contributors in the future and the sophomore class also has Stewart (who could get to 6'8 by next year, he just keeps growing), Egan(lights out shooter), Dean(crafty ballhandler). Will they contend for the Region during those years, I think they have a nice chance because Schlarman will demand they play tough defense and work hard. Should be fun to watch it all play out.

 

Other schools that appear to have bright futures are Boone Co (Frosh/JV champs, strong Jr. class), Conner(several returning players), Ryle(huge lineup) and Dixie (Pike/Trammell and current Frosh).

 

Its all a crapshoot though because strange things happen and some kids just stop playing, choose other sports or put themselves in situations where they cant play. Always fun to prognasticate though.

Highlands is hard to read as far as prognasticating future success because they are primarily a football school. There is some nice talent coming up the ranks. The 7th grade team won 18 games, 8th grade won 20 and the biggest kid in the 7th grade (Nick True 6'4 200lbs) played Frosh ball. There are a few kids in the Frosh class that will definitely be contributors in the future and the sophomore class also has Stewart (who could get to 6'8 by next year, he just keeps growing), Egan(lights out shooter), Dean(crafty ballhandler). Will they contend for the Region during those years, I think they have a nice chance because Schlarman will demand they play tough defense and work hard. Should be fun to watch it all play out.

 

Biggest question with the Birds is we don't know how many of those players are actually going to continue playing basketball. There's been many times where kids at HHS will play until their frosh year and then switch to football. There are several in this year's frosh class who may not be around in a few years because of football. This could very well be the case with one or both of the True brothers as well, from what I hear. If Willie can keep the nucleus of those groups together though, they should be solid.

Dayton has alot of talent for the next few years. Like Brandon Simmons alot. Rogg Has good basketball Knowledge for his age.T.R smith needs to mature as does Sparks.And from what I hear Jordan Smith cant keep his grades up.Loaded with JRS this year looking for big years the next few.Never herd of Murnaham

 

Dayton has good DIII talent for the next few years. But they have been depleted by the loss of the kid that moved to Ft. Thomas and the one that transferred over somewhere in Cincinnati...

If you counted on JV and Freshmen Championships to predict the 9th, than Cov Cath should have won every 9th region championship in the 90s and early 2000s. Only recently has anyone but them won it consistantly. I have to be honest, Boone avoided several of the good schools in the Frosh and JV tourneys these past couple years because of upsets and that happens. Good season to the Rebs but I believe coaching evens out their "superior talent" because I grade their coaching a C-. If Jim Hicks or Dave Faust had that talent, they would win the region pretty consistantly.

If you counted on JV and Freshmen Championships to predict the 9th, than Cov Cath should have won every 9th region championship in the 90s and early 2000s. Only recently has anyone but them won it consistantly. I have to be honest, Boone avoided several of the good schools in the Frosh and JV tourneys these past couple years because of upsets and that happens. Good season to the Rebs but I believe coaching evens out their "superior talent" because I grade their coaching a C-. If Jim Hicks or Dave Faust had that talent, they would win the region pretty consistantly.

 

I agree with you and I beleive Jim Hicks will have the talent over the next couple of years.