Okay I was just thinking whos the best 10 players over the last 10 years since 2000. I am guess I will end up changing my list because I know I am going to have great players slip my mind. But heres my 10 off the top of my head.

 

Chris Lofton

Bud Mackey

Antwan Barbour

Darius Miller

Patrick Sparks

Twanny Beckham

Matt Walls

AJ Slaughter

Ty Profitt

Preston Knowles

 

My criteria is what they accomplished in high school, not college potential (thus leaving off a player lik Scotty Hopson who is obviously a great talent).

Okay I was just thinking whos the best 10 players over the last 10 years since 2000. I am guess I will end up changing my list because I know I am going to have great players slip my mind. But heres my 10 off the top of my head.

 

Chris Lofton

Bud Mackey

Antwan Barbour

Darius Miller

Patrick Sparks

Twanny Beckham

Matt Walls

AJ Slaughter

Ty Profitt

Preston Knowles

 

My criteria is what they accomplished in high school, not college potential (thus leaving off a player lik Scotty Hopson who is obviously a great talent).

 

Come on Log Mt. Boy...it is ok to include Ferguson and Ethan Faulkner from Elliott County. Three trips to the Sweet Sixteen and all the success they have experienced. Let's put them in the mix. And if Pittman and Rico Johnson make it back down state next year, you will have to put them on the list also. There are probably going to be 20 or more players you could throw into this debate.

Come on Log Mt. Boy...it is ok to include Ferguson and Ethan Faulkner from Elliott County. Three trips to the Sweet Sixteen and all the success they have experienced. Let's put them in the mix. And if Pittman and Rico Johnson make it back down state next year, you will have to put them on the list also. There are probably going to be 20 or more players you could throw into this debate.

 

There is no doubt that Ferguson and Faulkner are great high school players, but I can't see replacing anyone on the list for either of them. The Holmes 2 are very close though!

I'll give my list of the most successful high school players, while in high school. Naturally, a lot of these will include big state touranment performances, but not necessarily.

 

I think guys like Ferguson & Faulkner from Elliott County; Dewalt, Maresca, Anderson & co. from Warren Central, Lofton & Miller from Mason Co. and others who have led their team to the state tournament on a regular basis deserve a lot of recognition in this thread. Holmes is going to have plenty of these guys, particularly since they're going to have the opportunity to get back there again next year.

 

Think if guys like Demetrious Greene, William Graham & Harrison Morton from Lex Cath would have gotten back to Rupp after winning the title as sophs. Their spot in KY Basketball Lore would be entirely different.

I think he graduated in 2000, but I think that Tyler Zornes from Boyd County deserves mention. He was one of the best that I can remember, and I think led BC to three state tournaments.

 

As long as every list has Chris Lofton at #1, I have no problem with it. He was a great high school basketball player.

I think he graduated in 2000, but I think that Tyler Zornes from Boyd County deserves mention. He was one of the best that I can remember, and I think led BC to three state tournaments.

 

As long as every list has Chris Lofton at #1, I have no problem with it. He was a great high school basketball player.

 

 

 

Did Tyler Zornes win any games at the State Tournament? He was a very good player, but he doesn't belong on the list IMO.

Did Tyler Zornes win any games at the State Tournament? He was a very good player, but he doesn't belong on the list IMO.

 

LRCW...Didn't realize this was a state tournament list. It said that who were the 10 best players of the last ten years. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but plenty of good players don't win in the state tournament.....Like John Hood. Winning games at state requires more than just one player. I think that he accomplished quite a bit in his high school career. And outside of OJ, he is the best player in my mind that has came through the 16th region in a while.

LRCW...Didn't realize this was a state tournament list. It said that who were the 10 best players of the last ten years. Correct me if I'm wrong here, but plenty of good players don't win in the state tournament.....Like John Hood. Winning games at state requires more than just one player. I think that he accomplished quite a bit in his high school career. And outside of OJ, he is the best player in my mind that has came through the 16th region in a while.

 

 

Well in that case he doesn't even come close. As I said before Tyler Zornes was a good basketball player, but he doesn't even come close to being one of the top 10 players in the state the last 10 years. I doubt he would even make top 50.

OJ Mayo. Hard to argue that one. Tyler Zornes? Seriously? Wow.

I can't of too many people on that list that could've handled Antwan Barbour in his HS prime. Of course I have 4th region bias, so I'm going to go ahead and mention Lonnell Dewalt and being one of the greats. He didn't always score a ton, but he was a defensive guru. He was great at altering shots.

Rajon Rondo??? He needs to be mentioned too!

Well in that case he doesn't even come close. As I said before Tyler Zornes was a good basketball player, but he doesn't even come close to being one of the top 10 players in the state the last 10 years. I doubt he would even make top 50.

 

Not even top 50? Okay, maybe I'm overestimating him, but yikes. He was pretty darn good.

 

Also, he won one game at the tournament, 1998. 1st round vs. Hazard 58-53. Was named to the all-tournament team. I think basketball was a different game then, especially in the 90's.

 

With people throwing out 16th region players I thought I would compare one. Like I said since 2000, outside of OJ Mayo I think Zornes was the best in the region. If you are going to throw Ethan Faulkner and Jon Ferguson on this list I think he has to be mentioned. I'm not taking anything away from those boys, I just think he was better. Maybe I should have specified that. I know people will get up in arms about that but what can I do.

Rajon Rondo??? He needs to be mentioned too!

 

Thats what a friend of mine said. I guess he would have to be in the top handful. Him, OJ, and Lofton in some order in the top 3.

 

As for athletes/defenders Dewalt would have to be near the top as well.

1. A-C = Lofton, Rondo, Mayo

4. Darius Miller

5. Antwan Barbour

6. Bud Mackey

 

I think that many players after that are really close to being even.

Okay I was just thinking whos the best 10 players over the last 10 years since 2000. I am guess I will end up changing my list because I know I am going to have great players slip my mind. But heres my 10 off the top of my head.

 

Chris Lofton

Bud Mackey

Antwan Barbour

Darius Miller

Patrick Sparks

Twanny Beckham

Matt Walls

AJ Slaughter

Ty Profitt

Preston Knowles

 

My criteria is what they accomplished in high school, not college potential (thus leaving off a player lik Scotty Hopson who is obviously a great talent).

Steffphon Pettigrew, who was the rightful Mr. Basketball selection in 2007 over Walls, needs to be on the list over Walls.