With basketball season now finished, thought this might be a good time to start discussing next season.

 

Who will be the top 10 players and top 10 teams next year? What teams should compete for the region title and what do they need to do to be successful?

 

My top 10 players:

 

1. 6'5 Ricardo Johnson (Holmes)

2. 6'7 Elijah Pittman (Holmes)

3. 6'4 Jeremiah Johnson (Holmes)

4. 6'3 Ronald Cotton (Boone Co)

5. 6'2 Stephen Kolownek (Highlands)

6. 6'0 Mike Gabbard (Boone Co)

7. 6'2 Demetrius Avery (Conner)

8. 6'2 Mitch McLeish (Ryle)

9. 6'1 George Grote (Highlands)

10. Could be filled by several players (Earls- BC, Watson-HHS, Pangallo-NCC, Bryan-Villa, Trammel-Dixie, Rice-Holmes, Greene-Newport)

 

My top 10 teams:

 

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Boone Co

4. Ryle

5. Newcath

6. Conner

7. Covcath

8. Dixie Heights

9. Newport

10. Holy Cross

 

Thoughts?

Teams

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Boone

4. Conner

5. Ncc

6. Dixie

7. Ryle

8. CovCath

9. Newport

10. Dayton (yes, Dayton)

 

Players

1. Elijah Pittman - Holmes

2. Ricardo Johnson - Holmes

3. Jeremiah Johnson - Holmes

4. Blake Bryan - Villa

5. Mike Gabbard - Boone

6. Grant Pangallo - NCC

7. Mitch McLeish - Ryle

8. Stephen Kowolonek - Highlands

9. Casey McDaniel - Newport

10. Shawn Eastin - Dayton

 

I'm strongly thinking that Eastin and the Green Devils prove my guess right that they're going to be solid. Holmes dominates everything. Bryan, Gabbard, and McLeish are the only 3 I have that don't either play for Holmes or in the 36th district. I don't know what that means. I also know you might call me crazy for choosing McDaniel and Eastin.

Teams

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Boone

4. Conner

5. Ncc

6. Dixie

7. Ryle

8. CovCath

9. Newport

10. Dayton (yes, Dayton)

 

Players

1. Elijah Pittman - Holmes

2. Ricardo Johnson - Holmes

3. Jeremiah Johnson - Holmes

4. Blake Bryan - Villa

5. Mike Gabbard - Boone

6. Grant Pangallo - NCC

7. Mitch McLeish - Ryle

8. Stephen Kowolonek - Highlands

9. Casey McDaniel - Newport

10. Shawn Eastin - Dayton

 

I'm strongly thinking that Eastin and the Green Devils prove my guess right that they're going to be solid. Holmes dominates everything. Bryan, Gabbard, and McLeish are the only 3 I have that don't either play for Holmes or in the 36th district. I don't know what that means. I also know you might call me crazy for choosing McDaniel and Eastin.

 

Grizzly I like your pics even though they are guard heavy.

 

McDaniel and Eastin will be key players for their teams next year and probably avg 17 to 20ppg.

 

Here is what I am thinking.

 

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Boone Co

4. NCC

5. Ryle

6. Conner

7. Dixie

8. Newport

9. Cov Cath

10. Holy Cross

Others closely behind- St. Henry and Dayton.

 

Top 10 Players

1. Ricardo Johnson- Holmes

2. Elijah Pittman- Holmes

3. J.Johnson- Holmes

4. Mike Gabbard- Boone Co.

5. Stephen Kowolonek- Highlands

6. Grant Pangallo- NCC

7. Casey McDaniel- Newport

8. Demetrius Avery- Conner

9. George Grote- Highlands

10. Mitch Mcleish- Ryle

 

Others to watch- Eastin-Dayton, Earls and Cotton- Boone Co, Bryan- Villa, Trammel- Dixie, Jake Geisler- NCC, Greene-Newport.

Cotton and Earls will be in the mix. Popp too if he gets PT this year.

 

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Boone Co

4. Ryle

5. Conner

6. NCC

7. Dixie

8. St. Henry

9. Cov Cath

10. Newport

 

Top 10 Players

1. Ricardo Johnson- Holmes

2. Elijah Pittman- Holmes

3. J.Johnson- Holmes

4. Stephen Kowolonek - Highlands

4. Mike Gabbard- Boone Co.

5. Stephen Kowolonek- Highlands

6. Andy Earls - Boone Co.

7. Ronald Cotton - Boone Co.

8. Popp - Boone Co.

9. George Grote- Highlands

10. Mitch Mcleish- Ryle

 

Others to watch- Bryan- Villa, Jake Geisler- NCC, Clay Coleman - Ryle

I think some may be selling Cotton a little short. IMO he'll be a top 5 player in nky next year. He impressed me the most this year out of any other player on Boone's team. He has the athleticism that both Earls and Gabbard lack and his defense doesn't get enough credit.

I think some may be selling Cotton a little short. IMO he'll be a top 5 player in nky next year. He impressed me the most this year out of any other player on Boone's team. He has the athleticism that both Earls and Gabbard lack and his defense doesn't get enough credit.

 

You might be right but he needs to work on his ball skills and finishing. He will be flying around the rim getting tip ins and stick backs but Top 5 to me is someone that can do it with the rock, play solid D and shoot the rock decently.

Well said. Cotton is a heck of an athlete and can hit from 10 ft. and in but will need to improve his outside shot, strength, and ball handling. He plays good perimeter defense.

Well said. Cotton is a heck of an athlete and can hit from 10 ft. and in but will need to improve his outside shot, strength, and ball handling. He plays good perimeter defense.

 

You might be right but he needs to work on his ball skills and finishing. He will be flying around the rim getting tip ins and stick backs but Top 5 to me is someone that can do it with the rock, play solid D and shoot the rock decently.

 

Cotton's strength isn't from outside though. His strengths are what you guys mentioned...getting to the rack, playing solid D, and his mid range game. He is Boone's best player IMO.

Cotton's strength isn't from outside though. His strengths are what you guys mentioned...getting to the rack, playing solid D, and his mid range game. He is Boone's best player IMO.

 

I put Earls and Gabbard ahead of him because his strength is not creating his own shot off the dribble, and Earls has a better outside shot, is a stronger body inside. Earls and Gabbard will both outscore Cotton IMO, and Popp will too if he gets to play more. Regardless, Cotton will be in double figures several games. I think he will average 7-10 points a game, Earls will average about 11, Gabbard about 11, and Popp about 10. I think Boone's scoring will be pretty balanced. Cotton is a better perimeter defender than on the inside. He blocks a lot of shots inside but doesn't have the build to guard stronger, more physical inside players. If Cotton plays on the perimeter with Gabbard, it leaves Boone with only one ball handler to break presses and one outside shooter. Montgomery is probably a better ball handler and outside shooter than Cotton, but not as good as a defender and shot blocker.

Earls needs to figure out what his game is. Is he going to be an inside player (needs work) or an outside player.

I put Earls and Gabbard ahead of him because his strength is not creating his own shot off the dribble, and Earls has a better outside shot, is a stronger body inside. Earls and Gabbard will both outscore Cotton IMO, and Popp will too if he gets to play more. Regardless, Cotton will be in double figures several games. I think he will average 7-10 points a game, Earls will average about 11, Gabbard about 11, and Popp about 10. I think Boone's scoring will be pretty balanced. Cotton is a better perimeter defender than on the inside. He blocks a lot of shots inside but doesn't have the build to guard stronger, more physical inside players. If Cotton plays on the perimeter with Gabbard, it leaves Boone with only one ball handler to break presses and one outside shooter. Montgomery is probably a better ball handler and outside shooter than Cotton, but not as good as a defender and shot blocker.

 

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you. Earls is WAY overrated IMO and Cotton is much better. The only thing Earls has on Cotton is size. Cotton is able to guard anyone on the floor and score on anyone. Earls struggles against kids his own size or bigger. Gabbard is solid, but disappears in big games. (See the region championship) Granted you've probably seen Boone more than myself, the few times I saw Boone this year I was more impressed with Cotton and Mcfarland than anyone else. Cotton seemed to be very consistent down the stretch for Boone. He and Gabbard will be Boone's best two players next year, but I'd give a slight edge to Cotton as the better all around player because of his defense and ability to play more than just one position.

Earls needs to figure out what his game is. Is he going to be an inside player (needs work) or an outside player.

 

Agreed.

I just can't see 10 better players in the 9th than Rice. No disrespect to those who have been listed, but he will for sure be a top 10 player next year in the region. Don't be surprised if he leads Holmes in scoring next year.

Top Ten Teams

 

1. Holmes

2. Highlands

3. Conner

4. Boone

5. Ryle

6. NCC

7. Cov. Cath

8. Holy Cross

9. Dixie

10. Newport

 

 

Top Ten Players

1. Ricardo Johnson

2. Elijah Pittman

3. Demetrius Avery

4. Ronald Cotton

5. Jermiah Johnson

6. Stephen Kowolonek

7. Mike Gabbard

8. Bobby Stauffer

9. Grant Pangallo

10. Clay Robinson

Top Ten Players

1. Ricardo Johnson

2. Elijah Pittman

3. Demetrius Avery

4. Ronald Cotton

5. Jermiah Johnson

6. Stephen Kowolonek

7. Mike Gabbard

8. Bobby Stauffer

9. Grant Pangallo

10. Clay Robinson

 

I really like Avery, but I wouldn't put him ahead of Cotton, JJ, or Kowolonek.

 

Avery is too inconsistent. I'd also say JJ is probably a much bigger prospect than Avery. Avery is a D2 caliber player, at best.