Not for sure what answer you want here but here is what I have heard in the past week.

Tatum is moving over to the girls team to be an assistant and rumblings are that Cundiff is doing everything he can to get out of Mercer and to find another coaching job.

There is some 12th region news from the Somerset area. Taylor Gover will be leaving Somerset and starting his high school career with Pulaski Co. He will add to an already strong Freshman group for the Maroons.

You think the Gover item is news? That was in the works loooooong ago when the job was first posted.

You think the Gover item is news? That was in the works loooooong ago when the job was first posted.

No, it's old news in Somerset. I have not seen it posted anywhere on BGP so it is probably news to the majority of the readers. Anyone that know Taylor will tell you he is a great kid. I wish him the best of luck.:thumb:

I think the West Jessamine hire will actually hurt the Colts this season.

 

They were the best defensive team in the region last season, and I don't know exactly how Kelley plays. Raider Rob may finally make it to Rupp.

I think the West Jessamine hire will actually hurt the Colts this season.

 

They were the best defensive team in the region last season, and I don't know exactly how Kelley plays. Raider Rob may finally make it to Rupp.

 

Would agree- West could score last year but all three years Hammonds was there they played great defense and always has thier opponent scouted to a T- got to think this hurts the chances of a repeat- Raider Rob will be number one now

I hope Rob Jones and the Raiders to make it to Rupp this year. Rob has lived most of his life as a part of McCreary County Basketball and Lord knows no one has put more time, work and energy into the basketball program than him.

 

Wayne County will be very good as well. If the Raiders take the district then they should have a good shot at winning the region as well. If Wayne can upset them in the district then their path becomes much more difficult more than likely. If the Raiders shoot the ball well then I like their chances. The freshman big man also gives them a back to the basket player that they have needed for many a year. Best of luck to Raider Rob.

This is a great list. I would definatly not have Rockcastle that high on my list, and Lincoln Co. will surprise some teams next season.

 

I think Jarrod Polson & West Jessamine have to be the #1 team for pre-season rankings in the 12th. They should win their District.

 

McCreary Central will be 1A (2) as long as Aaron Watts returns next season. MC should be their District's Winner.

 

I don't think the next wave of teams have nearly the shot at contending for the 12th Region title that the top two schools do...

 

Wayne Co. Should be 3 with Gavin Dunagan pacing them. Wayne Co. should be their District's Runner-up.

 

Danville 4 being lead by Jacody Taylor should the the 45th District Champs.

 

Then I like Lincoln Co. to be 5. Lincoln returns 2 starters and their 6th man from last years team (Long, Allison, & Hill) They also will start Trent Edgington (Soph.) at the point. Trent will be taking over for his brother Trevor Edgington who graduates this year. Also, Lincoln brings in a Strong Freshman Class that dominated for several years. That should bode well for the future. I know Lincoln loses the 12th Region Player of the year in Ethan Spurlin, but they lost three 1,000 point scorers the prior season and several had them counted out. They managed to get to the semi-finals of the 12th Region tourney in a loss by 3 to MC. Lincoln should be the 45th District Runner-up.

 

I think Mercer Co. is a strong 6. Their Junior Class is strong with Clay Cinnamon leading them. Mercer should be a district Runner-up.

 

Rockcastle Co. would be my 7th team. They got a taste of 12th Region Tournament games this season, and should be poised to make another apearance this year due to their lack of strength in the district. Rockcastle should be a District Winner going into the tournament.

 

My 8th Team in the Rankings go to Casey Co. Mainly because they should return to the 12th Region Touranment next year (see comments on Rockcastle for why). They return several starters. They should be a District Runner-up going into the tournament.

:thumb:West Jess. has to be rated (1) one after making a final four run last season. Polson is one of the best guards in the state and they have some other key players returning.

But West Jessamine will be missing a key part of the run to the final four- The Coaching Staff and 3 seniors that helped out this year- West will be in the mix but with out Hammonds I dont think they will get over the hump

After reading all the posts I have to say that the Raiders are definately the #1 pre-season team. I know the Raiders players and they want to go to Rupp and they will work together to get there and as everyone seen at this years regional tournament they have the support they need as well. To clear up any rumors, I talk with Watts almost daily and he will definately be playing B-ball next year as will all of this years Raiders except the one senior that we lost to graduation. The B-ball team has been working hard this summer they are in camp at Gerogetown right now and have a busy week of games when they get back. Best of luck to the Raiders!

After watching WJ and Polson play, the 12 region title will not just be handed over to McCreary and Watts, they will have to earn it. Watts team will have to learn how to let him be the leader much like WJ does. When Jarrod needs to score or get to the line to get the team on track the team understand, they don't care if he shoots ten times in a row. I am not sure that Watts gets that same type of response from the guys around him. In the 12 region finals Watts disappeared until late in the 4th quarter, in those big games he will have to be assertive and impose his will on the competitors.

No, it's old news in Somerset. I have not seen it posted anywhere on BGP so it is probably news to the majority of the readers. Anyone that know Taylor will tell you he is a great kid. I wish him the best of luck.:thumb:

Looks as if the team that you thought you would have hear coming up in the future, based on your past post, has been dismantled. Seem to have taken some big hits over the past two seasons. Goins now at PC, Thacker - Rowan County, Gover - PC, Laign brothers - PC, rumor has it the Dishman brothers is going to SW. Can someone explain what happened here. I guess we know why Gover left but what about the other six?

So WJ got rid of the assistants?

So WJ got rid of the assistants?

Does Derek Springate, WJ, assistant coach work at Brian Station High School?

 

Have they hired anyone to replace Hammonds yet?

Springate has been on the Mercer County bench for many games this summer - if that means anything.

 

You can also see a little more of what Wayne County will have this season when Gavin Dunagan suits up for the ICE this summer. He has added a lot to that team.