1. Anderson County - defending champs, highest ranked returning player from last years all region team in Russell - a beast, Humphries is a 6'5 stud, Ruggles is 6'3 quality player and they return their point guard. Throw in the best coach in the region and Anderson is the pick.

2. Shelby County - best talent in the region every year!! Boomer is the quickest point guard in the region, Tomlinson has started for 3 years, Johnson is not one of my favorite players, but he is the most talented player in the region, Beach is a quality pivot man, Payton is a good big with a lot of spring, Hicks is a future all state player and they have more that I don't even know the names of - deep and talented.

3. North Oldham - Foley and Rowan are potential all region. Supporting cast is good and deep. Style of play is aggressive. You better be able to handle pressure or they will wear you out. Best young talent in Oldham County has been headed to North as of late.

 

The rest in any order. Owen, Henry, Gallatin can all argue to have a shot. Owen has size- no guards. Henry has guards - no size, no coach. Gallatin has guards, no size.

Simon Kenton has two very good players in Sorrell and Chambers, but they are unproven after that.

Walton has size and guards and a new coach. They could be a team to watch, but it is very difficult to win a region after winning less than half your games the year before.

Oldham has young talent - no go to player. Good athletes, but young. Holland will have talent and he does a good job. It will be interesting to see if urban kids buy in to Holland as well as the country boys at Henry.

South Oldham is always one of the best offensive teams in the region. If they can add defense to their list of talents they will be dangerous!!

The other teams in the region are not contenders this year.

Foley was the highest ranking returning player in the 8th. Ranked 4th behind Penny, Maddox and Dunlap. Great insight into the teams!

Best young talent is not at North, south won the Freshmen tourney at Georgetown and Oldham's JV was beat at the buzzer by Scott County, so those two could be really good in the next couple years. I think that Simon and Oldham may be scary at the end of the year because they will gain experience as the season goes on. Both have very difficult schedules.

Would be easy to talk about South and North but if I am not mistaken, both of them combined have won 2 games total in the region, in their school's history?

Your point is well taken, but that number is a little skewed. North has only been a high school for 6 years. The main point is where are they ranked along most schools in the 8th. Not always the top, but typically top 4 so if that is the case you always have a shot. South has been a HS for 19 years and has 2 district titles now and 1 regional finals appearance in their first year. North has the same number of district titles in 6 years. North's program is definately on the rise and in 6 years had themselves mentioned at the top of the 8th from some people. That is a great testament to the growth.

Much debate in the thread, but no early top five or top 10 lists. C'mon somebody's gotta be bursting at the seams ready to give the first official top five.

Shelby County - (As good a starting 5 as their is if they are healthy)

South Oldham - (7 seniors that are experienced)

North Oldham - (Foley and Rowan are a tough inside out combo)

Anderson County - (Russell and Ruggles will keep them going)

Owen County - (Great Nucleus)

Walton Verona - (My understanding is they return everyone)

Oldham County - (May be under rated, but new system, new coach)

 

The reality is the top 7-8 are interchangeable in many spots. Lots of fun to come.

Your point is well taken, but that number is a little skewed. North has only been a high school for 6 years. The main point is where are they ranked along most schools in the 8th. Not always the top, but typically top 4 so if that is the case you always have a shot. South has been a HS for 19 years and has 2 district titles now and 1 regional finals appearance in their first year. North has the same number of district titles in 6 years. North's program is definately on the rise and in 6 years had themselves mentioned at the top of the 8th from some people. That is a great testament to the growth.

My apologies, South has won 3 district titles and not 2!

I expect Grant County to be an underdog this upcoming season. They lose Thompson, Kinmon, and Livingood. However they return Wartman, Davis, and Loomis, which all three have started for Grant. They have some shoes to fill, especially in the guard position...Jalen Kinmon who will be a sophomore and plays the guard spot, will do exceptionally well after seeing him play during summer ball. I think it would be unwise to underestimate the Braves.

Shelby County - (As good a starting 5 as their is if they are healthy)

South Oldham - (7 seniors that are experienced)

North Oldham - (Foley and Rowan are a tough inside out combo)

Anderson County - (Russell and Ruggles will keep them going)

Owen County - (Great Nucleus)

Walton Verona - (My understanding is they return everyone)

Oldham County - (May be under rated, but new system, new coach)

 

The reality is the top 7-8 are interchangeable in many spots. Lots of fun to come.

 

Not a bad start, but until someone can prove otherwise, Shelby is several tiers above everyone else.

 

South has veterans, but will have to show the ability to hit the glass consistently to take it to the next level. North is looking for the chemistry last year's squad lacked. Anderson will be missing pieces, but has two really good players to build around and one of the state's premier coaches in Drury. Jon Jones is the most underrated coach in the state, and has the nucleus to be competitive again in Gallatin County, even without Maddox. Owen's core is solid, but they are sort of like North - chemistry has to develop for them to take that next step - but the talent and physical skills are definitely there. W-V and Oldham have new coaches, which makes them wild cards of a sort. Oldham doesn't appear to have the athletes they've had earlier this decade, but that just means the pressure may not be on new coach Jason Holland to win fast.

I watched Owen 6 or 7 times last year. there were times when the guards forgot Shelton and Colligan were on the floor.

 

Those guards graduated. There are NO ball hogs left. All guards left are real team players!!

I find it funny that the Gallatin County contingent is always harping on Shelton. Not sure what this kid ever did to anyone. From my perspective I see a kid that dominates the lane on the defensive end, owns the glass and scores double digits every night. I guess those tinted glasses have also shifted to Colligan and Williams. Colligan was 3rd in FG% in the entire state. Hopefully someone will teach him better so he can be 1st or 2nd next year. This is obviously a player whose low post skills are lacking. Williams was a freshmen that played back up minutes on the varsity but when playing showed flashes of being a very good post player. I guess I need to get me a pair of those "blue tinted" glasses so I can see things more clearly.

 

HaHa very funny but, Rivals what do you expect?