I would go with Lynn Camp. They were 15-5 during the summer and beat Barbourville during the summer and they've got a couple of new faces. One kid came from Michigan and they played tough in Lexington without Bargo and Siler playing. Broughton played with them in Lexington and if he stays then Lynn Camp is a No. 5, 6 or 7 team IMO.

 

That is who I will go with too. They seem to come around and beat Pineville in the district tournament. They also play in the weakest district in the 13th region.

Lynn Camp probably does have the edge in talent and size.

I don't see Broughton staying though.

Middlesboro doesn't have much depth. Powers wasn't at the game I saw, which left Green and Cowan as the only scorers. Middlesboro could start five seniors, but after that they drop down to a couple of freshmen.

 

Barbourville is going to be small after losing a 6-8 guy and two 6-4 guys to graduation. They can be pretty good if the shots are falling. They missed something like their first 19 3-point attempts in the regional game last year and got blown out by Middlesboro.

 

I was guessing that Barbourville might benefit from the Knox Central controversy.

I picked Clay No. 1 in my newspaper column, just ahead of Corbin and South Laurel.

 

The coaches vote in the stories I do for preseason publications, so Corbin may have the edge there. I think it will be real close between those three with Knox Central fourth. Several teams will be in the mix for No. 5 including Harlan County, Bell County, Whitley County, North Laurel etc...

 

What's your early top 10?

 

 

I have Clay County, Harlan County and South Laurel in the girls rankings.

 

Clay and South Laurel should be #1 and #2. Clay easily beat Corbin this summer and South Laurel returns St. John and a lot of other contributors from last year including Watkins, Gilbert, Wright, Huff and Sizemore. Corbin lost 4 players out of their 8 player rotation and should be battling Knox Central for the #3 spot with Whitley Co. as a possible contender for that spot.

I was guessing that Barbourville might benefit from the Knox Central controversy.

 

Barbourville, over the years has benefited greatly from getting KC players, LC seems to be able to get their share of KC players as well these days. With the size and returning players LC has coming back they would be my pick for the 10th spot.

1. Clay Co

2. South L.

3. Corbin

4. Knox Central

5. Bell Co.

6. Whitley Co.

7. North Laurel

8. Harlan Co.

9. M'boro

10. Lynn Camp

 

I think the spots 5-10 may be pretty fluid thoughout the season. I see the top 4 being pretty solid. However Knox Central with a new coach could be a wild card, being Knox Central in general makes them somewhat of a mystery, or a daytime drama....