Article by me on my site:

 

I just spoke to Troy Thomas, the new girl's coach at West Jessamine, about the 23rd annual Kentucky High School Coaches Association's East/West Junior All-Star Game. Thomas will be one of the coaches for the West team in the game, which features top juniors from the 5th and 6th Regions (West) versus top juniors from the 7th and 8th Regions (East).

 

Tipoffs are set for 6 p.m. (girls) and 8 (boys) at Bellarmine University's Knights Hall. Tickets are $5, and preschoolers will be admitted for free.

 

Thomas mentioned the prestige of the event, noting that players such as Rajon Rondo, Derek Anderson and Tony Kimbro have competed in the East/West game. He added that there will be many college coaches and scouts on hand and plenty of talent for them to evaluate. One name to keep an eye on, according to Thomas, will be Donovan Gibbs from Iroquois, who is developing into an impressive player.

 

Speaking on his new job (Thomas left the Green County boy's program to coach the girls at West Jessamine after last season), Coach Thomas stated, "I have been working hard all summer long at West Jessamine. The team is working hard and doing really well."

 

We have been going at it four days a week, including a couple of days in the weight room and a lot of individual workouts. "

 

During the coaching dead period, Thomas worked Coach Matthew Mitchell's basketball camp at the University of Kentucky.

 

"I haven't stopped all summer long...and I love it," Thomas said with a smile.

 

Boy's Rosters for East/West Game:

 

West - Bryton Taylor (Campbellsville); Chris Ulls (Elizabethtown); James Berry (North Hardin); Kyle Sandusky (Adair County); Cedric Vaughn (Hart County); Dustin Curry (Green County); Donovan Gibbs (Iroquois); Chris Richard (Southern); Quintrell Morris (Fairdale); Jamal Stephenson (Pleasure Ridge Park); Thomas Blakemore (Butler); Adam Troutman (Holy Cross). Coaches: Troy Lee Thomas (Green County), Mike Durham (Holy Cross).

 

East - Aleksandar Nikolic (Manual); Josh Sewell (Trinity); Ian Chiles, Keisten Jones (Ballard); Thomas Jackson (Jeffersontown); Delquan Thomas (Eastern); Donovan Johnson, Norris Beckley Jr. (Shelby County); Alex Foley (North Oldham); Zac Jones (Gallatin County); Casey Sorrell (Simon Kenton); Jacob Russell (Anderson County). Coaches: Steve Sergeant (Seneca), Trent Steiner (Simon Kenton).

 

More Information from the Courier-Journal

There will not be plenty of women's college coaches at this event. This is a dead period and college coaches are not allowed to attend events.

I guess he was speaking of boys.

I guess he was speaking of boys.

 

Why isn't Curtis Washington from Elizabethtown playing in this event? He was offered by USC and not playing in this event?

 

How do they pick the kids to play in this game? I can think of some others that should be playing in this game.

Why isn't Curtis Washington from Elizabethtown playing in this event? He was offered by USC and not playing in this event?

 

How do they pick the kids to play in this game? I can think of some others that should be playing in this game.

 

I'm not sure about this particular event, but oftentimes there are alot of politics involved. Anyone know anything about this event?

Troy Lee says the East won 118-106; not much defense...

Troy Lee says the East won 118-106; not much defense...

 

Whoever heard of defense in an All Star game?

Each coach in the four regions nominated two players. A list of nominated players was then sent to the coaches who voted for the players. The voting was done in late spring - before summer ball. So, really, the coaches from each of the regions voted for the teams. Pretty diplomatic process. I can think of quite a few players worthy of being selected that were not. The 7th region, especially, has tons of quality senior talent!