Ricardo Johnson - Holmes

Elijah Pittman - Holmes

Jake Thelen - Cov. Cath.

Stephen Kowolnek - Highlands

Kellen Smith - Scott

 

In the on deck circle...Jacob Rieger - Brossert & Brady Jolly - Camp. Co.

Bessler and Carroll for St.Henry should get some consideration, maybe not top 5 but should be considered for this group of 20

Ricardo Johnson - Holmes

Elijah Pittman - Holmes

Jake Thelen - Cov. Cath.

Stephen Kowolnek - Highlands

Kellen Smith - Scott

 

In the on deck circle...Jacob Rieger - Brossert & Brady Jolly - Camp. Co.

 

Thelen and Smith are not two of the 5 top players IMO.

 

I think the top 5 most talent and all around players would be

1.Ricardo Johnson

2.Elijiah Pittman

3.Mike Gabbard

4.Stephen Kowolnek

5. JJ Johnson

 

Top 10

6. Grant Pangallo

7.Brady Jolly

8.Zeke Pike

9. Jake Giesler

10. Kellen Smith

 

Top 15

11.Brandon Hatton

12. Ryan Popp

13. Mitch McLiesh

14.Andy Earls

15.Casey Sorrell

The Hatton kid is good, but I wouldn't put him in top 15 yet. He has the scoring/shooting down, but how are the other areas of his game. I wouldn't put him ahead of McLeish or Popp or Earls.

Thelen and Smith are not two of the 5 top players IMO.

 

I think the top 5 most talent and all around players would be

1.Ricardo Johnson

2.Elijiah Pittman

3.Mike Gabbard

4.Stephen Kowolnek

5. JJ Johnson

 

Top 10

6. Grant Pangallo

7.Brady Jolly

8.Zeke Pike

9. Jake Giesler

10. Kellen Smith

 

Top 15

11.Brandon Hatton

12. Ryan Popp

13. Mitch McLiesh

14.Andy Earls

15.Casey Sorrell

 

No credibility here witout a mention of Foster from Newport.

No credibility here witout a mention of Foster from Newport.

 

I hear he has a tremendous upside but when i saw him play against holmes he turned the ball over and took some poor shots.

 

This top 15 are the best scoring threats, and basketball players in NKY

The Hatton kid is good, but I wouldn't put him in top 15 yet. He has the scoring/shooting down, but how are the other areas of his game. I wouldn't put him ahead of McLeish or Popp or Earls.

 

I've seen Dixie play several times this year, Hatton and Pike score in the high teens or 20's every single game. I saw Hatton score 34 with ease SK and i saw Pike score 28 with ease against Cambell Co.

 

I think Popp is a great guard but i guess him always being the back up to Gabbard turns some heads. Dont get me wrong he is an awesome ball player and so is McLeish, but on a Scoring note i would say that Hatton has the edge on these two.

Ricardo Johnson - Holmes

Elijah Pittman - Holmes

Jake Thelen - Cov. Cath.

Stephen Kowolnek - Highlands

Kellen Smith - Scott

 

In the on deck circle...Jacob Rieger - Brossert & Brady Jolly - Camp. Co.

 

Kellen is a fine player, but he is not top 5, probably somewhere top 15. I would replace Kellen with J. Johnson of Holmes and then I like your top 5.

I've seen Dixie play several times this year, Hatton and Pike score in the high teens or 20's every single game. I saw Hatton score 34 with ease SK and i saw Pike score 28 with ease against Cambell Co.

 

I think Popp is a great guard but i guess him always being the back up to Gabbard turns some heads. Dont get me wrong he is an awesome ball player and so is McLeish, but on a Scoring note i would say that Hatton has the edge on these two.

 

I believe that Popp and Gabbard play different positions on Boone and both start. Popp usually only takes the point when Gabbard is out. Gabbard is probably a better pure point guard (assists/ball handling/passing), while some might give the edge to Popp on defense and scoring/shooting. They both seem to work fairly well together as a backcourt combination.

 

I don't think you can base top players only on scoring only. I'm curious which top guards that Hatton has put up the big numbers against so far and how many they scored on him? I have not seen him yet this year and am anxious to do so.

 

Without a doubt Hatton is a scorer for his team, but Dixie needs him in that role. Scoring is more balanced on Highlands, Boone, and some of the other teams. That's partly why teams like that are so good and have good records (several options).

 

I am also thinking about other things, like rebounding, steals, defense (how many points does the man they are guarding score?), assists, turnovers, free throw shooting, ball handling, blocks (including against pressure/presses), intangibles, etc. Some players are good but are on teams with several other good players. Some players don't put up flashy stats, but they are seasoned, experienced, and just plain win most of the time, regardless of the situation and team they are on.

 

Blake Bryan has the opportunity to do it all for this team and puts up great stats, but I would put at least 4 senior guards in NKY ahead of him based on head to head play I've seen.

 

I think that Hatton will be one of the top 5 in NKY before he graduates, and if he grows a few more inches, could play at a D2 or D1 school.

Thelen and Smith are not two of the 5 top players IMO.

 

I think the top 5 most talent and all around players would be

1.Ricardo Johnson

2.Elijiah Pittman

3.Mike Gabbard

4.Stephen Kowolnek

5. JJ Johnson

 

Top 10

6. Grant Pangallo

7.Brady Jolly

8.Zeke Pike

9. Jake Giesler

10. Kellen Smith

 

Top 15

11.Brandon Hatton

12. Ryan Popp

13. Mitch McLiesh

14.Andy Earls

15.Casey Sorrell

 

So an 8th grader is better than Jeremiah Johnson? :ohbrother:

I've seen Dixie play several times this year, Hatton and Pike score in the high teens or 20's every single game. I saw Hatton score 34 with ease SK and i saw Pike score 28 with ease against Cambell Co.

 

I think Popp is a great guard but i guess him always being the back up to Gabbard turns some heads. Dont get me wrong he is an awesome ball player and so is McLeish, but on a Scoring note i would say that Hatton has the edge on these two.[/QUOTE]

 

 

 

 

I like the kid dont get me wrong but he and Pike are the only offensive weapons Dixie has PERIOD. I have seen them play, they have a bunch of footballers running around tackling people (including Pike) and then Hatton as the only pure shooter/scorer. He was averaging 10.4 pts a game prior to the 34 point ouburst so he might have bumped that up to 12 or 13 a game now. Just because he scores doesnt make him a top 11 player.

 

Look at how Jeremiah Johnson plays defense and plays in the shadows of Eli, Rico and then you look at Popp who has to share the rock with the other studs Boone Co has and there is no comparison.

 

He could be Top 10 next year after this very SOLID SR class moves on but not until then.

I've seen Dixie play several times this year, Hatton and Pike score in the high teens or 20's every single game. I saw Hatton score 34 with ease SK and i saw Pike score 28 with ease against Cambell Co.

 

I think Popp is a great guard but i guess him always being the back up to Gabbard turns some heads. Dont get me wrong he is an awesome ball player and so is McLeish, but on a Scoring note i would say that Hatton has the edge on these two.[/QUOTE]

 

 

 

 

I like the kid dont get me wrong but he and Pike are the only offensive weapons Dixie has PERIOD. I have seen them play, they have a bunch of footballers running around tackling people (including Pike) and then Hatton as the only pure shooter/scorer. He was averaging 10.4 pts a game prior to the 34 point ouburst so he might have bumped that up to 12 or 13 a game now. Just because he scores doesnt make him a top 11 player.

 

Look at how Jeremiah Johnson plays defense and plays in the shadows of Eli, Rico and then you look at Popp who has to share the rock with the other studs Boone Co has and there is no comparison.

 

He could be Top 10 next year after this very SOLID SR class moves on but not until then.

 

He is averaging 11.3 a game and shooting 36.2 from the field, 38.2 from 3, and 73.7 from the line, which is great for an 8th grader, but there are several other guards averaging more and/or shooting better percentages.

Add Brossart's Jacob Reiger and Scott's Neiderigger (sp?) & O'Conner to this list!!

 

I've been impressed with Reiger and Neideregger every time I've seen them. Good call. I think both are underrated big time. I think they get overlooked though because they are both 10th region players.

 

If that's your argument (ie CCH has two big guys so Jake should have big numbers) what is the argument for Giesler who has no other big men on the team?

 

But if what you are saying is true, then it makes his numbers even more impressive, as the other teams defenders are double and in some cases triple teaming him and working hard to denie him the ball. See paNDA pictures of the different CovCath games and see the "D" used against Thelen.

 

While it is true if you have more weapons surrounding you, you don't get as many chances but when you are the man, you are also the marked man on the floor and you have to work even harder to get yours.

 

Both you and Clyde make legit points, but I just don't think Thelen is as good defensively as Grubbs or Geisler. There's more to the game than offense. Thelen also struggles from the free throw line, shooting just 60%. I realize Geisler is only shooting 65%, but when it comes to all around play, I just think both Grubbs and Geisler get the nod.

 

Jake is certainly a legit choice for top 10 consideration, but not top 5. He isn't better than Pittman, R. Johnson, J. Johnson, Kowlonek, Gabbard, Geisler,, Grubbs, or Foster....IMO, of course.

 

BTW, not sure if you two were aware or not, but Geisler actually has better numbers than Thelen:

 

Geisler- 17.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg

Thelen- 15.2 ppg, 7 rpg (rounded up from 6.94)

 

Thelen has also taken over 50 more shots than Geisler.

 

BTW, not sure if you two were aware or not, but Geisler actually has better numbers than Thelen:

 

Geisler- 17.1 ppg, 9.4 rpg

Thelen- 15.2 ppg, 7 rpg (rounded up from 6.94)

 

Thelen has also taken over 50 more shots than Geisler.

 

As I stated in the NC/CCH game thread I'm a big fan of Geisler. I wasn't arguing who was better. I was simply questioning your original logic.

 

I'd take either and both will be POY candidates next year.

I agree that Montgomery from Boone is this the type of player that I consider a fine all-around player and will be way up on this list next year. Usually defends the other team's best scorer, rebounds, steals, scores. Still defers somewhat to the high maintenence seniors on the "rebel" roster. I think he is their best player.