Kentucky has to have a complete overhaul of the evaluation process to select players for the Kentucky team. I know this has been stated in previous posts. However a selection committe needs to be formed headed by Stan Hardin ( 3 or 4 former successuful retired coaches, a few former players who have interest in this, and the coaching staff for the next season. It needs to be a year long process instead of a 2 and half day cram session of 43 kids. Then I feel we can really get back to competing, and it would be fun and the kids could take a lot of pride in making this squad.

 

Must be based on positions and back ups etc. for certain spots/formation of a real kentucky all star team

Unfortunately, I feel two factors in recent years have made these type series much less relevant:

 

-High school teams have cranked up their time commitment, both in season and in summer ball, and,

 

-AAU and club basketball teams require lots of time and receive lots of attention in the spring and the summer

 

These type all star series (state vs state, or, region vs region) are not high on anyone's radar other than the folks who try to organize them.

For an idea of what we're up against, here are some of the likely selections for Indiana's team. Height, Weight, and Star Ratings are per Rivals.

 

(Solid bets for) Team Indiana :

 

6-7/210 – DeShaun Thomas ( 5*, Indiana's Mr. Basketball, McDonald’s All-American, Ohio State)

 

6-1/170 - Jesse Berry (3*, Dayton)

 

6-2 /180 – Terone Johnson (4*, #2 in Mr. Basketball Voting, Purdue)

 

6-7/192 – Russell Byrd (3*, Michigan State)

 

6-8/195 – Donnie Hale (3*, Purdue)

 

6-8/190 – Jordan Manuel (3*, Detroit)

 

6-9/210 – Travis Carroll (3*, Purdue)

 

6-9/220 – Jake Kitchell (3*, Indiana State)

No disrespect to him, but I'd say most people understand what I'm saying. You never see coaches like Dave Henley, Steve Wright, Billy Hicks, Tim Riley, Chris Renner, Chris O'hearn, Wayne Breeden, Al Holland, and Jason Booher coaching the team. (Atleast I don't think none of those guys have coached the team).

 

You're wrong .... Steve Wright has coached the KY All Stars.:ylsuper:

Just a guess at the KY Roster:

 

5-11 - Elisha Justice, Shelby Valley

6-0 - Ian Chiles, Ballard

6-3 - DeMarko Foster, Newport

6-3 - Ge'Lawn Guyn, Scott County

6-3 - Aaron Watts, McCreary Central

6-4 - Chad Jackson, Scott County

6-4 - Keiston Jones, Ballard

6-4 - Quintrel Morris, Fairdale

6-5 - Ricardo Johnson, Holmes

6-5 - Josh Sewell, Trinity

6-6 - Orlando Rutledge, Fern Creek

6-7 - Donovan Gibbs, Iroquois

6-7 - Elijah Pittman, Holmes

 

 

 

Other good possibilities (according to need, tryout, injuries, etc.):

 

5-11 Thomas Jackson, Jeffersontown

6-1 Jarrod Polson, West Jessamine

6-4 James Berry, North Hardin

6-4 Jacob Russell, Anderson County

6-5 Darnell Davis, Hopkinsville

6-5 Dominique Hagans, Lafayette

6-8 Dakotah Euton, Scott County

Just a guess at the KY Roster:

 

5-11 - Elisha Justice, Shelby Valley

6-0 - Ian Chiles, Ballard

6-3 - DeMarko Foster, Newport

6-3 - Ge'Lawn Guyn, Scott County

6-3 - Aaron Watts, McCreary Central

6-4 - Chad Jackson, Scott County

6-4 - Keiston Jones, Ballard

6-4 - Quintrel Morris, Fairdale

6-5 - Ricardo Johnson, Holmes

6-5 - Josh Sewell, Trinity

6-6 - Orlando Rutledge, Fern Creek

6-7 - Donovan Gibbs, Iroquois

6-7 - Elijah Pittman, Holmes

 

 

 

Other good possibilities (according to need, tryout, injuries, etc.):

 

5-11 Thomas Jackson, Jeffersontown

6-1 Jarrod Polson, West Jessamine

6-4 James Berry, North Hardin

6-4 Jacob Russell, Anderson County

6-5 Darnell Davis, Hopkinsville

6-5 Dominique Hagans, Lafayette

6-8 Dakotah Euton, Scott County

I'll be very surprised if Polson and Euton aren't selected to the team ...

I didn't see the Polson/UK update until after posting this. I'd say that sealed his selection and is at least one of my picks you can count as wrong.

You're wrong .... Steve Wright has coached the KY All Stars.:ylsuper:

 

My apologies on that. I didn't realize he and Riley had coached.

I didn't see the Polson/UK update until after posting this. I'd say that sealed his selection and is at least one of my picks you can count as wrong.

 

Amen. This also says a lot about the state of UK basketball.

I didn't see the Polson/UK update until after posting this. I'd say that sealed his selection and is at least one of my picks you can count as wrong.

Polson would make the team even without the UK talk ...

2010 is a down year for Indiana talent and an up year for KY, and it's still not going to be close. Only going to get worse in 2011 and 2012...

2010 is a down year for Indiana talent and an up year for KY, and it's still not going to be close. Only going to get worse in 2011 and 2012...

 

I realize IN is loaded in the c/o 2011, but KY isn't too shabby themselves. They could potentially have the following roster:

 

5'11 Jordan Shanklin

5'11 Anthony Hickey

6'3 Remy Abell

6'4 Robbie Stenzel

6'5 Donovan Kates

6'6 Lyonell Gaines

6'6 George Fant

6'7 Timmy Knipp

6'7 Chane Behanan

6'9 Vinny Zollo

 

Add in players like 6'5 Jermaine Jackson, 6'5 Josh Stroud, or 6'5 Josh Forrest to round out the roster and that's a pretty solid team, if you ask me.

That's a pretty solid team, if you ask me.

 

It is a solid team. It's still nowhere close to the 2011 class in Indiana. Teague, Taylor, Chandler, Carlino, Dee and Jeremiah Davis, Plumlee, Zeller, Austin Ethrington and any of 15 or so more kids to fill out the last 4 or so slots? Yeah. Ugly...

It is a solid team. It's still nowhere close to the 2011 class in Indiana. Teague, Taylor, Chandler, Carlino, Dee and Jeremiah Davis, Plumlee, Zeller, Austin Ethrington and any of 15 or so more kids to fill out the last 4 or so slots? Yeah. Ugly...

 

Like I said...Indiana is without a doubt loaded in the c/o 2011.

 

We can re-visit this thread this time next year if you'd like but I personally don't think it will be as ugly as you're thinking.

 

Does Indiana have more talent? Obviously. But the above listed team is basically the Derek Smith All Stars 16U team from last year and they were one of the better teams in the country at that level.

I realize IN is loaded in the c/o 2011, but KY isn't too shabby themselves. They could potentially have the following roster:

 

5'11 Jordan Shanklin

5'11 Anthony Hickey

6'3 Remy Abell

6'4 Robbie Stenzel

6'5 Donovan Kates

6'6 Lyonell Gaines

6'6 George Fant

6'7 Timmy Knipp

6'7 Chane Behanan

6'9 Vinny Zollo

 

Add in players like 6'5 Jermaine Jackson, 6'5 Josh Stroud, or 6'5 Josh Forrest to round out the roster and that's a pretty solid team, if you ask me.

 

It is a solid team. It's still nowhere close to the 2011 class in Indiana. Teague, Taylor, Chandler, Carlino, Dee and Jeremiah Davis, Plumlee, Zeller, Austin Ethrington and any of 15 or so more kids to fill out the last 4 or so slots? Yeah. Ugly...

 

Both are solid teams. Will be a fun group to watch. Hope to see many of these players in AAU this summer.