From what I've heard, Holmes has been a well oiled scoring maching over the summer and putting up 85-90 points consistently on teams. How that transitions to the regular season is still left to be seen, but this team has a lot more talent than a lot of people realize.

 

Dontel Rice (6'5 younger brother of Kevon) , from what I hear, has easily been the best player on that team so far over the summer. Add 6'6 Kevon, 6'1 Hayes, 6'2 Gray, 5'11 Mayfield, and 6'4 Nelson and you have a pretty solid nucleus to go with a junior class that includes 6'1 Charles Knox, 6'5 David Hoskins, and 6'9 big man David Stephens. Stephens has been mentioned several times by Demling as a player to really watch this coming season because of his improved play on the AAU circuit.

Throw in a very solid sophomore class led by 6'4 Peterson, 6'1 Englemon, 6'1 Coston, and 6'0 Palmer to that group and this team will be loaded with depth and athleticism next year. I'd compare this team to the 2008 team, as far as quality depth goes and style of play.

 

Holmes should also get pretty solid pg play this season out of jr to be JaKeith Pitts. HE has been playing with the NKY HEat this summer and really showing out. His quickness makes him extremely tough to defend. After sitting out last season, he seems to be rejuvenated and ready to get back out there. Anyone who saw this kid as a freshman knows how talented he is.

 

I actually think this year's personnel will fit in to Coach Flynn's "system" a lot better than last year's team. Stewart will anchor the post and be a reliable scoring option for the Birds all year and the addition of True and Towles down low should both take a lot of pressure off of him.

 

 

 

I agree. Trammel and Hatton can only take this team so far though. I'd look for other teams to attack Dixie down low and get Pike in foul trouble which is the reason why I think the Red Colonels might be a litle overrated this season. It's been shown in the past that depth wins championships in this region and with Dixie lacking depth, I just can't see them as a team that can seriously challenge for the region championship.

 

On a side note, I do think Parker Stansberry (sp?) could have a breakout year this coming season for the Red Colonels. At 6'4, he has multiple dimensions to his game both inside and out.

 

 

 

Experience wise, Boone and Conner are the two safest picks when talking about top 3-5 teams in the region this coming year.

 

I agree that Dontel will be the best player on this team. I saw him play at the KY Hoopfest and at the Vegas of the Midwest tourneys this summer and he looked great. He probably had 25-30 points in the final four game of the Vegas tourney gold bracket. He can score with ease and really lets the game come to him. I believe 2 of the players mentioned will not be at Holmes next year. Last time I talked to Hoskins he had moved out of the state. Also, Stephens has already transferred to Simon Kenton.

 

As for Ja'Keith, this kid probably impressed me the most this summer. He is super quick and has very good court sense. I was watching one of the Heat games this summer and I heard the opposing coach during pre-game say their main focus was to stop his penetration. He was very good at penetrating and getting other kids the ball. When they would stop his penetration he would just start lighting it up from outside. He is very tough to defend. This kid just needs a coach to have confidence in him and he will shine.

I agree that Dontel will be the best player on this team. I saw him play at the KY Hoopfest and at the Vegas of the Midwest tourneys this summer and he looked great. He probably had 25-30 points in the final four game of the Vegas tourney gold bracket. He can score with ease and really lets the game come to him. I believe 2 of the players mentioned will not be at Holmes next year. Last time I talked to Hoskins he had moved out of the state. Also, Stephens has already transferred to Simon Kenton.

 

As for Ja'Keith, this kid probably impressed me the most this summer. He is super quick and has very good court sense. I was watching one of the Heat games this summer and I heard the opposing coach during pre-game say their main focus was to stop his penetration. He was very good at penetrating and getting other kids the ball. When they would stop his penetration he would just start lighting it up from outside. He is very tough to defend. This kid just needs a coach to have confidence in him and he will shine.

 

Those who know both Dontel and Kevon have said for years that Dontel will be much better than Kevon and is a mirror image of cousin Greg Rice. He just really has a great feel for the game and his size allows him to do a lot o different things at both ends of the court. In Booher's system, he will shine. Dontel's mid range game makes him very tough. Try to defend him closely and he'll use his size, quickness, and athleticism to get by you...try to play off him and he'll hit a jumper over you. Sky is the limit for this kid if he continues to work hard like he has.

 

I was unaware that Stephens and Hoskins left. Their departures will make Holmes very thin inside. Outside of the Rice brothers, they really don't have anyone else with good size.

 

As far as Pitts goes, I've heard he's a combination of Braeon Avery (quickness, athleticism) and Jamel Riley (shooting ability). He could be a huge asset for the Dogs this year if his summer game carries over to the high school level.

Initial thought would be when did they move Walton Verona back into the 9th Region!

 

If Rick Broering doesn't know that Walton Verona isn't in the 9th Region, how can he be taken seriously about rating the teams?

Kevon has one more chance to take advantage of his talent. I hope he does. It would be a shame to waste it.

If Rick Broering doesn't know that Walton Verona isn't in the 9th Region, how can he be taken seriously about rating the teams?

 

Its an NKY sports blog. He posted it in July and never said it was a 9th region top ten. Trust me. My boy knows his stuff.

Dixie should have a stong core with Trammell, Hatton and Pike. I heard Hatton did very well at a camp in Chicago. I believe he was picked as one of the best and tallied around 30 in the final game. I've never seen him play but I will make it a point to see him quite a few times in the future.

Dixie should have a stong core with Trammell, Hatton and Pike. I heard Hatton did very well at a camp in Chicago. I believe he was picked as one of the best and tallied around 30 in the final game. I've never seen him play but I will make it a point to see him quite a few times in the future.

 

Hatton has a vibe about him that lets you know he's a player and I say that as a compliment. The game is never too big for him. I enjoy watching him play.

Hatton has a vibe about him that lets you know he's a player and I say that as a compliment. The game is never too big for him. I enjoy watching him play.

 

I can still remember coaching down in the Turner's league a few years ago and watching Brandon drop 51 and his team lost 54-53. He can definetly fill it up and has a great feel for the game.

Its an NKY sports blog. He posted it in July and never said it was a 9th region top ten. Trust me. My boy knows his stuff.

 

Just making my comment on the title of the thread. I'm sure your boy knows his stuff.

Just making my comment on the title of the thread. I'm sure your boy knows his stuff.

 

I understand, my friend.

Saw this on Rick Broering's nkysportsblog...very interesting picks:

 

1. Holmes

2. Covcath

3. Dixie

4. Newcath

5. Highlands

6. Ryle

7. Boone Co

8. Holy Cross

9. Conner

10. Walton Verona

 

Thoughts?

.

 

Conner and Boone move way up. The top 6 or 7 teams this year will be evenly matched IMO.

Dixie won't be as shorthanded in the paint as some have indicated. They will have Pike 6"6", I'm hearing Stansberry is 6'5"-6'6" and Muntis 6'5"-6'6". They are very deep at the guard position so there will be plenty of shooters to put in the game. Besides Boone, who really is loaded with big men?

Ryle and Conner both have pretty good size.

I like Dixie, Conner, then Boone as my top 3.

If it is not 9th region, I would think that Scott, Brossart and Campbell County should be considered. All 3 should be in the top 10.

Ryle and Conner both have pretty good size.

 

Holmes will have decent size:

 

6'1 Hayes

6'2 Gray

6'4 Nelson

6'5 D. Rice

6'6 K. Rice

 

Covcath will also have some decent size with 6'5 Connelly and 6'6 Thelen down low. I believe they have a few other solid players who are in the 6'4-6'5 range as well.

 

Boone will also be pretty solid in the post with 6'4 Brown and 6'5 Montgomery.

 

Highlands will have a solid front court as well with 6'6 Stewart and 6'5 True.

 

AS stated in a previous post, the top 6 or so teams match up pretty evenly.

 

Conner seems to have the most size in the front court with 6'8 Hodges and 6'7 Robinson.