Remember the old Chicago song: "Does Anybody Really Know What Time it Is?

 

Well...Does Anybody Really Know Who the 8th Region Boys' Favorite Is??

 

Last year's finalists: Shelby County and South Oldham - both graduated a busload of talented seniors. In addition, Shelby County promptly split into two schools, Collins and Shelby County. And - arguably - the most talented player in Shelby County transferred out of region.

 

So who's left standing? Some thoughts (in no special order)

 

Owen County - Coach Duvall has some tall trees in Owenton, and the guards were better than expected last year.

 

Oldham County - Coach Holland's team made tremendous strides late last season, has some height, and one of the region's premier playmakers in junior PG Kerry Smith.

 

South Oldham - has had a prosperous summer, but will need to replace four starters. Senior Carson Fields is a multi-talented ballplayer and the lone returning starter...Eric Blair will be one of the region's premier outside threats. But who else will step up?

 

North Oldham - new coach David Henley has probably the region's premier big man in Devon Rowan, but rest of team is painfully small.

Injuries really hit North last year, so hard to tell what they could be this year...

 

Gallatin County - Only graduated two from a 19-win team last year. Sophomore Kristian Morgan is a strong candidate to be 8th region POY sometime before he graduates. Well-coached team - Jon Jones can turn an ordinary team into a contender - but very small. May not matter - Gallatin looks to be one of the top 2 or 3 teams in the region this year.

 

Walton-Verona - graduated 5 seniors from a 20-win team, including all the leading scorers and rebounders. Lots of question marks.

 

Anderson County - Dean of 8th Region coaches Glen Drury always has his team competitive. Always. But Drury has to replace 7 seniors, including all-world Jacob Russell, his best interior players, and his best defender in Allen Warford. AC always plays a brutal schedule, so expect the Bearcats to break slow, but don't be surprised if Drury has them in contention late.

 

Spencer County - Don't be surprised if the Bears finally crash the 8th region party this year after toiling with young teams in the shadows of Shelby and Anderson in the 30th district. Nobody graduates from last year's 15-9 team, and senior Logan Dunbar (19.6 ppg / 7.8 rebounds) may finally get a chance to show his stuff in New Castle.

 

Simon Kenton - it's the Cody Chambers show now, and the Pioneers had a lot of folks who contributed last year who return. They should have enough firepower to be one of the top 2 in the 32nd again.

 

Collins & Shelby County - two question marks in the 30th. I haven't heard who's left and will be playing - and at which school...

In the contest, this was one of the hardest regions to pick.

Look for Owen County to be a surprise team with big Williams and the emergence of Osborne. Also, yet another Shelton will be key in the success of the Owen County as he has improved vastly since last year.

Look for Owen County to be a surprise team with big Williams and the emergence of Osborne. Also, yet another Shelton will be key in the success of the Owen County as he has improved vastly since last year.

 

In the boys' 8th Region this year, there will be no surprises - because nobody is the clear favorite. Owen County certainly is one of the ones "most likely to" win it all...but they're in with a pretty big crowd...

Sleeper to watch at North- 6'4 Junior Kyle Kozak. Heard it here first !

 

Besides Big man Rowan you've got 6'1 Sr. guard Steinfeld and Soph. shooter D. Levitch who's stretching up but yet to fill out.

With first year coach Henley no ones sure how he'll use his roster. New era at North.

Sleeper to watch at North- 6'4 Junior Kyle Kozak. Heard it here first !

 

Besides Big man Rowan you've got 6'1 Sr. guard Steinfeld and Soph. shooter D. Levitch who's stretching up but yet to fill out.

With first year coach Henley no ones sure how he'll use his roster. New era at North.

 

Levitch will be one of the elite sophomores in the 8th. Uncanny shooting ability (and range) for a kid of his build - looks as if the ball weighs more than he does! Very basketball-savvy. Steinfeld expressed the dickens out of me last year; perfect utility player for this Mustang team; perhaps the best penetrator on the team, decent jumper, hustling defense, out-rebounds taller players. Has the ability to shoot the three.

 

Kozak is a bundle of potential; I agree wholeheartedly. Good kid, too. Like many others, though, what he does this year will likely depend upon what he has been doing during the off-season...???