The Moyer Basketball League in Ft. Thomas is a nice offering but it should not be considered a feeder system. They definitely need to develop a feeder league to keep the kids interested early. Moyer is a great start but I think they need to seriously look at that league because for now its a fun league and there is no pressing allowed, etc. The kids need to learn as early as 3rd / 4th grade how to break a press, how to play the game correctly and not be given breaks when they travel, etc. Just my opinion.

 

 

I continue to read how wonderful the FTJFL league is as a feeder program for the football. Lets compare the FTJFL and the Moyer basketball league at comparable ages. Both leagues are considered instructional and fundamental. Both leagues place a premium on player involvement and mandatory playing time requirements. Both leagues are developing multiple players on multiple teams at each postion. Both leagues lose players to other leagues when parents want that higher level of competition and premium on winning. When both leagues stick to their mission, they are extremely successful. The problems arise when the leagues allow the teams to get out of balance talent wise through team formation means.

 

Please realize the Moyer league is for K- 5th grade boys and girls. HMS has 6th, 7th, and 8th grade teams that are extremely important years of player development. If you want to pinpoint a lack of a feeder program, look no further than the middle school program.

 

Take a look at the frosh roster at HHS this season. It contains only 3 boys that played both 7th and 8th grade ball at HMS. Out of 15 possible players at the middle school level, only 3 have continued on to be high school players. Yes, a couple of players that have good skills did enroll at HHS and have made the roster, but at least 7 boys that played significant minutes in the 7th and 8th grade level have chosen not to play in high school.

I see plenty of games and I do want the team to do well, however I'm sure the Beechwood,NC,HC all have football players on the team. IMO the problem is there is nothing like FTJFL for basketball in Ft. Thomas. Teams are formed and go in different directions chasing down the w's and not teaching the fundamentals and developing more kids. I know if you don't play at a high level during the AAU season you have little chance of winning at the HS level. It has become the same in other sports where your scholarship comes from your club season and not your HS season. If this is the trend for the future then HHS basketball will always struggle because of the football first mentalitity and the lack of boys enrollment. In HS sports the coach is worth his weight in gold because he must take the fringe players and make them important pieces of the puzzle. He also has to developed a program that basketball players seek out not only in the school but in the area. In the end I wish the boys well and hope their season is successful.

 

As my previous post states, I completely disagree with the "there is nothing like the FTJFL" in Fort Thomas. We have an instructional bball league with mandatory playing time and modified rules just like the football league. We also have a middle school program that has between 12 and 15 players on each team. There are opportunities to play, compete, and get better.

As my previous post states, I completely disagree with the "there is nothing like the FTJFL" in Fort Thomas. We have an instructional bball league with mandatory playing time and modified rules just like the football league. We also have a middle school program that has between 12 and 15 players on each team. There are opportunities to play, compete, and get better.

 

I would agree with this as it is similar but if the Moyer league is going to allow formulated teams to enter then nothing is going to change. I like the idea of having kids just sign up and formulate rosters mixing the kids from Moyer/Johnson and Woodfill. This would require a lot of parents to volunteer just like the FTJRFL does.

 

My criticism of the Moyer league wasnt meant as a negative. I like the Moyer league and what it has grown into. The folks that started that league and put the time in are top notch. I just know that there are concerns just as there are in the FTJRFL which is why they had an open forum last week about what they can do better.

 

I would love to see a Ft. Thomas wide basketball program where they possibly utilize the nice gym at Moyer and the Armory or YMCA. I would definitely donate my time to help out. IN the meantime, in order to prepare the kids to be able to compete at a higher level it is necessary to find other leagues where they can get a more fast paced experience against good competition.

 

I think what Dan Sullivan did at Campbell Co years back was great and it looks like Walton Verona is doing something similar. Take a talent pool and divide the teams into an A, B, C group and then enter them in leagues that are competetive and assign coaches to work on fundamentals and teamwork.

 

As far as the Middle School i dont know the answer there except for the fact that once they hit that age they generally know what sport they are going to excel at and what sport they have a better chance at so they focus their energies on that sport which is typically football. This year's soph class all went through the Middle school yrs and they have a large number. My son's Junior class there are 4 kids who played Middle School ball and one who transferred in from Southgate his frosh year. The Sr Class this year you have basically 2 kids who played middle school ball and then Carter New who came to the system from St. Catherine as a freshman.

 

If you can get 4 kids from each class to come out of the Middle school program and then hope you get a transfer or two in during freshman year you should be allright.

I agree the Moyer league is a start but the catholic schools do not participate and the teams are not balanced for competitiveness. Hopefully the league will begin to bear the player stream that HHS needs. Totally agree the middle school teams do not properly prepare the players for HS. The fact that only three or four players a year are making it to the varsity level makes you think that they either the HMS needs two teams at each grade level or that maybe they drop out of the MS league and develop four teams to play among themselves like the FTJFL. More kids reaching the freshman level still playing the sport is what makes the football team good but for some reason the basketball philosophy doesn't seem to be the same. The academy style of training will bring more players along but then the American way is all about the W's.

Take a look at the frosh roster at HHS this season. It contains only 3 boys that played both 7th and 8th grade ball at HMS. Out of 15 possible players at the middle school level, only 3 have continued on to be high school players. Yes, a couple of players that have good skills did enroll at HHS and have made the roster, but at least 7 boys that played significant minutes in the 7th and 8th grade level have chosen not to play in high school.

 

From the outside looking in, this was the thought that came to mind. There is such a focus on football in the entire Highlands community, some kids who could be excellent high school basketball players probably end up not even playing basketball. Your numbers seem to give credibility to that thought.

I would agree with this as it is similar but if the Moyer league is going to allow formulated teams to enter then nothing is going to change. I like the idea of having kids just sign up and formulate rosters mixing the kids from Moyer/Johnson and Woodfill. This would require a lot of parents to volunteer just like the FTJRFL does.

 

My criticism of the Moyer league wasnt meant as a negative. I like the Moyer league and what it has grown into. The folks that started that league and put the time in are top notch. I just know that there are concerns just as there are in the FTJRFL which is why they had an open forum last week about what they can do better.

 

I would love to see a Ft. Thomas wide basketball program where they possibly utilize the nice gym at Moyer and the Armory or YMCA. I would definitely donate my time to help out. IN the meantime, in order to prepare the kids to be able to compete at a higher level it is necessary to find other leagues where they can get a more fast paced experience against good competition.

 

I think what Dan Sullivan did at Campbell Co years back was great and it looks like Walton Verona is doing something similar. Take a talent pool and divide the teams into an A, B, C group and then enter them in leagues that are competetive and assign coaches to work on fundamentals and teamwork. As far as the Middle School i dont know the answer there except for the fact that once they hit that age they generally know what sport they are going to excel at and what sport they have a better chance at so they focus their energies on that sport which is typically football. This year's soph class all went through the Middle school yrs and they have a large number. My son's Junior class there are 4 kids who played Middle School ball and one who transferred in from Southgate his frosh year. The Sr Class this year you have basically 2 kids who played middle school ball and then Carter New who came to the system from St. Catherine as a freshman.

 

If you can get 4 kids from each class to come out of the Middle school program and then hope you get a transfer or two in during freshman year you should be allright.

 

I think this would be a great idea..

I know you guys won't agree with this, but I think I would support Highlands going ahead and shutting down the basketball program in order to spend more time on football preparation.

 

On a related note, can football coaches begin meeting with next year's players in order to start working on learning the play book?

I know you guys won't agree with this, but I think I would support Highlands going ahead and shutting down the basketball program in order to spend more time on football preparation.

 

On a related note, can football coaches begin meeting with next year's players in order to start working on learning the play book?

 

This ain't the thread to be cute. See ya next season buddy.

One word. FOOTBALL!!!!!! Stop this thread already.

I know you guys won't agree with this, but I think I would support Highlands going ahead and shutting down the basketball program in order to spend more time on football preparation.

 

On a related note, can football coaches begin meeting with next year's players in order to start working on learning the play book?

 

Many of us that volunteer in both sports get tired of comments like this. I saw a group of 8,7,6 grade teams playing up at nothing but nets. The 8 and 6 were not HMS players. You have a 5th grade team together and two 2/3 grade teams playing AAU. I see good news in the younger ranks. I like the ABC deal as well.

I know you guys won't agree with this, but I think I would support Highlands going ahead and shutting down the basketball program in order to spend more time on football preparation.

 

On a related note, can football coaches begin meeting with next year's players in order to start working on learning the play book?

 

 

Wow my friend. This is really disrespectful. We know you are being cute and all, but seriously. Football doesn't need any extra shots from afar.

What's wrong with HHS hoops? Nothing really - just a shortage of basketball players. The program simply lacks a diversity of zip codes. When I played there in the mid eighties - we had many, many kids playing from different counties and communities. My senior season, I was the only starter on the hoops team from 41075. Any championship team in virtually any team sport today, is going to require a "stud" or two from a nearby community. Or at least a few that move to the community to lace them up. The best kid from a couple communities to reach a championship caliber team. NCC - where are their best 10 players from? All from Newport? Or perhaps they have the best kid from Highland Heights, Alexandria, Southgate, Ft. Thomas, Newport, Bellevue and on and on and on. Cov Cath? Dixie? Campbell? Brossart? Same thing. Not rocket science. Diversity of zip codes. Derek Smith/Lorenzen's 3 championships - were they Fort Thomas kids? Nope. Football athletes can spill over onto the hardwood - that's not news, it's high school sports. True, HHS football studs are choosing not to play a few other sports - to focus on their year long conditioning and spring practices... no matter, other campuses have similar experiences. The smaller the school enrollment, the larger issue I have with 11 months of football practice for student athletes - the bodies just aren't there for other sports to be successful. If you field a football team in the state of KY, you have a chance to win in this state. Not the case with hoops. It's Kentucky - basketball is what this state does, not football. The simple point i wanted to make, was that when HHS played in all those 9th Region finals, from 1979 to 1988 - and then again with the Smith/Lorenzen run - they really enjoyed a diversity of talent from all over the region. Not the case today and pulling from one community pool of talent, may produce a very nice team, but not a championship caliber team. Nope. Add it all up: the lack of diversity of zip codes, a year-long football commitment, some kids opting out for football only, and new basketball coaching personalities every few years - and you have a dwindling talent pool of bodies and a very average hoops program. Basketball requires basketball players - not just speedy, fit athletes. The sport requies great hand-eye coordination. Eventually someone has to have the talent/ability to put the ball in the basket. This is usually a god-given talent, now polished in high school AAU off-season....NOT learned during your high school years after sitting on the Frosh team bench behind the football players......

One word. FOOTBALL!!!!!! Stop this thread already.

 

Agree, why is this still a thread? There are better things to talk about and it is taking away from the coaches and kids who really work hard to make the Bluebirds a successful program.

What's wrong with HHS hoops? Nothing really - just a shortage of basketball players. The program simply lacks a diversity of zip codes. When I played there in the mid eighties - we had many, many kids playing from different counties and communities. My senior season, I was the only starter on the hoops team from 41075. Any championship team in virtually any team sport today, is going to require a "stud" or two from a nearby community. Or at least a few that move to the community to lace them up. The best kid from a couple communities to reach a championship caliber team. NCC - where are their best 10 players from? All from Newport? Or perhaps they have the best kid from Highland Heights, Alexandria, Southgate, Ft. Thomas, Newport, Bellevue and on and on and on. Cov Cath? Dixie? Campbell? Brossart? Same thing. Not rocket science. Diversity of zip codes. Derek Smith/Lorenzen's 3 championships - were they Fort Thomas kids? Nope. Football athletes can spill over onto the hardwood - that's not news, it's high school sports. True, HHS football studs are choosing not to play a few other sports - to focus on their year long conditioning and spring practices... no matter, other campuses have similar experiences. The smaller the school enrollment, the larger issue I have with 11 months of football practice for student athletes - the bodies just aren't there for other sports to be successful. If you field a football team in the state of KY, you have a chance to win in this state. Not the case with hoops. It's Kentucky - basketball is what this state does, not football. The simple point i wanted to make, was that when HHS played in all those 9th Region finals, from 1979 to 1988 - and then again with the Smith/Lorenzen run - they really enjoyed a diversity of talent from all over the region. Not the case today and pulling from one community pool of talent, may produce a very nice team, but not a championship caliber team. Nope. Add it all up: the lack of diversity of zip codes, a year-long football commitment, some kids opting out for football only, and new basketball coaching personalities every few years - and you have a dwindling talent pool of bodies and a very average hoops program. Basketball requires basketball players - not just speedy, fit athletes. The sport requies great hand-eye coordination. Eventually someone has to have the talent/ability to put the ball in the basket. This is usually a god-given talent, now polished in high school AAU off-season....NOT learned during your high school years after sitting on the Frosh team bench behind the football players......

 

Well said tommyb, and welcome to BGP.

I think there has to be a culture change at Highlands first. I know that winning a state ring is fantastic, even if it's watered down now, but 95% of the kids that play football aren't going on to play college ball anyway. Why not get the most out of high school sports and play as many as possible. I played 3 sports and have unbelievable memories in every one. I wouldn't have given up 2 sports just to win a state title in 1. That's pretty much what the student athlete at Highlands does. It's kind of a shame really.