Ironically, in my opinion, Edmonson County is why we don't have a class system in KY HS basketball. They improbably won the State tournament in 1976 when the topic was really hot and being pushed state-wide.

Edmonson was probably around 600 or so then, I would guess. They have had some recent growth, I believe, coming from the Bowling Green area.

It's kind of hard to answer your original question, as in many ways the tourney has grown significantly since it's inception. However, due to that growth it has made winning this event much more difficult; and I would think all the more significant, especially when a smaller school manages to win?

 

The All "A" is a great event IMO and gives the smaller schools, many who will never get the opportunity to make it to Rupp in our one class system; something to play for and aspire to, year in, year out. The format of having to first win your region, and then win four games in four days at a collegiate arena; make it as close to a two class system as we may ever see in the Commonwealth.

 

The move to the 125 smallest schools seems to be a positive change, in that it simplified the eligibility requirements; as the tourney had grown to that size already under the former rules. The only current drawback I can see is that by following the state's designated regions, several regions end up being very small with only a handful of teams, due to the lack of smaller schools in that given region. Other regions, such as the 9th, end up being much more competitive than others; but that probably holds true for the Sweet Sixteen format as well.

 

Best of luck to all the teams that have earned the right to represent their regions at EKU, and take time to enjoy the experience!!!!

Interesting. The member schools list on the All-A Classic web site lists 123 eligible schools.

 

Not sure this applies this year, but a school can opt out of playing in the "A" if they choose. I believe Lex Cath for one did so after winning the tourney years ago, while others may not have the numbers to field a team every year?

The answer to the original question, in my opinion, is no. I'm thinking more along the lines of 100 schools.

 

My only question here would be, would that even matter? I'm not sure whether or not any of these "larger" schools have won the tourney recently? I really have no idea, but can't remember any at the top end of the size-range winning?

Not sure this applies this year, but a school can opt out of playing in the "A" if they choose. I believe Lex Cath for one did so after winning the tourney years ago, while others may not have the numbers to field a team every year?

Lexington Catholic didn't opt out of it ... their enrollment grew enough that they were too big for the tournament.

Russellville used to opt out sometimes in the past.

425 students in grades 10-12 make a school eligible for the All-A Classic. That breaks down to 123 schools or 44% of all schools statewide.

 

But since freshman are eligible to play, lets look at 9-12 enrollment numbers. Only 10 of the 16 boys teams in this year's state tournament and 9 of the 16 girls teams have an enrollment of under 500 students. Schools with 9-12 enrollment of under 500 students make up 37% of the teams in the state.

 

In the boys bracket, the game with Heath (627) and Barbourville (190) represents the biggest enrollment gap of schools. To use a football analogy, the 437-student difference would be the equivalent to putting Sheldon Clark and Pineville in the same football district. Or Hopkinsville and Heath in the same district.

 

The average 9-12 enrollment for the boys teams in the tourney is 447. For the girls, its 456. If you were to rank them in terms of enrollment, it would fall somewhere between 93 and 95 on the enrollment ladder. That total would be higher if not for UHA (boys) and St. Patrick (girls) who both have less than 130 students.

 

Even more interesting is that four of the schools in the boys tournament will be 3A football teams this fall. And yes, I understand that the KHSAA and All-A use different enrollment guidelines.

 

I like the All-A Classic. I don't downplay it's importance, but I wonder if it is still the All-A Classic or if it has become the All-2A Classic with some small private schools thrown in.

 

Thoughts?

 

Hard to answer your post point by point, and I'm not the guru of everything involved in the all A.

 

But, I think simply taking the 125 smallest schools in the state every year and allowing them to compete is an easy way to ensure the tournament continues to have legitimacy. If you win a tournament that had 124 other teams in it, it's a major accomplishment however you slice it.

 

The more the number dwindles, the more the significance of winning it dwindles. It's three times harder to win the all A than almost any football state title, and nearly four times harder than winning football in 2A last year. That's based on the shear number of teams competing for the "state" titles, and I think it speaks volumes.

 

Rather than looking for ways to "shrink" the all A, maybe those who trumpet Kentucky as a football state should take a look in the mirror and and realize what a farce winning a "state" title has become in that sport.

 

I don't know all the schools involved, but I bet if these same 125 teams were in one class in football, we'd have a heck of a state championship game.

My only question here would be, would that even matter? I'm not sure whether or not any of these "larger" schools have won the tourney recently? I really have no idea, but can't remember any at the top end of the size-range winning?

 

I was under the impression Shelby Valley was one of the largest--if not the largest--Class A school when they won last year.

How can a school be Class A in one sport and AA in another?

I can't answer for other regions but as for the 16th I get confused on this and really think that this "All A" stuff is getting ridiculous. No, I don't consider the tournament to be an All A anymore. I have noticed teams that play in a higher classification in football sometimes play down to an 'A" regonal. I fully admit that I don't understand all the qualifications for a class A basketball school but just don't see how a school can play in 2A, at times 3A in football and in that same school year play in a "Class A"tournament in basketball. I would say that this tournament is not sanctioned (or at least it wasn't in past years) so maybe that is the reason :idunno:.

I am not slamming any one school for playing down, obviously that was allowed or they couldn't do it. I am sayinng that to me what started out as a tournament for small schools in NKY and grew to other small "class A" schools around the state is no longer an "All A" tournament. I kow that I certainly don't put much to it anymore, just merely a series of tournaments to give some teams some good competetion as they advance in this what I now consider to be a statewide invitational tournament to give teams a chance to play some good competition as they advance and maybe help prepare some for what imo really is THE state tournaments.....districts, regionals, KY. State "Sweet Sixteen" Tournament.

 

So, in answer to the orriginal question is ............. No, the "All A" is not an "All A" tournament.

How can a school be Class A in one sport and AA in another?

 

I agree, you must have posted this while I was typing my post above.

I was under the impression Shelby Valley was one of the largest--if not the largest--Class A school when they won last year.

 

They may be, as I said I honestly don't know the enrollments. Shelby Valley is 2-A in football, but several All "A" participants are 3-A in football; so I'm assuming SV isn't the largest?

The All - A is not what it used to be IMO. To many bigger schools are allowed to play in it. I think it should only be what it was originally designed to do. I stop attending because of the changes they have made. Might as well get rid of it now.

The All - A is not what it used to be IMO. To many bigger schools are allowed to play in it. I think it should only be what it was originally designed to do. I stop attending because of the changes they have made. Might as well get rid of it now.

 

:thumb::thumb: Absolutely CB! That or stop calling it an "All A" tournament, it is anything but that.

The All - A is not what it used to be IMO. To many bigger schools are allowed to play in it. I think it should only be what it was originally designed to do. I stop attending because of the changes they have made. Might as well get rid of it now.

What is your definition of "bigger schools?" Where do we draw the line between those schools and those that people think truly belong in the All A Classic?