If they are eligible, they could change the outcome of the regional tournament.

 

Absolutely.

 

 

It's weird for me being an East Ridge alum, almost bittersweet. We were always good when I was in school, went to the Sweet 16, always competed for a regional title. Then it just all went downhill and ER was already becoming a non factor in the region. There was a lot of promise last year with all the young guys like Cam Justice and Johnny Miller showcasing their talents as 8th graders playing varsity, but once Raymond Justice took the Knott County job it took my hopes of East Ridge getting back into the fold with it. However, after some unexpected turn of events ER may be in even better shape then it was. From what I gather Wolter is still young, a sophomore I am wanting to say and he is going to step in right away and fill that void they would be losing with Cam Justice. They still have Johnny Miller on the wing to shoot who is going to be a solid player up there for the next four years, and although they lost 6'7'' Jake McLanahan to graduation Kasongo will not only replace him if eligible but give ER a much better player. This should be a very fast athletic team if these guys get eligible, as an alum I hope they do because I cannot stand for them to continue to be medicore. Consolidating from Elkhorn City High School basketball tradition was something that we always took very seriously. After the first couple of years at East Ridge it looked as if it was going to be a blooming 15th Region power but things quickly turned, hoping things start going the other direction and ER can make its second trip to Rupp and become relevant again much like it was in its infancy.

I don't know a whole lot about them; I've watched YouTube videos. The first kid is named Tony Wolter. The big kid is Raynold Kasongo. He's listed at 6-8, he looked about 6-6 to me when I stood close to him. Either way, he's a big in the 15th Region.

 

Thanks.

 

Here are some links I've found on Kasongo:

 

Flagrant Fouls Canadian Class of 2014 Rankings: http://www.flagrantfouls.com/rankings/canadian/?y=2014

Canada Juniors Scrimmage Baylor: http://www.baylorbears.com/sports/m-baskbl/recaps/081311aaa.html

Report from U16: http://www.northpolehoops.com/OBA_U16_CHAMPIONSHIP_NPH_PLAYER_EVALUATIONS_

 

Searched videos on Kasongo, but most were videos of groups, and I wasn't sure which player he was. Could you link a highlight video, etc.?

 

So far, I've been unable to find anything on Wolter.

Give me just a few minutes; let me talk to my guy and get a few links.

Skip to 1:09:

 

Thanks for the info. Sorry if I sounded a little brash there...that wasn't my intentions.

Thanks for the info. Sorry if I sounded a little brash there...that wasn't my intentions.

 

Didn't even think anything of it my man. All good!

Absolutely.

 

 

It's weird for me being an East Ridge alum, almost bittersweet. We were always good when I was in school, went to the Sweet 16, always competed for a regional title. Then it just all went downhill and ER was already becoming a non factor in the region. There was a lot of promise last year with all the young guys like Cam Justice and Johnny Miller showcasing their talents as 8th graders playing varsity, but once Raymond Justice took the Knott County job it took my hopes of East Ridge getting back into the fold with it. However, after some unexpected turn of events ER may be in even better shape then it was. From what I gather Wolter is still young, a sophomore I am wanting to say and he is going to step in right away and fill that void they would be losing with Cam Justice. They still have Johnny Miller on the wing to shoot who is going to be a solid player up there for the next four years, and although they lost 6'7'' Jake McLanahan to graduation Kasongo will not only replace him if eligible but give ER a much better player. This should be a very fast athletic team if these guys get eligible, as an alum I hope they do because I cannot stand for them to continue to be medicore. Consolidating from Elkhorn City High School basketball tradition was something that we always took very seriously. After the first couple of years at East Ridge it looked as if it was going to be a blooming 15th Region power but things quickly turned, hoping things start going the other direction and ER can make its second trip to Rupp and become relevant again much like it was in its infancy.

 

 

Only thing they are doing is setting your program back more. You may have success this year and next, but your running your younger kids off with all these short term transfers, and Lemaster might, and I stress MIGHT, make it 1 year, maybe 2, and either he is gone or trouble hits. If he leaves your transfers are gone and your stuck with kids that COULDN'T transfer. If these kids have anything to do with Brandon Bender, you are opening more problems than your solving.....

Only thing they are doing is setting your program back more. You may have success this year and next, but your running your younger kids off with all these short term transfers, and Lemaster might, and I stress MIGHT, make it 1 year, maybe 2, and either he is gone or trouble hits. If he leaves your transfers are gone and your stuck with kids that COULDN'T transfer. If these kids have anything to do with Brandon Bender, you are opening more problems than your solving.....

 

 

Just win baby!

 

 

 

And that's something they haven't been doing. Like I said they have a very young nucleus, most of their most talented players are young, they just needed a couple of guys to put them over the top and if they become eligible they now have those guys.

Check out numbers 6 and 14...

 

http://northpolehoops.com/index.php?action=player_rankings&id_season=4&id_school_level=3&id_position=ALL&id_class=4:2014

From Twitter:

 

@tsbiet: 2014 6'1 PG Canadian Tony Wolter(East Ridge HS via Alberta) holds interest from UNLV,New Mexico, Mizzou,UCLA,NC St,Tennesee

From Twitter:

 

@tsbiet: 2014 6'1 PG Canadian Tony Wolter(East Ridge HS via Alberta) holds interest from UNLV,New Mexico, Mizzou,UCLA,NC St,Tennesee

 

There is a big difference between interest and offers, but still and impressive list of schools.

The state tournament may need to move to Alberta this year....lol

Here is an interesting article about Kasongo:

 

http://www.pointguardu.com/content/clarifying-ray-kasongo-s-recruitment-brandon-bender-1214/

 

Excerpt:

 

Despite Scout's Evan Daniels' and Jason Scheers' recent claim that 2013 power forward Ray Kasongo does not hold an offer and is not an Arizona recruit, Kasongo's mentor Brandon Bender disagrees. PGU caught up with Bender to set the record straight on Kasongo and his recruitment.

 

To be fair, Daniels was correct that Arizona hasn't watched Kasongo play, but it is inaccurate to say that Kasongo is not an Arizona recruit.

 

"They don't need to have seen him play in person to know what he is," Bender said. "They know what kind of a player he is and that's why they're recruiting him."

 

"I have a relationship with Emmanuel Richardson, Book and I go way back and I'm also familiar with coach Joe Pasternack. And I even spoke with another assistant coach, James Whitford, about Ray. They know what kind of player he is. They know that if Ray was at Oak Hill or Findlay Prep, he'd be starting, that's why they offered him. It's definitely an offer. Ray and his family really like the idea of Arizona too so it's actually a convenient fit."

^ Interesting......

 

 

Went to the game against Letcher County Central last night and he didn't look too bad. I had talked to a couple people who watched East Ridge play Oldham County last weekend at Berea and they said he was one of the laziest player's they had ever saw. Said he basically just stood around the whole time, although he did dunk all over an Oldham kid, then got T'd up for taunting. Last night I saw where one could draw the conclusion he is a lazy player, but to be fair there wasn't a lot of movement at all in the East Ridge offense. He caught two nice oops and threw them both down with ease, can definitely play above the rim. He was blocking shots at a good clip and had one block that shot the basketball off the backboard all the way back to the perimeter. Also had a couple good finishes while posted up and in traffic. LCC is a big team, especially for mountain standards and from what I heard full of upper classmen players. Ray certaintly held more than his own against them.

 

One thing I noticed though was there is no way he is 6'8''. He looks to be more 6'5''/6'6'' to me.

Did I miss the note that said Bender was involved with this kid?

 

YIKES