Rainman11

I initially thought the same thing, but I think the way AAU rules on this is if the players main team goes to D2 nationals, then the player is considered a D2 player and can play on a D1 team in nationals. That has to be the case in this particular situation because I know the player in question played on a team in the D1 state, then that team decided to play D2 nationals, although all 5 teams qualified and could have played in D1 nationals. But, as long as AAU approves it, then I don't see a problem with this player playing on 2 different teams -- one in D1 and one in D2.

Plus, you don't have to play D1 nationals by playing D1 state. Rising Stars and Trotters played D1 state and D2 nationals last year. I would actually just like to see one big tournament when you are looking at so few teams playing D1, but I understand why there it won't be that way.

I wonder if there will even be a D1 13U tournament. Last year there were only 5 teams in D1 and I know one of them (Trotters) no longer exists and I keep hearing the Tarheels will not have a 13U team -- although I would still be surprised if they don't. So, that just leaves The Ville, Thunder and Rising Stars and I don't know of any other teams at this point. 3 wouldn't be enough for a separate tournament.

I am a HUGE numbers guy no matter what it is. I love to look at stats and review them. It helps me as a coach. But, the only thing I want to players to look and care about is if our team scores more points than the other. Of course, I understand kids still want to know what they did and brag about it to friends, but I try to bring a culture around my teams that as long as we win that's the only thing that matters.

When I initially read the thread, I thought for sure this comment was a complete joke. But, I guess others in the thread are saying the same thing. Setty is a nice player, but he is nowhere near good enough to play at UK -- if UK is interested in getting back to the top of college basketball. Now, if they want a practice player and someone Billy G. can kick off the team if he laughs during a game, then OK I can see it.

I think Gover would greatly help the freshman group next year. I thought the 8th grade group was missing a true point guard. Townsend is good, but would be better IMO playing on the wing.

What I meant is it irrelevant whether he goes back to New York or not as far as the Warriors are concerned because he is not playing with them. As far as Sayre is concerned, it is relevant.

This kid -- Dakari (?) Johnson -- never was on the Warriors roster this year. Whether he goes back to New York if irrelevant, he is not playing with the Warriors.

In 8th grade, you obviously have to install Scott County as a favorite. But, Richardson could very well end up getting pulled up to the high school next year and that would definitely change things. Georgetown Middle lost Tamron Manning this year when he was pulled up and, while they were still good, they went from finishing 2nd in 7th grade to losing in the quarters this year. Plus, who knows if some of the Louisville teams will get to come next year like they did in 8th this year. That definitely changed the dynamics of the 8th grade field.

Harrison can flat out play. He does play with a lot of confidence, but I thought his poise and basketball IQ was something that you don't see too often for his age.

Both Diaw and Portwood are 6th grade holdbacks. By the way, another point on the success of Scott County, only one of the 5 kids that played is a 7th grade holdback - Richardson. Gaines and Downey haven't even turned 13 yet and Page just did last week. With a lot of teams in the tournament having multiple holdbacks, this even magnifies the accomplishment.

Diaw moved from somewhere in Northern KY, not New York. He played for the Northern KY Raiders (I think that is the name of the team) the last couple of years as well as playing for the Central KY Warriors. Richardson did move from New Hampshire. And, yes, that was a nice pickup for SCMS and Georgetown Thunder (and Scott County High School).

Of the 15 kids that started middle school basketball as 7th graders in Scott County (SCMS, Royal Spring and Georgetown), I only know of 2 that haven't lived in Georgetown their entire life -- Richardson and Diaw. Both moved here this past summer. Back when the Georgetown Thunder started when the current kids were in first grade, Portwood / Page (SCMS) and Humphrey / Wickline (RSMS) were on the team. Young and Gilkey (GMS starters) as well as Henderson (SCMS reserve) joined the Thunder as 3rd graders. Humphrey and Gilkey have since left, with Gaines / Richardson joining this year. Downey played with the Thunder in one tournament in 3rd grade, but his parents decided the time involved in AAU basketball wasn't for them. Here's an interesting note: Tamron Manning, who plays for Scott County High School as an 8th grader, was a part of the Georgetown Thunder when it first started -- when he was in 2nd and 3rd grade.

You will probably be really surprised to know that #34 from Scott County (Portwood) and #24 from Royal Spring (Diaw) are both 6th graders.

Hey, thanks for giving SC credit. I think our post players were as active as any team I saw this weekend. That aggressiveness by the post players was probably as a big reason why they won as anything. And, I definitely don't want to get in an officiating discussion, but I can tell you I heard refs tell coaches this all weekend, "Tell your guy to block out and I will call the foul." What the referees meant by that is if the kid in front simply jumped for the ball and the kid behind jumped over that kid or went straight and got it, they wouldn't call a foul. Now, if the kid in front put his butt into the other guy, they would call it. I am not saying that's how the game was called, I'm just saying the refs seem to be looking for a kid to block out before calling over the back.

Scott County rarely pressed the final 4 games of the tournament and played mostly zone defense. They went full court man during the comeback against Wayne and played man a good portion of the game against Russell County. Other than that, it was zone. They pretty much had to do it with playing five kids. Of course, I saw other teams that didn't play a big bench either, but the amazing thing about the Scott County team was the balance. In the six games, they had four players average between 10 and 12 points a game and the 5th starter scored 7 a game. As for the talk about the fouls, if you would have seen SC's FT shooting percentage you would realize this might have been a disadvantage for them to be at the line.

Clark Moores does have a nice team, but they are no longer undefeated. Scott County ended their perfect season tonight in the semifinals of the 8th grade Bluegrass Conference tournament, 58-51 at Clark Moores. Georgetown beat Royal Spring in the other semifinal, so Georgetown and Scott County will have a rubber match in the finals tomorrow night, after Scott County vs. Madison Middle play in the 7th grade finals.

For the most part, AAU officiating isn't very good - no matter where you play. As long as it is equally bad, I have no problems. Even when you have certified officials, they are not graded in AAU events because officials are hard to find; therefore, some don't care as much.

If that is true (and Dave is a great guy but teams seem to fall out as the week goes along), that will be a good field. Georgetown Thunder, unfortunately, can't field a team as too many of their players also play on their school team's 8th grade team and the 8th grade middle school is next weekend.

I have to say, I am shocked by this score. I went to the first game between the 2 teams and BS thoroughly dominated. Mack was unstoppable. I knew SC made some lineup changes and would be more ready this time, but still I thought BS would win. I wasn't able to attend, but a friend of mine text me the score in the 3rd quarter and I about fell out of my chair. I had to send a message back to confirm she was telling me the right team on top. The 11th is WIDE open.

Friends in Low Places is my favorite, but I like just about everything he has done. I went to his concert in Rupp a few years ago and it was awesome, by far the best concert I have been to.

I look at their school's website and outside of the Bluegrass Conference (which includes Madison, Clark Middle, Conkwright, Bourbon, Estill, Powell and McNabb), they have played Georgetown, Berea (twice), Foley (twice) and West Jessamine. They must have played some more to get to 26-0, but I only saw these teams on the calendar. I know Georgetown's 8th is good, but not sure of anybody else.

Georgetown Middle is awful in 7th. You don't have to worry about them.

Just a quick note - If you haven't seen Braxton play yet this year, you will like his improved game. He has gotten a lot better. When he wants to, he can dominate a game. When the Thunder played The Ville a month or so ago, Braxton was the best player on the court in the first half and if you know the 2 rosters, you know that is saying a lot.