Rainman11

The kid you are speaking of is a very nice player (first name is Dominique, don't know the last name). He leads a very good Madison Middle 7th grade team. Played a few games for the Lexington Trotters last year as well as the Richmond Stars. Not sure if the Stars will still play this year, but I believe the Trotters are gone, since I hear their best player and their point guard have moved to The Ville. By the way, should be a real good game tomorrow. Madison Middle vs. Scott County, the top 2 teams in the Bluegrass Conference. Both teams are led by 7th grade AAU players. Madison Middle has kids from both the Richmond Stars and Madison Colonels, while four of Scott County's starters play for the Georgetown Thunder.

Come on, let's get serious! Nice dunk, but not exactly You Tube material. He split defenders and did a one-handed dunk with a 5-foot-7 point guard waiting under the basket. Nice move, I agree. Incredible dunk. Not so much.

So, which team is Dishman playing for -- 6th or 7th? And, while that unofficial rule may be good for some kids (meaning the ones that are playing more in 8th because 7th grade kids can't move up and take their spot), I think it hurts the better players. I know there are a lot of teams that have players play up. In fact, Harrison County only kept 7 8th graders because so many of the 7th graders play up.

I am surprised he doesn't play for 8th as well. I know last year he played 6th and 7th grade.

Michael Jordan's kid didn't seem to do much..... By the way, for those that watched the broadcast and have seen Scott County before, I have a question -- Was it me, or did G-Lawn Guyn look exactly like Bud Mackey with the # 14 jersey and short sleeve under armor?

Scott County loses by 3 .... 3 pointer at buzzer almost banks in to send it to overtime..... Tyler Portwood had a real good game, as did Richie Phares....Both players had 20 points or so......Don't have official stats, just going off the broadcast online.... Michael Jordan's kid didn't seem to do much..... By the way, for those that watched the broadcast and have seen Scott County before, I have a question -- Was it me, or did G-Lawn Guyn look exactly like Bud Mackey with the # 14 jersey and short sleeve under armor?

From my understanding, they can't be playing with select teams on weekends. On another message regarding OH basketball, they have said many times the rule in OH is you can't play select basketball at the same time as school beginning in 7th grade. Plus, even after school ball is over, you are only allowed 2 kids from the same school on the same select team.

Last year, Grimes played with the Cincinnati Knights while Wingfield played with the Cincinnati Playmakers. In OH, they are not allowed to play AAU at the same time as school ball once they reach 7th grade so who knows where they will play this year.

Some Central Kentucky/Bluegrass Conference results over the past couple of weeks: 7th grade -- Scott County over Royal Spring, Harrison County, Paris & West Jessamine; Royal Spring over East Jessamine and Woodford; Elkhorn over West Jessamine and Georgetown; Madison over Conkwright and Estill; McNabb over Powell County; Clark-Moores over Clark Middle and Bourbon County; Conkwright over Powell. 8th grade -- Royal Spring over Scott County, East Jessamine and Woodford; Georgetown over Elkhorn; Scott County over Harrison County, Paris and West Jessamine; Elkhorn over West Jessamine and Harrison County; East Jessamine over Woodford; Clark-Moores over Georgetown (probably the biggest surprise), Clark Middle and Bourbon County; Madison over Conkwright; Clark Middle over McNabb; McNabb over Powell County; Bourbon County over Estill County; Powell County over Conkwright; Estill over Madison. 7th grade -- The best teams appear to be Scott County, Madison and McNabb. 8th grade -- Top teams are Clark-Moores, Georgetown and Royal Spring with East Jessamine a sleeper.

Yes, Christian McClendon is in 7th grade. He is a grade exception for AAU 7th grade. I think the Tar Heels that played were 6th and 7th graders, not 7th and 8th. They didn't have a 7th grade team last year, only 5th and 6th. And, their starting guards from 5th grade were also their starting guards on 6th grade. When the current 7th grade Tar Heels were younger (3rd and 4th grade), McClendon was their best player but he didn't start at the end of last AAU season so it is nice to hear that he is playing better. And I believe he will go to Holmes.

So is this an 8th grade event with the Raptors/Hornets, because I was thinking both of these teams were 7th grade teams last year.

Yes, this should be a good game, but this may also be the Tar Heels 6th grade group playing up. I had heard they may not field a 7th grade team this year, which I still find hard to believe, but you never know. Either way, this will be better competition for the Wolfpack than school teams and depending on who else is playing in the tournament, the two teams may get a 2nd game in the championship game.

Remember, not all kids who play middle school basketball have been exposed to AAU. And, even if they did, most AAU teams only practice a couple of days a week so some kids may not get the individual fundamental work necessary. Middle school teams practice everyday they aren't playing. I'm not saying kids shouldn't have those fundamentals when they reach middle school, but it shouldn't be assumed. Middle school coaches still need to spend time daily working on fundamentals with kids. As I am sure you are aware, these are a lot more middle school basketball players in the state of KY than there are AAU players.

Remember, not all kids who play middle school basketball have been exposed to AAU. And, even if they did, most AAU teams only practice a couple of days a week so some kids may not get the individual fundamental work necessary. Middle school teams practice everyday they aren't playing. I'm not saying kids shouldn't have those fundamentals when they reach middle school, but it shouldn't be assumed. Middle school coaches still need to spend time daily working on fundamentals with kids. As I am sure you are aware, these are a lot more middle school basketball players in the state of KY than there are AAU players.

Maybe the Wolfpack should look for more competitive tournaments for themselves. I agree, it makes no sense for them to play with most school teams.

Both of these drills are good for all players. Mikan should be done by all players, not just the big men. Same for full court layups. If we want the kids to be well rounded, they should all learn the fundamentals. Guards should understand the drop step, up and under, etc. There are times in games when a coach can find a mismatch by posting his guard against the opponent.

1. Paducah Tilghman 2. Madisonville 3. Owensboro Apollo 4. Warren Central 5. Adair County 6. Pleasure Ridge Park 7. Ballard 8. Simon Kenton 9. Holmes 10.Mason County 11.Scott County 12.Wayne County 13.Cumberland 14.June Buchanan 15.Paintsville 16.Elliott County Tiebreaker: 11th Region

I do think sometimes coaches just assume kids can make a layup. You have to work on it in practice. As simple as it sounds, a lot of kids and coaches take this shot for granted.

Georgetown Middle beat Mason County in both 7th and 8th yesterday at East Jessamine.

As far as Meece, what grade are you speaking of? By the way, I saw Southern Middle 8th yesterday in Mercer County and the twins are playing 8th grade. That team is so impressive offensively, moving without the ball and playing so unselfish. They beat Shelby West and Scott County. In 7th, Scott County beat Shelby West (by 7) and Southern (by 37). Also in Mercer County, Royal Spring beat King Middle in both 7th and 8th, but lost to Lincoln County in both.

Waterboy, you are way out of line here. The 8th Region is deeper than any region in the state. I would put Williamstown, Owen County, Spencer County, South Oldham -- teams like that -- against the top teams in any region.

I watched Hopson play as a sophomore one time and while he was obviously talented, he wasn't the best player on his team that night and playing against Scott County he probably wouldn't have been on a starting lineup of the 5 best players in the gym. He is no doubt talented, but seemed to be real lazy. And, everything I have read about him over the past year or so seem to say the same thing. He must be a product of hype, or as you always hear in the NBA draft, he must have great upside.

While Scott County basketball is huge in Georgetown, the fact that the paper comes out 5 times a week is the reason a scrimmage becomes top news. What else are they going to report on?

I had heard the other night that Lincoln County beat Lexington Catholic in 7th over the weekend. Georgetown Middle has hosted a pre-season event all week. Madison Middle 7th has been the most impressive, beating both Royal Spring and Scott County Middle. Both 8th grade teams at Royal Spring and Scott County easily beat Madison. Catholic beat Georgetown Middle in 7th, but GMS won the 8th grade. GMS hosts Lexington Christian tonight in the last games of the classic.

KBA did have a couple of people involved in Kentucky AAU. I heard tonight they will be closing Jan. 1. I wonder how this affects both the AAU state tournament and middle school state. I would think Hoops in Louisville would get the AAU state. They did some sanctioned AAU events last year. I wonder if the middle school state will die. KBA only did to make money.