SpeedyGonzales

No one is saying much about the 5th region but I would say that it is one of the top five in the state this year. North Hardin, Bardstown, Taylor County, Adair will all have a chance to be in the top 20.

Manual and North Hardin played each other and we ended up winning by around 12 points over Manual. The first half was close and ended North 27 and Manual 24. I don't think Jenkins missed a shot and he had 22 of their 24 to keep it close. Second half we faced guarded Jenkins and tried to deny the ball but he still kept it close until he went out and we opened it up. Both teams were tired from playing earlier in the day but I was a believer after that game. Jenkins also had a great game against Shelby Valley when Manual beat them. Should be a great opener for North when the season starts. Greg Johnson looked strong the whole shootout too. I think people are going to see North as a real threat once the season gets to January we get everyone back from football going.

I thought Shelby Valley looked very good. They participated in the North Hardin shootout and I recall they played Male tough and played Manual solidly before losing to them by 14 or 15 points. Very nice PG in Justice but they had a big kid in the post that played well too. Good size and fundamentals make SV a good call for the top 20.

Nice effort. It is fun to read and may be 100% accurate. I have even done stuff like this in my head before a basketball game. It always seems to be different when the game is actually played. Tempo, style of play, substitution patterns, foul trouble, and so on are too many factors to look at. You can say Pittman v Phares is the key matchup but in big games like this it could be the 7th man off the bench hitting 3 or 4 big shots and coming up with steals to swing the game. My thought is whoever controls tempo wins this one. Have a question. If Scott County went zone on Holmes, who would be the players to help break it on the perimeter?

That is exactly why I have Manual there. You can't count them out. I saw them at the North Hardin Summer Shootout and watched them play in four or five games. Manual had some size, speed, and Jenkins had a sensational showing. I put North Hardin in the top five. They are my sleeper pick to win the state. No one is really talking much about them except in our region. They have all the tools to be special. This is the most balance the 5th region has been in some time so I expect it to be a real challenge to win the region. I nearly placed Holmes as the #1 team overall. The reason I wanted to was because between Scott County and Holmes, the Bulldogs have more returning starters and players from last year's team and will enter the season as a more cohesive unit. Scott County has the talent and depth on paper but has yet to play a regular season game as a full unit. Preseason you could make a case for Holmes being #1.

I think your rankings are really close. Giving it a shot with my own and a little on each team. 1. Scott County - most talent and most depth. If they gel, they are the legit top team. Phares, Guyn, Jackson, and Euton bring the top line in the state and will be the most versatile team around. Phares, a top five player in the state, will provide the leadership and experience necessary to point the loaded team in the right direction. When playing the Cardinals its "pick your poison" time. 2. Holmes - Led by Rico Johnson who many feel is the state's #1 junior. Athletic starting five and some great experience not to mention one of the best coaches around. May end up having one of the stingiest defenses in the state to go along with uptempo game. A ton of balance with Pittman in the lane and Riley at the top of the key to compliment Johnson. A trip back to Rupp seems definate. 3. GRC - I am more or less going on the assumption that Zollo provides the inside presence that catapults this team to a serious state contender. A very balanced and talented team and as everyone knows has a rising star with Robbie Stenzil. Robert Hatton will provide a boost offensively as one of the state's best marksmen. GRC is poised to win the 10th region. 4. Jeffersontown - Everybody back but Gagel and throw in one of the state's top juniors in phenom Aaron Cosby and the Chargers are repeat favorites in the 7th. No one can match the speed of the Chargers. The four returning starters are now more experienced and they will have depth. 5. North Hardin - If everybody is there, this could be the best team by season end. Senior Greg Johnson is arguably the top player in the region and everybody in the 5th is holding their breath to see him added to NH's roster. Add Bramblett and King along with some other talented players and you got the recipe for a surprise title team. 6. Manual - Has the #2 player in the state overall in Jacob Jenkins who will be the main contender against Hood for Mr. Basketball. The loss of Kimbro will hurt but Manual did learn to play without him over the summer and did well. Manual has some talent and speed to go along with those shooters. They are legit contender for the 7th behind the Chargers. 7. Warren Central - Young and talented is the theme for coach Riley's squad this year and its suits them fine. Young guns in Jordan Shanklin and George Fant Jr. gives WC some offensive firepower to score against the talented teams in the 4th region. They have a very solid group of complimetary players surounding them and should be one of the state's higher scoring teams. 8. Elliott County - No team has more experienced veterans than EC. Twins, Ferguson have been there and want to go back once again for their senior send-off. Timothy Knipp will be the talented complimentary player in the starting line-up and EC will look to dominate the 16th region leaving no doubt they belong at Rupp. 9. Bardstown - Hickman was not the go-to guy last year for a talented Bardstown squad. That changes this year as Hickman will be relied on to lead the team in the 5th region which has become one the top tier regions in the state this season. Questions still remain if DeMarco Phillips will return to the court after sustaining a football injury. Still, the Tiger's will be competitive against the likes of NH, Taylor County, Adair, and more. 10. Franklin County - I do not know this team as well as others but have seen them play a few times last year and over the summer and do know the possess one of the best players in the 11th region in Andy Donavon. They will have a solid starting five that can compete with anyone in the region and anyone in the state. Depth might be a concern though they could build on that as the season goes making them a legit contender to undermine Scott County's plans of going to Rupp.

Shelby County should be the favored to win the region. They return a wealth of experience and have the athletes returning that will be a year improved. I have heard that Anderson County will try to utilize Penny at the guard spots or the point. This would be in favor of the other 8th region contenders having Penny away from the basket and trying to run an offense. I don't see this move lasting too long.

Funny about the PR department. Maybe I'm a little old fashion in thinking it how a player performs on the court that counts more than what someone types. Any press Stenzil gets is probably earned.

I'm one that believes Stenzil should move up. He will not lack public relations this year as his team GRC will be highly watched. He will get his chance to shine.

Eta, same with the "Top Youngsters in the State". Its a new blog report less than a day old. The link for the new report is updated.

Top 10 Teams 1. Fairdale 2. Iroquois 3. Central 4. Bullitt East 5. PRP 6. Butler 7. Doss 8. Southern 9. DeSales 10. Bullitt Central Top 10 Players 1. Donavan Gibbs (Iroquois) Jr. 6-6 F/C 2. Cameron Clemons (Doss) Sr. 6-3 G 3. Ridge Wilson (Central) Sr. 6-4 F/C 4. Chris Richard (Southern) Jr. 6-3 F/C 5. Josh Stroud (Fairdale) So. 6-4 F 6. Willie Moore (BE) Sr. 6-6 C 7. Cory Jackson (Shawnee) Sr. 6-2 G 8. Quintrell Morris (Fairdale) Jr. 6-1 F 9. CJ Mack (Fairdale) Sr. 5-11 G 10. Alex Morrison (Central) Sr. 5-11 G

Jody Demling blogs the top players in a recent ranking. http://www.courier-journal.com/blogs/demling/2008/10/hood-jenkins-top-list.html

Top 10 Teams 1. Bardstown 2. North Hardin 3. Adair 4. Taylor County 5. E-town 6. Central Hardin 7. Green 8. John Hardin 9. Larue 10. Cville Top 10 Players 1. Darren Ballou (Adair) 2. Jordan Hickman (Bardstown) 3. Greg Johnson (North Hardin) 4. Chase Cox (Taylor) 5. Nick Fudge (Adair) 6. Chris Gohman (Etown) 7. Leonard Macon (Taylor) 8. Daniel Linder (Central Hardin) 9. LaRod King (North Hardin) 10. Clint Henderson (Green County)

There are players ranked highly that have never attended the camp.