kywldcat01

Looking at the numbers this year: Geisler: 11 ppg, 8 rpg Stauffer: 9 ppg, 5 rpg Pike: 7 ppg, 4 rpg Robinson: 7 ppg, 4 rpg Thelen: 5 ppg, 4 rpg Hodges: 4 ppg, 3 rpg If we're going to look at numbers alone, Geisler was the best of that group considering he averaged almost a double double. At the same time though, all of those players mentioned contributed the way they did because of where they played. (Geisler excluded) Thelen was really coming in to his own when he got hurt. His scoring production was starting to increase each game as were his rebounding numbers. You can't judge a kid based on seeing him just half the season. Do you think Stauffer, Robinson, Pike, or Hodges would have seen the same kind of minutes and made as big of a contribution at a Holmes, Boone, NCC, or Highlands? Very doubtful because those schools all had solid upperclassmen which is why they only had one sophomore playing significant minutes. (Holmes- Rice, Boone-none, NCC- J. Geisler, Highlands- Gordon)

I'm not underestimating Boone at all. I said they'd be the third best team in nky next year behind Holmes (returns their 3 best players from last year) and Highlands (return the same exact team that beat Boone this year WITH Mcfarland and Co.). I don't see how some of you can act like everything is going to be alright, despite losing a kid like Mcfarland. Again, JV and Varsity are two different animals. If the JV guys that you're speaking of were really as good as you say, they would have saw much more varsity time this year than they did. There's a reason kids like Rice, Hodges, Robinson, Stauffer, Thelen, and Geisler were strictly varsity. You can't tell me none of those players would have made a difference at the JV level. The team to really watch in the 33rd next year is Conner.

Pittman and Earls I agree with...the others? Very doubtful. You're really selling Geisler and Thelen short here.

Delete.

Had Stauffer been on last year's Holmes team with 7 seniors, Riley, Dom Johnson, Rico, JJ, and Pittman, do you honestly think he would have seen as much time with them as he did this year as a soph with Ryle? Highly doubtful. Ryle's senior class was very weak this year, hence none of them being in the top 3 in any of the major categories (ppg, rpg, apg) for the Raiders. Would Stauffer have had the same impact this year had he been playing for Holmes, Boone, NCC, or Highlands? Again, highly doubtful. Bobby is a good player, but let's be realistic...no way he's on the same level as Pittman when he isn't even top 3 or 4 in his class.

I'd say that's a fair assessment. :thumb:

I assume you're referring to Elijah Pittman. Stauffer isn't even in the same class as Pittman so there's no comparison there. Pittman has the game to back up his talk and the state championship his team just won proves it. I believe he was also the leading scorer for Holmes during the state tournament.

Pretty sure it was the worst in Covcath history...or atleast under Listerman.

Holmes success the past three seasons is what has helped them leap frog Covcath for this decade in total wins.

Sure the potential is there, but when you look at him compared to Geisler, Rice, and Thelen, it's not even close IMO. Rice is the best ALL AROUND player for his class in the 9th. Geisler is the best big man for his class in the 9th. (Thelen VERY close behind) Trammel is the best pg for his class in the 9th. Of those four Rice will likely be the biggest prospect out of nky his senior year. He played very well during the state tournament.

Correct. The past two years Holmes has nearly ran the table in the 9th but suffered late season losses and this year Boone got tripped up early in the year before winning out until the region championship and finishing with 2 losses.

Mcleish is the most talented player on Ryle's team hands down. Stauffer and Coleman are solid but not nearly as fundamentally sound or talented as Mitch. If we're going to include players in the junior class, no way Stauffer is ahead of Rice (Holmes), Trammel (Dixie), or Thelen (Covcath). Ive never been impressed with him and he loses his cool VERY EASILY. You put him up against a player his own size and he struggles and gets frustrated which takes him out of his game. I also wouldn't put Stauffer ahead of Avery, Watson, or Pangallo either. Avery is a legit top 6 or 7 player next year in NKY. Stauffer is probably the 5th or 6th best player in NKY in his class...no way he's top 10 in all of nky. As you said, it's all subjective, but I disagree strongly with Stauffer being top 10.

I agree.

To add to that...after that game that you're referring to, I believe, he gave his MVP trophy to another player on his team because of the outstanding defense he played. What a classy move by the young man!

I'd probably have to agree with you because of several uncertain variables with Elijah...

Ricardo would be a tough match up for ANYONE in the state. As far as Housely and Dom, not really sure. Riley is a much different player than Gabbard, which would force them to guard him differently. Gabbard's strength is driving and getting easy baskets by using his strength. That allowed Housely and DJ to play off of him and force him to shoot the ball. Riley's is forcing the opponents to get up on him because of his ability to knock down the outside shot. This allows him to use his quickness and handles to get by them. That was on full display during the Elliott Co game when he drove by the Faulkner twins several times for easy lay ups. Kind of a moot point because we'll never really know. It's all a matter of opinion, I guess.

Knipp isn't 6'8.

Against smaller team, yes. Against teams who have a decent big man, Cotton will have the better game more often than not.

Neither had an overly impressive game that night. Riley was held scoreless while in foul trouble the whole game (credit Boone for being aggressive) and Gabbard was held to 2 points while playing practically every minute of the game. Not sure how one can be considered better than the other judging by that. Gabbard is a fine player but Riley led his team to a state championship and made the sweet 16 all tourney team. Head to head Gabbard may have had the better game the first go around, but overall it's not even close. When Holmes put their best defenders on Gabbard (Housely/D. Johnson) in the second game, he struggled.

Gabbard had 2 pts, 1 rbd, and 1 stl that game. Considering he had his way with Holmes in the first match up with 8 pts, 5 stl, 5 ast, and 2 rbs, I'd say he pretty much disappeared in the region championship. Also, if I remember correctly, Riley didn't even play pg that game, Rico did. Riley sat out a lot of that game in foul trouble as well. That had more to do with his low production than Gabbard's defense.

I really like Avery, but I wouldn't put him ahead of Cotton, JJ, or Kowolonek. Avery is too inconsistent. I'd also say JJ is probably a much bigger prospect than Avery. Avery is a D2 caliber player, at best.

Agreed.

I'd have to respectfully disagree with you. Earls is WAY overrated IMO and Cotton is much better. The only thing Earls has on Cotton is size. Cotton is able to guard anyone on the floor and score on anyone. Earls struggles against kids his own size or bigger. Gabbard is solid, but disappears in big games. (See the region championship) Granted you've probably seen Boone more than myself, the few times I saw Boone this year I was more impressed with Cotton and Mcfarland than anyone else. Cotton seemed to be very consistent down the stretch for Boone. He and Gabbard will be Boone's best two players next year, but I'd give a slight edge to Cotton as the better all around player because of his defense and ability to play more than just one position.

Cotton's strength isn't from outside though. His strengths are what you guys mentioned...getting to the rack, playing solid D, and his mid range game. He is Boone's best player IMO.

I agree. If not for Schmidt going down with an injury early, I really think St. Henry could have done some damage that year. They were led by Schmidt, Veith, Otte, Fabiani, Czarnik, and Lageman. A very balanced and unselfish group. Simon Kenton lost 5 games to nky teams that year and 3 of those 5 came to St. Henry. SK was no slouch either with Brock, Reed, Kannady and role players Schoborg, Jordan & Joe Nevels, and Ev. Stowers. NKY was loaded in 2003: Ryle- Justin Doellman Highlands- Neltner, J. Guidugli, Gilles SK- Brock, Reed, Kannady Dixie- Doug Jones, Russ Bramlage, 7'0 Mays, Matt & Mike O'toole, Clayton, D.J Corbitt