tash2597

Doubtful. Why are you so down on the class of 2010? I personally think the c/o 2010 is one of the best to come through Kentucky in a while. There are already 6 juniors (senior to be) with D1 offers: Elisha Justice- Shelby Valley Ge'Lawn Guyn- Scott Co Chad Jackson- Scott Co Dakotah Euton- Scott Co Donovan Gibbs- Iroquois Ricardo Johnson- Holmes I'm sure the following players will play at the D1 or D2 level as well: Josh Sewell- Trinity Jomari Bradshaw- Shawnee Orlando Rutledge- Fern Creek Elijah Pittman- Holmes Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes Matt St. John- South Laurel Aaron Watts- Mccreary Central Jarrod Polson- West Jessamine Delquan Thomas- Eastern Thomas Jackson- Jeffersontown Tim Jackson- Jeffersontown Ian Chiles- Ballard Keisten Jones- Ballard I could keep going on, but you should get the point...the c/o 2010 is absolutely loaded with talent.

To clear the Avery situation up.... as of right now it's simply a rumor. I spoke with one of the Holmes players and they confirmed it to just be a rumor. He hasn't been playing with Holmes and the player hasn't heard anything about Avery coming to Holmes. It could still happen, but as of right now, it's just a rumor. Does anyone know if he's been playing with Conner at all?

These videos were also on KSR: Elijah Pittman: http://www.kentuckysportsnetwork.com/video/video/show?id=2148737%3AVideo%3A58671 Ricardo Johnson: http://www.kentuckysportsnetwork.com/video/video/show?id=2148737%3AVideo%3A58666

From Mike Dyer's blog: Aiken basketball standout Chane Behanan has enrolled at Bowling Green High School in Kentucky, according to Bowling Green High School coach D.G. Sherrill. Behanan, who will be a junior next season, has orally committed to UC. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog06&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3ade3ab7e7-5e43-4e32-8612-155786b59a09Post%3a7115a088-f256-43c3-b4f4-52d6eb5cc338&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com

Avery wouldn't sit on the bench behind J. Johnson...Avery would start. If Avery has indeed decided to go to Holmes, their starting lineup would be: R. Johnson D. Avery J. Johnson K. Rice E. Pittman Mayfield, Slusher, and Mcclendon first three off the bench. True...my point was, while Holmes loses Riley and D. Johnson from the starting lineup, they are reloading by inserting Rice in there and it appears Avery as well. (If I'm understanding doubledeuce correctly) Avery is also the cousin of Braeon and BJ Avery....former Holmes players.

Don't forget Boone also lost Spaulding who was a key piece off the bench. I think a lot of the Boone faithful are underestimating Highlands big time. Boone has a lot of question marks. We can sit here and say a group of players as a whole can replace Mcfarland, but do you realize what he meant to that team? His passing ability was very underrated and he set his teammates up more than anyone else on that team. Most of all, his leadership will be greatly missed. Without Mcfarland, they don't even make it out of the district last year IMO. Gabbard and Popp are solid guards, but to compete with Holmes and Highlands, you're going to have to have an inside game. Highlands front court is very deep with Grubbs, Dill, Watson, Smith-Keller, and Stewart. And of course Holmes will be stacked with athleticism and talent in the front court with Pittman, Rice, and either of the Johnson Brothers. There's also a rumor flying around that Avery of Conner may be at Holmes next year as well. Boone will be solid next year, but I think it may be a two horse race.

I don't see how anyone can think Boone should be the favorite over Highlands next year with Highlands returning everyone from this past year and Boone losing 3 very good seniors. I also like Highlands chances a lot more against Holmes considering the game will be at Highlands, whereas Boone will have to travel to Covington. Sure Holmes loses Riley, but they replace/reload with Kevon Arnold. I'll take Arnold over Popp any day of the week. Right now, Holmes and Highlands should be considered the two favorites with what they return. Boone is slightly behind Highlands. I think it will be closer this year between #1 and #2 this year than last, but simply because Highlands returns their whole team and Holmes lost some key seniors. Holmes seems to reload after every year though so I wouldn't look too much in to them losing anyone.

Lother and Gordon split duties at the point guard position and rotated back in forth as starters.

JJ played a 3 this past season on offense and defense, but he is more of a wing than a forward. You'll see him bring the ball up this coming season along with Ricardo, which is why I had them in the guard conversation. Both Ricardo and JJ will be guards at the collegiate level as well, as that is what they play on their AAU team. Of the 4, Grote is the best outside shooter at 34%. Neither Popp nor Gabbard shot over 30% from beyond the arc so I wouldn't consider them very strong from outside either. Kowolonek also had the highest FG % at 50% on the year. Grote is a lot quicker than you're giving him credit for and has some pretty good handles and passing ability. Also, in 2 games against Highlands this past season, Gabbard/Popp combined for just 6 assists. Neither Gabbard nor Popp play as good of defense as those two...IMO. Kowolonek/Grote outscored both in both games. (27-14...18-5) With all due respect, no way Popp has more quickness or slashing ability than Grote. Grote always draws the duty of guarding the opposing teams' quickest player and is still considered one of the top defensive players in the region. Popp wasn't seeing the floor this past season for a reason. I don't mean to get down on the kid because he is a great person, but overall Grote has the better all around game both offensively and defensively.

How do all three compare to eachother in your opinion? (Behanan, Pittman, Fant) IMO: Chane's biggest assett is his strength. That's what separates him from Pittman and Fant. He is a bruiser around the rim, which is why he is so tough to defend. Pittman however is more athletic and has a better outside game than both. Chane is very athletic, but I think he too would have trouble staying with Pittman out on the wing. It really depends which player shows up though...Pittman seems as if he doesn't play hard all the time. If he plays like he did in the state tournament though the final three games, I really think the match up between him and Chane would be much closer than we think. I don't really see any areas where Fant is better than either Behanan or Pittman. He is still a very good player though and a major prospect. Your thoughts?

I gave Kowolonek/Grote the edge over Gabbard/Popp because I feel Grote is the better all around player when compared to Popp. Kowolonek and Gabbard is a toss up. Kowolonek is a better scorer but Gabbard is more of a floor general.

I wouldn't go that far. I'd say there are atleast 2 guard combinations better than those two: Ricardo and Jeremiah Johnson- Holmes Stephen Kowolonek and George Grote- Highlands

So who would you give the nod to in a Pittman v Fant match up? I know Holmes and Warren Central will meet during the regular season this year.

Chane is hands down the best player in the c/o 2011. As far as statewide, it really depends on if you're looking at position alone, or overall. Overall I don't think Chane is the best all around player in the state, but at his position (Forward) he is probably the best...the only other player, IMO, that would give him some fits is Elijah Pittman of Holmes. That would be a fun match up to see.

Knipp is a very good player and probably the best in his region but saying he's the best in the state is getting a little ahead of ourselves. His all around game is no where near as good as players like Ge'Lawn Guyn, Chad Jackson, Josh Sewell, Ricardo Johnson, Elijah Pittman, or even George Fant. Let's also not forget about Chane Behanan who will be at Bowling Green next year and very well could be the best player in the state as a junior. Knipp is one of the best in the state for his class, but his defense will have to improve tremendously to be considered the best. He got abused by Elijah Pittman in the state tourney. Now that doesn't mean Knipp isn't a good player, but just shows he has a lot to work on to be considered the elite player that some are hyping him up to be. This season should tell a lot about Knipp's game. I'm really looking forward to seeing how he progresses over the next two years.

I think the thread title was 9th region though...

Not sure...this is all the paper reported: In the Junior All-Star game that preceded the Senior game, Mitch McLeish from Ryle made a bank shot from the middle of the lane with four seconds left to give the West a 68-66 victory. McLeish was named MVP for the West, while Brady Jolly of Campbell County earned MVP honors for the East. Shawn Eastion of Dayton won the Mr. Hustle award for the East, while Conner's Demetrius Avery won it for the West. http://nky.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/AB/20090606/SPT0302/906070372/

Update from Ryan Ernst blog: The Princeton-Holmes boys' basketball game scheduled for next season will be played at Holmes, according to Bulldogs coach David Henley. Holmes, the defending Kentucky state champion, will play host to defending Division I state runner-up Princeton at 6 p.m. on Jan. 6 (a Wednesday) at Evans Fieldhouse. The game will be televised live on Fox-19. http://news.cincinnati.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=blog06&plckController=Blog&plckScript=blogScript&plckElementId=blogDest&plckBlogPage=BlogViewPost&plckPostId=Blog%3ade3ab7e7-5e43-4e32-8612-155786b59a09Post%3a44b67cfd-0dc8-41af-8fb3-87782b01f80b&sid=sitelife.cincinnati.com

Newcath, Ryle, and Conner are all pretty close 4-6, but I think they might be just a bit ahead of Dixie at this point. Dixie has Trammel, Pike, and Hatton, but those three while talented and somewhat experienced, are a year away from being a legit top 5 team IMO.

I'd really like to see the following lineups go against eachother: Seniors: Riley Sanford Jenkins Hood Phares Juniors: Jackson Guyn R. Johnson Pittman Gibbs

Junior All star game: West- 68 East- 66 West MVP- Mitch Mcleish (Ryle) East MVP- Brady Jolly (Campbell County) West Mr. Hustle- Demetrius Avery (Conner) East Mr. Hustle- Shawn Eastin (Dayton)

Box score from senior game: West- 84 Brown 3 0 6, Russell 6 2 14, Craddock 2 2 6, Williamson 3 2 10, Ives 2 0 6, Barnes 5 4 14, Spaulding 8 1 19, Beuttle 3 0 9. Totals 32 11 84. East- 76 Geisler 5 5 15, Darnell 6 0 13, Riley 4 0 10, Gligorevic 3 1 8, D. Johnson 3 0 7, Flanigan 3 0 6, Nerl 3 0 6, Housley 1 3 5, Barrett 2 0 5. Totals 30 9 76. West MVP- Corey Spaulding (Boone County) East MVP- Matt Geisler (Newcath) West Mr. Hustle- Kurt Russell (Ryle) East Mr. Hustle- David Darnell (Newport)

I'd have them in the 7-10 range: 1. Holmes 2. Highlands 3. Boone Co. 4. Ryle 5. Newcath 6. Conner Top 5 is pushing it a little considering what Ryle, Newcath, and Conner all return.

Probably not....if the following players were on the roster, I think the seniors would likely lose by 10+. Chad Jackson Ge'Lawn Guyn Dakotah Euton Ricardo Johnson Elijah Pittman Josh Sewell

Euton has really improved over the summer on both ends of the floor. I think a lot of people will be pleasantly surprised when they see him next year. He played in the King James Classic with OBC against All Ohio red and more than held his own against Jared Sullinger. He was able to frustrate him the whole game by being physical with him on defense and preventing him from getting rebounds and easy looks around the rim.