GoHardITP

I agree with everything said by Coach Q with one slight exception. We agree that anyone in this game should be first and foremost helping kids play at the next level whatever that level might be for each individual kid. The kids from KY are not competing for scholarships among just themselves, they are competing versus kids from all over the world. We should cheer for all the KY kids who emerge somewhere down the line bettering themselves and hope they return to the commonwealth and start giving back when they reach that age to do so. I also agree that players can get exposure from each of the shoe companies leagues and also other grassroots events. Some more than others, but if you are good enough and play well in high school you will be seen. Now the exception I have with your statement, Eli is a great player with as much potential as anyone in the state. Would he start or be one of the better players on any team in the state...the answer is likely yes. But he was not asked after Hampton EYBL to join the Travelers. While I do not doubt you were told that, whomever did so misled you likely in an intentional way. One guy whom I know you respect makes playing offers in The Travelers program. I can assure you he did not make any such effort because he is loyal to his kids on his roster. If he did not speak to Eli directly, no such offer was made. Suggesting otherwise is not fair to those kids who play on both teams. There are people in the state who stir the pot to cause trouble because they have nothing better to do and the person telling you that may just be one of those people.

I feel Wireman hit the nail by suggesting without watching teams and the teams they are playing against it is hard to rank teams that rarely even have common opponents. Unless they play each other or are in the same event it just has too many variables than won/lost records or tournament placements. The 16U Travelers likely dropped by starting the season 1-2. Interestingly besides losing in OT to a team from Mississippi, they also lost to Team United (NC) in a close game until the end which Team United pulled out to a 10 point win. Thsi was the same Team United that while in KnoxVegas played both WKY Elite and Louisville Magic. So at least there is a common opponent for those three. Comparing scores is not an absolute read, but I recall Team United beat WKY ELite by about 8 and Louisville Magic by 18. About the only thing you can say is Team United seems to be better than the Top KY 16U teams.

I might agree with your premise, but if indeed he has emerged as a leading candidate that means he has pursued the job or he would not be in the driver's seat as what is being mentioned. So if he has taken the front seat, he has thought through accepting the position already. I just do not see someone pursuing a job only to turn it down if offered. The decision to take it has likely been made. I doubt it is any ploy to get more money or whatever else from Bardstown HS, that can happen in college or the pros, but not likely in HS jobs.

Kentucky Basketball Academy > Event Schedules > Tournament Schedules Hopefully not breaking any rules, but it is on the KBA website under tournaments, NCAA certified events, Race to the Rim, and then schedules.

Hotels rooms and gym space in Lexington must be at a premium this weekend. You have the 2nd session of the Nike EYBL 17U being held at KBA with 40 of the best teams across the country. Then you have the affiliated Racing to the Rim that although not a Nike event is a NCAA live event that KBA has organized at many gyms in the Lexington area. Plus you have the aforementioned Battle of the Best which is a 3rd event in Lexington that also is NCAA certified. All 3 should have some good teams as I know the Racing to the Rim has some really good non-Nike affiliated grassroots teams participating and Coach Q indicates the Battle of the Best does also.

If this is even true he is gone, tough break for Shawnee. He was capable of giving them the best shot to make them formidable in the 7th. Maybe something that they are hoping to clear up as he is really good in my opinion with kids. He needs to be in coaching, has the gift.

Yes, not sure anyone likes to see those for sure. But as they say, both teams have to play at the same time. Just think if it was a West Coast team. I guess the key is getting the kids to bed very early to be well rested. Maybe a 6 AM morning jog?

I do know the 16U Travelers play at 6:15 Friday vs. BABC (Nerlen Noels old program out of Boston), 8:00 Saturday vs. Alabama Challenge and 2:00 PM Saturday vs. Houston Hoops for their pool play games.

While the 17U Nike EYBL 2nd session is held in Lexington at KBA next weekend, Nike is holding their exclusive 16U EYBL tournament at Hoops in Louisville this same weekend. It is a 32 team tournament format of some of the best 16U teams in the country whose 17U teams are over in Lexington. Great basketball to be seen and as Coach Q points out, this event unlike the Under Armor event has a KY based team playing. The name of the event is the Nike Spring Takeover and games are Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

So is the best unkept secret that KC is returning to Jefferson County as the next Butler Coach? I am not sure at Male, but my guess is Willie Feldhaus. I wonder who is the frontrunner at JTown? Coleman who was at Shawnee would be an excellent hire at any of those places, but could be he is staying at Shawnee too. I just think it is a really hard job and can burn out a good coach through no fault of his own.

Actually I meant to ask the question if it was open based on what I heard, not what I know to be so. The coach there was fantastic, so if it is open it must be because he elected to perhaps pursue another HC position. For all I know he may be one of those announced somewhere in Jefferson County. That Shawnee job may be the toughest position in all of Jefferson County.

Shawnee in Jefferson County is also open.

It is tough not to be at times, because you can't post some things until the info can be shared. I had the same situation with the Moore HC job and even though I knew the Coach to be named it had to wait. So basically you are giving the info the job is filled and when you can release more details then you come back and do so. I would like to learn who the 3-4 who they could not get to bite. I suspect it was a combination or all of Renner, Bibby, Goodin, and/or Schooler. Just a guess, hipefully 8th Region Warrior can shed more insight at the time they are more comfortable doing so. I still stick with my prediction it will be Willie Feldhaus.

I have no idea Male picked, but as reported on this topic earlier I feel it will be Willie Feldhaus. Just a feeling. I also can see the Butler job going to KC Goodin now that EKU went a different direction from Happy.

Yes, Playground Elite out of WI & Chicago Meanstreets are also looking to get 1st wins which will make them both hungry as well. Travelers also play undefeated Pro Skills out of Texas who has 6'11" Marques Bolden who is a Top 25 player in many rankings. Mac Irvin Fire out of Chicago is the other team on the schedule who went 2-2.

Yes losing Carson is a big impact, but in basketball or any sport injuries are part of the game. Depth and other kids stepping up their games is something you almost need to account for because injuries will occur. I know it was a tough weekend, but the 1st week draw was against teams who did very well beyond beating the Travelers. Their 4 opponents combined to go 13-3 over the weekend. In Lexington it is a bit better, but still it is never easy when most teams are fielding a roster with a majority of D1 college prospects. Amazing how talented the teams are and if you do not believe the influx of overseas kids is getting more and more prevalent every year you are mistaken. The overseas kids are getting very good and the numbers grow every year, especially in the elite circuits like the EYBL.

Yes, Carson Williams is a 6'7" Beast at 220 pounds of muscle. I feel he is one of the more underrated kids in the state, likely due to coming from Owenton. He is a very tough guy on the court with nice basketball skills and high motor.

Louisville Magic 16U & HD's top 15U team are both doing well and could emerge as champions. Watch for a rematch and much closer game in the finals of 17U with Team Thad vs HD 17U. UA versus Adidas. Just my predictions. Great job KY teams and yes, 16U WKY Elite could also win it.

Goodin is at KY Wesleyan with Happy Osborne as an assistant. If Happy goes to EKU, does Goodin follow? The EKU job may be someone else's already, but I think that is the holdup. The Butler job is good for many reasons, but the talent pool there right now is down and it always is nice to come into a job with talent there. It is a bit of a rebuilding job, but if they give the right coach time it is a very good job in the 6th region. Goodin would be a great pick.

Had this post been yesterday, I may have laughed it off as an April's Fools joke. But since it was on April 2nd, it can be marked down as a new beginning of brotherly unison. Let the good times roll.

Roy Sutton was named in the CJ today as expected.

I sensed that was the case which is the only comment I was making. I have no clue about anything else, including the players reasons for leaving or whatever. I was just pointing out there are at least 2 AAU programs in the state that call themselves "Legends".

Thanks, that brings a lot more clarity around it than I knew. The part that seems a bit odd is the ability during Spring to play kids that are seniors on 17U at live events or likely any grassroot event. That seems odd when the system is actually grade based in basketball with 15U being freshmen, 16U is sophomores, 17U is juniors, and kids that are seniors who played 17U last season as juniors can be on 17U rosters again as long as they have not signed. Just seems like a kid who is a senior playing down a year even at these events makes the 17U division basically a 17/18U combined division. I would have thought they would have limited the roster to only so many of those kids. Reclassifyied players makes sense playing 17U, but those who did not reclassify seem to be fish out of water playing 17U. Why not just have an 18U division for unsigned kids like they do at AAU Nationals?

There are at least two Legends that I know of, Legends from Louisville & the Northern KY Legends. I have no idea why they left the NKY Legends, but they were never part of the Louisville Legends.

Legitimate question if anyone knows, I am not stirring the pot. I am sure it varies from AAU to each shoe circuit rules and to any other governing body, but how do kids who finished their HS senior years of basketball get another season of 17U? Are there some certain qualifiers such as they cannot be 19 by a certain time, must they reclassify via prep school, or can there be a certain number of players on a 17U team that do not have to reclassify? There is not any need to point to specific players or teams, but there obviously are graduating seniors playing 17U for a second season and I wonder what rule provisions are the catalyst in making them eligible. Anyone know?