GoHardITP

Not an offer, but also a major ACC school showing interest. Carson in addition to a great basketball player and young man is also a great student. Not all kids are as blessed academically or some fail to realize it before it is too late, but when you have outstanding academics/test scores an entire group of schools open up to you that many great prospects simply never gain consideration due to their grades. Carson and any of our KY prospects who have worked hard both on the court and in the classroom deserve all the attention they are garnering from schools.

Power 5 Conference offers are huge with the new split within the NCAA. Not in all cases, but getting an ability to get a scholarship from a Power 5 conference school has some really great benefits for the athletes that would make it hard to turn down over another non Power 5 conference school. Carson deserves it and I am glad he is out showing that a kid from a small county school can hit the jackpot when he goes out on the travel ball circuit holding his own against the nation's best. That is the positive about elite travel ball, college coaches can see how you compete against players who are elite division 1 prospects. High School ball in KY simply does not allow those comparisons that college coaches like to see.

The "Great alumni another bonus" cuts both ways. I had kids go to Male, some played sports there and some not. Great school and when Coach Redman was the FB coach you could not ask for a better experience from the alumni as they supported the school well without interference. Redman would not allow it. However, I have always heard a problem for coaches at Male includes the interference or just plain meddling of the alumni. I do not know that for certain, but the perception exists that a coach will have some alumni or booster issues that other places do not exist.

I never saw either game, but that makes sense as a contributing factor to the high turnover ratio. I do know that against elite level competition (which Indiana All Stars will have) that if Beetle struggles then any other PG in the 2015 class would likely be in more trouble. There is a reason Beetle is going to play his college ball at a Power 5 Conference school. There is not another PG in 2015 class that had any offers that I can recall to play at that level. That I recall, Camron Justice may be the only other 2015 signee with a Power Conference school in the state beside Beetle this year. Knocking the best we got doesn't say much for our chances. I also have confidence in Jalen Perry. He has improved a bunch since last June.

I guess you could call the traditional schools in Jefferson County (Butler & Male) as close to a private or parochial school as you can get in the public school system. There are three middle schools that also have this "traditional" school approach. They are Johnson Middle which feeds Butler, and Jefferson County Traditional Middle School & Barrett Traditional. If you go to those middle schools you are almost a lock to get in to either Butler or Male. Male is always full of freshmen applicants and they take the kids who apply from the traditional middle schools first. As someone pointed out, Butler tends to not have as many applicants so they have room for more non-traditional middle school kids. It has changed, but I think the BB Coach and FB Coach at Male have had so many spots to basically grab non-traditional kids but it is limited. Also someone pointed out that Male has suffered in recent years because the best kids from JCTMS and Barrett did not go to Male. Unless that changes with the new coach, Male will not be able to field as talented a team as they need to in order to compete for the 7th region title.

Traditional schools use an old school approach. It is a public school that you apply for and must accept their rules such as facial hair, hair styles & length, uniforms, several hours of daily homework, belts, and no tolerance for bad grades or behavior. If you fail to live up to their standard or code of conduct you are put out and must go to your school that is based on your address.

I agree with this sentiment. I would suggest that when you compare win/loss records there is a tougher level of competition that EYBL provides in terms of depth and a .500 team playing an EYBL schedule may be better than an .750 winning percentage team in another circuit or team that does not play a circuit. But Elite players who are playing in the 3 top circuits are not better than other Elite players just because they happen to be playing EYBL. There are even a few that slip out of the shoe sponsored circuits that may be just as Elite, but very few slip off the radar of those teams sponsored and playing in the shoe circuits.

The 2016 graduating class in KY would likely have a consensus Top 4 for most that follow BB recruiting closely. Goodin with many D1 offers, Wright, Beverly, and Carson Williams. All hold some nice offers and are going D1 without question. Not to knock any of the other state players, but those 4 are a bit head & shoulders above the rest in the 2016 class based on most opinions. They are split evenly (2 & 2 to the Nike/Adidas state teams). To say who is the best team or not the best team is of one's own opinion. Some programs have the ability to take reclassified players and also you can ad border state kids (up to 3) which also impact how good a team is. The debate will last all summer, but the level of competition is good on the shoe circuit sponsored leagues due to the $$$ that fund travel. Follow the money and you usually will find the best gathered. Some leagues are better than others, but there are great players in all the leagues. Under Armor has arguably the #1 2016 kid in Josh Jackson and UA does not even sponsor any team in KY on their UA Association circuit this season. While we pat our backs then kick our foes, fact still remains there have been few and far between elite D1 recruits from our state that make the shoe companies drool over us. DeAngelo Russel who left the state to go to HS in FL and ended up playing for E1T1 out of FL is by far the biggest catch that each of the shoe companies are eager to shovel out endorsement dollars to now that he will be a Top 5 lottery pick.

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.