BasketballNeverRests

Last year at this time I was strongly suggesting that Mya was not a top 5 player in the region until she had proven it on the court against the good teams in the 10th and the top players in the summer (See Zoe Strings).

 

Last year Meredith was impressive. Very impressive. I heard she played top EYBL team this summer and was further impressive. I’ve read of multiple high D1 offers. Igo was good last year but nothing great. Igo did not play summer supposedly? Igo is attending a below average mid major school. In my opinion the torch has been passed.

Speaking from some experience with both, Mya is the best talent in the region. Scott is probably on paper the most talented team in the region. But Igo has seen the top of the mountain in the region and made it to another level, as had GRC. And especially at this level, having that experience and confidence to lean on, matters a lot.

So, there are a lot of good talents in this region. There are a lot of quality programs. I mean Campbell, Mason, Brossart or maybe even a dark horse could have a shot to take the crown this year. But if we're talking "best player" between Meredith & Igo and "best team" between Scott & GRC... perhaps the conversation is more appropriately "most talent" & "most experience."

Scott has the necessary players and coaching staff to get the job done. But GRC, Coach Robbie Graham, and Kennedy Igo are at the top until someone knocks them off. And frankly, that's how Scott, and everyone else should view it.

I think there are probably two. Lawson for sure. Lockard probably. Reinhart maybe.

I think that's fair for now. Reinhart has a lot to prove this year. I think she'll surprise a bunch of people this year.

There are not 3 players on the Dixie team better than Pelfrey. She is definitely a threat from 3 every time she has an open look.

Again, I know I'm risking sounding like a grump about a high school kid... And Pelfrey is definitely an extremely impressive 3pt shooter. She very well might be one of the best spot up 3pt shooters in the area, if not thee best. But being a dead eye 3 point shooter does not make you one of the best players in NKY. It makes you very good at one aspect of the game. She's a specialist on offense and she has enough length on defense to be serviceable on that end. But every coach preparing for Dixie knows that if you run her off the line, her productivity plummets. Guards Lockard and Reinhart can shoot with range (granted, not as well as Pelfrey) but they can also break people down off the dribble, they can get to the basket, distribute, and playmake in transition. Lawson (assuming her knee gets back to full strength) is a versatile offensive threat plus a rebounding force and a presence in the paint. Again, please please please don't get me wrong. I'm not saying Celia is a scrub. She's not. And her perimeter shooting is deadly and she's to be respected for that talent. But that by itself doesn't make you a top player in NKY.

I believe you think Dixie has 3 players better than her, based on your personal Top 10 earlier in this thread. I haven't seen them enough to have an opinion, just pointing out the Enquirer isn't the only one apparently very high on Ms. Pelfrey.

Yeah you make a good point. Maybe I'm the crazy one. I'm just really surprised.

In fairness, the "Cats' Pause" had her 3rd in the 9th, so they both appear to be in lock-step. Now, they both may be wrong, I'm not suggesting you're off-base, just that both publications are in basic agreement.

Yeah, true and fair. I personally just don't see it. I saw a bunch of Dixie last year and saw her play this Summer a few times. I just think Dixie has two players on their roster more impressive. Definitely if you consider them after Lawson comes back.

The "Enquirer" released their pre-season All Northern Kentucky girls basketball team. Not a lot of surprises, but here is their list:

 

Maddie Scherr -- Ryle

Brie Crittendon -- Ryle

Mya Meredith -- Scott (not in the 9th, obviously)

Maggie Jones -- Simon Kenton (also not in the 9th)

Celia Pelfrey -- Dixie

 

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I'm not suggesting that I know more than people who run the Enquirer... but Pelfrey isn't even the best player on her team, let alone a top 5 player in NKY. In fact, she's honestly probably not the second best player on her team. That smells a little fishy to have her on this list.

I saw the first several series but couldn't tell you all the scores. Each pairing played three 20 minute halves and the score was wiped after each period. This is what I saw in terms of periods won...

Loveland: 2; Highlands 0; Tie 1

Highlands ran their system as smoothly as ever. They are obviously still well coached and all on the same page. But they looked like they are still adjusting to life without Barth. Hayes' (from Loveland) size and athleticism seemed to be way too much for any Highlands defender to handle, and Highlands did not shoot the ball particularly well. I'm sure they'll be very strong before too long, but Saturday was a tough matchup. Loveland is extremely talented. Also... I'm not sure why, but Piper Macke was not on the court Saturday. That could very well have played a big factor in the outcome.

Princeton 3; Notre Dame 0

Again, the Ohio squad just had more firepower. I couldn't give you names for Princeton, but they feature a 6'5 post player who is very physical, powerful, and athletic. She is surrounded by track stars at all positions. So they can play fast, and they can also bludgeon people in the half court. NDA didn't look particular bad, it was just, again, a difficult matchup. NDA looked scrappy, deep, and well organized. They just didn't appear to have the top end firepower to matchup with a team like Princeton.

Connor 3; Wyoming 0

Granted, Wyoming looked like possibly the weakest Varsity team at this event. But Connor looked much more impressive than I anticipated. At several points, they played with 2 guards and 3 bigs. They were very tough defensively in the half court and have a really nice list of half court sets. They still feature two of the best posts in NKY in Drummonds and Murphy. Drummonds in particular was an absolute force in the paint. Again, Wyoming was simply outmatched and Connor was just better in every aspect. But I could see Connor struggling against teams who can shoot the ball very well and teams who can pressure the snot out of their backcourt. Connor has one of the better front courts in the area. But their season could very well come down to the development of their guard play.

Ryle & Roger Bacon

I did not see this matchup but I spoke to a few people who did. Word is that Ryle's starting lineup looks as dangerous and explosive as everyone expected they could be. And just like everyone expected, their depth, or current lack their of, is their achilles heal right now. When the starting 5 of Scherr, Douthit, Crittenden, Crist, and Holtmann were in the game... dynamite. But as soon as they went to the bench there were issues. Again, that information is second hand. I didn't see it with my eyes.

Dixie & Sycamore

Again, I didn't see this one, but heard from several that the Dixie backcourt carried them in this one. Playmakers Laci Reinhart and Sydney Lockard put on a show. Like a lot of teams, their question mark will be depth. But even though I didn't see them yesterday, I know that the Dixie backcourt is fun to watch.

Hope that helps! Love to hear if anyone saw things differently!

Have they been practicing the last several weeks? I can't get over how odd the timing of this is.

I'm not in the inner circle, but do have some info on the matter. They did kick off with practices on October like other high schools. However, they had only 7 players from 7th-12th grade at that point. Over the last few weeks they added two high schoolers to their roster. But with a handful of the middle schoolers being fairly injury prone, and the team not possessing much depth, the decision was made by parents, AD Leach, and first year Head Coach Pierson to discontinue the season. It sounds like there was every intention to have a season and Coach Pierson did everything he could to assemble and train a team. But ultimately they felt that the girls would not be a safe position with the players they had to move forward.

Disappointing timing for other schools, but a just a very difficult situation to navigate for their program. I do believe there were 18 players in the program last year. Most of them young.

Really sad to hear. There are some very high character kids on that team. The players were not the most talented, but they seemed to work very hard. If my math is right, they were 54-60 over the last four seasons under Coach Speicher. I hope they're able to right the ship in the coming years.

Agree that losing a player the caliber of Mason Rusch certainly leaves a void for the Cougars. However, they still have a nucleus of veteran players who will represent them well. Josh Moran is a fine, multi-talented player who led the Calvary soccer team to the 10th Region Soccer Championship.

Oh I totally agree that they still have players. I think #15 is still too low for them. Between Moran and Cross Dugan, they have players... but everyone knew that Rusch was the engine. Honestly he was the best player under-the-radar player in the region last year.

If Calvary Christian had held on to Mason Rusch, along with the other seniors they have returning, that team MIGHT have been top 8 in the region. Without him, a lot changes.

Guess you have something against Creech.

 

Anywho, who is the 37th district favorite in your opinion?

In my opinion, the 37th might be the toughest district in NKY. Three of the top four teams in the 10th Region come from 37th District. And one of them won't even make the regional.

I'll say one thing... this thread has DEFINITELY increased people's awareness of Zoe Strings and it DEFINITELY will have people paying more attention than they would have. As show on the first page, I certainly don't have her in my top 10 and I wouldn't have given her much of a thought... but now I'll at least be paying close attention to her come December. And that's part of what's make these forums helpful...

Lots of info here.

 

Keifer. You can’t argue Keifer to a low ranking using an argument that works just as well on players like Holbrook or Lockard. Great guards that can shoot that mostly rely on bigger players to make them good. Keifer will unquestionably end up at a D1 school which the other girls will not. Macke and Holbrook probably won’t even play college ball. Keifers outside shooting is improving too.

 

In my opinion Abby West is just a better all-around player than Holbrook and Macke. They are all very similar and what they can do. But having watched all of them in the summer as well I would take Abby West first. You have to concede that they are at least close, if you’ve watched all three of them play much.

 

As far as Vickers, she is going to a top college D3 program. (Moving to NAIA I think?). And to use the same argument you used against Keifer I would argue that Vickers is a much better all-around player than Stamper. Stamper can bully you inside but after that there’s not much else.

 

In my opinion Feldman is better than Macke, Lockard and Holbrook. I think once you see her play you will agree pretty quickly. She had an outstanding summer playing for a very high level team.

 

Lastly I think Lawson is top 5/6 player in NKY. I did not take her ACL into account. I just ranked according to my opinion of best players.

 

The 10th spot is harder, I do agree that Allen is right there in the running for top 10. I’d have to say Allen, Webb or maybe Macke for my 10th spot.

I see your points. And one of the best things about HS sports conversations is the freedom to agree to disagree while still having interesting perspectives! Just a couple final thoughts...

Keifer - I definitely get your point with her. I think my knock on her is a personal preference of what priority positions are. Several people argue with me when I say I truly think she's the best pure post player in NKY. But very rarely do you see a post player win big games for you. I would almost always take a great guard over a great post. But that may just be a preference.

West is very very good. And sure I wouldn't put much of a gap between her and Holbrook and Lockard. I've just personally seen Holbrook and Lockard with more options in their game than I've seen with West. I haven't seen West as nearly as good of a distributor than Lockard and I haven't seen West shoot like Holbrook.

Vickers - I'll concede fully here. I haven't seen her play a ton and you may be completely right.

Feldman may surprise me. I know a lot of people are high on her.

Lawson very very well could end up top 5. I just need to see her healthy and building off of last year before I can say that.

I've seen a lot of Sofia Allen. I just don't see how she wouldn't be in the top 10. Maybe 5 is a bit high. But she's not lower than 10.

For all of you hating on Paris' Zoe Strings, obviously you haven't seen her play and furthermore, make sure you let the coaches know who voted her as the top vote getter on the 10th Region second team a year ago.

 

Playing summer ball doesn't make you an all-star or should allow you to be in any Top 10 player's list, and what difference does it make that she plays at a small school. You mean to tell me you have to be at a big school to shine. Strings plays other sports and is very excellent within the classroom, and she doesn't need to be at a 6A school or play on a summer team to be considered one of the best in the region. All Strings needs to do is perform for the Ladyhounds and she's done that and some.

 

The last time I checked, Bailey Cummins came from a small school and she left the program as one of the top players to ever play in this region when she played for Bracken County. And this list can go on and on for small school players within the 10th Region!

 

Heck, there have been 3 Miss Kentucky Basketball winners from the 10th Region and two came from small schools. In addition, Nicholas County won the overall KHSAA State Title, can any other big school in this region say that? Nope ...

 

And by the way ... Zoe Strings will start for any team in the 10th region ... if someone's team in the Region has five starters better than Zoe, well, they should win the region easy and contend for the state title! :no::thumb:

Again, good feedback!! I love to hear the different perspectives of players in the 10th.

But I'm struggling to see this as an argument for Strings to be in the top 10 players in the 10th. No one is arguing that she can play. She can!! We all know she can. But to be one of the best 10 out of 250 high school players in a region is another class.

No, you don't have to be at a big school to shine. Small school players are standouts all the time and they deserve our respect. But you mentioned "Zoe Strings will start for any team in the 10th region." Well... there are several small schools' best players who would start at big high schools. And Zoe Strings might be one of them. But even if she would be the 4th best player at GRC... she still wouldn't be top 10 in the region.

Again, I'll reiterate... Zoe Strings is a very impressive basketball player. But in order to be an elite player in the region, you have to be elite against the elite. And her numbers haven't yet shown that. I'll be the first in line to acknowledge her in group when I see it. I'm not routing against her.

I'm just calling it how I see it.

Vickers over Schawe most definitely. I honestly thought you meant to have Vickers in that spot.

 

O'Hara is one I missed. Great player. Definitely needs to be on the list. Not sure she’s a definite D1 talent but will get her education paid for somewhere no doubt.

Once more the record... I missed on O'Hara and Vickers My bad.

I would agree with your top ten except for Macke. She averaged 9ppg. And for Kady Schawe for honorable mention? She averaged 1.5ppg. I do think Vickers and O hara no doubt should be on this list.

That's fair. I guess in full honesty I put Kady Schawe and Piper Macke on there based on what I saw this summer from the Cincy Royals and Ky Storm. I think Vickers and O'Hara were misses on my part.

Your top 4 are good but after that the list seems suspect.

 

Scherr

Meredith

Crittenden

Jones

 

Marie Keifer Bishop Brossart

Madeline Lawson Dixie

Abby West Grant County

Mattison Vickers SK

Macie Feldman NDA

Sereniti Webb SK

Thanks for the feedback. But I think I've found someone who I definitely disagree with here.

First off, Keifer is a great player in a particular system. She's my top "pure post player" in NKY. But without shooters around her, she's not a major offensive force. Sure, she's a defensive nightmare. But to be a top five player, you can't be dependent on the talent level of the shooters and ball handlers around you.

Lawson could very well end up top 3-4 in NKY. I'll give you that. But recovering from an ACL is by no means a full guarantee. If she fully recovers and becomes the player we all project and expect her to be, I'll be as happy as the next person. But for the time being, she has a serious recovery ahead of her that the others on this list don't.

Abby West, again, can play. She's no scrub AT ALL. But until she performs high on a Regional level, I think it's fair to pump the breaks a bit.

Vickers... perhaps you've seen her more in person than I have. Would you rate her over Morgan Stamper from SK? I would suggest than most people would not.

Feldman very well might be the player I've seen the least this Summer. She might surprise me, and if she does, I'll concede. But for the time being, I'd definitely take Lockard or Macke over her.

Serenti Webb averaged 6ppg and 5rpg per game last year. I know she's high on several college's lists and I FULLY expect she'll round out into on of the best players in NKY. But forgive me if I don't have a 6 & 5 player in my top 10 just yet.

But again, I say with no sarcasm, I do appreciate the feedback. I'd just suggest that your 6-10 seem more on potential and upside, than proven accomplishments.

No mention of O’Hara from Highlands? Being told she is Division 1 talent.

That's fair. O'Hara is a very nice talent. I don't know if she's D1 talent, but I should have had her in there.

Like the list. But Keifer from Brossart is only a junior.

Wow, thanks! Can't believe I missed that!

Great information! I do think you’re being generous by using stats from Nicholas and Bourbon, two mid-level, decent, but not really top 10th region teams. If you take out those teams I think that gives a better picture of where she’s at relative to the top players.

 

I’m sure Paris will be decent this year. And I’m sure she’s the best player on the team. But I would find it highly unlikely, nearly impossible, for a girl that doesn’t even play in the summer to be a top 10 player in the region. There are probably 25-30 girls better if she’s only playing school ball at a small school like Paris

Again, very well said. I included NC and BC just to give a baseline of "Regional tourney teams." I'm sure she's a good player. Probably one that would start on just about any team in the region. But if she was at Scott or GRC or Campbell etc, she'd probably be outside the top 2-3 players on each team.

Zoe doesn't play summer ball, she doesn't plan to play on the next level, but should she be considered as one of the top players in the 10th Region to look out for, Yes. She has a 4.0 GPA and passed her ACT I hear in 7th grade and skipped a grade. She played summer ball the year before last with Central Ky Storm, and when they attended the Junior NBA Regional, to qualify to play against the world, she averaged 30pts per game. Paris is a unique team, because on any given night, any of the starting 5 could give you 20 and 10. I got to glimpse at them this summer against Harrison(beat by 40), Nicholas(beat by 25 twice) that are in the region and they didn't press once. However, it was only summer. Should be an interesting year.

We'll definitely be keeping our eye out. And I suppose it's very possible that she'll turn into a top 10 talent. Just up to this point, her performances on the court during HS seasons haven't shown to be top 10 level. Again, she very well just might not have shown her full potential to the region. And she'll get her shot in just a couple short months here.

Yes they do, West Virginia Dusters Under Armour AAU.

That makes sense. That team reps right from Marshall's backyard. I can almost guarantee a scout saw the two of them play together and recommended that they get in front of them together to spark a recruiting bond early.

I know we've had discussions on the top players in Region 8, Region 9, and Region 10. But from a spectator perspective across NKY, who do you have in your 10 top players to watch? This would include all players in the 9th, plus the 32nd District from the 8th (SK, Walton Verona, Grant Co, and Williamstown), and the 37th District from the 10th (Campbell Co, Scott, Brossart, Calvary Christian).

I'd love to see more people noticing the quality of basketball on the girls' side here in NKY.

Here's how I see it:

1) Maddie Scherr - Senior G, Ryle

2) Mya Mereditch - Junior G, Scott

3) Bri Crittenden - Junior G, Ryle

4) Maggi Jones - Senior G, Simon Kenton

5) Sofia Allen - Junior F, Scott

6) Mallory Holbrook - Senior G, Campbell Co

7) Sydney Lockard - Junior PG, Dixie

8) Piper Macke - Senior G, Highlands

9) Morgan Stamper - Senior G, Simon Kenton

10) Marie Keifer - Senior C, Bishop Brossart

Honorable Mentions (no particular order)

Jaiden Douthit - G, Ryle

Abby Holtman - G, Ryle

Kelsie Anderson - G, Boone Co

Emma Strunk - F, Walton Verona

Emma Gutman - F, Walton Verona

Abby Mahan - G, Ludlow

Johnessah Barbiea - G, Dayton

Jayln Jackson - G, Campbell Co

Laci Reinhart - G, Dixie

Madelyn Lawson - F, Dixie

Ava Coleman - G, Scott

Abby West - G, Grant Co

Karlee Menefee - F, Grant Co

Sereniti Webb - C, Simon Kenton

Kady Schawe - PG, Simon Kenton

Jayla LaBordeaux - F, Lloyd

Maddie Drummonds - C, Conner

Jade Simpson - F, Holy Cross

Whitney Lind - F, Cooper

Lacey Bradshaw - G, NDA

Macie Feldmann - G, NDA

Haven’t gotten to see Strings play. Not sure why Paris isn’t ever on Camels schedule?

 

Who does she play for in the summer? At her age does she have offers? Most all the girls in the top 10 will play college ball, so I’m not convinced she’s there yet.

 

Last year around this time there was some discussion about whether Mya Meredith was a top player in the 10th. Up till then she really hadn’t proven or shown it against the top teams in the 10th and against real competition in the summer. Mya was the best player in the 10th last year IMO and I heard a lot about her amazing summer against top players in country.

 

If Strings wants to be a top player in the 10th she needs to show more against the top teams in the 10th. And she needs to play well against top competition in the summer and have offers from colleges to play. Till then she’s outside my top 10

Zoe Strings and this topic interests me. So I dug into what she did last year as a Sophomore (the same class as Mya Meredith, Scott).

I think Hydraman said it absolutely perfect. I coached for four seasons at a small school in NKY and had a handful of players who played with their hearts on their sleeve every game. They posted impressive numbers on a nightly basis. But when we're talking about the best 10 High School players in the region (out of roughly 250), you have to show it over and over again against the best. Now I coach with a larger HS in NKY and see the difference.

Like Hydraman, I haven't gotten to see Strings much outside of film. I know she can play. I don't think anyone is questioning that. She's not a scrub. But last year, when playing against the upper level in the 10th (teams that made the Regional), this is what she posted:

vs. Mason Co - 7 points, 1/9 FGs, 8 rebounds

vs. Bourbon Co - 15 points, 4/12 FGs, 7 rebounds

vs. Harrison Co - 17 points, 7/12 FGs, 12 rebounds (Very Nice Game!)

vs. GRC - 3 points, 0/5 FGs, 2 rebounds

vs. Nicholas Co - 14 points, 5/8 FGs, 9 rebounds (Again, Respectable!)

vs. GRC - 9 points, 3/10 FGs, 6 rebounds

vs. Nicholas Co - 8 points, 3/8 FGs, 12 rebounds

vs. Brossart - 9 points, 2/8 FGs, 2 rebounds

vs. Bourbon Co - 25 points, 11/15 FGs, 11 rebounds (Best of the year!!)

vs. Bourbon Co - 8 points, 3/9 FGs, 5 rebounds

AVERAGE: 11.5ppg, 39/96 FGs (40.6%), 7.4rpg

What these performances scream is, "very nice player at a small school." But at least to this point, they don't scream "top 10 player in the Region."

I think we'll all keep an eye on Strings and Coach Speaks' team this year!!