Hoops Junkie

Highlands/Henry Clay matchup should be a good one to kick things off.

Fieldhouse great place for any tournament. Popcorn is a must!!!

Well if what I heard this morning at my sons youth football game is true. @The Double Deuce will have to update his top 10 rankings. Probably needs it's own thread, but wow what a gamechanger!

Lloyd loses Davis, Monroe, Neale, and Vogelpohl from last year's team. All significant contributors in their own way. Davis great shooter and leader. Monroe defense and toughness. Neale did everything and tough. Vogelpohl was a 4 and a good rebounder. Not sure if they picked anybody else from somewhere, but minus Israel and Walker they return less than 5 points per game. My knowledge doesn't quite run that deep to know the players. I think they may return Cooley who was out last year with an injury, but I am not sure if he was a senior last year or he reclassed and using his Covid Year.

You have the right to your opinion for sure DD, nothing but respect. I don't think I will get a chance to see HC play until late December, but let's revisit it then. From what I have heard, and certainly the word on the street doesn't have to be correct, Gibson is going to be a handful.

IMO, Lloyd lost some really good senior leadership from last year's team, and will struggle to replace them early. I do think they have to be considered in the top 2 or 3 though. CovCath has McGillis and Hussey coming back with Ipsaro. Probably have to include Johnson, Detzel, and Jones as the next in line as well. It seems to me that all of the teams mentioned have a big 2 or big 3 to rely on. I will take whomever's role players are playing the best towards the end of the year as the one coming out of the 9th. CovCath - Ipsaro, McGillis, Hussey Lloyd - Israel, Walker Cooper - Brooks, Lutz, Rondon Conner - Hamilton, Lohr, Campbell Highlands - Herald, Ryan, Benke Holy Cross - Ward, Gibson Newport - Miller, Kinney, Turner CovCath most likely has the best player. Lloyd most likely has the best athlete in Israel. Cooper has all the pieces to make a run. Conner has a great core and always play well together. Highlands has the best shooter. Holy Cross has the best big and an explosive scoring guard. Newport is talented and capable but young.

Agreed with DD as well, but not sure I would have Newport in there quite yet. Would probably have Highlands, Holy Cross, and St. Henry in there before them, but as seems to be popular opinion there are 7-8 teams that can win or lose on any given night.

I am less worried about the fundraiser and more worried about the existence and continued voting towards bylaw 9. The flooding in Eastern Ky is tragic and I support any group that is out there helping and willing to help in any way they can. I really don't even have much of a problem with them putting their foot down and saying the game can't be played without repercussions. Now, I think they should have let them play, but I am not salty over the fact that they didn't. The bigger issue is Bylaw 9 itself. Shutting down basketball so other sports have a chance at a couple hand full of players is offensive to the basketball players themselves. Let's be honest the one's that are serious about basketball all year round are playing basketball all year round. Why not allow some competitive leagues to form, use those leagues to train and recruit referees. There are numerous positive aspects to having an organized fall league. I am even sure you could find a way to sanction something and end up making profit and create a bit of a revenue stream of some kind. I just hope the bad look of having to cancel this game provides enough traction for people to understand how bad and unnecessary Bylaw 9 is.

Bylaw 9 has been a joke for years. Hopefully this brings enough negative attention that they finally do away with it. Total Trash!!!

This seems to be a growing issue, with a number of talented kids leaving Ky for prep opportunities. It looks like it is much bigger than Ky though. I did some quick looking at the 2023 ESPN top 100 and from what I can tell 40 or so are at prep schools or will be this going season. I support the kids and their decisions if it really is a better opportunity, but I hate it for the schools they left behind that built programs and game plans around them, along with the excitement of HS basketball in general. I am not closed minded and can see the benefits of being at a prep, but lost is the comradery of a team and support of a community. Anyone else have any thoughts?

Correct, I was meaning maybe he was going to be ineligible for some reason at N. Laurel and decided to not risk that and head back to Harlan Co. where there wouldn't be an issue.

Wonder if/how the new rules effective 07/01 put forth by the state (not the KHSAA) effected this move.

Ok, I will take a stab at this. 1. 2022-2023. I would think that Holy Cross will have a great shot to take the district this year. Not many teams in the region will have the pieces that they have. As good as Meyer is, he has more than adequate help. Covcath and Ipsaro have help too, but missing a big to try and match up with Gibson. 2. Well based on #1 it would be HC, but after this year I think it will be a crap shoot. Harney will be great for Beechwood, but they will need more ammo to take down the Colonels. I think Holmes has more than a few years to be relevant again. In asking around HC seems to have a nice incoming freshman class and a couple of going to be Sophomores that will make an impact in Varsity this year. 3. Wish nothing but the best for coach Perkins, but the talent just doesn't seem to be there any time soon. Makes it tougher when the rest of the teams in the district have good talent and every coach is more than capable of winning games. 4. Boyd is great and can make up for a lot of mistakes. Harney is a difference maker for sure and has a very bright future. However, it will be a tough ask for both to try and compete with Covcath and HC this year though. I think if Beechwood can figure out some nice pieces around Harney over the following 3 seasons will be interesting to see if they can make a run. 5. HC is definitely in a win now mode, and if coach Sorrell has them playing on all cylinders they will be a tough out for anyone. I think its easy to say losing Meyer, Ward, and Gibson at the end of the year will cause a little decline. I think tumbling into the basement is a bit much though. As I said earlier they have a good incoming freshman class and a couple of sophomores that will have some experience.

I stand corrected. Need to screen my sources better, lol.

Certainly unconfirmed, but I was told Holmes enrollment is way down. Almost half from just about 10 years ago (someone feel free to correct me). Also, it seems that any decent talent the past few years looks for better situations. 2 good examples would be Ward and Elmer. Seems like both of them made good decisions for each of them as well. Good luck to coach Perkins, but it looks like it may be a long road.

Should be today right? Lol.

I agree was just looking for the bracket.

Does anyone have the 9th region draw?

Counting on a transfer from a couple states and multiple hours away is your counter point to their won't be a drop off? I think I will stick with knowing that losing Starks and Rylee will be a drop off. Also, Colonels_Wear_Blue what is your drop off meter if Ruthsatz isn't the coach next year? If we are doing hypothetical 6'6" bigs from Georgia maybe John Brannen or Chris Mack will come in to coach.

Wish Chandler all the best. Good luck to him in football and everything else. I am curious about a couple of things though. It seems like more than a few of the out of state kids that went to CovCath never finished. Ex: Colin Mchale, Walker Horn, Alexander Parks (Manman), and now Chandler have decided finishing out at CovCath was not for them. I am not even pretending to know or understand their individual situations, but is seems a little odd, right? Also, Evan Ipsaro is the real deal and deserves every offer he gets from any college interested in his skills. However, rumor is that Ruthsatz could be headed to Miami(OH) to join the staff of Travis Steele. This would make a ton of sense since Steele at X just a few weeks ago had not expressed any interest (at least publicly) in Evan up to this point. Then suddenly is at Miami and Evan becomes one of if not the first recruit he reaches out to. Great opportunity for Evan for sure, just makes me think there is a little more than smoke to this rumor. Guess we will find out soon.

Ruthsatz leaving too? So I heard from multiple rumor mills today.

They did bypass this year, but played the past 2 years if I am remembering correctly. I heard somewhere that if teams forfeit playing in the districts then they forfeit their share of the gate.