Sandman

Not sure what you are looking for, or if you are trolling for something, but there isn't much confusing about NKY basketball. One class, team's divided into districts geographically. Top two teams in each district advance to regional tournament, regions are also based on geography with four districts in each region. Regional champions advance to the state tournament. State tournament winner is champion. NKAC means nothing to most schools in NKY, although the D3 schools do play each other twice and place a lot of emphasis on winning the conference. All of the NKAC D2 schools except Holmes and Highlands are also eligible for the All A tournament, which consists of the smallest 130 schools in the state. Thus the D3 schools traditionally struggle in this tournament. If you weren't trolling, I apologize in advance. In some states conference affiliation and championships are a big deal at the high school level. In others they are not. In Kentucky, they are not. In Ohio, I know conference races are a very big deal. A large portion of the season in Ohio is focused on conference games and winning a conference title. In Kentucky, everything is geared toward the postseason (or all A for some schools). Not sure why there's a difference. But, there is.

Nice job. Add Scott to the D1 schools, and you nailed it.

ttt

Now that's funny no matter where you're from. Well done.

I think some Trinity players are still looking around the field in Winchester trying to figure out which Clark County kid had the ball, circa 1991 or 92. That Clark County team did the best job I've ever seen of running misdirection with multiple ball carriers. The Cardinals were state 4A champs that year. One of Kentucky's better teams in several decades.

One your first sentence: I guess good is a subjective term. Not sure how many "good" teams you think there are annually in the upper three classes, but it's not many. You may have to beat one "good" team to win state, maybe two. On your second sentence: You're way off. Look at the list of the past all A champions. Nearly all of them are also ranked in the state's overall top 10. Shelby Valley won the overall state title recently. NewCath beat Trinity at Trinity last year. How's that for "big time." On your last two sentences: I have zero clue how you can think winning a tournament with 31 like sized schools is more difficult than winning a tournament with 124 like sized schools. Interesting take on math you learned at your "big school". Many of the most ardent football fans on this board will agree that football in this state is watered down. If you want to take shots at the "A", whatever. But I wouldn't use football to support your argument.

I'll go with: 92 CovCath team. They were really good. 97 Highlands team. Really good team.

On the first bolded, no biggie. As you mentioned a lot of this was pre-internet so we are all more or less going off memory. Can't tell you how many times I've gone by memory and been wrong on here. On the second bolded, great find. I love looking at stuff like this. It was interesting reading all the names on those teams, many who a lot of us remember, but also many who I'd never heard of. Scary thing I didn't remember about that Eastern team; they averaged 88.8 points a game! That's scary. Olinger is the kid I thought was their best player, and I remember Taylor being a kid that was quick and strong (good scorer). Game came very easy for Coward, he did everything well. Piggy backing a bit on what I posted about Jenkins, Smith received multiple DI basketball offers even after he had committed to UK for football. Says something about how much coaches thought of him. People tend to think of Smith as a football player who played basketball, and he was anything but that.

Eastern went 35-2 in 97. I really don't remember their players all that well, they had a lot of guys who were good. Seems like a kid named Coward and a kid named Olinger were the best players. Olinger (sp) may have gotten DI looks/offers. Eastern did return to the Sweet 16 the next year, but they did not play Highlands. They won a first round game against North Hardin and then were beaten in the quarterfinals by Fleming County. Another name I'll throw out there is VonDale Morton from LexCath. I think he was the best player on their 92 team that lost in the state finals to U Heights.

So this Eastern team lost two games all year, and one in-state game, is that correct? Again, I'm just going off memory here. Eastern was really good that year, but they couldn't have touched the Fairdale teams of 90 and 91.

Pretty good list. Also, a lot of good names already mentioned by others. What about Knowles from GRC? I really liked O'Bannon and Miller for what they did on both sides of the ball. But, Miller may miss the cutoff just a bit for the best of him.

Nice discussion. Let me chime in just a bit. Fairdale in 90 and 91 was truly one of the best teams in Kentucky history. I'd contend the best, and you can pick the year. Had this team come along a decade later, they'd have had the chance to play in more national type events and that would have been fun. As it was, this team was almost men against boys good. Loaded with nice players and role guys, but Turner was a true stud on the floor. Jenkins from MC had committed to UK as a wide out in football prior to his explosion as a senior in basketball. He was not only DI good, but he was SEC good. Not sure what sidelined him, but as a high school athlete he was on another level. I'm a little surprised no one has mentioned any players from the Eastern title team of 97. I think they went unbeaten against Kentucky teams that season, and were ranked nationally by USA Today at season's end. Strictly going on memory here though. I'd caution folks to get too caught up in the where were they recruited world, if we're talking about high school performances. Remember opportunities after high school often have more to do with size and potential, than actual performance. Sometimes they go hand in hand, sometimes they do not. I'd love to see some numbers for high school performances from some of the guys named.

Appreciate you taking the time to clarify what you are looking for. IMO the quoted has some flaws in it. But, it's your thread and it's a good one, so these are your rules.

Good thread. But I'm a little confused. Is this pick the best players as they were in high school, or pick the best players with significance placed on what they did after high school? You seem to contraindicate yourself with the first bolded, and then posts mentioning collegiate or pro careers. FWIW, some of the best players at the high school level either didn't play collegiately, or played at a smaller level after high school for whatever reason. A few obvious examples: Jenkins from MC, as we've both said best player on that team at the high school level. Turner from Fairdale, probably the best player on those teams (certainly was by the 91 title). Smith from Highlands, pretty dominate player during his era, but he played football in college. And I'll throw Burton from Dunbar (and then UC) out there again as a guy that should be hard to leave off any list.

Here's your winner. 86 team has to be right there. I'd take either over the 94 team. And the 94 team was very good. Boone had some good chances, but the best was in 87.

Pretty sound idea. Other states (Ohio) do it and it works just fine. It may be a little much for fans and schools to get on board with though. Personally, I'd be all for it.

If I remember correctly, there was 20,000ish there that Friday afternoon. Massive crowd, biggest I've seen for quarterfinal action. I agree with your assessment of Jenkins at MC. He was their best player. For those who don't remember them, the three guys at Fairdale (Brown, Morris, and Turner) could seriously play. It would be hard not to include Brown and Turner on a list like this. I only scanned the list, but didn't see Darnell Burton from Dunbar on it. Not many better guards during the decade than him.

Is this just a coincidence, or is this part of the ongoing personnel issues at MC?

Where's the game?

Pit to Plate is must have for me every year at the Taste. Good stuff. Never been to the actual place though, as there seems to be no easy way to get to Mt. Healthy/Northgate unless you already live there.

GG, my statement on the GCL schools was based solely on the bolded in the initial post. Elder and Cincinnati X are tremendous programs, and I'm aware of the schedules each play annually. Personally, I think it would be good for both schools to lock T into a continuing home and home series if it so hard for all involved to schedule. X, in particular, has played some brutal schedules in the recent past. I think it ended up hurting them more than helping them, and they may now schedule a little smarter. Elder schedules plenty of difficult opponents, but I do think their schedule often includes some softballs. You pointed out that Moeller's may as well, and that's a fair point. My point, and to the bolded, was Elder and X act like NOBODY will play them. Based on the bolded, seems T was interested and they just said no. Is that accurate for 2014?

Yeah, this is the reason everyone said no to Trinity. :no:

Rocks, Great read, appreciate you pasting the article. Very interesting stuff. I find it comical that Elder and Cincy St. X have said "thanks but no thanks." Hilarious. Their people complain to anyone who will listen about how hard it is for them to schedule because no one will play them. They were it on their sleeve, for crying out loud. For the GCL to "duck" you is a testament to how good your program is.

Campbell County

I don't know a lot about some of the kids on this roster, but I've been impressed with the Kunstek kid from St. Henry for a couple of years. Kid can play.