Henry Steele

I saw the Shining Stars last weekend in Georgetown... very skilled group, but they were playing as a fourth grade team and it was my impression there are some kids on that team that will not be able to play U10 during AAU season. Is the plan for them to stay together as a U11 AAU team or will they lose the kids who turned 10 before August 1?

Seems like some people are too emotional about this, and I know I'm drawing inferences here, but some seem to consider it "cheating" or "unfair" to hold a kid back. If the eligibility rules permit it, and you want your kid to succeed athletically to his fullest extent, then hold him back and quit complaining. It is within the rules, and the KHSAA has drawn the line. If you are not into maximizing your kid's athletic opportunities, let him graduate "earlier" than would be necessary under the rules. It happens all the time. I and my brother and three of my best friends all graduated extremely early, either through skipping grades or going to Covington Latin. Our parents made the completely voluntary decision to let us finish high school early, and that it was more important that we were challenged academically instead of athletically (and please don't think I am referring to guys that stayed inside and read and played the violin all day and were not athletic ... none of those I am referring to fit that stereotype, all were sports minded and good athletes). There is no question that we would have all had better high school athletic careers had we not graduated early. To some people, maximizing their kid's high school athletic experience is not that important; to others, it is. I have no problem with either approach. What bothers me is the hypocrisy of someone arguing that the high school athletic experience is NOT all that important to them, and then bemoaning the fact that someone holds their kid back and implies that it is dishonest or cheating. It isn't either one. And if it matters to you that much, maybe you fall into the category of wanting to maximize your kid's high school athletic experience, but you don't really want to admit it. I can appreciate that you may want to know how old the other kids are that your son or daughter is playing against to allow you to benchmark your child's development, but I don't believe its appropriate to cast aspersions or imply that those that have held a kid back have done anything improper. There are actually lots of reasons to hold your kids back for reasons other than athletics.... older kids become leaders more readily, are generally more confident, and I know that I and most people I know made less bad decisions at 19 than we did at 18, and we made less bad decisions at 20 than at 19, etc. Having an extra year under Mom and Dad's roof and rules is a good thing from where I sit, regardless of impact on their athletic careers....

Does this change anything? I mean, those 15 year old 8th graders (who turn 15 after August 1) are going to grow up to be the kids that turn 19 at the beginning of their senior year, and are still eligible.... This rule pretty much just extends the KHSAA rule down into the middle school grades....

Great to hear... a D1 offer in the bag before the end of junior season ... very strong. With the numbers he is going to put up next year there will be more.....

Dad dontaie smith played 2000-01 at drake. I will confirm mother name, but my understanding was that they met while they were both playing at drake....

Against Holmes, Ryle went to a smaller lineup for most of the game, using the two middle schoolers (McGregor and Scherr) together extensively, definitely changes the game with those two on the floor.

Age appropriate, meaning he could stay back a year and still be eligible for 5 more years. 14 now, won't be15 until next fall, Octobet I think.

to lead Pendleton over Robertson County. Its a shame he missed 6 weeks this year; I hope they make a run through the district and regional, he's gonna be fun to watch....

A That is correct, final score 29-27.... Woodland had several opportunities to tie.... Houston and David all tourney for woodland.... Don't know about Gray all tourney.w

Conner over highlands in 7th grade finals by 14 I think. Macke and Walz all tourney for highlands, Drummonds for Conner, not sure of other two for Conner.

Highlands wins six grade championship, 51–33 over IHM. Hergott, Rom, Vinson all tourney for highlands, Vieth and Bessler for IHM.

You called it correctly... Gray vs. woodland .... Houston v rankin matchup should be a good one .....

Boy's finals will be Saturday at 10:15 (6th); 12:45 (7th); and 3:30 (8th). Girls finals in between.

Conner over St. Pius by about 10 to advance to 7th final vs. Highlands. What the big school and small school matchups in the 6th, 7th, 8th? Big school girls games will be 9:00 (6th), 11:30 (7th) and 2:00 (8th) on Saturday (boys games sandwiched in between). Good day of basketball..

Thank you... I think the big 3 better stay focused... Ryle could make a pretty good run in the tourney... love seeing the development of the middle schoolers Scherr and McGregor, gonna be hearing those names a lot over the next 5 years...

Anybody got a boxscore for this game?

Twenhofel takes down Highlands by 4.

6th grade and 8th grade?

Wow, thanks Stinky! That's some prompt action...

Can anyone post the tournament bracket? Seriously, I cannot believe how secretive everyone is about the brackets... it is as though everyone is on a "need to know" basis... are the brackets subject to change? For years now I have said I don't understand this lack of information on NKMSAA results and scheduling....

I do not know why it is such a secret, but is there anyone out there that can provide the brackets for the regional tournament? It seems like none of the coaches or administrators want to divulge that information.

hahahaha... your true intentions revealed!

Or throw in another UK guy... Leroy Byrd!

I like Dontaie Allen higher than 10th, but that's better than being left off altogether like he was last year. Its gonna be tough to flesh out this list this year, because very few northern Kentucky schools play in the "state" tournament, which must be where these accolades are earned (I am certain there will be other northern Kentucky kids breaking onto these lists in succeeding years), and the new AAU rules will eliminate many of the kids on this list from playing 14 U, i.e. they turned 14 before August 31, 2014. The 14 U state tournament will look a lot different than the 7th grade state tournament did last year.