Stripes3

Walt Allen South Laurel Kevin Allen North Oldham Brandon Bland Robert Buckner Eastern Vincent Crutcher PRP Jay Ivey O Cath Josh Mack Univeristy Heights Leroy Nobles Lou Central AJ Slaughter Shelby County Forrest Smallwood Lou Male Tyler Wilkerson Lafeyette Deontay Wright

I concur Gymrat. That is about all their is to say about that. His 15's, 16's, and 17's are not in the top 5 in any of their respective divisions. He just does not pull the top talent and would not succeed well against KY comp.

You "hit the nail on the edge" so to speak. I am a proponent of AAU hoops. However, many kids rely to heavily on tourneys and play weekend after weekend in hopes of getting "exposure". Even many players modify their game to just score by shooting everytime or "snowbirding" or playing "ole'" defense in hopes of just getting the ball back to score or in many cases just shoot again even if its detrimental to their . Players at the 12, 13, 14, DO NOT spend enough time at the gym, weight room, or track, honing in on the strengths and improving their weaknesses. They are losing whatever fundamentals that were taught by their school coaches and picking up only bad habits with weekend tourneys only. There are some solid AAU coaches in Kentucky, but there are some not so good. The game has evolved. Kids in Kentucky are seemingly not developing their better young talent and these players are disappearing once they reach their varsity years. Kids need to set their priorities straight early on and learn the game and train. AAU tourneys should be secondary. Just a thought.

D2 in Kentucky only began last year or the year before. Am I correct? Let's go to another tangent...Who is playing where this weekend???

The one thing I do notice about D1 and D2 divisions is now that some teams who should be playing D1 are taking the low-road and playing D2 just to win or dominate that division. In any aspect, the various levels does allow for higher revenues and for teams to at least not fear for the 40 point blow-outs and compete at the lower level.

Gene Hackman is not laughing:madman: :madman: :madman: But your right. I do not agree with classes in High School basketball and certainly not in AAU. Its just another way to make money and make it easier for more teams to just compete. What happens is, when you have a certain team(s) dominate at a level, some teams just do not bother to appear for AAU state, so they went to classes. Thus D1 and D2.

Shooter...the state tourney is a bit overrated at the 15u, 16u, and 17u levels. Only 4 to 8 teams per division will show. Do you agree?

Euton tried the 16 under and has not fared well this year. From what I was informed, Euton was playing in the 14 under division this past weekend for Eddie Ford along with Chase Jackson again. Euton will be outstanding down the road, needs footspeed to play at the higher levels.

Decreased competition is the answer. I will look at the individual talent, Ford does not have any of the Top 10 players on the 17's. Those belong to the DS Allstars with one defecting to the D1 Greyhounds 17's. Exception is Matt Walls of Scott County with Eddie Ford.

The Tourney was "Rockin the Rock" and it had a nice showing for quantity of teams, but not quality. The Eddie Ford programs broke up some of the talent and played in rightful divisions, not playing up. The 16's had 16 Teams The 17's had 31 Teams The 15's had 19 Teams However, quite a few programs entered multiple teams in each division including Ford, who had 2 teams in both the 16's and 17's. The way the brackets were set up, you only had to win twice to get to be runners-up and even each level were broken down into levels such as the elite or silver division. Ford DOES NOT have a team rated in the Top 10 in any division and they did not face any Top 10 programs over the Easter weekend. Ford does not have have any top rated teams in the state of Kentucky at any level as well except perhaps the 14's when Jackson and Euton play in their right levels.

The Illinois Shining Stars are always a run-n-gun type team. Even their 14's and 15's. Paxson sponsors and Jordan has a 15/16 year old kid (Jeffrey Jordan - 6'2") that plays for them that is rated in the top 100 Class of 2009 in the Country (not sure if he plays 16's or 17's division now). As you would imagine, he is a gifted athlete. Saw them in St. Louis last year and in Columbus, Ohio. They are a notch below Team Ferrari from Chicago. One of those teams has a lightning quick 5'10" lefty point guard. You will know who I am talking about the minute you see him. He is being recruited by UL. Should he be on the team you face. Be prepared to help out on cutting off the lanes to this guy who can flat finish at the glass or hit 3 point shooters and cutters in a blink. They will have height in the middle, be prepared to block. Another thing I really recall, they like to get the ball up the court and always release to the sidelines and throwing it up ahead to first man available for easy layups or pullups or kicking it to the middle. Having someone back will be imperative. Let me see if I have their roster and I will post it for you. Did you know that Jeffrey Jordan and OJ Mayo squared in an AAU game against Mayo. Of course, Mayo got the better of it as he was a couple of years older. Nevertheless, MJ's son played well enough to show the possibilities do exist even if he was 6 inches shorter at that time.

Bud Mackey (SG - Class of 2008) will be in contention. He will get his name way out there when Scott County wins the 11th this coming season and makes it to the Sweet 16. He has improved his skills, particularly his shooting. He is a slicer and I expect his overall game to pick up over the summer and especially if he adds strength. There is a slight knock against him pertaining to attitude. This is not coming me, but from other sources closer to the program. Darrin Ballou (Center/PF) has great size and he is in the Class of 2009. He will be in the elite group, but first needs to master the paint (post) before he attempts to be a perimeter player. He too keeps improving. Adair will need to become a contender in the 5th region in order for his name to get out there more.

CatchMeIfYouCan...the list is accurate and I have seen that exact list before. You did your online research. The other list also provided the odds for each one too.

You will NEVER let it go,:cry: With Tyler Portwood, his name is up-and-coming. The line-up for Scott County is Walls, Mackey, Portwood, Lee, and Haddix, next year's preseason number 1. Portword started in some games for Coach Hicks and he delivered with more than just filling a spot. I believe his first start was a 21 point outburst. Have yet to see Newton perform the way you mentioned, but I am hearing his name being mentioned as well. NKYBOY - I agree with adding Todd Jacobs. I did not list the frosh class, but since you insist, here's a list for you. Playmakers: Nick Hudson (Dunbar), Ethan Faulkner (Elliott County) Long Distance: Jacob Jenkins (Manual), Byron Ellis (Russell County)

I purposely left Ty Profitt off. If Allen were to win the Mr. Basketball award this year, I don't see any way two players from the same program winning the award on consecutive years. Yes, I know the stigma with the 16th. That is why I have tried to keep the hype down and facts up. Sometimes we overly hype a few players with big numbers and the air deflates when they play better comp out of the region. Then when a legit kid comes through the 16th, folks see him as being just another hyped player too.

Here goes: Rim rattlers: Rodney Haddix (Scott County), Eugene Wade (Shelby County), Arrez Henderson (Covington Holmes), Thomas Coleman (Jeffersontown), and Twany Beckham (Ballard). Long-Distance Dialing: Van Hoose (Russell), David Stanley (Ballard), Jeremy Anderson (Warren Central), Matt Fraliex (Caldwell County), Clark Stepp (June Buchanan). Show-stoppers "playmaking": Douglas Beaumont (Male), Matt Walls (Scott County), Duran Jefferson (Covington Holmes), Shelvin Mack (Bryan Station), Justin Hicks (Hazard). Here's a few names for some unique categories...

I agree with Haddix decision. Slaughter was the one that they wanted to feed the ball, but not shoot. I guess Slaughter saw the light early on. You might want to read my above post again. I have edited it.

Let's clarify a bit. "Exciting", as in playing above the rim, dunks, and so forth. "Shooting", hitting 3's, pull-ups, and clutch shots? For next years players, omitting this year's senior class? Of course, Van Hoose can shoot it and Haddix can play above the rim. Haddix has been producing game-stopping dunks since last year and has great timing off the floor. Van Hoose had a coming out tourney at the Adidas Super 64 where he was playing up two levels with the DS Allstars 17's. In fact, during pool play he earned a player of the game while scoring 14 points. Over a year ago, I projected that AJ Slaughter and Allen to compete for Mr. Basketball this year for 2006. Class of 2007 was Pettigrew, Van Hoose, and Matt Walls. Class of 2008, Darius Miller, Shelvin Mack, or Victor Moses. Class of 2009, Josh Crawford or Jacob Jenkins. By the way, according to someone near the D1 Greyhounds, a Louisville player named Beckham has jumped ship with the DS Allstars and has joined up with Mayo and Walker and that AAU program. I believe this is the second year a Louisville player has jumped to the Greyhounds. Why the movement?

You know, one of the misconceptions about the Bolus's Blue Chip Camp is that it only features talent from Kentucky. I do notice every year that more and more out-of-state talent making its way to Georgetown to the camp. In fact, in one of the sessions last year, an Ohio native won the MVP award. If I recall, players from IN, MI, OH, TN, and a couple of other states made their way to one of the 3 sessions. But even with that, this is still a "Kentucky" camp with mostly Kentucky players. Bolus is as nice as anyone you will meet in basketball. Of course, his rankings are geared primarily to recruit in-state players to his camps. The rankings generate curiosity and attention and thus attracts players that want there name listed on the rankings. In the past, Bolus's rankings were a ways off due to trying to fit camp attendees on the listings, but the rankings have improved in recent seasons. They are still biased, but you have to ask the question "just how many college coaches place any weight in these rankings" anyways. The rankings are not nearly as much as a tool for recruiting as some would believe. The camps are very organized and the players do in fact get their chance to showcase their game. They give out a ton of awards for various items from Free Throws to MVP's for each session and levels. Trying to help make sure no one walks away empty-handed. The talent level is fair for being primarily Kentucky players (not anywhere near an Adidas, Nike, or Reebok camp) . If a kid is looking for a camp and was not invited to a shoe camp and can ante up the fee for the Blue Chip, then Bolus's camp may be the place for them to showcase their skills to other Kentucky players and watchers. If your going to the camp to get ranked, that would not be the reason to go. The rankings are now starting to have fewer camper names today and look to be trying to be legit. I would guess with rankings not being credible this would play in to some viewing the camp not being credible also. Does this help?

ShooterX3...I believe the Camp you are speaking of is a spinoff camp for Reebok. The ABCD camp is the real deal. I believe the cost for the Eastern Invitational is near the $400 range. I just don't think this draws the talent level that you would see at the major Adidas and Nike Camps. I think the Adidas camps are some of the best organized camps around. College coaches seem to agree. I adhere to the rule "that you get what you pay for", but from what I understand this camp does not apply that rule. Camps are now not nearly as "exclusive" as they have once been due to competition. I believe the Adidas All-America and the Reebok ABCD camps are the premiere camps going right now and they are extremely well ran. I could be wrong, but did AJ Slaughter attend this camp last year? And if you do plan to attend, go to the third and final session for that camp. It generally has the best talent and draws the largest attendence for college coaches.

There's more...Marquis Grisson (Bryan Station), Taylor Botkins (Lexington Catholic), Cameron Mattingly (|oodford County) and even CJ Penny (8th Region Anderson County). 6th and 7th goes on and on Cameron Clemons (Doss), TJ Gaines (Fern Creek), Jacob Jenkins (Manual), Deuce Finch (St. Xavier), Wes Cox (Ballard), Jamar Kirksey (Trinity), Ridge Wilson (Central), and more... These guys would all played and started varsity as frosh in the 16th Region.

According the info I have, Jenkins was at an Adidas camp and a newcomer named Phillips had not yet joined the roster. There may have been another player absent. But again, I have games played in Florence and Lex, I think last years results are hurting your case. If you used last year results the Legends won two of our super regionals and beat the D1 Greyounds and Indiana Elite squad as well. Best way to resolve this is to play THIS YEAR. Most hoops folks in Cincy and Lex agree with me.

I believe you need to go back and check the rosters for the game you are referring to. I believe 3 players were not at that event for the Legends. I will check, but I believe one was at a camp as well. I have also seen all programs at Florence last year and I have tourney stats for quite a few. This was last year, roster have change and using last year's results would hurt you case, not help. The best solution as suggested by ShooterX3 would be to play KY teams andd not avoid them.

You made my point for me. They will not play Kentucky teams in any level and that is tragic. Then I would have to share your sentiment and say the 16s and 17s of the DS Allstars would be ranked behind the Eddie Ford Hoopstars. Just looking at the roster, I can tell you that team is good. Just missing quite few of the states top 15 under players. Until the play against other 15's in Kentucky, or even 16's, they have not proven they are the states best. Some teams would be East Kentucky Lightning (last year's state champs AAU), Central KY Warriors (featuring Nick Hudson and Marquis Grissom), and Louisville Legends (featuring Jacob Jenkins and Ridge Wilson).

That is a solid team. Just not one of the top 3 teams in the 15 under level in Kentucky. I know two 15 under teams that are trying to play up to 17 under levels from Kentucky. It means very little. Just because any team plays up, does not even mean they would dominate in their rightful division.