The Scribe
11-27-2006, 02:29 AM
Seventh Region
By Charles Taylor
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Normally, when the defending Kentucky state champion returns three starters they would be a heavy favorite to win a regional title the next season.
But not in the rugged Seventh Region race.
Jeffersontown has three key starters returning but is expected to be in a dogfight for the regional title with Ballard and Male. All three teams are among the top 20 teams in the state and the regional coaches actually believe Ballard is favored in the race.
1. BALLARD BRUINS – Ballard hasn’t won a state title since 1999 but coach Chris Renner has enough talent to claim the title this season.
The Bruins are loaded and figure to be a top-five team in the state.
Ballard has one of the state’s best backcourt tandems in Antiquwan Beckham and Johonne Hamilton, both seniors and three-year starters. The 6-foot-5 Beckham has signed with IUPUI and averaged 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season.
The 6-1 Hamilton averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.7 steals and is the Bruins’ defensive stopper.
But that’s hardly the start of the talent roll call at Ballard, which can go 12 deep as coach Renner said all 12 could lead the team in scoring on any given night.
Jonathan Gholson is a transfer from Moore who sat out last season and should give the Bruins a huge lift. He’s athletic and a solid wing player.
Forwards Chris Gowers and Paul Dowell and guards David Stanley, Jamal Crook and Wesley Cox are the other key players returning.
2. JEFFERSONTOWN CHARGERS – It was a magical March run for the Chargers and coach Jeff Morrow, now J’town wants to become the first team in the state to repeat as Sweet 16 champions since Fairdale did it in 1990 and ’91.
The feat will be tough, but Morrow has the talent to pull it off.
Thomas Coleman is a 6-9 senior center attracting Division I interest. He averaged 12.5 points and 10 rebounds and blocked 191 shots last season.
Guard Rashad Basey averaged 9.6 points, five rebounds and five assists, while guard Nick Gagel averaged 11 points and nailed a school-record 67 three-pointers. Both players are All-Region performers.
Guard Don Richardson and forward Dean Pierrott logged quality minutes in the state tournament and will aid the Chargers in their quest for another title.
3. MALE BULLDOGS – Male is athletic as any team in the state and won the prestigious Derek Smith Shootout during the summer.
Second-year coach Tom Crews returns seven of his top nine players off a 19-win team, including senior star Douglas Beaumont. The likely Mr. Football winner will get a late start but averaged 17 points a game last season.
Forward Dexter Heyman, guards Corey Gainey and Ben Holman and forward Robert Johnson are also key players back for the Bulldogs.
4. EASTERN EAGLES – The Eagles are a bit of the mystery team as some coaches predicted coach Jason Couch’s bunch as high as third in the region but others had them sixth or seventh in the mix.
The defending Louisville Invitational Tournament champions did lose a lot of offense to graduation but returns starters Kevin Slaughter and Kevin Burrus.
The 6-3 Slaughter averaged 10 points a game, while the 6-foot Burrus chipped in seven points and four rebounds. Forward LeBradford Manning is also a solid senior.
5. TRINITY SHAMROCKS – The Shamrocks lost All-region performer Chad Byron but have one of the regions top seniors and one of the state’s top freshmen.
Tanner Jacobs is a 6-7 force in the middle for the Shamrocks. The senior averaged 9.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season for the 16-win Shamrocks.
Guards Aaron Tierney, Matt Chambless, Jeffrey Kirksey, Jamar Kirksey and Chris Berry will all contribute along with center Sam Robey and forward Alex Kupper.
Freshman Josh Sewell is 6-3 and is one of the top freshmen in the state.
6. FERN CREEK TIGERS – Coach Gary Shourds will have a huge hole to fill with the graduation of All-State guard Terrance Britt but the coach also has one large building block in 6-7 senior center Chris Duncan.
Duncan averaged 12 points and eight rebounds last season and is getting recruited by a bevy of mid-major NCAA Division I schools.
Guards Brandon Britt, Michael Patterson and Trent Duckworth will be key players for a team that must replace seven seniors.
7. MOORE MUSTANGS – Jazzmar Ferguson is one of the top unknown players in the Louisville-area and should lead the Mustangs to a winning season.
The 5-11 Ferguson averaged 12 points last season and will be joined by senior guard Kaelin Hall, who averaged 10 points a year ago.
Coach Larry Miller also has a pair of players who moved from Puerto Rico in Omar Gonzalez and Jose Lopez. Both are 6-1 seniors.
8. SENECA REDHAWKS – Many of the region coaches are calling the Redhawks the sleeper team in the programs second year under Steve Sergeant.
Seniors Bilal Davis and Montrel Williams are double figure scorers returning, while junior Domonique Burdette averaged five points last season.
Seneca also has one of the regions top freshmen in 6-1 Deonte Maddox.
9. ST. XAVIER TIGERS – The Tigers and veteran coach Joe Bergamini are always competitive in the region and should be again this season.
This edition of the Tigers has some size with 6-7 senior Aaron Robison and 6-9 senior Daniel Vollmer. Forward Lee Steiden is the leading returning scorer at 5.6 a game.
Bergamini will also get some contributions from some youngsters.
10. MANUAL CRIMSONS – One of the state’s top coaches takes over the Crimsons program, as Curtis Turley will begin coaching at his 10th school this season. He has previously been the head coach at Berea, Lyon County, Warren Central, Graves County, Henderson County, Greenwood, Shelby County, Daviess County and Lexington Catholic.
Turley, who sat out last season, has guided four teams into the state tournament.
At Manual, he has some young talent but will have to do some rebuilding after the program won just 12 games last season.
Sophomore Jacob Jenkins is a sharpshooter but averaged just 3.8 points a game last season, while Tommy Batton and Eddie Stivers are other key players.
11. WAGGENER WILDCATS – Former St. X player Kevin Klein, who has been an assistant at Male and Jeffersontown, gets his first job as a head coach.
He takes over a program that won nine games last season but just 28 wins in the past five years.
But with six seniors and some talented underclassmen, there’s hope for Klein.
Guards Dominique Johnson and Dayvon Sloan and forward Dexter Wilson are the key players who will have to step up.
12. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CENTURIONS – The Centurions have seven seniors and some other quality players on the roster. Jon Schreiner and Blake Knotts are the two top returning scorers for veteran coach Jeff Imlay.
13. COLLEGIATE TITANS – It could be a banner season for the Titans, who return all five starters and several double figure scorers for coach Tim Williams. Jack Galloway, a 6-6 senior forward, averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds last season, while junior guard Rashas Masri averaged 11 points and four assists.
14. ATHERTON REBELS – In his first season, coach Thomas Wilson has a major rebuilding job to do with the Rebels. He’s a former head coach in Illinois and had most recently been an assistant at Atherton, which has 13 wins the past three seasons.
Tashad Myers, Rashad Myers and Eric Jones all three averaged around six points a game last season for Atherton.
15. KCD BEARCATS – New coach Tim Truitt takes over a program that has some skilled players on the roster. Armani Randolph averaged 15 points last season, while Terronce Adams and Brian Cruse are solid guards.
16. WHITEFIELD ACADEMY WILDCATS – The Wildcats won just three games last season and have a host of new players. Kevan McCullum averaged eight points last season and is the top returning performer.
Top Players
1. Antiquawn Beckham, Ballard, 6-5, Sr.
Comment: When he gets going to the basket, he’s hard to stop.
2. Thomas Coleman, Jeffersontown, 6-9, Sr.
Comment: Can be the most dominant player in the state.
3. Chris Duncan, Fern Creek, 6-7, Sr.
Comment: Will have to do a lot to pick up slack for his team.
4. Douglas Beaumont, Male, 5-10, Sr.
Comment: Mr. Football can also get it done on the hardwood.
5. Rashad Basey, Jeffersontown, 6-2, Sr.
Comment: Played a huge role in Sweet 16 win for Chargers.
6. Tanner Jacobs, Trinity, 6-7, Sr.
Comment: A tough, hard-nosed competitor in the paint.
7. Johonne Hamilton, Ballard, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Solid guard needs to shoot it better.
8. Nick Gagel, Jeffersontown, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: The best outside shooter in Louisville.
9. Jonathan Gholson, Ballard, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Transfer will play a vital role in the Bruins season.
10. Jazzmar Ferguson, Moore, 5-11, Sr.
Comment: A quick and multi-talented little package.
By Charles Taylor
Special to Bluegrasspreps.com
Normally, when the defending Kentucky state champion returns three starters they would be a heavy favorite to win a regional title the next season.
But not in the rugged Seventh Region race.
Jeffersontown has three key starters returning but is expected to be in a dogfight for the regional title with Ballard and Male. All three teams are among the top 20 teams in the state and the regional coaches actually believe Ballard is favored in the race.
1. BALLARD BRUINS – Ballard hasn’t won a state title since 1999 but coach Chris Renner has enough talent to claim the title this season.
The Bruins are loaded and figure to be a top-five team in the state.
Ballard has one of the state’s best backcourt tandems in Antiquwan Beckham and Johonne Hamilton, both seniors and three-year starters. The 6-foot-5 Beckham has signed with IUPUI and averaged 14.3 points, 6.6 rebounds and 4.9 assists per game last season.
The 6-1 Hamilton averaged 13.1 points, 4.8 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.7 steals and is the Bruins’ defensive stopper.
But that’s hardly the start of the talent roll call at Ballard, which can go 12 deep as coach Renner said all 12 could lead the team in scoring on any given night.
Jonathan Gholson is a transfer from Moore who sat out last season and should give the Bruins a huge lift. He’s athletic and a solid wing player.
Forwards Chris Gowers and Paul Dowell and guards David Stanley, Jamal Crook and Wesley Cox are the other key players returning.
2. JEFFERSONTOWN CHARGERS – It was a magical March run for the Chargers and coach Jeff Morrow, now J’town wants to become the first team in the state to repeat as Sweet 16 champions since Fairdale did it in 1990 and ’91.
The feat will be tough, but Morrow has the talent to pull it off.
Thomas Coleman is a 6-9 senior center attracting Division I interest. He averaged 12.5 points and 10 rebounds and blocked 191 shots last season.
Guard Rashad Basey averaged 9.6 points, five rebounds and five assists, while guard Nick Gagel averaged 11 points and nailed a school-record 67 three-pointers. Both players are All-Region performers.
Guard Don Richardson and forward Dean Pierrott logged quality minutes in the state tournament and will aid the Chargers in their quest for another title.
3. MALE BULLDOGS – Male is athletic as any team in the state and won the prestigious Derek Smith Shootout during the summer.
Second-year coach Tom Crews returns seven of his top nine players off a 19-win team, including senior star Douglas Beaumont. The likely Mr. Football winner will get a late start but averaged 17 points a game last season.
Forward Dexter Heyman, guards Corey Gainey and Ben Holman and forward Robert Johnson are also key players back for the Bulldogs.
4. EASTERN EAGLES – The Eagles are a bit of the mystery team as some coaches predicted coach Jason Couch’s bunch as high as third in the region but others had them sixth or seventh in the mix.
The defending Louisville Invitational Tournament champions did lose a lot of offense to graduation but returns starters Kevin Slaughter and Kevin Burrus.
The 6-3 Slaughter averaged 10 points a game, while the 6-foot Burrus chipped in seven points and four rebounds. Forward LeBradford Manning is also a solid senior.
5. TRINITY SHAMROCKS – The Shamrocks lost All-region performer Chad Byron but have one of the regions top seniors and one of the state’s top freshmen.
Tanner Jacobs is a 6-7 force in the middle for the Shamrocks. The senior averaged 9.5 points and 9.5 rebounds last season for the 16-win Shamrocks.
Guards Aaron Tierney, Matt Chambless, Jeffrey Kirksey, Jamar Kirksey and Chris Berry will all contribute along with center Sam Robey and forward Alex Kupper.
Freshman Josh Sewell is 6-3 and is one of the top freshmen in the state.
6. FERN CREEK TIGERS – Coach Gary Shourds will have a huge hole to fill with the graduation of All-State guard Terrance Britt but the coach also has one large building block in 6-7 senior center Chris Duncan.
Duncan averaged 12 points and eight rebounds last season and is getting recruited by a bevy of mid-major NCAA Division I schools.
Guards Brandon Britt, Michael Patterson and Trent Duckworth will be key players for a team that must replace seven seniors.
7. MOORE MUSTANGS – Jazzmar Ferguson is one of the top unknown players in the Louisville-area and should lead the Mustangs to a winning season.
The 5-11 Ferguson averaged 12 points last season and will be joined by senior guard Kaelin Hall, who averaged 10 points a year ago.
Coach Larry Miller also has a pair of players who moved from Puerto Rico in Omar Gonzalez and Jose Lopez. Both are 6-1 seniors.
8. SENECA REDHAWKS – Many of the region coaches are calling the Redhawks the sleeper team in the programs second year under Steve Sergeant.
Seniors Bilal Davis and Montrel Williams are double figure scorers returning, while junior Domonique Burdette averaged five points last season.
Seneca also has one of the regions top freshmen in 6-1 Deonte Maddox.
9. ST. XAVIER TIGERS – The Tigers and veteran coach Joe Bergamini are always competitive in the region and should be again this season.
This edition of the Tigers has some size with 6-7 senior Aaron Robison and 6-9 senior Daniel Vollmer. Forward Lee Steiden is the leading returning scorer at 5.6 a game.
Bergamini will also get some contributions from some youngsters.
10. MANUAL CRIMSONS – One of the state’s top coaches takes over the Crimsons program, as Curtis Turley will begin coaching at his 10th school this season. He has previously been the head coach at Berea, Lyon County, Warren Central, Graves County, Henderson County, Greenwood, Shelby County, Daviess County and Lexington Catholic.
Turley, who sat out last season, has guided four teams into the state tournament.
At Manual, he has some young talent but will have to do some rebuilding after the program won just 12 games last season.
Sophomore Jacob Jenkins is a sharpshooter but averaged just 3.8 points a game last season, while Tommy Batton and Eddie Stivers are other key players.
11. WAGGENER WILDCATS – Former St. X player Kevin Klein, who has been an assistant at Male and Jeffersontown, gets his first job as a head coach.
He takes over a program that won nine games last season but just 28 wins in the past five years.
But with six seniors and some talented underclassmen, there’s hope for Klein.
Guards Dominique Johnson and Dayvon Sloan and forward Dexter Wilson are the key players who will have to step up.
12. CHRISTIAN ACADEMY CENTURIONS – The Centurions have seven seniors and some other quality players on the roster. Jon Schreiner and Blake Knotts are the two top returning scorers for veteran coach Jeff Imlay.
13. COLLEGIATE TITANS – It could be a banner season for the Titans, who return all five starters and several double figure scorers for coach Tim Williams. Jack Galloway, a 6-6 senior forward, averaged 12 points and 12 rebounds last season, while junior guard Rashas Masri averaged 11 points and four assists.
14. ATHERTON REBELS – In his first season, coach Thomas Wilson has a major rebuilding job to do with the Rebels. He’s a former head coach in Illinois and had most recently been an assistant at Atherton, which has 13 wins the past three seasons.
Tashad Myers, Rashad Myers and Eric Jones all three averaged around six points a game last season for Atherton.
15. KCD BEARCATS – New coach Tim Truitt takes over a program that has some skilled players on the roster. Armani Randolph averaged 15 points last season, while Terronce Adams and Brian Cruse are solid guards.
16. WHITEFIELD ACADEMY WILDCATS – The Wildcats won just three games last season and have a host of new players. Kevan McCullum averaged eight points last season and is the top returning performer.
Top Players
1. Antiquawn Beckham, Ballard, 6-5, Sr.
Comment: When he gets going to the basket, he’s hard to stop.
2. Thomas Coleman, Jeffersontown, 6-9, Sr.
Comment: Can be the most dominant player in the state.
3. Chris Duncan, Fern Creek, 6-7, Sr.
Comment: Will have to do a lot to pick up slack for his team.
4. Douglas Beaumont, Male, 5-10, Sr.
Comment: Mr. Football can also get it done on the hardwood.
5. Rashad Basey, Jeffersontown, 6-2, Sr.
Comment: Played a huge role in Sweet 16 win for Chargers.
6. Tanner Jacobs, Trinity, 6-7, Sr.
Comment: A tough, hard-nosed competitor in the paint.
7. Johonne Hamilton, Ballard, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Solid guard needs to shoot it better.
8. Nick Gagel, Jeffersontown, 5-11, Jr.
Comment: The best outside shooter in Louisville.
9. Jonathan Gholson, Ballard, 6-1, Sr.
Comment: Transfer will play a vital role in the Bruins season.
10. Jazzmar Ferguson, Moore, 5-11, Sr.
Comment: A quick and multi-talented little package.