The Scribe
11-26-2006, 06:06 PM
First Region
1. Paducah Tilghman: There isn’t a team in the region that can match the Tornado’s talent and depth in the frontcourt. David Jones, a 6-4 senior forward, and 6-5 junior center Isaac McClure are returning starters and 6-4 junior Stefon Perry is ready to blossom on the offensive end. Brent Buchanan, a 6-3 senior, is a hardnosed player who isn’t afraid to be a banger on the boards.
Senior Eric Hutcherson has been a starter since his sophomore year, and needs only to improve his decision-making to become the region’s top playmaker.
Cole McKeel shot close to 50 percent from 3-point range in limited action last year and will step in at shooting guard.
2. Graves County: Last year’s final four run at the state tournament was a surprise, and a return trip to the Sweet 16 isn’t out of reach if the spare parts of last year’s team come together.
Matt Kimbler, a 6-3 senior swingman, and 6-3 senior forward Brett Wiggins will step into lead roles this season, as will 6-3 swingman Dustin McClain, a gifted offensive player.
Andrew Sanderson steps into the point guard role, left open after Justin Towery — a part-time starter last season — opted not to return to the team.
Cody Harris, a 6-6 sophomore, must become a physical presence and develop on the boards if the Eagles are to become Tilghman’s strongest challenger.
3. St. Mary: Jonathan Roof, Gabriel Shaw and Jonathan Byrd led the Vikings to the regional semifinals for the first time in 22 years before a heartbreaking overtime loss to Calloway County. All three are back for the Vikings, who could be a threat to contend for the All A Classic state title if Byrd can recover quickly from offseason knee surgery.
Byrd tore his ACL over the summer and is expected to be back in the lineup by early January. Shaw, a 6-2 senior and a pitcher who has signed a baseball letter of intent with Louisville, will assume more of a ballhandling role in Byrd’s absence. Roof, an athletic 6-2 senior who will play baseball at Michigan State, is an athletic forward and ferocious offensive rebounder.
Wes Overstreet, the Vikings’ best outside shooter, is healthy after an injury-marred junior year.
4. Marshall County: The Marshals will go with a four-guard lineup most of the time. The hope is that point guard Kory Smith, a transfer from Centralia, Ill., is as good as advertised and can relieve junior guard Travis Spiceland of some of the scoring burden.
Austin Brown can shoot from the perimeter and Anthony Allbritton, a good defender, is capable of averaging in double figures. The backcourt depth took a hit, though, when Stephen Barga was lost to a preseason knee injury.
Marshall’s development will count heavily on twins Zach and Eli Lathram, thin 6-6 seniors that will share time in the low post.
5. Calloway County: Guard Wes Perry and 6-5 center Wes Adams will lead the new-look Lakers, which may become a more perimeter-oriented squad.
Adams is more comfortable facing the basket and could provide some matchup problems for opposing big men, as could 6-4 forward Landon Lockhart.
Eric Berberich, a capable backup and good defender last season, steps into the starting lineup for the Lakers, who won the regional title in 2003 and are the only team to make the region’s final four in each of the last four seasons. In each of the last three years, they’ve been eliminated by the regional champion, twice in the finals.
6. Fulton County: The Pilots might be the region’s quickest and most athletic team, but chemistry issues were a factor in a disappointing season — Fulton County went from 19 wins to nine, even with several key players returning.
Jeffery McClain, a 6-5 forward, has a Division I body and is being recruited by some lower-level Division I teams. McClain is a dominant scorer and rebounder but didn’t always get the ball as often as he should last season.
Guard Tari Bishop needs to improve his conditioning and decision-making, and Jonathan Roberson is a dangerous 3-point shooter. The Pilots, who will challenge St. Mary for All A Classic honors, can back them up with a fleet of quick guards and swingmen.
7. Mayfield: If point guard Demetrek Moss was back in the fold, the Cardinals could be an All A Classic contender and make a strong run at the regional title. But Moss, who left the team late last season, is reportedly moving to Tennessee. His absence puts more of the ballhandling burden on 6-2 guard Jeremy Rodgers and 6-2 swingman Tony Hockett, a junior and one of the region’s top players.
Hockett is a strong inside player who can also draw his defender outside and take the ball to the basket. Rodgers, like running mate Adam Shelton, is a reliable 3-point shooter who will become more of a scoring threat if the Cardinals can find another floor leader. Chance Sherrill, who didn’t play last season, is an athletic swingman, and Jordan Elliott and Jared McCuiston are solid, if undersized, post players.
8. Heath: Andrew Baer is one of the region’s top 3-point shooters and 6-8 Max McConnell and 6-5 Seth Hart have plenty of offensive potential.
The biggest question for the Pirates, again an All A Classic regional contender after a year’s absence from the tournament, is at the point, where four players may audition for the starting job. The hope is that Baer won’t have to assume the role, making it tougher for him to score.
9. Lone Oak: Star point guard Chase Denson is now at Morehead State, leaving behind a talented guard in Luke Shuemaker and the Purple Flash’s usual cast of guards and undersized post players.
Shuemaker, a left-hander who can score from the outside and take the ball to the hole, needs perimeter support from Landon Blackman and Chris Pennington.
10. Hickman County: Guard Isaiah Vinson is the leading returning scorer for the Falcons, who have the depth and backcourt talent to play a more up-tempo style this season. Zach Stroud is Hickman’s top inside player, and this team’s development will count heavily on the development of junior guards Joseph Daughtery and Chris Harper.
11. Reidland: Mario Johnson is an exciting, high-flying athlete with the potential to draw oohs and ahhs every night, but the Greyhounds lack proven support players beyond guard Shawd Purdiman.
Johnson and Purdiman, both of whom transferred from a traditionally strong program at Cairo, Ill., two years ago, will benefit if 6-6, 270-pound post player Ben Grimm can return to form quickly from a knee injury sustained during football season.
12. Carlisle County: The Comets lost a lot of scoring punch, but return their usual assortment of scrappy players and a coach in Brian O’Neill that tends to get the most out of the talent available to him. Forwards Hunter Burge and B.J. Ballard, 3-point shooter Luk Nichols and point guard Ty Owens are the top returnees.
13. Murray: Guard Kenneth Trice is the only returning starter, but forward Chess Volp and guard Casey Parker-Bell, a good 3-point shooter, are back for a young band of Tigers. So is Aaron Jones, a talented sophomore forward.
14. Fulton City: The Bulldogs made a big step forward in football, and the leaders of that uprising are seeking to repeat the feat on the hardwood.
Guards Aaron Wilson and Dae’Ron Williams are quick, athletic players who will fuel the Bulldogs’ full-court game, and 6-4 Barry Graves is a capable inside player. The defense, which gave up 77 points per game last season, must show significant improvement.
15. Ballard Memorial: There is hope for improvement for the Bombers, who may have the depth to better compete in second-year coach Rob Anderson’s full-court style of play.
The top returnee is guard Nathan Lawrence, and the hope is that guard Jared Stacy — a transfer from Marion, Ill., will give Ballard some much-needed athleticism and scoring punch.
16. Community Christian: The Warriors’ young program is still in the development stage. Brent Goodman, a good perimeter shooter, and forward Matt Prewitt lead a team that will likely start three sophomores.
Top Players
1. Jeffery McClain, Fulton County: Strong, athletic player and a Division I prospect.
2. Tony Hockett, Mayfield: Versatile forward can play the post or the wing.
3. Travis Spiceland, Marshall County: Excellent penetrator with a knack to get to the basket or the free throw line.
4. Mario Johnson, Reidland: The region’s best leaper and most athletic player.
5. Jonathan Roof, St. Mary: A slasher and rebounder with the ability to score anywhere inside 15 feet.
6. David Jones, Paducah Tilghman: Became a dominant inside player late last season.
7. Isaac McClure, Paducah Tilghman: Proven defensive force, a great rebounder and shot-blocker.
8. Matt Kimbler, Graves County: Will lead the balanced Eagles, can score, defend and take care of the ball.
9. Luke Shuemaker, Lone Oak: Lefty penetrator could become a big scorer.
10. Gabriel Shaw, St. Mary: Versatile, underrated player capable of playing all five positions.
1. Paducah Tilghman: There isn’t a team in the region that can match the Tornado’s talent and depth in the frontcourt. David Jones, a 6-4 senior forward, and 6-5 junior center Isaac McClure are returning starters and 6-4 junior Stefon Perry is ready to blossom on the offensive end. Brent Buchanan, a 6-3 senior, is a hardnosed player who isn’t afraid to be a banger on the boards.
Senior Eric Hutcherson has been a starter since his sophomore year, and needs only to improve his decision-making to become the region’s top playmaker.
Cole McKeel shot close to 50 percent from 3-point range in limited action last year and will step in at shooting guard.
2. Graves County: Last year’s final four run at the state tournament was a surprise, and a return trip to the Sweet 16 isn’t out of reach if the spare parts of last year’s team come together.
Matt Kimbler, a 6-3 senior swingman, and 6-3 senior forward Brett Wiggins will step into lead roles this season, as will 6-3 swingman Dustin McClain, a gifted offensive player.
Andrew Sanderson steps into the point guard role, left open after Justin Towery — a part-time starter last season — opted not to return to the team.
Cody Harris, a 6-6 sophomore, must become a physical presence and develop on the boards if the Eagles are to become Tilghman’s strongest challenger.
3. St. Mary: Jonathan Roof, Gabriel Shaw and Jonathan Byrd led the Vikings to the regional semifinals for the first time in 22 years before a heartbreaking overtime loss to Calloway County. All three are back for the Vikings, who could be a threat to contend for the All A Classic state title if Byrd can recover quickly from offseason knee surgery.
Byrd tore his ACL over the summer and is expected to be back in the lineup by early January. Shaw, a 6-2 senior and a pitcher who has signed a baseball letter of intent with Louisville, will assume more of a ballhandling role in Byrd’s absence. Roof, an athletic 6-2 senior who will play baseball at Michigan State, is an athletic forward and ferocious offensive rebounder.
Wes Overstreet, the Vikings’ best outside shooter, is healthy after an injury-marred junior year.
4. Marshall County: The Marshals will go with a four-guard lineup most of the time. The hope is that point guard Kory Smith, a transfer from Centralia, Ill., is as good as advertised and can relieve junior guard Travis Spiceland of some of the scoring burden.
Austin Brown can shoot from the perimeter and Anthony Allbritton, a good defender, is capable of averaging in double figures. The backcourt depth took a hit, though, when Stephen Barga was lost to a preseason knee injury.
Marshall’s development will count heavily on twins Zach and Eli Lathram, thin 6-6 seniors that will share time in the low post.
5. Calloway County: Guard Wes Perry and 6-5 center Wes Adams will lead the new-look Lakers, which may become a more perimeter-oriented squad.
Adams is more comfortable facing the basket and could provide some matchup problems for opposing big men, as could 6-4 forward Landon Lockhart.
Eric Berberich, a capable backup and good defender last season, steps into the starting lineup for the Lakers, who won the regional title in 2003 and are the only team to make the region’s final four in each of the last four seasons. In each of the last three years, they’ve been eliminated by the regional champion, twice in the finals.
6. Fulton County: The Pilots might be the region’s quickest and most athletic team, but chemistry issues were a factor in a disappointing season — Fulton County went from 19 wins to nine, even with several key players returning.
Jeffery McClain, a 6-5 forward, has a Division I body and is being recruited by some lower-level Division I teams. McClain is a dominant scorer and rebounder but didn’t always get the ball as often as he should last season.
Guard Tari Bishop needs to improve his conditioning and decision-making, and Jonathan Roberson is a dangerous 3-point shooter. The Pilots, who will challenge St. Mary for All A Classic honors, can back them up with a fleet of quick guards and swingmen.
7. Mayfield: If point guard Demetrek Moss was back in the fold, the Cardinals could be an All A Classic contender and make a strong run at the regional title. But Moss, who left the team late last season, is reportedly moving to Tennessee. His absence puts more of the ballhandling burden on 6-2 guard Jeremy Rodgers and 6-2 swingman Tony Hockett, a junior and one of the region’s top players.
Hockett is a strong inside player who can also draw his defender outside and take the ball to the basket. Rodgers, like running mate Adam Shelton, is a reliable 3-point shooter who will become more of a scoring threat if the Cardinals can find another floor leader. Chance Sherrill, who didn’t play last season, is an athletic swingman, and Jordan Elliott and Jared McCuiston are solid, if undersized, post players.
8. Heath: Andrew Baer is one of the region’s top 3-point shooters and 6-8 Max McConnell and 6-5 Seth Hart have plenty of offensive potential.
The biggest question for the Pirates, again an All A Classic regional contender after a year’s absence from the tournament, is at the point, where four players may audition for the starting job. The hope is that Baer won’t have to assume the role, making it tougher for him to score.
9. Lone Oak: Star point guard Chase Denson is now at Morehead State, leaving behind a talented guard in Luke Shuemaker and the Purple Flash’s usual cast of guards and undersized post players.
Shuemaker, a left-hander who can score from the outside and take the ball to the hole, needs perimeter support from Landon Blackman and Chris Pennington.
10. Hickman County: Guard Isaiah Vinson is the leading returning scorer for the Falcons, who have the depth and backcourt talent to play a more up-tempo style this season. Zach Stroud is Hickman’s top inside player, and this team’s development will count heavily on the development of junior guards Joseph Daughtery and Chris Harper.
11. Reidland: Mario Johnson is an exciting, high-flying athlete with the potential to draw oohs and ahhs every night, but the Greyhounds lack proven support players beyond guard Shawd Purdiman.
Johnson and Purdiman, both of whom transferred from a traditionally strong program at Cairo, Ill., two years ago, will benefit if 6-6, 270-pound post player Ben Grimm can return to form quickly from a knee injury sustained during football season.
12. Carlisle County: The Comets lost a lot of scoring punch, but return their usual assortment of scrappy players and a coach in Brian O’Neill that tends to get the most out of the talent available to him. Forwards Hunter Burge and B.J. Ballard, 3-point shooter Luk Nichols and point guard Ty Owens are the top returnees.
13. Murray: Guard Kenneth Trice is the only returning starter, but forward Chess Volp and guard Casey Parker-Bell, a good 3-point shooter, are back for a young band of Tigers. So is Aaron Jones, a talented sophomore forward.
14. Fulton City: The Bulldogs made a big step forward in football, and the leaders of that uprising are seeking to repeat the feat on the hardwood.
Guards Aaron Wilson and Dae’Ron Williams are quick, athletic players who will fuel the Bulldogs’ full-court game, and 6-4 Barry Graves is a capable inside player. The defense, which gave up 77 points per game last season, must show significant improvement.
15. Ballard Memorial: There is hope for improvement for the Bombers, who may have the depth to better compete in second-year coach Rob Anderson’s full-court style of play.
The top returnee is guard Nathan Lawrence, and the hope is that guard Jared Stacy — a transfer from Marion, Ill., will give Ballard some much-needed athleticism and scoring punch.
16. Community Christian: The Warriors’ young program is still in the development stage. Brent Goodman, a good perimeter shooter, and forward Matt Prewitt lead a team that will likely start three sophomores.
Top Players
1. Jeffery McClain, Fulton County: Strong, athletic player and a Division I prospect.
2. Tony Hockett, Mayfield: Versatile forward can play the post or the wing.
3. Travis Spiceland, Marshall County: Excellent penetrator with a knack to get to the basket or the free throw line.
4. Mario Johnson, Reidland: The region’s best leaper and most athletic player.
5. Jonathan Roof, St. Mary: A slasher and rebounder with the ability to score anywhere inside 15 feet.
6. David Jones, Paducah Tilghman: Became a dominant inside player late last season.
7. Isaac McClure, Paducah Tilghman: Proven defensive force, a great rebounder and shot-blocker.
8. Matt Kimbler, Graves County: Will lead the balanced Eagles, can score, defend and take care of the ball.
9. Luke Shuemaker, Lone Oak: Lefty penetrator could become a big scorer.
10. Gabriel Shaw, St. Mary: Versatile, underrated player capable of playing all five positions.