2008-09 Kentucky High School Basketball Preview - 1st Region Boys

[The Scribe]

First Region Boys Preview

Special to BGP

1. Marshall County: The Marshals could be the team to beat by March, but they will be missing two starters in the early stages of the season because of football-related injuries.

Guard Josh Madding suffered a broken right arm and will reportedly be out until around Christmas. Forward Denver Seay is rehabilitating a separated shoulder and his return date is uncertain.

Scott McKenty, a reliable long-range shooter, will take over the point guard duties. When Madding returns and sophomore Tanner Wilson takes the court, the Marshals can trot out three dangerous perimeter threats.

Jamie Dowdy, a 6-5 senior, and 6-2 forward Matt Fletcher will start up front. When Dowdy and Seay play together, few teams in the region can match their bulk and strength inside.

2. Paducah Tilghman: Gone are low-post stars Isaac McClure and Stefon Perry, and in their wake comes a Tornado team that’s shooting for a regional three-peat with a much more uptempo style.

Coach Brad Stieg promises more fullcourt pressure with an athletic backcourt led by 6-3 sophomore Josh Forrest and 5-11 senior Bryon Wright. Forrest, the sixth man as a freshman, takes over at the point, and Wright can knock down the 3-pointer.

Forward Tony Hazard is an athletic scorer will be asked to rebound much more this season. Guard Kris Jackson is a tough on-the-ball defender.

Depth is a question mark. J.B. Harmon, a high-flying guard, will get a crack at a starting job, and 6-2 sophomore DeJuan Edmonds could give Tilghman some good minutes in the paint.

3. Calloway County: This will be the most athletic Calloway team in history, led by forwards Tyrrell Willis (6-3, 240) and the quicker and smaller George Garner. Both are good offensive rebounders.

The Lakers had a tough time scoring at times last season, and the development of sophomore guards Brock Simmons and Shawn Thompson could be keys to alleviating that situation. Chris Dobbins will start at the point and Austin Lilly will see some time at two-guard, as could swingman Jordan Bumpus.

Derek Solomon, a thin 6-7 senior, will start at center with 6-5 junior Grant Williams as his backup.

The Lakers could be slow starters because three projected starters — Garner, Willis and Dobbins and two regulars — Bumpus and Williams — went deep into the playoffs with the football team.

4. Graves County: Graves also expects some difficulties on the offensive end at times. Josh Doggett, a 6-3 senior, could emerge as the Eagles’ primary threat.

Cass McAlpin, a 6-3 senior, is a tough low-post defender and rebounder. Sophomore Jesse Anderson takes over at the point, with streaky shooter Tevin Hill hoping to get out of the slump that lasted most of the second half of last season.

Raven Morphew, a 6-5 senior, gives the Eagles some size and Rex Coleman, a 6-2 forward, could help after moving back from Florida.

5. Murray: Veteran Ron Greene, who coached at three Division I schools (Mississippi State, Murray State and Indiana State) in the 1970s and 1980s, came out of retirement to take over the Tigers — he last coached at Calloway County in the 1990s.

Murray was a quarterfinalist in the All A Classic state tournament last season and could return to Richmond behind a solid front line that includes 6-3 Aaron Jones and 6-3 swingman Cole Hurt. Kwame Duffy, expected to contribute heavily, is out for the season with a torn Achilles’ tendon, putting more demands on 6-5 senior Chastin Sheppard.

Blake Darnall, the top backcourt reserve last year, takes over at the point.

6. Lone Oak: The Purple Flash lacks size, as usual, but can field an athletic squad led by 6-3 forward Jamarielle Brown, who is being recruited by several Division I football schools as a wide receiver. Also back in the fold are 6-1 senior Cameron Tillett, forward Josh Byrd and swingman Cameron Isenberg.

7. Carlisle County: Caleb Hardy, a 6-6 junior that can play either guard or forward, could develop into one of the region’s top scorers. Guard Blake Moran can hit the 3-pointer, and 6-5 Coleman Wilson will have to battle bigger and stronger players in the post on a regular basis.

8. Fulton City: Aaron Wilson can play the point or the post, and the 6-3, 200-pound senior is considered the region’s top player. He may have to play inside a little more often this season.

Jacquise Lockett, a 6-1 junior, will play on the wing, and the Bulldogs have a strongman around the basket in 6-4, 220-pound junior Cody Taylor.

9. Heath: New coach Burlin Brower, promoted from his assistant’s position, will build around 6-0 combo guard Eric Straub, a good 3-point shooter, and 5-9 point guard Brock Jordan.

Zach Schall, a 6-3 senior, is another fine shooter. Heath has some potential inside with 6-5 sophomore Drew Robinson, 6-4 senior Jordan Dukek and bulky 6-5 senior Andrew Lowery.

10. Mayfield: Swingman Xavier Shelton will have to build on the scoring potential he showed as a sophomore. Tyrese Murrell and Gary Walton give Mayfield a pair of quick, experienced guards and Colby Sanderson can score from the perimeter.

Jordan Elliott is an undersized post player at 6-2 and will seek some inside help from 6-5 senior Barry Mason.

11. St. Mary: Point guard Blake Averill runs the show and has a lot of size to work with, namely 6-4 senior Darren Smith and 6-6 workhorse Conrad Love.

Sam Thompson will get the nod at two-guard, with swingman Alex Farrell and 6-4 sophomore Ryan Lutz splitting time at forward.

12. Ballard Memorial: New coach Nick Chaykowski left a successful program in Georgia to take over a young Bombers’ squad led by 6-3 sophomore Jay Middleton. Also in the mix are forwards Brandon Bellamy, Curtis Turnbow and Alex Mallory and guard Gregg Gordon.

13. Fulton County: Sophomore Leonard Smith, a 6-4 forward, has oodles of potential and will look to play the wing a little more this season. Shun Udley, a 6-5 junior, gives the Pilots a pair of athletic inside players. The hope is that quick guard Brandon Hardin can capably man the point.

14. Hickman County: The Falcons were hit hard by graduation and return little in the way of experience, almost nothing aside from forwards Deke Deweese and O.J. Barnett. The hope is that freshman Kedrian Thomas can show some scoring punch.


Top Players in the First Region

1. Aaron Wilson, Fulton City: Strong, versatile guard can also take the ball to the basket and score in the post.

2. Scott McKenty, Marshall County: McKenty has tremendous shooting range and is tough in transition, puling up to score or driving to the basket.

3. Leonard Smith, Fulton County: Sound, athletic post player can also face the basket. Has Division I potential.

4. Josh Forrest, Paducah Tilghman: Sophomore has excellent court vision and is a nifty passer in his new role as the Tornado’s point guard.

5. Bryon Wright, Paducah Tilghman: Smallish guard can knock down the 3-pointer and might be at his best in transition.

6. George Garner, Calloway County: Undersized a bit at forward, Garner hits the offensive boards hard and can score inside.

7. Eric Straub, Heath: Can play either the point or two-guard, but he will be asked to carry the scoring load.

8. Josh Doggett, Graves County: Athletic forward can take the ball to the basket with authority.

9. Aaron Jones, Murray: Could have a breakout season as a solid post player whose quickness causes matchup problems.

10. Caleb Hardy, Carlisle County: Swingman has grown to 6-6 and could become a prolific scorer.