[pirateforlife]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

They didn’t want to play up. That’s when Belfry had Dean and Clarke so they wouldn’t have got on the floor anyway

[15thregionwatcher]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

They didn’t want to play up. That’s when Belfry had Dean and Clarke so they wouldn’t have got on the floor anyway

Dean and Clark wasn’t there the eighth grade year 22/23.   The eighth grade year the varsity team struggled mightly and they would have played alot of minutes.   Middle school success took over development of players and it’s showing now. That group was better than about anyone in region at that time but hasn’t improved like other region groups have.

[pirateforlife]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

They didn’t want to play up. That’s when Belfry had Dean and Clarke so they wouldn’t have got on the floor anyway

Dean and Clark wasn’t there the eighth grade year 22/23.   The eighth grade year the varsity team struggled mightly and they would have played alot of minutes.   Middle school success took over development of players and it’s showing now. That group was better than about anyone in region at that time but hasn’t improved like other region groups have.

You’re forgetting that half of that team either no longer plays basketball or plays at another school. But you’re right the ones who do play are way behind others in the region who are now sophomores that played as 8th graders at the high school level.

[Truewords]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

They didn’t want to play up. That’s when Belfry had Dean and Clarke so they wouldn’t have got on the floor anyway

Dean and Clark wasn’t there the eighth grade year 22/23.   The eighth grade year the varsity team struggled mightly and they would have played alot of minutes.   Middle school success took over development of players and it’s showing now. That group was better than about anyone in region at that time but hasn’t improved like other region groups have.

How would they have played major minutes as 8th graders when 2 years into high school they are getting beat most nights by teams who are much weaker in 15th than they were 2 years ago?  Only kid off that middle school team standing out constantly is Weddington.

[pirateforlife]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

They didn’t want to play up. That’s when Belfry had Dean and Clarke so they wouldn’t have got on the floor anyway

Dean and Clark wasn’t there the eighth grade year 22/23.   The eighth grade year the varsity team struggled mightly and they would have played alot of minutes.   Middle school success took over development of players and it’s showing now. That group was better than about anyone in region at that time but hasn’t improved like other region groups have.

How would they have played major minutes as 8th graders when 2 years into high school they are getting beat most nights by teams who are much weaker in 15th than they were 2 years ago?  Only kid off that middle school team standing out constantly is Weddington.

3 of Belfry’s top 6 players were not even at Belfry during that time.

[15thregionwatcher]

Little left before his 8th grade year to go to Pikeville. He played JV and practiced with big stronger kids every day. Look how much he has improved over rest of them.

Weddington, Wallace, and now rash have went to Phelps. Maybe playing those kids up gets them more connected to program. Which gives a chance they are still at Belfry

Rash and Keithley were always neck and neck for who was best player in that 2027 class through middle school. Rash hasn’t developed at rate others have in that class. Still a nice basketball player but not seen the development of keithley, Slone, little and a few more.

Did that year of not having anyone to go against to challenge you in practice hurt their development. Getting challenged everyday makes you a better player, esp learning to play more physical and faster. Those kids during that year didn’t get challenged in what usually is highest growth of a player (14-15 yo age).

Maybe it’s just a coincidence or other factors, but it’s something to consider.

[Truewords]

Little left before his 8th grade year to go to Pikeville. He played JV and practiced with big stronger kids every day.  Look how much he has improved over rest of them.

Weddington, Wallace, and now rash have went to Phelps.  Maybe playing those kids up gets them more connected to program.  Which gives a chance they are still at Belfry

Rash and Keithley were always neck and neck for who was best player in that 2027 class through middle school.  Rash hasn’t developed at rate others have in that class.  Still a nice basketball player but not seen the development of keithley, Slone, little and a few more. 

Did that year of not having anyone to go against to challenge you in practice hurt their development.  Getting challenged everyday makes you a better player, esp learning to play more physical and faster.  Those kids during that year didn’t get challenged in what usually is highest growth of a player (14-15 yo age). 

Maybe it’s just a coincidence or other factors,  but it’s something to consider.

Agree that practicing against better will make you better and also it did help Little. The belfry staff then and in past never worked JV to make them better let alone 8th graders.

[pirateforlife]

I just don’t understand the move to Phelps. I’d probably went to Tug Valley if I would have left. He could have won a state championship. What happens if at Phelps things don’t go how they plan? Does he transfer again? He’s not the only one who’s transferred so I’m not taking about this specific situation but I just hate kids transferring everytime something doesn’t go their way. And to the above post I do think it would absolutely helped if those kids played up as 8th graders. And I don’t care how good someone is, joining a team kid season with some guys you’ve never even met before will take some time to mesh and develop team chemistry. I know he knows a couple kids already on the team but the two from Canada I don’t think so and then the coach will have to figure out who’s minutes he will take.

[c0mm0ns3ens3]

To me this is big for the hornets, Rash is one of the most skilled players in the region despite age. The transfer should benefit them huge if coaches play it right. To me Rash is a great scorer but just as good at getting others involved with that being said i like the ball in his hands 65% of their offense

Great scorer part, I agree with. But, first person I’ve ever heard say Rash is good at getting others involved. Either way this could definitely benefit Phelps

[Blue_Bird96]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

Very true. Paintsville’s 2027 class gave up a middle school state championship they would have easily won their 8th grade year to start developing 3 on varsity that year.

[TheTruth!]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

Very true. Paintsville’s 2027 class gave up a middle school state championship they would have easily won their 8th grade year to start developing 3 on varsity that year.

That 2027 Belfry team would’ve beaten them which im pretty sure they did.

[Truewords]

Maybe two season ago, belfry should of allowed the eighth grade group play up
To high school level instead of worrying about beating up on middle school kids to try and win a state championship.

Getting kids experience is huge.  Look at how other teams who have focus on that class are now.  They took lumps as younger kids but paying off. (paintsville and JC are perfect examples. ).  Kids got experience to figure out what it takes at varsity level and their sophomore class is way ahead of belfry group. 

Rash was one of if not top kid in 2027 class in mountains year after year.  He can play, just hasn’t adjusted to speed of high school game as quick as keithley, Slone, Cole,  and a few others.

Very true. Paintsville’s 2027 class gave up a middle school state championship they would have easily won their 8th grade year to start developing 3 on varsity that year.

That 2027 Belfry team would’ve beaten them which im pretty sure they did.

Paintsville still has all those kids. Belfry holding onto 2 from middle school team. Big difference.