[basketballx2]

Because they don’t have feeder schools with good coaches.

[Ballfan100]

Sad to see all these homegrown kids such as Letcher, Buckhorn, and Wolfe have to go up and then go up against all these recruited teams like Perry, Cordia and such these kids have all played each other in middle school and all have had fun then when you get in high school and have all this recruiting it takes the fun out of it all

[Bigmouth1953]

Doesn’t matter where the kid is from. If he is at your school he deserves same respect. Clay co has found players for the last 50 years. Hazard and the rest do as well. So nothing new. Just that perry is having some success with it.

[Willie_Mays_Hayes]

I thought the name of the thread was pre-season 14th region rankings not what you thought about recruiting and kids from NY. The bottom line is recruiting has been going on since basketball was invented. Town populations today are not what they use to be. The amount of kids that play today is nothing like it was even 10 years ago (to many other things to attract their attention now) and what few decent mountain kids you have these days still change schools (recruited) almost as often as they change underwear. Rodrick Rhodes changed the culture of mountain basketball like it or not. Instead of just mountain kids being recruited and changing multiple schools, it is not on a much larger scale. There was a kid I went to high school in the 90's that played at 4 different high schools in 4 years and it wasn't because he didn't like the school or was bullied. Nothing has changed other than the fact kids are coming from different places. Recruiting is recruiting and has been going on long before any of us was a twinkle in our parents eyes! Now for whats important:
Pre-season 14th Region
1. Hazard's to lose
53rd has two teams that can make a run (Knott and Cordia)
54th has Perry that will always be in the mix!
55th has Wolfe that is talented but is still Wolfe and Breathitt has John Noble!
56th is a non-factor!

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://i.imgflip.com/3d12o7.gif] Bolz Patriot Nation is bouncing like a mutha waiting on the official basketball season to commence! Roy said big guy itz all wez can do to handle BoPo and the King baby cause they is ready for Mortys to explode! #biga$$fanswideopen #smoking More mash taters please!!!

[LOOKAYANNER]

I thought the name of the thread was pre-season 14th region rankings not what you thought about recruiting and kids from NY. The bottom line is recruiting has been going on since basketball was invented. Town populations today are not what they use to be. The amount of kids that play today is nothing like it was even 10 years ago (to many other things to attract their attention now) and what few decent mountain kids you have these days still change schools (recruited) almost as often as they change underwear. Rodrick Rhodes changed the culture of mountain basketball like it or not. Instead of just mountain kids being recruited and changing multiple schools, it is not on a much larger scale. There was a kid I went to high school in the 90's that played at 4 different high schools in 4 years and it wasn't because he didn't like the school or was bullied. Nothing has changed other than the fact kids are coming from different places. Recruiting is recruiting and has been going on long before any of us was a twinkle in our parents eyes! Now for whats important:
Pre-season 14th Region
1. Hazard's to lose
53rd has two teams that can make a run (Knott and Cordia)
54th has Perry that will always be in the mix!
55th has Wolfe that is talented but is still Wolfe and Breathitt has John Noble!
56th is a non-factor!

To my knowledge recruiting doesn’t occur very often in the 56th district schools. Heck, as large as Estill and Powell’s enrollments are (both around 700 students, which rank as 3rd and 4th biggest schools in the region), if they recruited as much as some of the other region schools they would be tough as nails to beat in the region every year. They usually have a pretty solid nucleus in their teams due to shear numbers in their enrollment but seem to always lack a couple of needs to be really good. The teams from the southern part of the region also have good nucleus but they’ll find ways to fill their needs to make well rounded teams. Need a point guard, go get one. Need a center, move one in. That’s just something that doesn’t occur very much in the 56th. I’m sure if Estill really emphasized it they could encourage a few kids from 20 miles away at the Madison County schools if they wanted. Those big schools like Madison Central (2000 students) have kids riding the pine that could be stars in the 14th. Same thing with Powell. Clark and Montgomery are right next door, less than 30 minutes away. But to my knowledge this doesn’t happen, at least it’s very rare.

[rawlingsfan]

In 2016 Buckhorn won the 14th region with it's own students and one of the smallest enrollments in the entire state.
1. Kids play physical, hard-nosed, fundamentally sound
2. Coach Noble doesn't have a political bone in his body. He plays the BEST player, regardless of family

I think those are the keys to beating a more talented group of individuals. Or you can use it as an excuse as to why your team doesn't have a chance to ever advance to the Sweet 16. Blame the KHSAA, blame other programs.

[rawlingsfan]

In 2016 Buckhorn won the 14th region with it's own students and one of the smallest enrollments in the entire state.
1. Kids play physical, hard-nosed, fundamentally sound
2. Coach Noble doesn't have a political bone in his body. He plays the BEST player, regardless of family

I think those are the keys to beating a more talented group of individuals. Or you can use it as an excuse as to why your team doesn't have a chance to ever advance to the Sweet 16. Blame the KHSAA, blame other programs.

[HollerRat]

In 2016 Buckhorn won the 14th region with it's own students and one of the smallest enrollments in the entire state.
1. Kids play physical, hard-nosed, fundamentally sound
2. Coach Noble doesn't have a political bone in his body. He plays the BEST player, regardless of family

I think those are the keys to beating a more talented group of individuals. Or you can use it as an excuse as to why your team doesn't have a chance to ever advance to the Sweet 16. Blame the KHSAA, blame other programs.

Totally agree with you on your first point.

But I can’t agree with number 2. He had way better talent on his bench last year than the ones who started and got more minutes. The Slaughter kid would have started for any team in the region and O’Hara could’ve started as well.

[Reds#1Fan]

I would say this about Buckhorn also, the teams that had Matt Day were a lot better teams than the team that won it but also had to play against a AAU team and just couldn’t get over the hump. They beat PCC in the district when PCC had Paige but lost in the region.

How many regional titles have been decided by transfers over the last 30 years?
I’m going to say 20 out of 30.
Whitesburg
Estill
Powell
Buckhorn
Breathitt
are the only ones I can think of that didn’t have a impact transfer this included kids that moved as Freshman. Might have been a few more but not many.

[roundballer]

Cat’s Pause has 14th Region Teams ranked as follows:
1. Hazard
2. Perry
3. Knott
4. Cordia
5. Wolfe
6. Buckhorn
7. Breathitt
8. Estill
9. Leslie
10. Letcher

[DukeBoy]

Have to disagree with Holler Rat. I dont think the more athletic kids were better basketball players. I watched them several times and the two mentioned made a lot of turnovers. The Seniors he played last year were more dependable from what I heard.

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DopeyNimbleGua...ricted.gif] Bolz da King went off over the ole kitty cats paws rankings! Roy said King brutha calm down wez fly in under the ole radar brutha! King said big guy got a new idea for this years tour boi! Still smokin' tour and we coming in at one speed and thats wide freaking open baby! #mortybeproud #makesomenoise #marlboroman More mash taters please!!!

[basketballx2]

[Image: https://thumbs.gfycat.com/DopeyNimbleGua...ricted.gif] Bolz da King went off over the ole kitty cats paws rankings! Roy said King brutha calm down wez fly in under the ole radar brutha! King said big guy got a new idea for this years tour boi! Still smokin' tour and we coming in at one speed and thats wide freaking open baby! #mortybeproud #makesomenoise
#marlboroman More mash taters please!!!

I wish you would speak English fluently. This act is hard to detect what you are trying to say. It’s obvious you are a Knott County fan but other than that, I’m clueless on your “talk”. It will be exciting to see Cordia beat knott this year with big ol Denny Fugate at it again.

[catsrule]

Totally agree with you on your first point.

But I can’t agree with number 2. He had way better talent on his bench last year than the ones who started and got more minutes. The Slaughter kid would have started for any team in the region and O’Hara could’ve started as well.

Heard the same thing from several players/parents/fans/coaches that are affiliated with the Bobcat team.

[fatpatfan]

I wish you would speak English fluently. This act is hard to detect what you are trying to say. It’s obvious you are a Knott County fan but other than that, I’m clueless on your “talk”. It will be exciting to see Cordia beat knott this year with big ol Denny Fugate at it again.

[Image:

]

Let's break this mutha down for a brutha:

1. Pats are going to fly low my man and surprise you when we holding the ole trophy
2. The King aka the coach says our tour name is Still Smokin'. You can't put brakes on a Patriot team.
3. Morton Combs aka Morty would be proud
4. Lotts Creek has dried up. Denny and his staff will throw in the towel.

#somehavetotakeitslowerthanothers More mash taters please!!!

[rawlingsfan]

Heard the same thing from several players/parents/fans/coaches that are affiliated with the Bobcat team.

The problem with Breathitt County is that you've got a small population of people left that still think Breathitt County carries the same weight they did in the late 1960s, early 1970s in basketball. Another group think it's 1997 for the football program.

Enrollment is way down, basketball is playing in the All A Classic, football now competes in 2a. The athletes that you do have left, think they are much better than what they actually are, because compared to the majority of the small enrollment they are good. But compared to the rest of the region, they aren't very good. Blaming the coach is an easy scapegoat, always has been.

[basketballx2]

I’m going to throw a “curve ball” that some may say for my top 5 region
1 Hazard
2 Cordia( with Denny being coach it’s untelling what could happen)
3 Wolfe
4 PCC
5 Buckhorn ( they always play hard and will never give up)
I really think leslie will make some noise this year they will just be small but they will be quick. I don’t think you can count breathitt out either any team John Noble is coaching will be up there.

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://media0.giphy.com/media/3o7TKO4aJ.../giphy.gif] Double dribble whatever you smoking give ole Fatpat 7 baby! #mushroomsgetyoueverytime #lsdisabeast More mash taters please!!!

[HollerRat]

Have to disagree with Holler Rat. I dont think the more athletic kids were better basketball players. I watched them several times and the two mentioned made a lot of turnovers. The Seniors he played last year were more dependable from what I heard.

Ok slick I don’t know what you watched or heard, but Slaughter should have started and anyone that watched Breathitt would agree. The kid affected the game on both ends of the floor. He’s a once in a generation type of athlete that hardly ever comes through and is the kind of kid that other schools in the region recruit to put them over the top.

[DukeBoy]

More to the game than just getting a dunk every 15 games slick. Good athlete yes, good basketball player? Noble would played him if he would been a difference maker.

[Da Truth]

1. Hazard
2. Cordia
3. Wolfe
4. Perry
5. Knott

All of these teams can be beat. I like what Hazard returns to the court. They have an inside and outside presence plus they have experience. Cordia (assuming all return and they play nice together) will be the most talented group but they are very unpredictable. I like the team Wolfe brings to the table. Johnson is an explosive player and has some good role players around him. Better not overlook them. I think Perry has a new player, but I don't think the player is highly skilled. Reed could be the best player in the region if he developed discipline. I think they lost too much to be in the top 3. Knott has the best big man in the region, but doesn't any backup players.

[DukeBoy]

Just heard that 2 new NY kids came through the Circle T Pipeline today. Perry refuses to be mediocre. Go out and get the best.

[HollerRat]

Time will tell. We will see when he plays a more prominent role this season how much better he is. Going to be interesting which guards play this year as well

[hoghead]

1. Cordia
2. Hazard
3. Estill
4. Knott
5. Leslie
6. Perry
7 Powell
8. Buckhorn
9. Wolfe
10. Letcher

[golfer123]

Wolfe can't win when it counts. Blew Breathitt out a couple years on Breathitt's home floor. Even then couldn't get the job done when it counted. Breathitt turned around beat them in District which Wolfe should have won.

[eky.sports.fan]

The top 8 teams in the 14th region this year - I list the top 8 because these are the teams with a legit chance to win the region and play in Rupp. This is an extremely balanced region this year and I believe any of the 8 could beat any of the others on a given night.


1. Hazard - Only lose Bennett from last years Region Runner-Up team, Bennett played very well in region but Hazard has enough fire power to replace him. Logan Hall is one of best rebounders in the region and Wade Pelfrey a top 5 player. Al Holland game plane is very predictable but is effective, especially in tournament time. The 'Dogs are clear #1 going into the season.
2. Wolfe Co - The Wolves were super young last year and only have couple seniors who will most likely play this year. Wolves return the best overall player in the region,6"2 Jr. Jaz Johnson, along with his backcourt running mate, Wilgus Tolson (Jr.) who is tough as nails and very skilled. Wolves also have Thompson (soph) who is one of the top returning 3 point shooters in the state and add big man (8th grader) Skylar Ritchie (6"5) who played well in region last year. Cody Peyton (6"3 soph) may be the X factor. The Wolves and Coach Creech (who always has his kids playing hard and hard nosed) are ready to make a run for the next several years.
3. Knott Co. - The Pats will be in the thick of things all year and with the region in Hindman, it would be no surprise at all to see them cut the nets down in March. Josh McQuire is one of the best bigs in the entire state and Colby Napier is a top 10 player in the region and a lights out shooter, Napier also has very good size at about 6"4 so he should add much needed rebounding for the Pats. Guard Kent Damron is very underrated and will have a great season. If BB can hold the ship straight and the team continue to learn to play togather (after the loss of 4 seniors form last year) the Pats will be tough.
4. PCC - Cant count the 'Dores out as they return enough players from last years Region Champs to repeat. Reed is a top5 player in the region and a superior athlete and Shannon Hoskins seems to know which buttons to push to win games in the tournament. Its hard to gauge PCC because you never know what "new player" may show up on their bench to put them over the top. Regardless,, they will be in the mix all year long and could easily repeat.
5, Cordia - The lions return a very athletic team who will challenge for the region as well. Pringle (the PG) is a top 5 player and the region and the Lions also Denny Fugate on the sidelines this year and that could be the deciding factor for the fate of the Lions. Cordia is a dangerous team and be a tough out
6. Buckhorn - the 'Horn returns Kobe Bowling who was one of the leading scorers in the State last year. Buckhorn return about 85% of the scoring and rebounding from last year and seem ready to make some noise in the region. Christian Collins (6'5 soph) will make a big impact this year as well, and Coach Corey Hoskins may be the best coach in the region and he knows how to use the talent he has Buckhorn could easily emerge in March as the surprise of the 14th region.
7. Breathitt County - Brandon Slaughter is the best rebounder in the mountains and will be a force for the Bobcats inside. Jack Fugate is one of the best shooters in the region and Braxton O'Hare is a very strong athlete with plenty of experience and will be counted on to lead the team on the floor, much like his role as the Bobcats QB on the gridiron. The Bobcats also have a lot of young talent including Jalen Turner (6'3 soph) and Bryce Hoskins (6"5 fresh) who may impact. If the Bobcats can find some reliable guards to handle the ball, they will be a force this year.
8. Estill County - Seems like Joe Benton has been playing for Estill for last 10 years, Joe is a senior and one of the top players in the region, he will lead an Engineer team that returns almost everyone from a year ago and that team that almost upset Knott in the first round of region. Dylan Long (6'3 soph) is a big strong inside player for Estill who is very underrated and Coach Bentley will put his team in a position to win games every night. Estilll was a Jeckly and Hyde team last year (lose a game by 20+ one night and then come back and play well the next); but, with the experience they have returning, they can beat anyone in the region on a given night.

[Night Train]

The problem with Breathitt County is that you've got a small population of people left that still think Breathitt County carries the same weight they did in the late 1960s, early 1970s in basketball. Another group think it's 1997 for the football program.

Enrollment is way down, basketball is playing in the All A Classic, football now competes in 2a. The athletes that you do have left, think they are much better than what they actually are, because compared to the majority of the small enrollment they are good. But compared to the rest of the region, they aren't very good. Blaming the coach is an easy scapegoat, always has been.

Enrollment is down but keep telling yourself they don’t have the kids to win region. I think John will win a couple regional titles with the kids he has coming up. Breathitt will be a tough team to beat at the end of this season.

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://i.imgflip.com/3dwqqi.jpg] Bolz a brutha just sent this to ole Fatpat and seen on I64 heading to Lotts Creek. #lionspipelinestillflowing #lilbruthaneverlearns More mash taters please!!!

[fatpatfan]

[Image: https://i.imgflip.com/3dwrcg.jpg] Bolz Pat fans from all over the world ready for Patriot madness baby! #writingisondawall #internetdontlie More mash taters please!!!