[nekysportsfan]

I agree that East Carter has the potential to surprise this season. Easterling has had teams near the top of the pack for the past few years and never was able to bring home the region title with Mayo. Some coaches coach teams that aren't favorites and without "stars" better. I think he might be one of those types of coaches. East Carter's freshman and sophomore classes have a lot of talent and even with the transfer of Paynter, they can still be very competitive. Their games with Boyd this year will definitely be ones to watch.

I think Greenup can be a big surprise as well. You are right in that they are sorely lacking a point guard, though. If they can get any game into a half court grind-it-out type game, then they could upset anyone. Roark is a good coach and was on the staff of Russell's region winners 2 years ago. They will continually run into problems with pressing teams like Boyd and athletes like Robinson from Ashland, though, if they can't figure out a reliable way to cut turnovers and get the ball up the floor and get into their sets.

I think both Ashland and West are somewhat of a "mystery" as you say because we haven't really seen the versions of these teams with their "star" players on the floor, Robinson and Berry. A lot will have to do with coaching as to how they utilize their star players to maximize the ability of the rest of the players on the teams. Bradley did well a few years ago, but he had numerous "stars" on those teams so his job was a lot easier than it will be this year. That's where Fraley is so good for Boyd running everything around and through Wheeler and Russell seems to know their roles around Darnell as well. It is somewhat of a toss-up between Ashland and West, though, and I can understand putting Ashland in front of West based on Robinson alone.

I look forward to your previews of all of the teams.