[bball fan]

1. Paintsville: The Tigers are the most athletic and capable group of kids in the 15th. I thought their shooting was a little suspect last year, but I still feel that was due to lack of typical Paintsvill conditioning. With BMR giving up the pig-skin to focus more on Basketball they will be in prime shape once more and they are my favoirtes to cut down the nets. Slone and Vanhoose are 2 of the elite players in the region. Pugh is on of the best athletes if not the best. Grim played like a man possesed in the district tournament, and Bundy brings confidence and swagger to the table. Combine that with BMR and you have a team capable of dominating. We will see how this episode of Days of Our Lives plays out tho.
2. Johnson Central: The Golden Eagles are still flying high after their regional championship and even tho they lost Rice and other key componets to graduation there is still reason for high expectations in Johnson Co. McCarty is the scariest player in the region. If he is on there is little any one can do with him. He (along with Pugh of Paintsville) are the best athletes in the region as well. Meeks played extremley well in the post season (espically the district tournament) and gives JC the highly emotional athletic guards that make them fun to watch. Starns will have JC running up and down the floor and will be a tough out for anyone come post season.
3. Belfry: The Pirates will be good yet again. They lost the regions best athlete in Maynard, but do return Case who is a scary player himself. Case is capable of shooting from any where on the floor and when he walks in the gym you had better guard him. May gives the Pirates a down low presence and is capable of hurting you on the boards if not kept in check. Belfry will be one of many teams knocking on the door come tourny time.
4. Shelby Valley: The Wildcats played their best basketball when it mattered most in the regional tournament. They knocked off favored Paintsville in the first round of the regional tournament and then knocking out Belfry in the second round before falling to Johnson Central in the finals. The late season push has everyone in the Valley expecting big things next year and given the district they play in they will be capable of making another late season push.
5. Pikevile: The Panthers have some of the most athletic kids in the region and are capable of suffocating teams with their aggresive style of defense. They won the 59th district before falling to eventual regional champs (Johnson Central) but not untill giving them all they cared for. Playing along side Valley in the 59th district gives the Panthers a chance to be really good and capable of being the lone survivors of the regional tournament.

These are how I see the top 5. Alot of other teams could jump into the top 5, but as of now (It is only May the 3rd) this is who I see as being the top teams. Of course alot can happen from now untill March, butit should be a good season to watch.

Good work, appears to be a legit top 5 to me!!!