[Old School Hound]

This is a bit off-topic, but I think the proliferation of prep schools is only going to help the mountain teams.

Go back 25 years or so and the only players from Kentucky that I can really remember leaving for prep schools off the top of my head are Rajon Rondo, Tony Key, and D'Angelo Russell.

It goes without saying what losing a Jasper Johnson will do to a program like Woodford County. He, Kaden Magwood (formerly of Louisville Western who is committed to Auburn) and Tyran Stokes (#1 player in the class of 2026, from Louisville but at a prep school in CA) and Tay Kinney (Newport now at Overtime Elite) would have candidates for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and playing in the KY/IN All-Star game as few as 10 years ago.

I can't remember the last time a mountain kid went to a prep school. The only one I could think of (but am unsure about) is the wing from Perry Central in the late 90's-- can't remember if he went somewhere for awhile or not.

All of this to say that mountain kids aren't getting plucked up by prep schools. Many mountain kids who might even get looks from prep schools probably aren't seriously considering going in the way that kids in other areas may, and when they do, there are social factors that probably make them more likely to return home.

Mark my words, prep schools will continue to disproportionately effect the Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, and (to a lesser extent) Bowling Green areas more than they do anywhere else.

If NIL and Overtime Elite existed 15 or so years ago, there's a much better chance that key parts of the Louisville Eastern team (Remy Abell, Kameron Woods, etc.) that beat Corbin in the first round of the Sweet 16 would have been elsewhere. It's my understanding that their Eastern team was built in a similar way to how Louisville Western was two or three years ago (and now few, if any, of those kids are still in their program).

Take it back 20-25 years ago and Tony Key is probably getting paid to play in Overtime Elite instead of beating one of Deaton's better (and one of the more underrated) Corbin teams in '99. Same for a Brandon Bender at Ballard or basically any kid who wasn't also a really good football player (as prep school football programs are much more rare).

Interesting.   

Tony Key was a man child. Man, Corbin has had some tough draws in the Swt. 16.