[HOOPFAN]

Couple of thoughts:

Living in this area, it’s understandable why Ashland and Boyd County have this elitism about themselves when it comes to their basketball programs. They have pretty much ruled the region for quite some time.
With that being said, everyone that follows high school basketball in the state of Kentucky should be able to agree that the 16th region is one of the worst regions in the state talent wise. And at the end of the day, no one cares that you went to the sweet 16. Sure it is an accomplishment, but second place is the first loser. Until you can win a state championship, no one really cares how many regional championships or district championships you win, especially in this weak region. 
Since 2018 season for Ashland:
2018 : Lost by 30 in round 2
2019 : COVID
2020 : Lost in semifinals by 16
2021 : Lost by 11 in round 1
2022 : Lost by 16 in round 1
2023 : Lost by 2 in Round 1
2024 : ?

In their past five trips to Rupp (no one went COVID year) They have lost by double digits in every single defeat except last year. They have exited in round one three out of five times. They’ve only made it past round two once.
The point is at some juncture you’re going to have to quit hanging your hat on regional and district championships and actually win a state tournament game. The last time Ashland won a state tournament was in the 1960s. You can load your team up with as much talent in this area that you want, it’s not going to be enough to beat these teams that have kids committed to blue blood programs like Kentucky. 
For me, it feels like all the fun gets sucked out of basketball once the regional tournament ends, because I know that no team from this region is ever standing a chance at winning the whole thing.

You are such a bitter little guy!  You are wrong.  Ashland is at that level!  What year did you graduate from Boyd County?  lol

This is exactly what I have been saying. APB robs kids from the entire 16th region and then acts like they are something. What it does show. IF you get to actually go out and pick up players you want from the region and water the region down and still loses when you get the Sweet 16.  You need to question your coaching.

They don’t rob kids from anyone.  They have created a champion atmosphere where kids want to play.  They want to be apart of a winning culture.  They do not want to play somewhere that is not in constant turmoil.
Other than the Mays recording, there is no case for a potential recruiting violation.  The dad was shopping his kid around on the call.  Which is a violation as well.  
The Neel kid’s trainer was ruled no violation.  He had trained that young man for years before Neel ever played at Russell.  Russell knew he was training him at their gym and lied about it on the stand.  No integrity left in that Administration or Bball Staff. They willingly lied at the cost of hurting a kid. So that is a non-issue.

Boyd played a recruited kid on their roster this year.  He never moved!  Without him they would have been beaten in the semi-finals of the region.  Boyd County can’t have their cake and eat it too.  Let’s not even start a conversation about the girl’s basketball and baseball teams!  Lol
Are you seeing a pattern?
You keep throwing stones at Ashland and they keep proving how resilient they are!
As I said before, Hypocrisy at its finest!

I guess Mays admitting that he recruited Bell from Russell, Deboard from BC, Porter from Elliot, and Carter from Greenup on that same call was nothing. You all really have issues. APB has no winning culture in Basketball, they have active recruitment. Promising kids and parents is morally wrong. Boyd had one transfer on their roster who lives in BC before he ever enrolled. BC would have won the Region game if Spur does not get hurt by kid placing his foot under his when landing. BC wins that game by 15-20. Bonner made no adjustments and BC was exploiting APB.

I will say APB is resilient to the rules and breaking them. They are one of the best in the state at it. Let me say this for the people who struggle to have a rational thought. Kids transfer, I agree, not a super uncommon thing. When you have coaches going after your kids. That is the problem with adults in sports. High School coaches like JM or RB who weren't great players compensating by cheating as high school coaches. It is really pathetic.

Girls coach brought here daughter? duh! The group of kids who left APB didn't like the culture or the coach at APB. Some went to other schools as well. With the latest coach getting arrested for some sort of child charges and police cars at the school arresting him is a super bad look for the school.