[kywldcat01]

3. Eastern:

After beating Jeffersontown in the Region 7 championship game, Eastern went into the KHSAA Sweet 16 as one of the favorites to win the state championship. A second round lose to Central ended those hopes. Eastern loses Chris Dowe, who was their best player this past season but coach Jason Couch returns several keys players.

Eastern returns a solid back court. Senior-to-be DelQuan Thomas averaged 13.2 points and 4.7 rebounds per game this past season. The 6-foot-1 Thomas can hit the mid range jumper but he is at his best when he drives to the basket. He will be one of the top players in a very talented Region 7 next season.

Joining Thomas in the back court, will two of the best juniors-to-be in the state, Remy Abell and Arman Marks. Abell started this past seasona and averaged 11.2 points per game. Abell is a very smart, heady basketball player. He gets the job done but he does so very quietly. When you watch him play you don't realize what he has done until you look at the box score and see where scored 18 or 19 points and pulled down seven or eight rebounds.

Marks came off the bench this past season and averaged 8.7 points and 3.8 rebounds per game. He is left handed and he can hit the outside jumper. Look for him to replace Dowe in the back court.

Both Abell and Marks have the potential to play Division I. Abell shot 35.7 percent from three point range, while Marks shot 35 percent.

Lyonell Gaines returns in the front court. The 6-foot-4, junior-to-be averaged 10.1 points and 5.8 rebounds per game this past season. Like Abell and Marks, Gaines is one of the top juniors-to-be in the state and he has the potential to play Division I.

Joining him in the front court is one of the states top football prospects Jon Davis. Davis came off the bench this past season but expect his minutes to increase. The 6-foot-3, 200 pound junior-to-be only averaged 2.4 points per game but he is at his best on defense. He is very strong and he can use his weight to body up against opposing teams top big men.

Dowe was one of the top seniors in the state this past season, so losing him will hurt. However, the Eagles have the talent to win another Region 7 championship. They will have a fast and very athletic team. Eastern hasn't won a state championship since 1997. Could 2010 be their year?