[excyter21]

In defense of Betsy Layne, there are lots of schools in this area with hold backs. Nothing is wrong with the idea, especially when it is within the rules. Yes it makes it harder on certain teams to compete for a county title but it also gives these kids a extra year to mature. In that extra year, they can grow up enough to gain solid playing time on a high school team there freshman year and help them grow toward getting a full ride to a major school to play basketball in college. Look at how good things have worked out with Elisha Justice! The kid is going to play for Louisville next year. What everyone needs to realize though, thanks to really good AAU programs in this area, there can be more kids come from this area and play for high profile teams like Louisville. Dillion Hamiliton, Peyton Case and Chase Hall are all three D-1 talent if they continue to grow and mature. In Pike County, Dillion Meade, Dalton Richardson and Cameron Justice are D-1 talent too if they continue to mature. Of those six players though, 4 are hold backs. The other two would gain from holding back, not because there lack of skill but because there bodies have more time to mature. People keep attacking these children for holding back but it is the parents choice to hold them back. It happens everywhere though! Not just in Floyd County. In Pike County, Virgie is very bad for it but I am not complaining. I happen to help coach a team in Pike County that will have to compete with Virgie this year to win the Pike County Championship. People need to remember these are children, not grown adults! Saying what you are saying to these children is just ruining what should be the best years of these young mens lives!

Amen!! GREAT POST!!!:notworthy