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After finally accomplishing the ultimate goal, after spending nearly every day together during a 38-game, five-month season, one would think Holmes' talented trio of three-year starters would have scattered in the offseason. Maybe take some time to enjoy the Sweet Sixteen title they had just won. Maybe take some time off from basketball and from each other.

Not so, according to senior Elijah Pittman.

"A week later we were playing with our AAU team in Tennessee," he said. "We didn't stop. We don't ever stop."

The trio - Pittman, and brothers Ricardo and Jeremiah Johnson - hasn't rested much since breaking into the starting lineup during the 2007-08 season. In the past two years the players have won back-to-back regional titles and reached the state finals twice. They've collected numerous MVP awards, two all-state recognitions and four Sweet Sixteen all-tournament accolades.

And they have one season left to add to their already sizable legacy.

"We've got to enjoy it," said Ricardo Johnson, the reigning Enquirer player of the year and state tournament MVP. "People congratulated us and recognized us a lot, and not just around the neighborhood; it happens all over Northern Kentucky. I was at BW3, just hanging out, and a family came up to me because their son wanted to talk to me. That's pretty cool.

"But we've all stayed humble. We spent a lot of time working on our game. I worked on everything - my ballhandling, my defense."

Ricardo is considered the trio's most polished player. The 6-4 guard averaged 11 points and five rebounds last season. Earlier this month he signed a letter of intent with Ohio. After playing the role of point guard late in close games during the state tournament run, he'll handle the ball even more this season. He'll also continue playing the role of the team's defensive stopper.

"There will be times when he's guarding a 6-7 post guy. And there will be times where he'll be guarding a 6-foot shooting guard," Holmes coach David Henley said. "That hasn't changed too much, because he's athletic enough to guard different positions."

Pittman, a 6-8 forward, was the team's top scorer last season (14 ppg). Jeremiah, a 6-3 guard/forward, is the team's top rebounder (6 rpg). Henley said both players have the ability to do more.

"When Elijah's focused and playing with a little bit of a chip on his shoulder, he dominates our practice," he said. "And when J.J.'s focused and going hard, he's as good as anyone on the floor. So staying focused was the main thing with those two guys. And they've done a good job of it."

According to a preseason poll of area coaches, Ricardo, Pittman and Jeremiah are the area's first, second and fifth best players respectively.

http://nky.cincinnati.com/article/AB/200...re+laurels