[Stardust]

Henry Clay
Coach: Daniel Brown, sixth year (120-91 overall)
Last season: 20-11 (lost to Tates Creek in first round of region)
Top players: Wes Kimball (5-8 sr.), Jordan Green (6-4 so.), Trey Grundy (6-6 so.), Darien Tichenor (6-5 jr.), Christian Cunningham (6-0 so. transfer from Scott County), Alex Blackburn (6-2 sr.), Creed Setzer (5-10 sr.), Teddy Ware (5-10 so.), Campbell Setzer (5-10 so.)
Outlook: "Potential" is the watchword at Henry Clay. After graduating three-year starters Daniel Kiesling, Brandon Nichols, Trae Stewart and Kendrick Prewitt, the Blue Devils' only returning starter is Kimball. The veteran point guard is a dependable scorer who'll be called on to force the action.
Henry Clay's ultimate success, however, depends on highly touted sophomores Green and Grundy. They combined to average 16 points and 8 rebounds in complementary roles last season. "They've got to do a lot more this year," Brown said. "They've got to compete at a high level. Everybody's been reading and hearing about them, so they've got to bring their 'A' game every night. We're just not looking for points and rebounds from them, we're looking for leadership, too."
Tichenor will give Henry Clay additional size and rebounding. Cunningham will start in the backcourt with Kimball. The Devils' depth will come from Blackburn, Ware and the Setzer brothers.
"Talent-wise, we can be as good as anybody," Brown said. "We're big, long and athletic. It's just a matter of getting varsity experience and developing confidence. By the end of the season, we could be a dangerous team."
BLUE DEVILS' SCHEDULE
Dec. 1—at Tates Creek in Mr. Basketball Classic, 8; 3—Madison Southern in Roland Wierwille Shootout at Berea College, 7:30; 6—Bryan Station, 8; 9—Lloyd, 7:30; 16—at Perry Central in Coal Miners Classic, 8; 17—at Hazard in Coal Miners Classic, TBA; 19-22—iHigh Fayette County Invitational; 26-30—Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic
Jan. 3—Scott Co., 8; 10—Sayre, 7:30; 12—Dunbar, 6:30; 13—Mason Co., 7:30; 18—at Bryan Station, 8; 20—at Franklin Co., 8; 21—Tates Creek in Al Prewitt Classic, 7; 27—at Lafayette, 8; 28—at Simon Kenton, TBA; 31—Madison Central, 8
Feb. 3—at Scott Co., 7:30; 7—at Montgomery Co., 7:30; 9—at Paul Dunbar, 8; 11—TBA in Shoot for the Cure Classic at Nicholas Co., TBA; 14—Lafayette, 8; 16—at Clark Co., 7:30


Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/27/19744...z1ev0sSVHP

[Stardust]

[Image: http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2011/11...uSt.79.jpg]

Henry Clay Coach Daniel Brown is expecting big things from 6-4 sophomore Jordan Green, right, who played a complementary role for the Blue Devils during their 20-11 campaign last season

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2011/11/27/19744...z1ev1PvuQU

[citykat]

Wonder what the backstory of Cunningham leaving powerhouse Scott County to go to Henry Clay?

[rojas]

Wonder what the backstory of Cunningham leaving powerhouse Scott County to go to Henry Clay?

His mother asked for a meeting with the Scott Co coaching staff. She asked for a guarantee that Cunningham would start. Coach Hicks informed her that NOBODY gets a guaranteed starting position on his team. He then informed her if that is the way she felt it would be best if she took her son to another school that would make that guarantee. This info came straight from the 3 members of the SC coaching staff.

Unless they have recently moved the Cunningham family still lives in Scott County.

[citykat]

Thanks for the great inside story. I watched him play yesterday in the Fast Lane Classic and he was a really nice, smooth player. He hit a three with 10 seconds left to tie the game to send it to the first overtime. Its a shame that parents get that involved to demand starting.

[rojas]

Thanks for the great inside story. I watched him play yesterday in the Fast Lane Classic and he was a really nice, smooth player. He hit a three with 10 seconds left to tie the game to send it to the first overtime. Its a shame that parents get that involved to demand starting.

The sad thing is that he would have started for sure this year and would have been a key reserve on the state runner-up team last year. The kid probably got cheated out of a great experience. Of course HC has the chance of going far this and next year.

[hop24]

Henry Clay is a state contender on PAPER. They play like a AAU team sometimes and get distracted. Great size, length, and athletisism.

[citykat]

Henry Clay is a state contender on PAPER. They play like a AAU team sometimes and get distracted. Great size, length, and athletisism.

Excellent analysis of them. They had control of the entire game against Johnson Central but let them come back in the fourth quarter and rally. Grundy could not control Hall though.

[citykat]

The 11th is loaded this year. If HC is like the fourth or fifth best team with the talent they have that must be the best region in the state.

[rojas]

The 11th is loaded this year. If HC is like the fourth or fifth best team with the talent they have that must be the best region in the state.

I think their talent may be 2nd in the 11th behind Madison Central. I would put LexCath and Lafayette next, Scott Co 5th and Dunbar 6th.

[McCameraMan]

I really enjoyed watching this team play in the Fast Lane Classic. I would like to watch them play on a regular basis! But they did allow Johnson Central to rally back and win in 2 OT's. I liked the way Cunningham played. And I can't remember which kid it was, but one of them had a nasty dunk. Can you say posterized? lol. The kid tomahawked it over one of the JC defenders!