[The King]

It's hard to fairly evaluate his ability because he got into so few games last season. Maybe if he actually got into the game everyone could see for themselves... :thumpsup:

[BasketBallonlyfan]

It's hard to fairly evaluate his ability because he got into so few games last season. Maybe if he actually got into the game everyone could see for themselves... :thumpsup:

Does that everyone include yourself?

[JD If U Please]

I dont think anyone was making that comparison. Untill people can be cloned, there wont ever be another Todd May or J.R. Vanhoose. My prediction is, after Christmas break next season, no one will be even in his league in this region. He is getting bigger, stronger, and gaining LOTS more confidence. Plus he has something that not many big kids in this whole state has. He has a Todd May showing him stuff and playing against in open gym.





I dont understand why everyone says he has a coordination problem. I know others his age and grade my be better than he is, but then again, they are not 6'9" either. But for his age and size, anyone who says he has a big problem are either short or dont know what they are talking about.

I honestly don't believe the kid will be very good because he looks like he has a serious problem running up and down the floor. I saw him play a few games last year and I fell the best he'll ever be is giving them 15 minutes a game.

[The King]

Does that everyone include yourself?

Nope... I've watched him play numerous times and have never been impressed with his ability. I think even mentioning him in the same sentence as Todd May and J.R. Vanhoose is unfair to Devon because he just doesn't have anywhere near that ability... :Thumbs:

[BasketBallonlyfan]

It's hard to fairly evaluate his ability because he got into so few games last season. Maybe if he actually got into the game everyone could see for themselves... :thumpsup:

Nope... I've watched him play numerous times and have never been impressed with his ability. I think even mentioning him in the same sentence as Todd May and J.R. Vanhoose is unfair to Devon because he just doesn't have anywhere near that ability... :Thumbs:

so few games he played, but you watched him numerous times... hmmmm, sounds like extremes on both ends unless you can watch a few minutes of playing then know how someone would be. Ever think of being a college scout instead of a net poster?

[The King]

Have you ever heard of junior varsity??? Alot of fans that don't watch JV games probably didn't get to see him play very much because he got so little varsity playing time. I, however, watched him play numerous times in JV games. That is what I'm basing my assessment on.

Believe me, I've watched him play plenty enough to know that his ability isn't anywhere near the same league as Mr. May or Mr. Vanhoose. He isn't even in the same league as Chase Gibson for that matter.... He may develop his game to get to the level of Chase Gibson, but he has an extremely long way to go...

[BasketBallonlyfan]

Well, I dont think that anyone said he is going to be as good as Todd or JR.
I do think he will be as good as he wants to get. Remember back in time though. I cant say for sure about JR, but Todd wasnt a all stater player as a sophmore. Wasnt it Mikes team then? So before you start to judge one player to another, remember the ages of each player not when one was at their peak against another one just starting playing high school ball. Now, I am not saying that he will be another Todd or J.R. But I do think come Christmas time, you will be changing your story some from what it is now.

[bball fan]

Let's drop the topic! Let's not put the same pressure on Adams that this website put on Landon Slone last summer. Deven is a 15 year old sophomore to be. He does have a ways to go and hopefully he will work his butt off until his coordination fits his 6'9 size. Until then, sit back and enjoy the ride. I think the Panthers will be a very good team even if he isn't ready next year. I do agree with bballonly, I think he will raise a few eyebrows next season......if he continues to work hard!!

[BeaverCreek Connection]

Trevor Patton-Blackcat, I spoke with Trevor's dad and he indicated that Trevor had quit football to concentrate on Basketball this summer. Trevor is currently at a Skills Camp in Illinois. Doing quite well against kids from Chicago and surrounding area. Trevor measures solid 6'7 and has gained weight like crazy. He is in the weight room every day and is very strong. I believe Trevor could surprise some people around January. I wish him only the best, class kid with great dedication.

[youknowwhoibe]

Let Devon have time to prove himself before we dismiss him. That being said I have to say sometimes I do worry about his coordination but Im sure as he gets older, he will become more comfortable and gain that coordination needed for a big man. 15th good big men are few and far between. Give Devon time to develop. I dont expect him to be ready to play this year but, by his junior year, I expect he will be able to surpise some people plus not many people will be able to guard him. That being said he wont be a Todd May, a Vanhoose, or even a Chase Gibson, those guys were great, one of a kind players. But, Devon can be Devon so let him be what he is and work to be the best player he can be.

[The King]

So before you start to judge one player to another, remember the ages of each player not when one was at their peak against another one just starting playing high school ball. Now, I am not saying that he will be another Todd or J.R. But I do think come Christmas time, you will be changing your story some from what it is now.

If I remember correctly it was YOU that brought up the names May and Vanhoose... It is better to let others pat you (or your kid) on the back than to constantly do it yourself... :thumpsup:

[J. R. VanHoose]

To be actually measured as a "good" big man you must be able to compete against other big men from around the country. Being a "dominant" post player in Eastern Kentucky means nothing because their are not other big men to play against. Play against other quality big men across the state and nationally and you will be able to see what you need to improve on. I was able to see this early on in my high school career because Coach Runyon took our teams across the country to play against kids that would make us better!!

[The King]

Obviously J.R. you've seen what it takes to be a division I basketball player. I know it's impossible to project physicial development, but do you see the potential in any 15th region player to become a DI level player???

[BasketBallonlyfan]

If I remember correctly it was YOU that brought up the names May and Vanhoose... It is better to let others pat you (or your kid) on the back than to constantly do it yourself... :thumpsup:

Scroll back threw the list, the first time May and Vanhoose was brought up was in message 25, then you mentioned them in message 29. I just have one question for you king, What all has he been doing sense last season went out? Lets see how much you know about what you post here. Has he done anything to get better on the court, or just sat around playing X box?

[The King]

Show me one place where I said the kid didn't work... but just because you work doesn't mean you are going to be a great player... If the ability isn't there, it just isn't there...

[BasketBallonlyfan]

Make sure you keep a clean fork come Christmas time.... But let me ask this, because JR and Todd was brought up, do you think they was D-1 players as 15 year olds?

[Warlock]

Just let the boy be himself. Players dont need to be compaired to other players who no longer play the game.

[The King]

But let me ask this, because JR and Todd was brought up, do you think they was D-1 players as 15 year olds?

I do know that JR won four regional titles and I think four All "A" titles during his high school career. He started for the entirety of his career for very good Paintsville teams. He was MVP of the Sweet 16 his sophomore year, in which his team won the state title. Devan, on the other hand, rarely saw playing time for a Panther squad that finished with a 12-16 record in probably the worst region in the entire state.

[EKY Sportster]

There are no "big men" in the 15th Region!!!

:thumpsup: That's for sure!

[EKY Sportster]

To be actually measured as a "good" big man you must be able to compete against other big men from around the country. Being a "dominant" post player in Eastern Kentucky means nothing because their are not other big men to play against. Play against other quality big men across the state and nationally and you will be able to see what you need to improve on. I was able to see this early on in my high school career because Coach Runyon took our teams across the country to play against kids that would make us better!!

:thumpsup: Very True!!

[J. R. VanHoose]

Obviously J.R. you've seen what it takes to be a division I basketball player. I know it's impossible to project physicial development, but do you see the potential in any 15th region player to become a DI level player???

May I plead the fifth on this?

[corndog23]

May I plead the fifth on this?

ill take that as a no...

[The Blue Blur]

May I plead the fifth on this?

Sure plead it.

[Slasher 07]

I know the region has no "big men" but a 6'3 or 6'4 player can have his way in this region. And Josh Martin from AC is very good offensively and is scoring around 20 a game this summer. Has impressed me.

[Justin Credible]

I know of some big men, the biggest is Devean Adams 6'8'' of Pikeville, next is Trevor Patton 6'7'' of Prestonsburg, Trai Witt 6'4'' of Betsy Layne....Thats as big as it gets...And I read a post on here earlier that Trai Witt stood at a "MEAN" 6'8, im almost positive he hasnt hit 6'5 yet..The one to beat will be Trevor, stop him then you've stopped Prestonsburg..Devean is still young so theres not much to expect at this time but hit the weights hard and develop your game...As for Trai, I honestly believe BGR makes him out to be like a D1 player..He'll be good but im not expecting anything more than what he did last year.

[MCDADDY]

May I plead the fifth on this?

JR.............Who were some of the most challenging players you played against in the post when you were in high school? Both Nationally and in the state? Also, tell us the difference between the region today, versus the region you played in the 4 years you all went to state. Should be interesting.

[StillGoing]

Since no one has said anything of about Valley's, I figured I'd break the ice. Valley has two young players by the name of Taylor Newsome and Ashley Hatfield. Both are around 6'4 or 6'5 but are very athletic. Ashley is more of a softer player who will sort of play more outside than inside. Taylor is more aggressive and will base his play around the basket. I've played against these boys several times and I can see the determination and talent that they posess. I see these two doing well in the future.

[BasketBallonlyfan]

Isnt Taylor more along the lines of 6 foot to 6'1"?

[J. R. VanHoose]

JR.............Who were some of the most challenging players you played against in the post when you were in high school? Both Nationally and in the state? Also, tell us the difference between the region today, versus the region you played in the 4 years you all went to state. Should be interesting.

In high school I played against some great post players but many were from across the nation. My senior year we went to St. Louis to play in a shootout against a team from Massachusetts (Governor Dummer Academy). They had a 6'11" post player - Dan Gadzuric that weighed about 250. He was supposedly the best post player in the country and he sure thought he was. But we beat his team and I out scored him 32-27. He now plays for the Bucks in the NBA.

I alos played against Chris Burgess (who went to Duke then Utah) and later played for the Suns (NBA) and Malik Allen (who went to Villanova) and later played for the Miami Heat.

The best players in Kentucky that I played against were .... honestly I can't remember any post players in Kentucky that I was really scared of playing against. Alot of them were good battles, good challenges, but nothing like the challenges of the ones I played against from across the country.

The difference in the region today vs. when I played is that many of the top teams in the region had good post players and good guards. There were good teams in the region. For example, Magoffin County was always very good. They had a 6'11" kid in the post that was very strong, and they had many good guards. I always hated playing them because it was a battle every night. Johnson Central had a 6'11" post player (Robinette) and good guards in Jason Shepherd, Derek Howard (who later played at Paintsville), Mike Jarrell and others. Sheldon Clark was always very physical. Prestonsburg had a good post player in Andy Jarvis and guards Wes Sammons and John Ortega. Pikeville had Doug Powers, Scott Justice, and Chase Gibson in the post at different times and had two great shooting guards (I forgot their names). Allen Central had Jeremy Hall and Thomas Jenkins.

What I am trying to say here is that there were alot of teams that were good and challenging in this region when I played. It was going to be a battle every night that you played. If you weren't ready you were going to get beat. The year we won the state tournament we beat Magoffin County in the region finals by 3, that was the hardest game that we had in the post season (even the state tournament). I think that that Magoffin County team could have made some noise at the state tournament that year too!! You just don't see teams like this in the region any more. Kids are too busy playing X-Box and Playstation, they are not working on their game in Open Gyms or playing pick up games aganist older guys who will make them better. I still play pick up sometimes (when I am not busy with the IBL) and I try to take some of Paintsville's high school kids with me to play against some of the guys I play with. It only makes them better!!!!

[The King]

Isnt Taylor more along the lines of 6 foot to 6'1"?

Nope... he is a very legit 6'3". :thumpsup: