[Old School Hound]

Look, this is not an opinion piece advocating for a change of leadership in Corbin basketball.  I'm just throwing this out there for discussion. Someone mentioned on here a few months back that Tony looked like he was burnt out, just going through the motions, so to speak. I really can't say that I've seen that on a grand scale.  Although, it is just human nature, after you've done the same thing for so long, it's not uncommon for a coach to lack the fire and passion he once had.  Does Tony have that same fire that he had when he first took over the reigns of the Redhound program more than two decades ago? I'll leave that for you fans to judge.

I like Tony. I think he is a very good basketball coach. Tony secured his 500th win of his career the other night against Lynn Camp in the CFIT. That's a lot of wins. However, I must point out, that in his 23 or so seasons as coach, Tony has won but four region titles and his teams have never made much noise in the Sweet 16. In recent years he has been absolutely dominated by his friend, Jeff Davis, at South Laurel. I think at one point Jeff won about a dozen straight against Tony.  

This is the second year in a row that Corbin has struggled in its own watered down Cumberland Falls Invitational. This year's field might have been the worst ever. Last year, the Hounds suffered back-to-back double digit losses in their second and third games of the tourney. And tonight, we see yet another double digit loss to a decent, but not great team in Little Miami. That's three double digit losses in the last two CFIT tournaments. Let's face it. In a tourney that Tony claims is extremely important for him and his team to win, recent results have been poor. His team looked about as inspired to be there as the coach did tonight.

Look, Tony P. is never gonna be on the hot seat at Corbin, any more than the Pope is on the hot seat at the Vatican.  Both are in the position for life.  Is four region tourney titles in nearly a quarter of a century good  enough? Again, I think Tony is a good basketball coach. Whether he is as good or as engaged a coach as he used to be is for others to decide. It's frustrating seeing schools like Harlan County and the Laurel schools making waves on the big stage, while Corbin struggles to get over the hump.

Congratulations to the Corbin coach on 500 wins, the winningest coach in Corbin history. Here's hoping that somewhere in the next 500 wins is going to be a couple of state titles.

[Keystone12]

I didn't see Coach Pietrowski at all outside of Corbin games. He wasn't there for the dunk contest. He had two participants. The Three point contest. He had three participants. I was expecting to see him watching some of those teams he might play in person. He wasn't at one of them. You might be on to something about him being burned out. The team definitely wasn't inspired tonight.

[Old School Hound]

I wish Tony's Hounds always played as inspired as Tony seems to be for his Tennessee Vols. TP is one of the biggest Big Orange fans I know. Maybe the Hounds need to switch to Orange unis ????

[HCS]

Four regional titles in a quarter century is really good. Corbin was in the regional finals last year and has been in the mix pretty much every year that Pietrowski has been there.
As much as I like Billy Hicks, I feel the need to point out he won one regional title at Corbin. I remember quite a few years before Billy when Corbin was not a factor at all in the 13th Region.
How old school are you if you can remember Corbin being a contender for state championships?

[Old School Hound]

Four regional titles in a quarter century is really good. Corbin was in the regional finals last year and has been in the mix pretty much every year that Pietrowski has been there.
As much as I like Billy Hicks, I feel the need to point out he won one regional title at Corbin. I remember quite a few years before Billy when Corbin was not a factor at all in the 13th Region.
How old school are you if you can remember Corbin being a contender for state championships?

I'm old. Harry Taylor was my principal in grade school. In the six-year stretch between 1947-1952, Taylor won six straight regional titles and was rated one of the state's top five coaches.  Billy Hicks had teams at Corbin ranked in the top 5. The team that was upset in triple overtime to Jackson County in the 13th region tourney might have made some serious noise in the state tourney. Hicks would have won a state title at Corbin if he had stayed another decade. The gd point is, 1 region title every six years is not good enough at Corbin. It just isn't. Losing a dozen games in a row to South Laurel is not good enough at Corbin. It just isn't.

As I said, I like Tony. I was at Tony's house the day he was born. He's a good coach. He's won a lot of ball games. I just threw out the suggestion that maybe Tony is worn down from the grind of 23 years. He doesn't seem to have the same energy he once had(which is understandable, cause I sure as hell don't either). Things that used to get TP pissed off he just seems to take in stride now. I wanna see Tony toss a chair or go nose to nose with Davis like Billy Hicks did with Bill Swafford of Knox Central.  Show us that you still give a damn, TP!!!  I , for one, believe you do.  Now, convince your kids that you do. They sure looked uninspired in the CFIT, and their effort seemed to reflect the uninspired countenance  of their coach.

[Old School Hound]

Four regional titles in a quarter century is really good. Corbin was in the regional finals last year and has been in the mix pretty much every year that Pietrowski has been there.
As much as I like Billy Hicks, I feel the need to point out he won one regional title at Corbin. I remember quite a few years before Billy when Corbin was not a factor at all in the 13th Region.
How old school are you if you can remember Corbin being a contender for state championships?

Don't come at me with that weak sauce. You're too good for that.
I'm old enough to remember Corbin being ranked in  the top 5 in the state during player Pietrowski years. I can remember them knocking off #1 ranked Harlan on a Pietrowski buzzer beater at Gilliam Gym. Corbin, I think was ranked in the top 5, as well, at that time. I can remember Billy Hicks and Bill Swafford going nose to nose and almost coming to blows at midcourt during a game at KCHS between the two top ranked teams in the state by one poll , Corbin and Knox Central. Pietrowski and Allen Sharpe put on a show with Corbin coming out on top. In '94, had Corbin not gotten upset in triple OT in the region tourney, they would have been one of the three or four favorites to win the state championship. So, there...

[Granny Bear]

There isn't another coach anywhere who could match the passion of Billy Hicks, IMO. I used to go to his games just to watch HIM. He was THE most animated coach of all time, and I loved his passion!!!

"Could have been", "would have been", don't cut the mustard. You should know that from the Corbin football experience.

I don't get out to basketball games anymore. HCS is probably tickled about that!! So I haven't seen TP coach in a while. Maybe 23 years is his limit.

[cchsfan4life]

Look, this is not an opinion piece advocating for a change of leadership in Corbin basketball.  I'm just throwing this out there for discussion. Someone mentioned on here a few months back that Tony looked like he was burnt out, just going through the motions, so to speak. I really can't say that I've seen that on a grand scale.  Although, it is just human nature, after you've done the same thing for so long, it's not uncommon for a coach to lack the fire and passion he once had.  Does Tony have that same fire that he had when he first took over the reigns of the Redhound program more than two decades ago? I'll leave that for you fans to judge.

I like Tony. I think he is a very good basketball coach. Tony secured his 500th win of his career the other night against Lynn Camp in the CFIT. That's a lot of wins. However, I must point out, that in his 23 or so seasons as coach, Tony has won but four region titles and his teams have never made much noise in the Sweet 16. In recent years he has been absolutely dominated by his friend, Jeff Davis, at South Laurel. I think at one point Jeff won about a dozen straight against Tony.  

This is the second year in a row that Corbin has struggled in its own watered down Cumberland Falls Invitational. This year's field might have been the worst ever. Last year, the Hounds suffered back-to-back double digit losses in their second and third games of the tourney. And tonight, we see yet another double digit loss to a decent, but not great team in Little Miami. That's three double digit losses in the last two CFIT tournaments. Let's face it. In a tourney that Tony claims is extremely important for him and his team to win, recent results have been poor. His team looked about as inspired to be there as the coach did tonight.

Look, Tony P. is never gonna be on the hot seat at Corbin, any more than the Pope is on the hot seat at the Vatican.  Both are in the position for life.  Is four region tourney titles in nearly a quarter of a century good  enough? Again, I think Tony is a good basketball coach. Whether he is as good or as engaged a coach as he used to be is for others to decide. It's frustrating seeing schools like Harlan County and the Laurel schools making waves on the big stage, while Corbin struggles to get over the hump.

Congratulations to the Corbin coach on 500 wins, the winningest coach in Corbin history. Here's hoping that somewhere in the next 500 wins is going to be a couple of state titles.


Aren't you the one who was a pledged supporter or Coach Gray at Clay County when he couldn't even get out of the district?  Didn't you say numerous times he was a good coach?  Now your wanting Corbin to move on from  Coach P???  Harlan County had a stud last year and kids around him that excepted their role and played it.  North Laurel had a once in a generation talent in Shepard.........Neither one of those teams are up to those standards this year even though they both have a shot to win the 13th but without a killer draw in state they will not make any noise.  Stop living in the old days like you say Clay fans do with Coach Keith.  It is a different world in high school ball now.  To many prep schools and recruiting for teams in the mountains to compete on a regular basis.  Now every once in a while you will have talent come up like Noah and Shepard but not on a yearly basis. 

[shottaker23]

Old school I’m with you on a lot of what you say and feel your pain with Laurel County’s slide. Personally I do think TP is burnt out, but that can be said about any long term coach. On a side note I do think TP has been reinvigorated by coaching his young daughter( still wouldn’t be surprised to see him coaching the girls team in the near future) but coaching a boys team now versus even 5 years ago is a huge difference. For instance back in the day kids didn’t transfer if they were unhappy they figured it out. Nowadays with AAU kids aspire to create a super team recruiting more them self than outsiders could ever do. I know for a fact that 1 kid on this years group has made TP add grey hairs. Ironically transferring to Corbin for higher visibility then holding TP hostage and approaching GRC about transferring(everyone in the 50th knows who it is so I won’t say the name). It’s a struggle to keep a roster together now and in the past all athletes at Corbin play all sports if they were talented enuff,nowadays you have specialists who concentrate on one sport. Yes I do believe he is burnt but who would you replace him with(and they would have the same problems). Personally I hope TP gets more involved with his daughters program as I will reignite his love for the game and at the end of the day TP is top 2 in the region even being a shade burnt

[fridaynightfights]

Good luck replacing him if he's on the hot seat. Don't think incoming candidates don't consider what the current coach is going through. If TP is out for any reason beyond his own desire to be done the applicant pool will be cut in half. It's a great job so they will still draw names, but this is a top tier job if it comes open the right way, if it comes open the wrong way then you go from a tier 1 coach to a tier 2 or 3 scramble in a hurry. These coaches all talk and they know what their counterparts are going through.

[shottaker23]

He is not on a hot seat in any way shape or form. It’s his job for life

[HCS]

Four regional titles in a quarter century is really good. Corbin was in the regional finals last year and has been in the mix pretty much every year that Pietrowski has been there.
As much as I like Billy Hicks, I feel the need to point out he won one regional title at Corbin. I remember quite a few years before Billy when Corbin was not a factor at all in the 13th Region.
How old school are you if you can remember Corbin being a contender for state championships?

Don't come at me with that weak sauce. You're too good for that. :)
I'm old enough to remember Corbin being ranked in  the top 5 in the state during player Pietrowski years. I can remember them knocking off #1 ranked Harlan on a Pietrowski buzzer beater at Gilliam Gym. Corbin, I think was ranked in the top 5, as well, at that time. I can remember Billy Hicks and Bill Swafford going nose to nose and almost coming to blows at midcourt during a game at KCHS between the two top ranked teams in the state by one poll , Corbin and Knox Central. Pietrowski and Allen Sharpe put on a show with Corbin coming out on top. In '94, had Corbin not gotten upset in triple OT in the region tourney, they would have been one of the three or four favorites to win the state championship. So, there...

As Granny said, "would've, could've." I'll admit the 13th was very strong in 94 and 95. Harlan, Corbin and maybe Barbourville were all ranked in the top 20, I think, but all of them were sitting at home for the 13th Region finals that year. Clay won and lost in the first round of the state tournament to a really good Fairdale team.
Tony's Corbin team last year, for example, lost in the regional finals to a team that played in the state finals.

[Gridiron_Raid]

Ok so, i hear people saying 4 region titles in 25 years is so impressive you get the job for life or whatever. So i ask this question, how many teams have won more regional titles in that frame in this region? From 98 to 2023, Corbin has won 5, 1 with Deaton. Clay has won 5. South 4. North and Knox 3. Harlan county (including cumberland) 3. No other team has won 3 in that span. However, let’s think about logistics. The best football program over multiple coaching tenures in this region over the last 25 years in Corbin. No team minus maybe the 2019 bell county team would beat corbin from this region in football in nearly the last decade. The best team in all sports combined in the last 25 years is Corbin. Corbin has the tools in place to win at athletics and academics over every other school in our area that is undisputed. However, Corbin basketball is not as dominate as they probably should be, they are just consistent. Corbin athletics requires top notch at every single level for players and coaching, except for men’s basketball. They accept consistency. Let’s run out a football coach who loses 5 games in 4 years or whatever greer did, or run off probably the best active coach in kentucky in haddix, to strive for GLORY. But in men’s basketball 20 wins is fine. I’m not a corbin supporter or anything, but i don’t really understand that double standard.

[SEKYFAN]

Is Brent West still an assistant coach? I always thought that he was one of the keys to Corbin's success.

[Keystone12]

Shottaker you must have a real ax to grind with akins dad. I know this is the fifth time you’ve mentioned this situation. You had me asking people at a corbin game which guy sitting on the bench was akins dad? I was told he didn’t sit on the bench. The kid can play. His daddy may be a jerk and i dont know that to be true but take akins off that team and they dont have a lot. Kid is unselfish and it seems like his teammates love him. Work it out with his dad already.

[Old School Hound]

Look, this is not an opinion piece advocating for a change of leadership in Corbin basketball.  I'm just throwing this out there for discussion. Someone mentioned on here a few months back that Tony looked like he was burnt out, just going through the motions, so to speak. I really can't say that I've seen that on a grand scale.  Although, it is just human nature, after you've done the same thing for so long, it's not uncommon for a coach to lack the fire and passion he once had.  Does Tony have that same fire that he had when he first took over the reigns of the Redhound program more than two decades ago? I'll leave that for you fans to judge.

I like Tony. I think he is a very good basketball coach. Tony secured his 500th win of his career the other night against Lynn Camp in the CFIT. That's a lot of wins. However, I must point out, that in his 23 or so seasons as coach, Tony has won but four region titles and his teams have never made much noise in the Sweet 16. In recent years he has been absolutely dominated by his friend, Jeff Davis, at South Laurel. I think at one point Jeff won about a dozen straight against Tony.  

This is the second year in a row that Corbin has struggled in its own watered down Cumberland Falls Invitational. This year's field might have been the worst ever. Last year, the Hounds suffered back-to-back double digit losses in their second and third games of the tourney. And tonight, we see yet another double digit loss to a decent, but not great team in Little Miami. That's three double digit losses in the last two CFIT tournaments. Let's face it. In a tourney that Tony claims is extremely important for him and his team to win, recent results have been poor. His team looked about as inspired to be there as the coach did tonight.

Look, Tony P. is never gonna be on the hot seat at Corbin, any more than the Pope is on the hot seat at the Vatican.  Both are in the position for life.  Is four region tourney titles in nearly a quarter of a century good  enough? Again, I think Tony is a good basketball coach. Whether he is as good or as engaged a coach as he used to be is for others to decide. It's frustrating seeing schools like Harlan County and the Laurel schools making waves on the big stage, while Corbin struggles to get over the hump.

Congratulations to the Corbin coach on 500 wins, the winningest coach in Corbin history. Here's hoping that somewhere in the next 500 wins is going to be a couple of state titles.


Aren't you the one who was a pledged supporter or Coach Gray at Clay County when he couldn't even get out of the district?  Didn't you say numerous times he was a good coach?  Now your wanting Corbin to move on from  Coach P???  Harlan County had a stud last year and kids around him that excepted their role and played it.  North Laurel had a once in a generation talent in Shepard.........Neither one of those teams are up to those standards this year even though they both have a shot to win the 13th but without a killer draw in state they will not make any noise.  Stop living in the old days like you say Clay fans do with Coach Keith.  It is a different world in high school ball now.  To many prep schools and recruiting for teams in the mountains to compete on a regular basis.  Now every once in a while you will have talent come up like Noah and Shepard but not on a yearly basis. 

Reading comprehension has always been a terrible problem in Manchester. Seems it hasn't gotten better. I CLEARLY stated that the OP  WAS NOT calling for a change of leadership in basketball at Corbin. I was simply tossing out a suggestion that others have brought up from time to time, and that is that maybe Tony is burnt out a bit from the grind of 23 years. His team looked very inspired during the CFIT and Tony didn't exhibit a lot of zeal either. I'm not saying he's just going through the motions but that maybe he's just worn down and needs his batteries recharged if he's gonna continue coaching for another 20+ years.

Tony is young enough that he could conceivably surpass His mentor's record of 1,013 wins. After beating Somerset tonight, Tony will have 501 wins to his credit. They are likely to win another 14 games this season . That will put his total at 515 after the 2024-25 season.   I think Tony's about 48 years old. If he coaches until he is 70 ,  or 22 more seasons after this one, which is conceivable, and his teams average 23 wins a season, that would mean 515 +506 = 1,021 wins for his career. He would surpass Billy Hicks and become the all-time winningest coach in KY HS basketball history.  Now, does Tony have the juice to go another 22 years? He doesn't appear to of late but maybe he gets rejuvenated. He is about halfway to Hicks' record. Does TP have another 22 years that can match his first 22. If so, he'll be the winningest coach of all time. I'm all in for it!!!!

[Old School Hound]

Old school I’m with you on a lot of what you say and feel your pain with Laurel County’s slide. Personally I do think TP is burnt out, but that can be said about any long term coach. On a side note I do think TP has been reinvigorated by coaching his young daughter( still wouldn’t be surprised to see him coaching the girls team in the near future) but coaching a boys team now versus even 5 years ago is a huge difference. For instance back in the day kids didn’t transfer if they were unhappy they figured it out. Nowadays with AAU kids aspire to create a super team recruiting more them self than outsiders could ever do. I know for a fact that 1 kid on this years group has made TP add grey hairs. Ironically transferring to Corbin for higher visibility then holding TP hostage and approaching GRC about transferring(everyone in the 50th knows who it is so I won’t say the name). It’s a struggle to keep a roster together now and in the past all athletes at Corbin play all sports if they were talented enuff,nowadays you have specialists who concentrate on one sport. Yes I do believe he is burnt but who would you replace him with(and they would have the same problems). Personally I hope TP gets more involved with his daughters program as I will reignite his love for the game and at the end of the day TP is top 2 in the region even being a shade burnt

Totally agree. I've always rated TP as one of the top 2 or 3 coaches in the region. The only one of late that I have rated higher is Davis, and that's because Jeff has owned Tony head-to-head. I'm rooting for Tony to go another 22 years, and in that time, I'm hoping for a state title.  Four region titles in nearly a quarter of a century shouldn't be good enough at Corbin, and Tony would agree.
I'm a Tony fan.

One thing I would suggest that Tony do if he gonna coach another 22 years is to get that SOB ,John Crawford, off of his bench and away from his players. No one drains the energy from a room like Johnny Crawford. I can only imagine what he does to a bunch of 15 and 16 y.o. kids. I remember back in the day when, instead of listening to his coach, John Crow Fletcher, Crawford would tune out the coach and pay attention only to his daddy, Jim Lee Crawford, who was perched right behind the Corbin bench. He will take anything good going on at a gathering of people and turn it into sad face in five minutes.  #EjectJohnCrawford

[Old School Hound]

He is not on a hot seat in any way shape or form. It’s his job for life

Precisely what the OP stated in his piece.   

[Old School Hound]

Four regional titles in a quarter century is really good. Corbin was in the regional finals last year and has been in the mix pretty much every year that Pietrowski has been there.
As much as I like Billy Hicks, I feel the need to point out he won one regional title at Corbin. I remember quite a few years before Billy when Corbin was not a factor at all in the 13th Region.
How old school are you if you can remember Corbin being a contender for state championships?

Don't come at me with that weak sauce. You're too good for that.
I'm old enough to remember Corbin being ranked in  the top 5 in the state during player Pietrowski years. I can remember them knocking off #1 ranked Harlan on a Pietrowski buzzer beater at Gilliam Gym. Corbin, I think was ranked in the top 5, as well, at that time. I can remember Billy Hicks and Bill Swafford going nose to nose and almost coming to blows at midcourt during a game at KCHS between the two top ranked teams in the state by one poll , Corbin and Knox Central. Pietrowski and Allen Sharpe put on a show with Corbin coming out on top. In '94, had Corbin not gotten upset in triple OT in the region tourney, they would have been one of the three or four favorites to win the state championship. So, there...

As Granny said, "would've, could've." I'll admit the 13th was very strong in 94 and 95. Harlan, Corbin and maybe Barbourville were all ranked in the top 20, I think, but all of them were sitting at home for the 13th Region finals that year. Clay won and lost in the first round of the state tournament to a really good Fairdale team.
Tony's Corbin team last year, for example, lost in the regional finals to a team that played in the state finals.

You asked me how old must I be to remember a time when Corbin was a contender for a state title, and I answered you. In 1991, the Bo Roaden-led Corbin team won their first round game by 20 pts or more, and then played eventual champ Fairdale tough, before losing, I think by 6 pts. Corbin went into that Sweet 16 with the fourth or fifth highest rating(Cantrell or LIT) of the Sweet 16 participants.  The '94 Corbin team also would have been one of the three or four favorites to win the state championship, based on computer ratings. So, yes, in '91 and '94, Corbin was contenders for a title. The triple OT upset loss to Jackson Co. in the region made a lot of people across the state happy because the Redhounds were very, very strong, and a definite threat to win a title.

[RunItUpTheGut]

Billy Hicks had much stiffer competition than TP ever did. He was smart enough to know he wasn’t going to be able to continually have the talent at Corbin, which was a really small school back then, and made the jump to SC.
As for Pietrowski, you can say what you want but the guy has been the best coach in the region since he’s been there, at least as far as programs are concerned. What school in the region has had a better 23-24 years since he took over?

All that said, I do think the end is near. I think the plan was always to get the kid through school and then go from there. Seems like that’s what most of them do anyways. If he stepped away now I’d still consider him one of the regions best ever, and I think that time has come or is really close to coming.

[HCS]

If you can remember Harry Taylor, I guess I will get over you suggesting I was crazy for not seeing a Corbin player on the bench who actually wasn't there.
Different world in the 40s-50s though - before integration and most consolidations.

---

Ok so, i hear people saying 4 region titles in 25 years is so impressive you get the job for life or whatever. So i ask this question, how many teams have won more regional titles in that frame in this region? From 98 to 2023, Corbin has won 5, 1 with Deaton. Clay has won 5. South 4. North and Knox 3. Harlan county (including cumberland) 3. No other team has won 3 in that span. However, let’s think about logistics. The best football program over multiple coaching tenures in this region over the last 25 years in Corbin. No team minus maybe the 2019 bell county team would beat corbin from this region in football in nearly the last decade. The best team in all sports combined in the last 25 years is Corbin. Corbin has the tools in place to win at athletics and academics over every other school in our area that is undisputed. However, Corbin basketball is not as dominate as they probably should be, they are just consistent. Corbin athletics requires top notch at every single level for players and coaching, except for men’s basketball. They accept consistency. Let’s run out a football coach who loses 5 games in 4 years or whatever greer did, or run off probably the best active coach in kentucky in haddix, to strive for GLORY. But in men’s basketball 20 wins is fine. I’m not a corbin supporter or anything, but i don’t really understand that double standard.

Are there just two sports in this discussion?
I think the girls basketball team has won three regional titles in that time. Not sure about softball, but it seems North and South have dominated there.
Baseball has won several regions, but none from 2007 to around 2017.
Not sure on cross country and track. I believe they've won a crazy amount in tennis though.

---

Billy Hicks had much stiffer competition than TP ever did. He was smart enough to know he wasn’t going to be able to continually have the talent at Corbin, which was a really small school back then, and made the jump to SC.
As for Pietrowski, you can say what you want but the guy has been the best coach in the region since he’s been there, at least as far as programs are concerned. What school in the region has had a better 23-24 years since he took over?

All that said, I do think the end is near. I think the plan was always to get the kid through school and then go from there. Seems like that’s what most of them do anyways. If he stepped away now I’d still consider him one of the regions best ever, and I think that time has come or is really close to coming.

Clay was really good, but most of that was in Billy's first couple of years when he was rebuilding. Hicks didn't have to beat the Laurels for a regional championship or a consolidated Harlan County. He didn't have to beat a future NBA player or two future UK players (Richie was the only one then, I bellieve).

[Cactus Jack]

This is a bit off-topic, but I think the proliferation of prep schools is only going to help the mountain teams.

Go back 25 years or so and the only players from Kentucky that I can really remember leaving for prep schools off the top of my head are Rajon Rondo, Tony Key, and D'Angelo Russell.

It goes without saying what losing a Jasper Johnson will do to a program like Woodford County. He, Kaden Magwood (formerly of Louisville Western who is committed to Auburn) and Tyran Stokes (#1 player in the class of 2026, from Louisville but at a prep school in CA) and Tay Kinney (Newport now at Overtime Elite) would have candidates for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and playing in the KY/IN All-Star game as few as 10 years ago.

I can't remember the last time a mountain kid went to a prep school. The only one I could think of (but am unsure about) is the wing from Perry Central in the late 90's-- can't remember if he went somewhere for awhile or not.

All of this to say that mountain kids aren't getting plucked up by prep schools. Many mountain kids who might even get looks from prep schools probably aren't seriously considering going in the way that kids in other areas may, and when they do, there are social factors that probably make them more likely to return home.

Mark my words, prep schools will continue to disproportionately effect the Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, and (to a lesser extent) Bowling Green areas more than they do anywhere else.

If NIL and Overtime Elite existed 15 or so years ago, there's a much better chance that key parts of the Louisville Eastern team (Remy Abell, Kameron Woods, etc.) that beat Corbin in the first round of the Sweet 16 would have been elsewhere. It's my understanding that their Eastern team was built in a similar way to how Louisville Western was two or three years ago (and now few, if any, of those kids are still in their program).

Take it back 20-25 years ago and Tony Key is probably getting paid to play in Overtime Elite instead of beating one of Deaton's better (and one of the more underrated) Corbin teams in '99. Same for a Brandon Bender at Ballard or basically any kid who wasn't also a really good football player (as prep school football programs are much more rare).

[Old School Hound]

This is a bit off-topic, but I think the proliferation of prep schools is only going to help the mountain teams.

Go back 25 years or so and the only players from Kentucky that I can really remember leaving for prep schools off the top of my head are Rajon Rondo, Tony Key, and D'Angelo Russell.

It goes without saying what losing a Jasper Johnson will do to a program like Woodford County. He, Kaden Magwood (formerly of Louisville Western who is committed to Auburn) and Tyran Stokes (#1 player in the class of 2026, from Louisville but at a prep school in CA) and Tay Kinney (Newport now at Overtime Elite) would have candidates for Kentucky's Mr. Basketball and playing in the KY/IN All-Star game as few as 10 years ago.

I can't remember the last time a mountain kid went to a prep school. The only one I could think of (but am unsure about) is the wing from Perry Central in the late 90's-- can't remember if he went somewhere for awhile or not.

All of this to say that mountain kids aren't getting plucked up by prep schools. Many mountain kids who might even get looks from prep schools probably aren't seriously considering going in the way that kids in other areas may, and when they do, there are social factors that probably make them more likely to return home.

Mark my words, prep schools will continue to disproportionately effect the Louisville, Northern Kentucky, Lexington, and (to a lesser extent) Bowling Green areas more than they do anywhere else.

If NIL and Overtime Elite existed 15 or so years ago, there's a much better chance that key parts of the Louisville Eastern team (Remy Abell, Kameron Woods, etc.) that beat Corbin in the first round of the Sweet 16 would have been elsewhere. It's my understanding that their Eastern team was built in a similar way to how Louisville Western was two or three years ago (and now few, if any, of those kids are still in their program).

Take it back 20-25 years ago and Tony Key is probably getting paid to play in Overtime Elite instead of beating one of Deaton's better (and one of the more underrated) Corbin teams in '99. Same for a Brandon Bender at Ballard or basically any kid who wasn't also a really good football player (as prep school football programs are much more rare).

Interesting.   

Tony Key was a man child. Man, Corbin has had some tough draws in the Swt. 16.

[Cactus Jack]

Tony Key was a man child. Man, Corbin has had some tough draws in the Swt. 16.

One of my Corbin sports hills to die on: the 1999 Corbin team with Josh Brock is one of, if not the, most underrated team in recent Corbin/13th Region history (going back the past 25 or so years).

Some of the late 90's to 2001 Bell County teams and the 1999 Harlan team with Kyle Jones, Robinson, Fields, Greer, and Anderson are up there too.

Really bad draws in a three year period with the 15th (Paintsville with Tackett & Van Hoose), 11th (Madison Central with Estill and Jenkins), and 4th (Russellville with Key, Dickerson, Hampton, and Morris). During that time, there were usually at least two teams in the 13th that probably would have been able to beat a number of the other teams in the field.

Since then I know Corbin got a really good Eastern team once and a good Scott County team another. Cash's Rockcastle teams got PRP and a runner-up Tilghman. Some of those years kind of run together for me, but it seems like the better draws in the late 90's and 2000's came in years where the 13th's rep might not have been quite as strong.

[Old School Hound]

Tony Key was a man child. Man, Corbin has had some tough draws in the Swt. 16.

One of my Corbin sports hills to die on: the 1999 Corbin team with Josh Brock is one of, if not the, most underrated team in recent Corbin/13th Region history (going back the past 25 or so years).

Some of the late 90's to 2001 Bell County teams and the 1999 Harlan team with Kyle Jones, Robinson, Fields, Greer, and Anderson are up there too.

Really bad draws in a three year period with the 15th (Paintsville with Tackett & Van Hoose), 11th (Madison Central with Estill and Jenkins), and 4th (Russellville with Key, Dickerson, Hampton, and Morris). During that time, there were usually at least two teams in the 13th that probably would have been able to beat a number of the other teams in the field.

Since then I know Corbin got a really good Eastern team once and a good Scott County team another. Cash's Rockcastle teams got PRP and a runner-up Tilghman. Some of those years kind of run together for me, but it seems like the better draws in the late 90's and 2000's came in years where the 13th's rep might not have been quite as strong.

Spot on!!!

[Keystone12]

Old school I’m with you on a lot of what you say and feel your pain with Laurel County’s slide. Personally I do think TP is burnt out, but that can be said about any long term coach. On a side note I do think TP has been reinvigorated by coaching his young daughter( still wouldn’t be surprised to see him coaching the girls team in the near future) but coaching a boys team now versus even 5 years ago is a huge difference. For instance back in the day kids didn’t transfer if they were unhappy they figured it out. Nowadays with AAU kids aspire to create a super team recruiting more them self than outsiders could ever do. I know for a fact that 1 kid on this years group has made TP add grey hairs. Ironically transferring to Corbin for higher visibility then holding TP hostage and approaching GRC about transferring(everyone in the 50th knows who it is so I won’t say the name). It’s a struggle to keep a roster together now and in the past all athletes at Corbin play all sports if they were talented enuff,nowadays you have specialists who concentrate on one sport. Yes I do believe he is burnt but who would you replace him with(and they would have the same problems). Personally I hope TP gets more involved with his daughters program as I will reignite his love for the game and at the end of the day TP is top 2 in the region even being a shade burnt

Shottaker you must have a real ax to grind with akins dad. I know this is the fifth time you’ve mentioned this situation. You had me asking people at a corbin game which guy sitting on the bench was akins dad? I was told he didn’t sit on the bench. The kid can play. His daddy may be a jerk and i dont know that to be true but take akins off that team and they dont have a lot. Kid is unselfish and it seems like his teammates love him. Work it out with his dad already.

[Cactus Jack]

Spot on!!!

Think most knew what I meant in the original post since I was talking about Russellville but I should have said the 1999-2000 team with Brock and Barton. The 1999 team with Sears that lost to Harlan in the semi wasn't bad by any means, but they had a bit more notoriety.

The 2000 team almost made a serious run, and if they'd had another kid with size or a better draw, most would probably remember them differently.

[Old School Hound]

Just two games after his father secured his 500th win as Corbin coach, Eli Pietrowski scored his 1,000 point as a Corbin Redhound. Congratulations to both Pietrowski men. Well done, fellas!!!

Now, let's go get some championships.