[Stardust]

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Developing a high school basketball big man is like developing a thoroughbred. Both start out gawky and awkward. Both need growth and strengthening and training and teaching. It's a process.

"The No. 1 word is patience," said Covington Catholic coach Mike Listerman. "You see potential and upside, but you have to play them and let them make mistakes and be clumsy in those early years. Then you get them into the weight room and get them stronger. Once that coordination comes around you can teach them some moves.

"And then you hope they're able to put it all together before they graduate."

A group of Northern Kentucky standouts has done just that - grown into their roles as go-to players on their respective teams. And they've done it very close to the basket. This year, the area's best players are the ones wearing the biggest warm-ups.

In a preseason poll conducted by Northern Kentucky coaches to determine the area's top players, four of the top five were post players.

Newport Central Catholic senior Jake Giesler was selected No. 1 on the list. The 6-foot-7 three-year starter is coming off a season in which he averaged 12.5 points and 7.5 rebounds a game and shot 60 percent from the field. And although Giesler has always been big, NewCath coach Grant Brannen said he's finally grown into his role.

"His maturity in the past year has been huge. He's our leader. He just gets it now," said Brannen. "He's just gotten tougher. ... But Jake's going to have to bring it every night. I think I have the best big guy, but there are a lot of guys who are right there. It's unbelievable."

Also high on the coaches' preseason list are Conner's Tyler Hodges, Ryle's Bobby Stauffer and CovCath's Jake Thelen. All came on late in their junior seasons and hope to carry on that momentum.

"It's been gradual thing with Tyler," said Conner coach Jim Hicks. "The light has really gone on for him. The very first game of the summer against Dixie he got out on a breakaway and had a two-hand dunk. I think he just kind of said, 'Wow, I can do some things.'"

Last year, seven of the top 10 players on the preseason list were guards. This year, seven of the top 10 are centers or forwards. And several teams have quality depth down low. Conner could measure 6-8, 6-5, 6-6 across the front. CovCath could run out a similar lineup. Beechwood probably will start two 6-6 players and two 6-4 players.

Said Listerman: "It's the year of the big man."

Biggest And Best

A look at Northern Kentucky's top 10 boys' basketball players, based on a preseason coaches' poll:

Name School P. Ht. Scouting report
Jake Giesler NewCath C 6-7 Experienced and consistent post presence on both ends
Tyler Hodges Conner C 6-8 Athletic shot blocker
Kellen Smith Scott G 6-1 Area's top assist man will look to score more as a senior
Bobby Stauffer Ryle C 6-7 Played very well down the stretch last year, going head to head with some of the area's best big men
Jake Thelen CovCath C 6-6 Great low-post scorer
Travis Montgomery Boone Co. F 6-5 Explosive leaper who will need to score more as a senior
Matt Trammel Dixie Heights G 6-0 Team's starting point guard as a sophomore, limited due to injury last year
Donnie Cheatum Lloyd F 6-5 Nearly averaged a double-double as a junior, probably will this year
Jack Stewart Highlands C 6-7 Recruiting expert Rick Bolus called him one of the state's top sleepers
Cody Chambers Simon Kenton G 6-1 One of the area's top shooters