KENTUCKY PREP REPORT
by Larry Kihnley, Kentucky Editor of the HOOP SCOOP

KIHNLEY RANKS 'EM: THE TOP PREP PLAYERS IN KENTUCKY

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KENTUCKY'S JUNIOR CLASS IS THE TALK OF THE STATE
by Larry Kihnley, Kentucky Editor of the HOOP SCOOP         

         If you're going to talk about the coming season in Kentucky high school basketball, all conversations must start with the junior class, which could prove to be the best group the state has produced since 1996 when Lamont Barnes (Temple), Dan Langhi (Vanderbilt), Isiah Victor (Tennessee), Matt Montague (Brigham Young), and Daymeon Fishback (Auburn) came out.  With potential big time prospect 6'9 Brandon Bender, who led Louisville (Ballard) KY to a state championship last season, at the top of the list, this class possesses 15 players who are solid mid-to-upper Division I college prospects, half of which may sign at the high major level.  If that were not enough, Bender claimed this summer that he would forego his senior season of high school to the NBA draft!
             Bender has since said he will wait at least until his high school career is over and that he was even misquoted, but I've heard from excellent sources that he wasn't.  The bottom line with this issue is that Bender is a kid, a very talented kid, but no less a kid.  Just because he looks like a man that doesn't always mean that somebody his age acts and thinks things through like most adults.  Most of them don't think past tomorrow and Bender has typically said what was on his mind before he has thought it through.  Yet, at this stage, he would struggle to make a major impact at the big time college level.  If by chance he does enter his name into the NBA draft over the course of the next four or five years, I think he will be getting some extremely bad advice.
            The class took a major hit when 6'10, 265 pound Tony Key transferred from Russellville High to Washington College in Limestone, TN.  For the record, Washington College is not a school for fifth year players like Pittsfield (Maine Central Institute) ME, Winchendon (School) MA, or Chatham (Hargrave Military) VA.  It is more along the lines of Mouth of Wilson (Oak Hill) VA, where they board their players, but still play a high school schedule on a national level.  Even without Key, Bender gives the class national creditability and 6'2 Jr Patrick Sparks from Greenville (Muhlenberg North) KY, 6'4 Jr Larry O'Bannon from Louisville (Male) KY, 6'2 Jr Adam Chiles from Louisville (Ballard) KY, 6'7 Jr Nate Austin from Georgetown (Scott County) KY, 6'3 Jr Ben Bowling from Hazard (Perry County Central) KY, 6'4 Jr Brett Jones from Paducah (Tilghman) KY, 6'8 Jr Brian Thornton of Louisville (Manual) KY, and 6'4 Jr Josh Carrier from Bowling Green (H.S.) KY are all excellent in their own right.
            Throughout his young career Sparks has played with the poise of a seasoned veteran.  He is extremely sound fundamentally and can run a team and/or score a lot of points.  The value of O'Bannon's stock has really jumped since last season and in new Male High School coach Byrce Hibbard's up tempo style, he will be able to show his athletically gifted game.  At 6'4, he is the perfect 2-guard, as well as a student of the game and a class act both on and off the court.  Chiles may have a position problem at the big time level, because he's only 6'2 and he's not a point guard.  However, it may not matter, because he's such a great athletic and scorer, plus he's strong and physical, which makes him almost unstoppable going to the hole.
            Austin is an excellent athlete with big time size and potential, but he's yet to put it all together on a consistent basis.  Bowling is an excellent 3-point shooter with great hops and an excellent body.  Jones is a phenomenal 3-point shooter and has a great understanding of the game, which makes up for his lack of athleticism.  Thornton is more of a project than a proven commodity, but he's still growing and he has great hands, a great attitude, and a great work ethic.  Carrier is a great outside shooter and he's got the name - remember his dad is former Western Kentucky All-American Darrell Carrier.The best senior in the state is 6'5 Scott Hundley from Georgetown (Scott County) KY, who has already verbally committed to Vanderbilt.  He has questionable athletic ability and quickness for this level, but new Vanderbilt head coach Kevin Stallings is banking on this 3-man's excellent feel for the game.  He has excellent passing skills and the ability to rebound and score against bigger players.  This was especially evident last season when Scott County played a strong national schedule, winning tournaments, like the City of Palms Classic and the Kentucky Holiday Classic.
            While Hundley gets our vote as the #1 senior in the state right now, the best prospect in the senior class is Bender's teammate at Ballard,  Cedric Knight.  Knight is 6'6 and powerfully built, yet the question marks lie in his athletic ability and explosiveness for the big time level.  He is very skilled, but can he blow past a defender and can he defend a wing player in the SEC or the ACC?  Which means he's an undersized 4-man at the highest level.  As a result, we think he his game is best suited for somebody at the Sun Belt level, where he can play the power forward position and take advantage of mismatches.
            The third member of Ballard's "towering trio" is 6'8 Mac Wilkinson, who is the younger brother of the San Antonio Spurs' Felton Spencer.  Wilkinson is well schooled in the art of low post play, but he needs to become more physical inside.  Otherwise, he'll have no shot a beating out Hundley or Knight for Mr. Basketball, because he will be playing in Bender's shadow and will not put up big numbers, as the Bruins have four Division I prospects in their starting lineup.  However, he is 6'8 and can catch it and score inside, plus he plays pretty hard.  Some big time schools have shown some interest and after they miss on a few of their top priorities, they will be back for a second look.  If not, he may choose to play at Louisville as a non-scholarship player.
            Tom Frericks of Bowling Green's Greenwood High School is a 6'9 center who has drawn the attention of some solid programs.  A strong insider, Frericks at times this summer was dominant.  He is a good rebounder, has nice hands, and jumps well, but he struggles with the consistency of his game.  He has dreamed of playing for Notre Dame, but it doesn't look like the Irish will offer and hometown Western Kentucky is looking for backcourt help.  So look for Tulsa to sign him if he goes early, but Xavier and Miami-FL are interested and could make a late run.
               The player in the senior class who has improved his value more than anyone is 6'5 Blake Downing from Louisville (Pleasure Ridge Park) KY.   Last year with Duane King (Penn), Michael Griffith (East Tennessee State), and Kevin Paschel (Murray State), Downing was nothing more than a good role player.  But during the summer, he stepped up and become a star.  He showed his versatility in a game pitting the Kentucky All-Stars, which featured all the state's top seniors, against its finest underclassmen.  In that game, Downing scored a game high 26 points, grabbed nine rebounds, and hit 3-4 3-pointers.  Also during the summer he led PRP to the championship in the Derek Smith Shootout and the Steamboat Classic in Murfreesboro, TN.  At 6'5, Downing, who has a 4.0 gpa in the classroom in honors classes, plays with incredible intensity, which he uses to make up for his shortcomings, like lack of athleticism.  Valparaiso, Samford, Lehigh, and Georgetown College have shown the most interes, but like Wilkinson, it's early.
            Guards round out our next two slots as Marion County's Marlous Scott gets the slight nod over 6'2 Tyler Zornes from Ashland (Boyd County) KY.  Both are flashy guards who can put points on the board, but I like Scott's speed and quickness, plus he is a true point guard who can defend and distribute.  He is the younger brother of former Mr. Basketball Elton Scott, who just completed his career at West Virginia.  Grades could enter into the picture, but after two years of JUCO, he could be dynamite.  Zornes will be one of Hundley's top challengers for Mr. Basketball honors this season.  He plays in the mountains of Eastern Kentucky and has good credentials after having been named All-State as a junior and already having played in two state tournament.  Also, he will likely put up big number this season.
            The player who I feel is a true sleeper in the class is Will Harris from Lexington (Catholic) KY.  Currently we have him ranked 10th in the state, which is higher than most publications, but at 6'6, he is a true wing who can shoot the lights out.  In addition, he comes from a great program, knows how to play, and is a winner.
            Two youngsters to note are 5'9 Soph Brandon Stockton from Glasgow (H.S.) KY and 6'2 Frosh Michael Bush from Louisville (Male) KY.  Stockton reminds me of former Pleasure Ridge Park star Charlie Taylor, who was jet quick in the open court and had exceptional God given passing instincts and the ability to make his teammates better.  Bush is a world class athlete who excels in all three major sports on the high school level.  He is more of an athlete than a basketball player right now, but boy, is the talent there.  However, his future is probably in football, but at this level he has a chance to be a possible Mr. Basketball on both the hardwood and the gridiron before he finishes.
            Finally we will run down our top teams in the Bluegrass:

1. Louisville Ballard - The '99 state champions may be even better this season, as they return everybody, except Wil Partin, who is now at Lenior-Rhyne.  His spot will be filed by Chiles, who we mentioned earlier.  The front court is rock solid with Bender, Wilkinson, and Knight.  Running the show will be 5'11 Spencer Graeter and the player of the future for the Bruins is 5'11 Soph David Bryant, who was able to work his way into the rotation late last season as a freshman.

2. Louisville Pleasure Ridge Park - The Panthers were supposed to be in a rebuilding year after loosing three Division I players, yet somebody forgot to tell Downing, 5'6 Keyonn Tutt and 6'2 Jr Steven Koger, who led PRP to the championship in two prestigious tournaments this summer.  Making this team even more dangerous is the fact that they go nine deep, as 6'6 Johnny Brooks, 5'10 Matt Morris, 6'2 Jeremy McBroom, 6'2 Lucas Palmer, 5'9 Jr Stevie Gaines, and 6'4 Jr Jeremy Kelly supply constant pressure.

3.  Lexington Catholic - Head coach Danny Haney has his program among the state's elites every season and they won't miss a beat this season.  Led by 6'5 Matt Heissenbuttel, 6'2 Ben Wilson, and Harris, who is our sleeper of the class, the Knights won the Kentucky State 17-Under AAU Championship and were impressive at the Steamboat Classic over the summer.  Like PRP, Catholic is deep and the use of a pressing style, excellent 3-point shooting, and great coaching makes them especially dangerous.

4.  Georgetown Scott County - Until somebody steps up to challenge the Cardinals in the 8th Region, Scott County will be four games away from winning the state title every year.  Led by Hundley and Austin, Billy Hicks' club will now has the inside game to go with its outside game.  5'10 Casey Aslop is not Rick Jones (Vanderbilt and Mr. Basketball), but he is a deadly 3-point shooter and he answered the call in each of the past two state tournament runss when the Cardinals needed a big bucket.

5.  Fairdale - The Bulldogs are stocked with athletes at every position, as 14 players return from last season's team.  With all that experience back, don't be surprised if they have the same success of the Dunk'n Dawgs of the early '90s.  Back in the lineup for a third straight season are 6'5 Ed Robinson, 5'11 James Wynn, and 5'9 Montez Cox.  Add to that 6'5 Adrian Milam and 6'5 LeRoy Hickerson, who only played half of last season due to grades, but who made a huge impact on Fairdale's season when joined the team.  Junior college may be his first stop, but this great athlete is a star in the making.

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