Next Up: Replacing Top 2020s (Regions 1-5)
The 2020 class is out the door but their high school teams are left to try and replace the production of players who have had a massive impact for the last several seasons. Here’s a look at how teams will…
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Continue ReadingThe 2020 class is out the door but their high school teams are left to try and replace the production of players who have had a massive impact for the last several seasons. Here’s a look at how teams will look to replace the top players in the departing Senior class.
First Region:
Player of the Year: Jackson Sivills Jackson Sivills 6'6" | SF McCracken County | 2020 State #217 Nation KY , McCracken County
Next Up: Noah Dumas and Ian McCune. Dumas is a known commodity and the straw that stirs the drink for the Mustangs. He’s a floor general who can also score. McCune is going to get first crack at being the wing scorer that Sivills was for the last three seasons. While Sivills leaving for Murray State may hurt the team in the short term, McCracken has the potential to be a deeper and more talented team overall in 2021.
Second Region:
Player of the Year: Kenny White Kenny White 6'7" | SF Madisonville-North Hopkins | 2020 State #357 Nation KY , Madisonville-North Hopkins
Next Up: White was 1 of 9 Seniors who leave the back to back 2nd region champions. Zach Tow is the returning leading scorer for the Maroons at 4 points per game. Junior Danye Frazier Danye Frazier 6'1" | PG Madisonville-North Hopkins | 2023 State KY will have the chance to run the team from the point guard spot and Brytton Walker returns after a one year transfer to Warren East. It’s hard to see Coach Beshear’s team looking anything like they have the last few seasons but there should be some young players anxious for their chance after waiting their turn the last few seasons.
Third Region:
Player of the Year: Kaeveon Mitchell, Breckinridge County
Next Up: Each of the past two season, an athletic wing from Breckinridge has come from modest numbers to huge ones and the regional player of the year award. The two most likely candidates for that jump next season are Seniors Brock Lucas and Kason Morris. Both two fewer than half as many shots as Mitchell last season and the more likely scenario next year is Morris and Lucas end up splitting the shots between them as Breck has a more balanced scoring attack.
Fourth Region:
Player of the Year: Dre Boyd Dre Boyd 6'4" | SG Warren Central | 2020 State KY , Warren Central:
Next Up: The Dragons graduated 11 Seniors and will have a completely new varsity rotation with the exception of Jaiden Lawrence. Lawrence got some quality playing time down the stretch of the season for Coach Unseld’s squad and can be penciled in for a starting spot next season with a lot of shots to come with it. Behind Lawrence, there is a loaded Sophomore class at WC that just had a huge freshman season. 2024 Kade Unseld Kade Unseld 6'5" | SF Warren Central | 2024 State #252 Nation KY (the coach’s son) is also likely to carve out a role on varsity next season.
Fifth Region:
Player of the Year: Alex Matthews Alex Matthews 6'5" | PF John Hardin | 2020 State KY , John Hardin and JJ Traynor JJ Traynor 6'8" | PF Bardstown | 2020 State #223 Nation KY , Bardstown
Next Up: Jalen Tyus is going to have first crack at being the man for the Bulldogs. Fellow Junior Devon Rogers will combine with Tyus to make a really solid John Hardin back court who will be relied on to score a lot of points for the team to have a shot at 5th region title contention. For Bardstown, Senior Javaughn Smith is one of the top returning scorers in the 5th region and one of the top shooters in the class. For the Tigers to avoid a dropoff, he’ll need to up his production even more than last year’s 15 points per game.