PHKY Top Four: Regions 5-8
With tournament play just two weeks away, Prep Hoops Kentucky takes a look at the top teams from each region (in groups of four, 16 regions total – as of week 11). Here we take a look at regions 5-8:
5th Region
John Hardin, 20-6 (10-2)
The Bulldogs have won 5 out of their last 6 games and currently sit at 2nd place in the 5th Region overall ranking behind Larue County. But John Hardin’s scope of work has been much greater than their region counterpart. John Hardin defeated handily earlier in the year, and also has wins against Taylor County, Elizabethtown, Paducah Tilghman, Bardstown, and Central Hardin.
It also helps when you have Mr. Basketball candidate and St. Louis commit Mickey Pearson on your side. Pearson is averaging 26.2 points and 10. rebounds. Senior guard Malik Wright is also having a fantastic year, averaging 16.6 points and 5.4 rebounds per game.
Other teams in the mix
LaRue County, 22-2 (11-1)
Central Hardin, 15-8 (6-3)
Adair County, 15-9 (9-2)
Bardstown, 14-8 (9-4)
6th Region
Butler, 22-2 (8-1)
If anyone is more capable of taking down the defending region champs Fern Creek, it’s Butler. The Bears have won 11 of their last 12, including a big time win against Mickey Pearson and 5th Region John Hardin Bulldogs on Saturday. The have 6th Region wins vs. Doss, Fairdale, Pleasure Ridge Park, and Valley. Their only losses have come to a down-to-the-wire loss against Trinity (50-53) and DeSales back in early January.
Butler is led by junior guard Maurice Tolley, who is averaging 14 points per game. Seniors Devin Pendergrass and Jaquay Wales are also averaging 11.5 apiece. Senior big man Michael Burns is averaging just under 10 points per game.
Other teams in the mix:
Fern Creek, 20-6 (9-1)
Doss, 19-6, (10-2
Fairdale, 19-8 (11-2)
Valley, 18-8 (7-2)
7th Region
Louisville Trinity, 24-2 (6-0)
The Shamrocks have won five of their last six, but let’s be honest, more impressive is they too have only suffered two losses on the year (at the hands of Fern Creek and Madison Central). They defeated Fern Creek earlier in the season, as well as out of region wins against Pulaski County, Lexington Christian, Cooper, Doss, and Lafayette. They are currently undefeated in region play.
Trinity is led by senior Jayden Scrubb, who is averaging 18.2 points per game and 7.3 rebounds. Four star 2019 prospect David Johnson, who has offers from Ohio State, Xavier and Cincinnati, is averaging 14.7 points per game. Top 2020 prospect Justin Powell, who already holds offers from Auburn, Xavier, and Vanderbilt – is averaging just under 12 points per game.
Other teams in the mix:
Ballard, 21-5 (8-0)
Waggener, 16-9 (7-2)
St. Xavier, 16-9 (9-5)
8th Region
TOSS UP
Oldham County, Walton-Verona, and Collins could all run away with the 8th Region title this year. You could possibly even throw Gallatin County into the mix.
Oldham County is led by Jackson Gibson’s 16.2 points per game, followed by Travis Henderson’s 15.6.
Walton-Verona came up short in the All “A” Classic, losing to Lexington Christian. Look for them to make some noise here as well.
Collins is led by Nick Fort, who is averaging 17.4 points per game. Jacob Feltner is averaging 14.6 while underclassman Marcellus Vail and Dayvion McKnight are averaging right at 12 per outing.