Elite 8: 4th Region
We are only 2 and a half weeks from the start of the KHSAA Sweet 16 at Rupp Arena. Half the schools in Kentucky have been eliminated from the postseason and by Thursday night, that number will dip to 64 teams remaining. The games get started on Tuesday night in the 6th and 7th regions before the rest of the state starts regional play on Wednesday night. We’re going to take a look at the 8 top players remaining in each region and take a shot at power ranking the remaining teams. The 4th region starts play on Wednesday night. All regional games take place at the Diddle Arena on campus at Western Kentucky. Here’s a breakdown of the 4th region tournament and the top individual players still playing.
Elite 8 Players (in no order):
Jarius Key, Bowling Green- One of the top post players in the 2018 class, Key has a bunch of D2, NAIA and Juco offers. He averages nearly 19 points and 10 rebounds per game.
Ziyon Kenner, Bowling Green – The Purples’ second leading scorer, Kenner is the key to a lengthy postseason run for Bowling Green. If Ziyon can play his best basketball for the next few weeks, BG can make a return trip to Rupp to defend their championship.
Jackson Harlan, Clinton County – Just a junior, Harlan has been among the top 10-15 scorers in Kentucky all season long. If Harlan can go off against Bowling Green, Clinton has a puncher’s chance to knock the defending champions off.
Nolan Barrow, Todd County Central – Averaging 18 points per game on an impressive 48% from behind the 3 point arc, Barrow may be the best shooter in the entire 4th region.
Billy Michael Dyer, Monroe County – Monroe is a potential darkhorse to advance to the regional title game and possibly farther. For that to happen, Dyer and Chandler Clements will need to be dynamic.
Kobe Brents, Glasgow – Just a sophomore, the guard is capable of scoring in bunches. Glasgow has a chance to surprise some people at Diddle this week and Brents is a big reason why.
Skyelar Potter, Warren Central – The best player in the region, Potter is signed to Wright State. He averaged 24 points and 12 rebounds so far this season and is capable of carrying the Dragons to Rupp Arena if he has to.
Jordan Cousin, Warren Central – Fresh off of a school record 48 points in the district championship loss, Cousin showed his shooting ability in hitting 9 threes. If Cousin and Potter both get hot, they could snap Bowling Green’s streak of regional titles.
Power Rankings:
1. Bowling Green – The defending state champions will not relinquish their title without a fight.
2. Warren Central- The second best team in the region looks like they’re headed to a 4th game against Bowling Green in the regional title game.
3. Glasgow – Their game against Warren Central will be the best of the quarterfinals.
4. Monroe County – After losing the district title to Glasgow, they could easily find themselves in the regional semifinals.
5. Todd County Central – Their game against Monroe should be a competitive one and they may have a shot to win it if they can stay close going into the 4th.
6. Russell County – Ranked the lowest of all the district champions, their game against Franklin-Simpson could go either way.
7. Franklin-Simpson – Whichever team emerges from their opener against Russell is likely to get drilled by Glasgow or Warren Central in the next round.
8. Clinton County – Their chances of upsetting Bowling Green are low. If they manage to beat the Purples, they could advance to the regional finals.