Quentin Snider hopes to lead Ballard, Kentucky's No. 2 team, to a state championship this season.
File photo by Wayne Litmer
Troy Barr
2011-12 finish: 27-5, state quarterfinalist
If the sequence continues, this
should be the Chargers' year — they were eliminated by the
eventual state champion last year and by the state runner-up the
previous year. They bring back four starters, three of them four-year
starters.
University of Kentucky recruit
Derek Willis,
a 6-9, 205-pound senior, averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4.0
blocks. He will receive plenty of support from 6-7
Elliott Young, 6-5
Rusty Troutman and 5-11 point guard
Trey Rakes, all seniors. Troutman
averaged 18 points and 8.0 rebounds, Elliott averaged 13 points and
Rakes averaged 9.0 points and 7.0 assists.
Tyler Bacon, a 6-8 sophomore,
will add inside strength.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings2. Ballard (Louisville)Head coach: Chris Renner
2011-12 finish: 24-9
Three
returning starters and five Division I prospects give the Bruins hope
that they could move up a notch and claim the state title for
themselves. They are very quick and go all out for 32 minutes a game.
University of Louisville recruit
Quentin Snider
will lead the way. The 6-1 junior point guard averaged 16.9 points and
4.5 assists while shooting 45 percent from the 3-point line. Other
double-figure scorers are 6-0 senior
Lavonne Holland (15.7) and 6-6, 225-pound junior
Kelan Martin
(13.1). Other expected contributors are 6-2 senior
Zach Caggins, 6-0
senior
Dontez Byrd, 6-1 sophomore
Jalen Perry and 6-3 freshman
Malik Dow, who has Division I potential.
View last season's Kentucky boys basketball Freeman Rankings3. Trinity (Louisville)Head coach: Mike Szabo
2011-12 finish: 35-3, state champion
The
defending champions will carry an 18-game winning streak into the
season and they are not going to go away quietly even though they return
just two starters. Their vaunted defense is supposed to be even better
this year.
Seniors
Darryl Hicks
and
James Quick can play for anybody. The 6-4, 200-pound Hicks, who is
being heavily recruited for football, averaged 14 points and 6.0
rebounds. The 6-1 Quick, who definitely lives up to his name as the
defending 200-meter state champion, averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds
and 3.0 steals. The Shamrocks will display their depth by also using 6-0
senior
Miles Rice, 6-0 senior
DeMarcus Page, 6-3, 220-pound junior
Craig Owens, 5-10 junior
Tre Ivory, 6-9 sophomore
Raymond Spalding, 6-5
sophomore
Christian Thienamen and 6-4 senior
Sam Strothman.
View last season's Kentucky boys basketball stat leaders 4. Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.)Head coach: Allen Feldhaus
2011-12 finish: 31-2
Kentucky,
which has no class system, is loaded with potential state champions and
the Indians can not be counted out. They return four starters and eight
seniors to make a run at the big prize.
Slashing 6-1 senior point guard
Dominique Hawkins
is the motor that makes his team run. He averaged 19.9 points, 2.4
assists and shot 56 percent from the field.
Quan Taylor, a 6-4 senior,
averaged 12.1 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the
field, while 6-1 senior
Ken-Jah Bosley averaged 13.6 points. The
Indians also will count on 6-4 senior
Hunter Stocker and 6-2 senior
Daniel Parke.
View last season's KHSAA boys basketball playoff brackets5. Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.)Head coach: Daniel Brown
2011-12 finish: 22-9
The
Blue Devils are loaded with Division I talent, but they still are
young. The lone key senior is 6-6
Darien Tichenor, who averaged 4.5
points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.
However, they have a trio of
outstanding juniors. Six-four
Jordan Green averaged 13.7 points and 5.6
rebounds, 6-6
Trey Grundy averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds and 6-0
point guard
Christen Cunningham averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 assists.
Teddy Ware, a 5-10 junior, and 6-2 super sophomore
Jeremiah Tisdale are also expected to see plenty of action.
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