Less than a week since Highlands defeated Elizabethtown in the KHSAA Sweet Sixteen Championship game and already some are thinking about the new 2021-2022 Kentucky high school basketball season and what it might look like.
The 5th Region may be getting a brand new makeover and although Elizabethtown has had their way with the area teams with their speed and defense, a repeat most likely will be difficult with eight seniors gone from the program including all five starters. Panther coach James Haire knew this coming into the 2021 season and will have to rebuild to get back.
Bardstown could be next up and although the loss of Andrew Mason and Javon Smith will hurt, coach James Brewer will return scorers Bryce Riley, Grant Bowling, TJ Greenwell and Avery Bell along with several others who played the Panthers close during the Regional semi-finals this season before falling.
John Hardin is another team which could be a major contender after reaching the Region Championship game for the third time in four years. Head coach Jared McCurry will lose Anthony Bowen, Darius Williams and Jakarius Barnes, but will return AJ Doctor, Jalen Tyus, Devon Rogers and Jake Owens meaning three of their top five scorers are returning.
After losing their top three scorers from the previous season, LaRue County had a successful season winning 18-games and almost knocked off the Bulldogs in the first round of the regionals. Coach Paul Childress has a knack of building teams no matter who graduates and this team ws no exception. Although they will lose Jeremiah Belton and Preston Self, Childress will have the team’s leading scorer in Cutter Boley, the team’s top outside shooter in Carson Childress along with Kellen Bowen and Caden Davis.
One team with a big upside from last season might be the North Hardin Trojans. For the first time since the Tony Jackson years, coach Mike Cofer’s team finished above .500 and will return a squad that has size and length along with youth in many places. Guard Queshaun Davis will return as the team’s leading scorer and top outside shooter. Post threats Ayden Evans, the team’s leading rebounder and Dontrell Gregory give them height along with Kerron Blizzard, Jujuan Williams and Shaun Boykins as shooting threats.
Central Hardin is another team with a big upside next season and although their four-win season was a far cry from the two Region Tourney appearances two years past, coach Matt Nickell will lose only one player from that team and return seven seniors, all which made contributions. Hayden Ash was the team’s leading scorer and top outside shooter along with last season’s freshman sensation at guard Brett Decker, who’s development was cut short in the middle of the year by an injury. Carter Robinson was the top rebounder and Adam Hobbs was the team’s second best thre point shooter.
Washington County was a pleasant surprise this season after rising from the ashes of a five win season the year before, coach Stephen Woodson put together 15-wins and although they will lose leading scorer Josh Burkhead and Caleb Foster along with Jack Matherly, will return second leading scorer Beau Baker, who is also the top rebounder as well as a freshman and Jakobie Hughes.
Head coach Josh Keys had a successful year with Thomas Nelson putting together a 14-6 record after coming off a 10-19 season the year before and will return five contributors in Braden Smith, the leading scorer along with Andrew Hogan, Torrian Keene, Riley Brown (top rebounder) and Garrett Downs.
Jeffrey Breeze will return his top three scorers from an Adair County team which won 15-games. Lucas Pooler was the top scorer and Luke Janes and Conner Loy are not far behind.
