BUTLER
Coach: K. C. Goodin (first year).
Last season: 6-19, lost to Doss 66-53 in the district semifinals.
Player to watch: G Austin Wise (6-2, Jr.. 15 ppg., 7 rpg.). “Austin is a leader, a really solid and hard-nosed player,” Goodin said. “He can post up, hit the three-point shot and take the ball to the hole. He can play the 2, 3 or 4 positions.”
Other top players: G Ryan Luckett (6-1, Jr.); G Jaquay Wales (5-11, So.); G-F Gariyon Newsome (6-1, So., 6 ppg.); F Delon Hamby (6-3, Sr.); F Christian Ramsey (6-3, Sr.); G Ramar Brown (5-9, Jr.); F Frank Bentley (6-3, So.); G Kelshawn Mozee (6-0, Jr.).
Outlook: “We’re guard oriented and really inexperienced, but we’ll play hard,” said Goodin, an ex-Western High coach who became an assistant at Georgetown College three years ago, then took the Doss head job for one year before taking an assistant’s job at Kentucky Wesleyan last season. “We’ve got a bunch of slashers,” Goodin said.
DESALES
Coach: Tom Crews (second year of second term).
Last season: 25-8, lost to Doss 55-49 in regional final
Player to watch: Jaxon Burgess (6-0, Jr., 5.7 ppg.). “After he began seeing a significant amount of playing time around the middle of the season, Jaxon averaged 10 points a game and won some games for us with his outside shooting,” Crews said. “He got 15 points against PRP.” Burgess played 24 games and hit 28 threes.
Other players to watch: G Austin Black (5-10, Jr.); C Travis Siebert (6-6, So.); C-F DeShawn Bell (6-4, So.); G CJ Wilson (5-9, Sr., 1.7 ppg.); G Cameron LaFever (5-9, Sr., 1.2 ppg); F Carey Grant (6-3, Jr.).
Outlook: The Colts graduated six players who averaged a combined 51.6 points and 22.9 rebounds a game last season. “Shooting will be our strength,” Crews said. “We’ll have some scoring punch inside. We’re not big, but we can shoot the ball.”
DOSS.
Coach: Tony Williams (second year).
Last season: 27-7, lost to Covington Catholic 61-48 in Sweet 16 quarterfinal.
Player to watch: G Jaylon Hall (6-5, Jr., 4.7 ppg.). He’s the only starter back from last season’s regional championship team. “He used to be able to play only the one- or two-guard position, but after a growth spurt, Jaylon can play positions one through four,” Williams said. “Last season, he played a secondary role, but this season he’ll have to score for us, and he’s an excellent shooter.”
Other top players: G Nick Anderson (Sr., 5 ppg., 1.1 rpg.); F Laron Hargrove (6-1, Sr., 2.5 ppg., 1.2 rpg.); Zha Cobb Stokes (6-1, Jr., 1. 1 ppg.); F Cameron Maddox (6-3, Jr.); F Kelshawn Knight (6-5, Sr.); G Kenyl Bryant (6-3, Sr.); G Stephen Franklin (6-1, So.).
Outlook: The Dragons are an unknown quality because they lost 80 percent of their scoring from last season. Ramon Collins also transferred to Moore, but Bryant and Maddox transferred to Doss from Cincinnati and Eastern. “Bryant is a slasher and brings a lot to our team.” Williams said. “Knight is strong and athletic and can play the 3, 4 or 5 positions.”
IROQUOIS
Coach: Jeff Morrow (fourth year).
Last season: 6-22, lost to Butler 49-41 in district first round.
Players to watch: G Marquis Bolden (6-0 Sr., 12.7 ppg., 5.9 rpg.) and G Kenny Saunders (6-2 Sr.). “Bolden can score in a variety of ways,” Morrow said. “He has a real good body and uses it to go inside or get a shot from outside. Saunders is talented offensively and is more of a pure shooter than Bolden. When he’s open, he’s a pretty good shot.”
Other top players: G Antwan Hurt (5-10, So., 4.8 ppg., 1.5 rpg.); Delton Wilson (6-3 So., 0.3 ppg., 1.4 rpg). G Keashawn Edelen (5-8 Jr., 2.8 ppg., 2 rpg. ); F Keelan Kennedy (6-2 So., 2.1 ppg., 1.5 rpg.); F Mario Desgranges (6-3, Jr. ); C- Blake Powell (6-4 Sr.); F Khari Grady (6-3 Sr., 3.1 ppg., 3.6 rpg.); F Jamal Mangrum (6-2 Sr., 3 ppg., 1.5 rpg.).
Outlook: “We didn’t have any seniors last year and I had to play freshmen, and they weren’t ready to play,” Morrow said. “I like our sophomore group. We have 9-10 players in that group and they have good potential. Our strength is our quickness. We’re not overly big, but with the right lineup we can be pretty quick.”
WESTERN
Coach: Terrence Moorman (fourth year).
Last season: 10-10, lost to DeSales 64-58 in district first round.
Player to watch: G Dajour Cameron (6-1, Jr., 3.5 ppg., 0.8 rpg.). “He is a 4.0 student, he plays hard and has gotten better and better,” Moorman said. “He reminds me of (ex-PRP star) Desmond Porter, but he’s a better jump shooter.”
Other top players: F Charles Rhodes (6-1, Sr., 3.9 ppg., 5.5 rpg.); G Generio Ferrell (2.2 ppg.); G Deshawn Brown (5-10, Sr., 2.9 ppg.); F Jalen Shannon (6-2, So. 1.3 ppg., 1.2 rpg.); C Leon Malone (6-3, Sr., 1.1 ppg., 1.5 rpg.); G Jhyshan Harrison (6-0, Sr.); G Jordan Johnson (5-11, Sr.); G Anthony Coleman (5-11, Jr.).
Outlook: “We had a great (11-4) JV year last season so we have 9 or 10 guys who will bust their tails off to play,” Moorman said. “They all are quick, athletic and inter-changeable. I like this group . They remind me of that Eastern team (1997) that won the state tournament with no star and 9-10 good players.”