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The Matchups
(Underlined teams will be the home team. All games are EST)
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Official Hotel of the "Blue-Chip" Shootout
is Executive West Hotel.
Call 1-800-626-2708 or 502-367-2251 and mention the
"Blue-Chip" Shootout for special room rates. ($55-tax not included)
Ticket
prices will be $5.00 in advance at the participating schools or $6.00 at the
door.
This is the third year for this event and the first two years featured some excellent basketball. Rick Bolus, one of the top talent evaluators and camp directors in the business, along with legendary high school coach Stan Hardin, decided to attempt this venture and hopefully it will remain an annual event. The 2001 feature game was a match-up between Indiana power New Albany and Glasgow Kentucky. New Albany won this battle 76-68 and was led by 6-2 Sr. guard Marcus Flynn with 24 points. 5-11 Sr. Brandon Stockton, who was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Basketball” for the 2001-2002 season, led Glasgow with 31 points. Other results from the 2001 inaugural event were: North Hardin 56 Louisville Seneca 43, Elizabeth South Central (Indiana) 81 Meade County 38, and Russellville 58 Louisville Holy Cross 52.
The 2002 event featured a shootout between Highlands and Louisville Eastern, a game in which Highlands won 82-79. 6-8 Sr. Ross Neltner, who was named Kentucky’s “Mr. Basketball” for the 2002-2003 season, led Highlands with 34 points and seven rebounds. 6-1 Jr. Rajon Rondo led Eastern with 32 points, nine assists, and four steals. Warren Central defeated Scott County 80-77 in overtime in another marquee match-up. Warren Central was led by 6-5 Sr. Leroy Wilson with 27 points and nine rebounds. 6-1 Jr. Tyler Hicks and 6-10 Sr. Justin Lee led Scott County with 18 and 17 points respectively. Other results from the 2002 event were: Louisville Holy Cross 76 Clarksville (IN) 64, and Louisville DeSales 76 West Jessamine 65.
The Louisville Courier-Journal and the Lexington Herald-Leader released their pre-season high school basketball previews on November 27th and 28th respectively. Five of the eight teams entered in the Third Annual “Blue Chip” Basketball Shootout are listed in the top 25 teams in the state by both newspapers. Lexington Catholic (C-J #2, H-L #2), Warren Central (C-J #3, H-L #4), North Hardin (C-J #9, H-L #13), Scott County (C-J #12, H-L #12), and Louisville Trinity (C-J #24, H-L #23) are all entered in the event.
Seven players scheduled to perform in the event are listed in either the Courier-Journal’s or Herald-Leader’s top 25 players in the state. Demetrius Green (Lexington Catholic, C-J #2, H-L #2), Lonnell DeWalt (Warren Central C-J #3, H-L #4), William Graham (Lexington Catholic, C-J #6, H-L #7), Demetrius Guions (North Hardin C-J #8, H-L #8), Harrison Morton (Lexington Catholic, C-J #10, H-L #9), Tyler Hicks (Scott County C-J #15, H-L #13), and Matt Maresca (Warren Central C-J #18) are all scheduled to perform.
2003 Participating Teams
Louisville Beth Haven – The Bearcats, coached by Joe Bailey, finished 11-16 last season and return a small but hardworking group of players. They should be led by 5-7 Sr. Steven Berger (11.6 ppg), and 5-9 So. Brent Lamkin (8.0 ppg). Other players expected to contribute include 6-2 Jr. Joe Maddox, 5-7 Jr. Eric Voelker, 5-9 Jr. Mike King, 5-7 Sr. Jason Gordon, 5-0 Fr. Cory Lacefield, and 5-8 Sr. Rob Beahl.
Louisville Holy Cross – Coach Jody Thornsberry’s Cougars finished 12-12 last season and despite losing eight seniors from last season Coach Thornsberry is optimistic entering the season. 6-1 Sr. Jeff Wachtel (15.5 ppg) missed several games last season due to injuries but is expected to have a banner senior campaign. 6-6 Jr. Kyle Killebrew, who transferred from St. Xavier, is expected to provide help in the paint. 6-1 Sr. Kyle Markham, who transferred from Atherton, is eligible to play this season. Other key players include 6-2 Jr. Aaron Troutman, 6-0 Fr. Donte Francis, 5-11 Sr. Shane Settles, 6-0 Jr. Justin Renck, and 6-5 Sr. Kevin Sims.
North Hardin – The Trojans finished 25-8 last season and are coached by Ron Bevars. Coach Bevars has 11 regional championships and his teams have a record of 622-230 over a 28 year period. The Trojans will be led by 6-5 Sr. Demetrius Guions, who averaged 15 ppg and is an athletic slasher who is difficult to defend. 6-6 Sr. Reggie Soileau is another athletic frontliner who showed marked improvement over the summer and should have an excellent senior campaign. North Hardin graduated their senior backcourt but are expecting help from young talent moving up from the JV that went 20-0 last season. The Trojans should have another good squad but the Fifth Region will be strong this season.
Georgetown Scott County – The Cardinals finished 17-9 last season and sat home during the Sweet 16 for the third consecutive year. Expect Coach Billy Hicks to return to his trademark up-tempo game and pressure defense. Hicks has three starters returning, a deep bench, and a group of talented youngsters nipping at the heels of the veterans for playing time. Scott County has a dandy guard combination in 6-0 Sr. Tyler Hicks (18 ppg) and 6-1 Sr. Troy Harris (14 ppg). Hicks is an excellent floor general and Harris has a nice shooting stroke. 6-8 Sr. Zach Van Guilder possesses a nice outside shot but is hard to handle when he goes down on the blocks. 6-4 Sr. Alex Cassady is a strong inside player and the Cardinals will also get a lot of help from 6-5 Jr. Anthony Coote, 7-0 Jr. Jarrod Carter, 6-3 Jr. Cody Courtney, 6-1 Sr. Matt Jarvis, 5-10 So. Jesse Thompson, etc. The future looks extremely bright with some talented newcomers including 6-2 Fr. Matt Walls, 6-1 Fr. Rodney Haddix, and 6-5 8th grader Jordan Lee.
Caverna – The Colonels are
coached by Paul Childress. They finished 10-20 last season, but look out for
the Colonels this year. Caverna has
good size, athleticism, and several guys capable of scoring in double figures. Boris Siakam is a 6-7 Sr. foreign
exchange student from Cameroon who runs the floor well and can score in the
paint or with the outside jumper. 6-5
Sr. Jordy Maxey is a wing forward who can penetrate as well as nail the
jump shot. Maxey is also an
excellent defender. 6-2 Fr. William
Bradley is an athletic two guard who has excellent range on his jump shot
as well as being able to slash to the basket.
Bradley has excellent skills with a lot of potential. 5-10 Jr. Brandon Adams is a quick
point guard who is an excellent ballhandler and passer. Adams is an excellent penetrator and
a good defender. Other players expected
to contribute this season include 5-6 So. Carrington Maxey, 6-0 Jr. Durand
Wilson, 6-6 So. Kendall Igwe, and 5-11 Sr. Charley Orr.
Louisville Trinity – The Shamrocks finished 17-13 last season and coach Mike Szabo should put an excellent team on the floor this season. The Shamrocks have an excellent floor general returning in 6-0 Jr. Zach Berry (7.4 ppg). Twins 6-3 Jr. Kyle (8.9 ppg) and 6-3 Jr. Bret (6.5 ppg) Saxton can score and are also tenacious defenders. 6-3 Sr. Blake Nix (6.6 ppg) can score in the paint as well as stroke the outside shot. 6-4 Sr. star footballer Brian Brohm added 8.1 ppg and 6.4 rpg last season. The Shamrocks expect contributions from other players including 6-6 Sr. Nick Hope and 6-8 Jr. Charlie Gonzalez.
Lexington Catholic – Coach Bart Flener’s Knights finished 24-8 last season and this team should challenge for the Sweet 16 crown this season. The Knights will be led by 6-4 Sr. swingman Demetrius Green who averaged 19.2 ppg and 6.2 rpg last season. 6-3 Sr. Harrison Morton averaged 17.6 ppg and 6.7 rpg last season. 6-3 Sr. William Graham (10 ppg) is jet quick in the open court and an excellent finisher off the Knights’ press. 6-4 Sr. Mark Balthrop (6.1 ppg) also return for his final campaign. 6-2 Sr. Jason Azubuike transferred from Dunbar and is expected to help on both ends of the court, provided he is ruled eligible by the KHSAA. 5-10 Sr. Drew Morton (4.6 ppg) will probably man the point for Lexington Catholic this season. Other players expected to contribute include 6-4 Sr. Joe Tunde, 6-0 Jr. Joe Boneau, 6-5 Jr. Rob Riddell, 6-2 Jr. Kevin Vogelsang, 6-0 Jr. P. J. Wilson, and 5-10 Jr. Chad Buchignani. The Knights also have several other players that could contribute to this deep and talented squad this season.
Bowling Green Warren Central – Coach Tim Riley’s Dragons finished 26-4 last season and should be ranked near the top in pre-season rankings this season. Warren Central will be led by 6-6 Sr. Lonnell DeWalt, an athletic forward who plays above the rim and averaged double figures in both scoring and rebounding last season. DeWalt is also an excellent football player who is being heavily recruited. 6-8 Sr. Matt Maresca is a late bloomer who possesses a nice shooting touch for a big man. 6-0 Sr. Ryan Anderson is a true point guard and handles, passes, and sees the floor well. 6-3 Sr. Brock Whitney and 5-10 Jr. Troy McFarland are expected to be key contributors. The Dragons also have some excellent young talent moving up led by 6-2 Fr. Jeremy Anderson and 5-10 Fr. Nick Britt. The Dragons have a tough schedule this year but it should only prepare them for a long tourney run in March.
Please note that player heights vary from source to source.
Team capsules will be updated as additional information becomes available. I will also provide game coverage of this event on my website https://www.angelfire.com/ky/prephoops. Please direct your comments to Ron Harrison at prephoops@yahoo.com.