2017-2018 Season Preview: 13th Region
October 15th is a holiday in the Commonwealth of Kentucky. High school basketball season is officially underway in the Bluegrass state. The excitement that comes with a new season will soon be replaced by the grind of the season but every school in the state starts the season with the same goal. Everyone wants to get to Rupp Arena in March. In our season preview series, we break down the favorites to make it to the KHSAA state tournament out of each region. Our previews continue here the 13th Region.
THE CONTENDERS:
SCHOOL NAME (overall record, region record from last season)
Corbin (27-6, 19-4)
This could be the year Corbin makes in to Rupp Arena and competes in the state tournament. Led by Mr. Basketball candidate and Furman commit Andrew Taylor (who averaged 30 points and 12 rebounds as a junior), the Red Hounds will look to jump past Harlan County for a regional championship. Corbin also returns junior guard Chase Sanders, who averaged 13 points per game last season.
Knox Central (27-6, 15-3)
The Panthers fell just short against Corbin last season, falling 52-55 in the regional tournament. Markelle Turner returns for his senior campaign after averaging 18.2 points and 4 rebounds as a junior. Nick Martin, a junior, will also help carry some of the load. Marin averaged 10.3 points while shooting 56% from the field. Junior Jaylen Adams also returns. Adams averaged 7.2 points per game last season.
South Laurel (23-11, 12-4)
Jeff Davis is as good a coach as any in the state, and last year he almost helped coach the Cardinals to an upset of Harlan County in the regional tournament, falling 56-59. Coach Davis returns J.J. Ramey at the wing. Ramey averaged 13.6 points as a sophomore last season. Also returning is Ryan Anders, a 6’3 guard who averaged 10.6 points as a junior. The Cardinals will have to replace the 20.1 points per game that graduated along with Jerred Grubb,
Harlan County (31-4, 18-2)
Graduating and replacing two players like Cameron Carmical and Treyce Spurlock is never is easy, but Harlan County will have to figure it out on the backs of Tyrese Simmons, Andrew Creech, and Drew Nolan. Simmons is Harlan County’s returning leading scorer, having averaged 10 points and 6 rebounds per game last season.