Replacing Top 2023s: Part One
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The high school season is officially underway next week but many of the state’s top teams are faced with having to reload their rosters to make a return trip to Rupp Arena in March. Here’s a look at how some…
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Continue ReadingThe high school season is officially underway next week but many of the state’s top teams are faced with having to reload their rosters to make a return trip to Rupp Arena in March. Here’s a look at how some schools will look to replace their 2023 D1 Seniors who are now playing college ball.
No one player is going to replace the production that North Laurel lost when Reed Sheppard graduated. He’s the best player in school history and a future NBA player. Having said that, the player best positioned to take his spot as the go-to player for the Jags is Sophomore Reece Davidson Reece Davidson 6’7″ | PF North Laurel | 2026 State KY . At 6’7, Reece is a stretch forward who can score inside and out. He’s not the most fluid athlete right now but once he stops growing, Davidson’s ceiling is only going to raise as a prospect. He already holds a scholarship offer from EKU.
Brax has continued to improve over the course of his high school career and with Teagan Moore now gone to WKU, Ward will step into the spotlight as the go to scorer for Owen County. He still will have some help in the form of Micah Shelton Micah Shelton 6’1″ | SG Owen County | 2024 State KY but Brax will be asked to shoulder a lot of the load that comes from losing the best player in school history. At 6’9, Ward can be the best big in the region if he plays up to his potential.
While a player like Miller Williams Miller Williams 6’7″ | PF Lexington Catholic | 2024 State KY may be expected to replace the interior production that came from Reece Potter, I’d look at Meagher as a player who can step up and replace the overall scoring and impact on the game that Potter brought over the last two seasons, especially. Max is a long and athletic wing who has mid major or better D1 potential. If he can reach his prospect ceiling (or close to it) then Lex Cath can avoid much of a drop off this season.
Cyr Malonga offered one of the most physical presences in the entire state and Mukadi can do the same thanks to his grown man build and blue collar work ethic around the rim. Ben is a bruising post who rebounds at a very high level and is comfortable playing around the rim. While Senior Johnny Djema Johnny Djema 6’8″ | PF Evangel Christian | 2024 State KY is likely to have better scoring numbers, you could argue that Ben is the more important player to Evangel thanks to his physical presence down low.
Ballard lost Gabe Sisk to graduation and have a whole horde of transfers looking to step up and fill that void. If I were betting on one to take the biggest role, it would be Keriawn Berry Keriawn Berry 6’4″ | SG Trinity | 2026 State KY . Coming from Trinity, Berry started and had a big role for Ballard this summer and has the physical tools to resemble Sisk’s game. There is no shortage of talent on the Bruins roster if they can put it all together and Berry could be the biggest potential breakout star on the roster.