Postseason X-Factors: Regions 13-16
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District Tournaments actually start on Saturday and by March 2, half of the basketball teams in the state will have had their seasons end. As we move towards the postseason, I wanted to highlight some players who are X factors…
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Continue ReadingDistrict Tournaments actually start on Saturday and by March 2, half of the basketball teams in the state will have had their seasons end. As we move towards the postseason, I wanted to highlight some players who are X factors for teams with aspirations of winning their regions and advancing to Rupp Arena next month.
Everyone knows about Maddox Huff Maddox Huff 6’3″ | PG Harlan County | 2025 State KY and Trent Noah Trent Noah 6’7″ | SF Harlan County | 2024 State #139 Nation KY for Harlan County but those two cannot be counted on to carry the Black Bears all the way through the regional tournament. As we saw last year, an off night from the big two can spell disaster for Harlan County. That’s where Sophomore Reggie Cottrell Reggie Cottrell 6’2″ | SF Harlan County | 2026 State KY comes in. Reggie is a bouncy wing with a good motor and a reliable third scorer for HC. Don’t be surprised if he has a big game along the way to a potential Rupp Arena trip.
Similar to Reggie in a lot of ways, Daulton is a reliable third scorer for a Hazard club that needs him to step up from time to time into a bigger role on a game by game basis. Combs is a good shooter who has been doing most of his scoring from the perimeter but he’s capable of doing more as a facilitator and driver.
Highlights
Heath Jarrell
Heath Jarrell
Jarrell is the best shooter on the Pikeville roster and opens up the floor for their offense, especially Charlie Fitzer Charlie Fitzer 6’9″ | C Pikeville | 2024 State KY on the low block. Heath is shooting 46% from deep this season but is also a capable driver and playmaker with the ball in his hands. Look for the Senior to do all he can to get the Panthers to Rupp to end his career.
Jennings’ game is a lot like Jarrell’s in the sense that he’s primarily a shooter, knocking down 40% from three. Braxton will need to have a good shooting month to open up driving lanes for Zander Carter Zander Carter 6’6″ | SG Ashland Blazer | 2025 State #296 Nation KY to get to the rim. For the Tomcats to make a run, they will need all of their weapons firing at the same time and a big month from Braxton would go a long way towards getting his squad to Rupp.