The Names That Will Decide Male vs. Manual Rivalry Game

The "Old Rivalry" between Kentucky powerhouses Louisville Male (15-9) and DuPont Manual (18-6) is one of the most historic matchups in the nation. Set for 7PM tonight at Manual's Butch Charmoli Gymnasium, the contest will feature two of the top teams in the state and enough talent for it to go down in the history books. Let's take a look at some of the top players to keep an eye on.    Mitchell is one of the best players in Kentucky regardless of class. He has a knack for scoring that has wreaked havoc on the top competition across the state this year. That, paired with his mature IQ and evolving athleticism makes him an invaluable piece for Male's success. Having missed the Bulldog's last 6 games due to injury, however, the question remains of when Mitchell will make his return.     Clark's production has been vital to the Bulldogs' success this year. Leading a solid senior campaign, he'll enter the rivalry match averaging 13.8 PPG and 5.6 RPG. Coming off a season high of 24 points versus PRP earlier this week, Male's odds of winning with or without Mitchell will be heavily dependent on Jaymes' performance.     Barnett provides a veteran-level of facilitation for the Bulldogs in addition to being one of the peskiest defenders in Louisville. Averaging over 4 AST and nearly 2 STL per game, the senior guard will be a key impact player in tonight's matchup and moving forward into post season play.     Often times the youngest player on the court, Johnson plays with poise well beyond his years. He consistently showcases incredible patience and footwork in the post while also being capable of knocking down shots in the midrange. His advanced abilities have allowed him to carve a significant role on a very good Male squad for which he's account for 8.9 PPG and 4 RPG. Johnson has seen an uptick in his usage since Male lost 2028 big man [player_tooltip player_id='2360949' first='Trey' last='Hillerich'] to injury last month.     Manual has had a really good season thus far largely due to the production of [player_tooltip player_id='3276498' first='Ahmad' last='Shelton']. As one of the most underrated seniors in Louisville, he is a double-double machine for the Crimsons, leading them in both PPG (13.9) and RPG (12.3). His contributions are as efficient as they are effective, evidenced by his 65.6% shooting from the field and 41.7% shooting from behind the arc.     Harper is leading one of the most impressive sophomore campaigns in Kentucky this year. As the sole true floor general for a really good Crimsons squad, he's made a tremendous leap in his production since last season. Averaging 11.8 PPG with impressive 58/54/73 shooting splits, expect Dario to both run the show for Manual tonight and showcase his scoring abilities.     Woods has provided even more veteran leadership for Manual this season. He's accounted for 11.8 PPG and 5.1 RPG on a well-balanced Crimsons squad. His 61.1% shooting from the field and 47.5% shooting from the 3pt line makes him a constant threat while on the court. Expect Woods to be a key focal point for Male's defense tonight.     McGee is another veteran for the Crimsons who's having a really good season. While averaging 11.2 PPG and 5.6 RPG, he's recently begun to see his college recruitment pickup and deservingly so. Standing at 6'3" with long limbs, McGee thrives as a two-way player and can quickly become a problem for smaller guards on both ends of the court.

The "Old Rivalry" between Kentucky powerhouses Louisville Male (15-9) and DuPont Manual (18-6) is one of the most historic matchups in the nation. Set for 7PM tonight at Manual's Butch Charmoli Gymnasium, the contest will feature two of the top teams in the state and enough talent for it to go down in the history books. Let's take a look at some of the top players to keep an eye on.