The Week Ahead: Week 1 (12/2-12/7)

The season has finally arrived! Let’s take a look at the biggest games of the first week of the 2019-2020 season:

Monday, December 2nd:

Collins vs North Laurel (at Transylvania) – Potential 2020 Mr. Basketball Dayvion McKnight Dayvion McKnight 6'1" | PG Collins | 2020 State #175 Nation KY and potential All-state shooting guard Marcellus Vail Marcellus Vail 6'3" | SG Collins | 2020 State KY take on the freshman tandem of Reed Sheppard Reed Sheppard 6'3" | PG North Laurel | 2023 State #22 Nation KY and Ryan Davidson Ryan Davidson 6'4" | SF North Laurel | 2023 State KY . North Laurel beat Henry Clay in a scrimmage last week and could be a sleeper in Coach Nate Valentine’s first season at the helm.

University Heights at Murray – Like after KyKy Tandy starts for UHA in a matchup of “All A” teams. Junior KJ Crump KJ Crump 5'8" | PG University Heights | 2021 State KY should be fully healthy and ready to roll for the Blazers while Murray has a younger team led by Seniors Darius Duffy, Hunter Utley and Tommy Waldrop.

Woodford County at Paul Laurence Dunbar – Formerly an 11th region rivalry, Woodford now makes the trip to Lexington as a member of the 8th region. Sophomores Zach Carter, Robby Todd Robby Todd 6'7" | PF Madison Central | 2022 State KY , Tim Hall Tim Hall 6'6" | PF Westminster Catawba | 2023 State SC and Lionel Kumwimba are a tough quartet for the Dogs while Seniors Jared Courtney Jared Courtney 6'1" | CG Woodford County | 2020 State KY , Anthony Tabor Anthony Tabor 5'10" | PG Woodford County | 2020 State KY and Ashton Myles-Devore Ashton Myles-Devore 6'2" | PG Woodford County | 2020 State KY form a nice backcourt trio for the Jackets.

Tuesday, December 3rd:

West Jessamine at Great Crossing – Great Crossing officially launches the basketball program as they play host to the visiting Colts. Jaylen Barber Jaylen Barber 6'8" | C Great Crossing | 2020 State KY is the anchor down low for the Warhawks while West Jess is led by Junior DeAjuan Stepp DeAjuan Stepp 6'5" | SF West Jessamine | 2021 State KY .

Eastern at Jeffersontown – The point guard matchup of Christian Spalding Christian Spalding 6'4" | PG Evangel Christian | 2022 State KY against Jaylen Fairman Jaylen Fairman 5'11" | PG Jeffersontown | 2021 IN should be a great one while James Jewell James Jewell 6'6" | PF Marion County | 2022 State KY goes to battle against transfer Trevis Oglesvy down low. J-Town has at least 4 transfers on the roster this season. This battle of 6th and 7th region contenders should be fast paced and fun to watch.

Bowling Green at Madisonville-North Hopkins – Big time game between two teams who could make the Sweet 16 in a few months. Kenny White Kenny White 6'7" | SF Madisonville-North Hopkins | 2020 State #357 Nation KY and Ksuan Casey Ksuan Casey 6'9" | C Madisonville-North Hopkins | 2020 State KY lead a group of Maroons who are determined to repeat as regional champs while the Purples are looking to Isaiah Mason Isaiah Mason 6'4" | SF Bowling Green | 2021 State KY and Jacobi Huddleston Jacobi Huddleston 6'8" | PF Bowling Green | 2021 State KY to lead a good Junior class out of the 4th region.

Bardstown at Marion County – Marion County’s Jamison Epps Jamison Epps 6'5" | PF Marion County | 2020 State KY , Mason Sullivan Mason Sullivan 6'3" | PF Marion County | 2020 State KY and Tyshay Epps Tyshay Epps 6'0" | PG Marion County | 2020 State KY go head to head with Bardstown’s JJ Traynor JJ Traynor 6'8" | PF Bardstown | 2020 State #223 Nation KY , JaRel Montgomery JaRel Montgomery 5'11" | PG Bardstown | 2020 State KY and Tereylin Calbert in a game between two teams with regional title aspirations in the 5th.

Wednesday, December 4th:

Fern Creek at Ballard – Athletes galore in this matchup. Jaden Rogers Jaden Rogers 6'1" | PG Fern Creek | 2021 State KY , Darrius Washington and Zek Mongtomery all hold D1 offers heading into their Junior seasons while Ballard will be without a couple of key pieces as Rashad Bishop Rashad Bishop 6'7" | PF Ballard | 2020 State KY is out with a broken wrist and Maker Bar Maker Bar 6'9" | C Ballard | 2022 State KY is still ineligible.

Covington Catholic at Lexington Catholic – The latest version of Covington Catholic makes their first appearance of the year as they have added a couple of transfers in Walker Horn and Noah Hupmann. Horn is the son of the new NKU coach Darrin Horn and Hupmann is a 7 footer who enrolled at Covington Catholic over the summer. Lexington Catholic will counter with Ben Johnson Ben Johnson 6'3" | CG Lexington Catholic | 2021 State KY and Luke Wedding.

Thursday, December 5th:

Central Hardin at South Oldham – South Oldham was one of the highest scoring teams in the state last year. Seniors Luke Morrison Luke Morrison 6'5" | SF South Oldham | 2020 State KY and Seth Johnson have their sights set on Rupp Arena in March while Central Hardin is hoping to so the same. Gavin George Gavin George 6'2" | PG Central Hardin | 2020 State KY and Chase Elmore Chase Elmore 6'3" | PG Central Hardin | 2020 State KY are a tough guard duo for the Bruins. This is a game that could get into the 80s or higher.

Franklin County at Spencer County – Franklin Senior Joe Meador Joe Meador 6'10" | PF Franklin County | 2020 State KY looks to keep improving after a big AAU season while Spencer has every intention of competing for an 8th region championship after falling in the regional semis last season. Sam Conley Sam Conley 6'3" | SF Spencer County | 2021 State KY , Matt Whitlock and Lucas Hornback Lucas Hornback 6'2" | SG Spencer County | 2021 State KY are back to lead the Bears as Juniors.

Friday, December 6th:

Madisonville-North Hopkins at Marshall County – Zion Harmon Zion Harmon 5'10" | PG Buffalo Lake-Hector-Stewart | 2021 #52 Nation MN ’s quest for a second state title brings him up against Madisonville as part of the annual Marshall County Hoopfest.

Campbell County at George Rogers Clark – One of the best rivalries in the 10th region over the last couple of years will look a lot different after both teams were hit hard by graduation. GRC will rely on Jared Wellman Jared Wellman 6'4" | SF George Rogers Clark | 2021 State KY , Lincoln Bush Lincoln Bush 6'7" | C George Rogers Clark | 2020 State KY and Jerone Morton Jerone Morton 6'3" | SG George Rogers Clark | 2023 State KY while the Camels are led by Jordan Gross and Dane Hegyi.

PRP at Holy Cross (Covington) – The Panthers make the trip to northern Kentucky to do battle with Coach Grammer’s squad. The point guard battle between Jacob Meyer Jacob Meyer 6'2" | PG Holy Cross Covington | 2023 #170 Nation GA and James Taylor James Taylor 5'10" | PG Pleasure Ridge Park | 2020 State KY at the point guard spot should be fun to watch as the freshman from Scott goes head to head with the Senior from PRP.

Beechwood at Simon Kenton – Two of the state’s best Juniors play as Scotty Draud Scotty Draud 6'6" | SF Beechwood | 2021 State KY of Beechwood and Kelly Niece Kelly Niece 6'2" | CG Simon Kenton | 2021 State KY from Simon Kenton will look to light up the scoreboard. Niece is recovered from a torn ACL suffered in April while Draud missed a large portion of the summer with mono. With both back healthy, this game should be a good one.