The Courier-Journal from Louisville, Kentucky • Page 36

Y' j' C8 THE COURIER-JOURNAL HIGH SCHOOL DASKETDALL SUNDAY, APRIL 6, 1997 p3 LiL. VanHoose is only 6 feet 9 bet still No. 1 fll 11 I Jf 1 MWli By BOB WHITE The Courier-Journal THIRD TEAM Player, school Ht. Kyle Umberger, Ashland Blazer 6-6 Ashley dinger, Eastern 6-4 Derek Smith, Fort Thomas Highlands. 6-6 Robert Kelly, Pleasure Ridge Park 64 Kelly Day, South Laurel 6-6 Antwan Taylor, Eastern 6-2 Rob Ogden, Harrison County 6-8 Marcus Gradney, Ballard 6-7 Darrin Price, Union County 6-0 Lance Ashby, Shelby County 6-2 CI.

Jr. Sr. So. Sr. Sr.

Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

CI. Jr. Sr. Sr. Sr.

Sr. Sr. Sr. Jr. Sr.

Sr. FIRST TEAM Player, school Ht. Wt. CI. J.

R. VanHoose, Paintsville 6-9 225 Jr. J. P. Blevins, Metcalfe County 6-3 175 Jr.

Brandon Davenport, Owensboro 5-9 170 Sr. Jonathan Beasley, Anderson County 6-7 205 Sr. Jaron Brown, Bryan Station 6-3 205 Jr. Roni Robinson, Franklin County 6-3 210 Sr. David Graves, Lexington Catholic 6-6 195 Jr.

Thomas Jenkins, Allen Central 6-4 190 Sr. Adrian Armstead, Henderson County 6-2 185 Sr. Todd Tackett, Paintsville 6-3 175 Jr. Avg. 22.5 26.2 25.5 25.0 20.6 23.8 17.3 24.3 17.0 19.8 SECOND TEAM Player, school Ht.

Shawn Fields, Lexington Catholic. 6-3 Marc Salyers, Apollo 6-8 Exzavier Deans, Central Hardin 6-3 Eric Liedtke, Oldham County 6-4 Clinton Sims, Paris 6-3 Chris Sparks, Trigg County 6-0 Trent Coward, Eastern 6-3 Harold Swanagan, University Heights. 6-8 Josh McKenzie, Paintsville 6-6 Antonio Short, Fairdale 6-2 HONORABLE MENTION 13th Region Steve Asher. Red Bird: William Brooks. M'ddlesboro; Jerome Cornell.

Everts, Mark Hyden, Corbin; Rick Jones, Corbin; Joel Kaufman, Harlan; Bnan Miller, Jackson County; Tim Rogers, Clay County; Patnck Smrrh, Bar-bourville; Jeremy Terry. Cumberland; Travis Taylor. Pine-ville; Travis Truett, Jackson County; Mark Vernon, Williamsburg; Bill Wilder, Whitley County. 14th Region Joey Caudill, Knott County Central; Jimmy Keith, Cordia: Brent Lynch. Owsley County; Gary Mullins, Buckhorn; Jon dinger, Hazard; Jeremy Osborne, June Buchanan; Bill Sumner, Perry County Central.

15th Region Andy Jarvis, Prestonsburg; Chris Johnson, Shelby Valley; Doug Powers. Pikeville: B. J. Rattitl. Elkhom City; Davey Turner, Johnson Central.

16th Region Austin Cooper, Lewis County; Casey Davis, Boyd County; Ricky Lewis. Elliott County; Kevin Meadows, Greenup County; Hunter Roark, Rowan County; Jimmy Tackett, Greenup County. Ninth Region Eric Glaser, Highlands: T.J. Evans. Boone County; Jon Jefferson, Covington Holmes; Jason Kraemer, Simon Kenton; Jarod Laewen, Highlands.

10th Region Drew Beckett, Maysville St. Patrick; Wes Burtner, Clark County: Derek Robinson, Bourbon County; David Turner, Pendleton County. 11th Region George Baker, Paul Dunbar: Eric Brown. Bryan Station; Collier Mills, Paul Dunbar Essien Jackson. Jessamine County; Scott MenrJennall, Lexington Catholic; Drew Park, Lexington Catholic; Derek White, Woodford County.

12th Region Bill Bertram. MonticellO; David Cooper, Southwestern Pulaski; Jay Flynn, Somerset; Kyle Green, Boyle County; Jim Handios, Wayne County; Dennis Johnson, Harrods-burg; Derrick Springate, Boyle County. Firth Region Derek Baker. Manon Gountv; Cody Brown, Nelson County. Nayland English, URue County; Guinn Hodges, Hart County; Jarrod McCurry, Elizabethtown: Carlos Rios, Fort Knox; Gabe Stone, Nelson County: Domaie Smith, Norm Hardin; Petie Spalding, Campbellsvitle; Joe Syket, North Hardin; Marcus Wilson, Green County.

Sixth Region Demetrius Blevins, Central; Micnael Brown, Butler; Troy Brown, Fairdala; Shane Bucci, Valley: Quintin Bailey, Iroquois; Alonzo Evans. Western; Jayme Johnson, Butler; Chauncey Lewis. Iroquois; Dominic Taylor. Pleasure Ridge Park: Robby Williams, Doss. Seventh Region Clay Carney.

Seneca: Justin Cornell. Fern Creek; Tony Driver. Male; Norton Edmonds, Moore; Aaron Kniqht, Ballard; Damon Miller, Manual; Chns Shumate, Male; Jermame Taylor, Eastern; Robert Taylor, Eastern; Leva Tolley, Atherton. Eighth Region Joe Clay, Eminence; Jon Coulter, Anderson County; Toby Hams, Scott County; Donnie Hensley, Carroll County; Brian Miles, Bullitt East; Nathan Popp, Shelby County: T. J.

Whitlill, Bullitt East; Kyle Wise. North Bullitt. First Region Bo Alexander Hickman County; Mike Brown, Padu-cah Tilgnman; Jomo Dopwell. Graves County; David Greene, Calloway County; Bryan Kendall. Graves County; Bradley Nanney.

Fulton City; Jamie Nora-worthy, Graves County; Neal Powers, Mayfield. Second Region Rashidan Allen, Providence; Anthony Mayes. Trigg County; Matt Mooney, Webster County; Adam Pepper, Christian County. Third Region Derrick GUI, Muhlenberg South; Oustln Hay, Hancock County; James Johnson, Muhlenberg Nemft; Artando McHenry, Apollo; Jeremy Moms. Muhlenberg South; David Phillips, Owensboro; Jason Snodgraas, Ohio County.

Fourth Region Braxton Anderson. Franklin-Simpson; Maeshane Andrews, Monroe County: Stephen Anttiony, Warren East; Brian Brrtt, Warren East; flico Carter, Cumberland County; Anthony Grundy, Warren Central; Adonla Hart, Logan County; Thad Key, RussrHlvilie; Casey Simpson, Bowling Green; Tanner Turley, Greenwood. ern in the title game, landed 6-6 sophomore sensation Derek Smith on the third team. Josh McKenzie, a 6-6 senior forward who averaged 18.8 points, 10.2 rebounds and 5.8 assists for Paintsville, was a second-team choice. sented on the second team by Trent Coward, the Most Valuable Player in the Sweet Sixteen tourney, and by Ashley dinger and Antwan Taylor on the third team.

Fort Thomas Highlands, which upset Paintsville 74-71 in overtime in the state semifinals before losing to East Robinson, a gifted all-around athlete, made the first team in 1996. He was a second-team All-State selection as a running back in football last fall. Eastern, the deep, talented Jefferson County team that won the State Tournament last month, was repre Brandon Davenport, the small but clever guard for Owensboro, heads five seniors on the first team. Joining him are Jonathan Beasley of Anderson County, Roni Robinson of Franklin County, Thomas Jenkins of Central and Adrian Armstead of Henderson County. wmm laiwi aiiuaii.i PAST TOP VOTE-GETTERS 1996: Daymeon Fishback, Greenwood 1995: Charles Thomas, Harlan 1994: Elton Scott, Marion County 1993: Jason Osborne, Male 1992: Tick Rogers, Hart County 1991: Chris Harrison, Tollesboro 1990: Dwayne Morton, Louisville Central 1989: Allan Houston, Ballard 1988: Richie Farmer, Clay County 1987: John Pelphrey, Paintsville 1988: Rex Chapman, Apollo 1985: Tony Kimbro, Seneca 1984: Steve Miller, Henry Clay 1983: Winston Bennett, Male 1982: Todd May, Virgie 1981: Manuel Forrest, Moore 1980: Ervin Stepp.

Phelps 1979: Dirk Minnietield, Lafayette 1978: Jerry Eaves, Ballard 1977: Jeff Lamp, Ballard 1975-78: Darrell Griffith, Male 1974: Jack Givens, Bryan Station 1973: W9sley Cox. Male 1972: Jerry Thruston, Owensboro 1971: Jimmy Oan Conner, Anderson Co. 1970: Ronnie Lyons, Mason County 1969: Thomas Payne, Shawnee 1966: Henry Bacon, Male 1967: Jim McDaniels, Allen County 1966: Mike Casey, Shelby County 1965: Butch Beard, Breckinridge County 1964: Westley Unseld, Seneca 1963: Mike Redd, Seneca 1961-62: Mike Silliman, St. Xavier -1960: Jeff Mullms, Lafayette 1959: Pat Doyle, North Marshall 1 1958: (tie) Henry Todd, Earlington, and Ralph Richardson, Russell County 1957: Billy Ray Lickert, Lafayette -1956: Kelly Coleman, Wayland 1955: Kenny Kuhn, Male 1954: Vernon Hatton, Lafayette 1 1953: Earl Adkins, Ashland 1951-52: Linville Puckett, Clark County 1950: Dickie Prater, Pikeville 1949: Cliff Hagan, Owensboro 1948: Coy Creason, Brewers 1947: J.M. Gipe.

Owensboro 1946: Sonny Allen, Breckinridge Training 194445: Wah Wah Jones, Harlan JARON BROWN Bryan Station Guard Bobby Washington hates to rank players he's coached, but he says Jaron Brown would be in his top five, and the Bryan Station mentor has had such outstanding players as Michael Allen, Robert Hammond and Barry Bowman. Brown has been chosen Lexington's Player of the Year the past two years. This season, when the Defenders went 24-7, Brown averaged 20.6 points, 7.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists and 3.9 steals. As a sophomore he averaged 22 points and 10 rebounds for a 22-9 team. He showed enough talent that Rick Pitind called, and Brown made a commitment to play for UK after the 1997-98 season.

"Pitino told me that Jaron could be a fantastic defensive player in college," Washington said. "He can guard a player 5-7 or 5-8 and players 6-5 and 6-6 because he's so quick and strong. He's got the best pair of hands I've ever seen." Brown can play point guard, but at UK that spot will be taken care of by J.P, Blevins. "Pitino said Jaron and J. P.

could become an excellent guard combination." Brown scored a season-high 40 points against Columbus (Ohio) Independence in the Kentucky Holiday Classic Tournament. He scored 33 against Mason County and 31 against 10th Region champion Harrison County. Brown, who has a 2.9 GPA, has not yet taken the American College Test. Brown, who has scored 1,506 points in his career, shot better from two-point range (61.2 percent) than from the free-throw line (53.7 percent). He made 28.8 percent of his three-point attempts.

TODD TACKETT Paintsville Guard Tackett averaged 15 points and 4.7 assists a game last season when Paintsville won the state championship, but he was even better this year. The junior guard averaged 19.8 points a game, including a season-high 35 against Paris in the All Classic Tournament and 25 when Paintsville ended Lexington Catholic's unbeaten streak at 27 games. "Todd's a great player," Paintsville coach Bill Mike Runyon said. "The only reason he hasn't received more publicity is because he's on the same team with J. R.

(VanHoose)." Tackett can do more than score. He averaged 4.7 rebounds, 5.5 assists and four steals. He can hit the three-point shot as well as drive for the basket. "His athleticism makes him a well-rounded player," Runyon said. "He's a big-time guard.

Syracuse already has offered him a scholarship." Duke and North Carolina also have called Runyon about Tackett. He has a 3.63 grade-point average and ranks ninth, just ahead of VanHoose, in a class of 68. Basketball is not Tackett's only sport He's an excellent prospect as a "In the 19 years I've been at Paintsville! Todd's the only player who's batted over .500," said Runyon, also the baseball coach. "He hit .512 last year with eight home runs; He only struck out once in 26 games." Iff I ft -i i is it Paintsville didn't reach its goal and repeat as state champion, but the Tigers' J. R.

VanHoose upheld his preseason ranking as Kentucky's No. 1 high school basketball player. The junior center, who already has been offered scholarships to play for Indiana, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame and Florida, led the voting for The Courier-Journal's 59th annual All-State team. VanHoose, who helped Paintsville to a 33-4 record and the winningest season in the Johnson County school's history, received 100 votes from the 125 coaches who participated in the balloting. "As hard as J.

R. worked at his game, I can see why people would want to vote for him," Paintsville coach Bill Mike Runyon said. "He's very dedicated to the game." A lot of people have wondered whether VanHoose really is 6 feet 10. That's the height listed for him on the Paintsville roster at the beginning of the season. "I don't know who made up that roster, but J.

R. is 6-9," Runyon said. So far, VanHoose is not being recruited by the University of Kentucky, but two future Wildcats junior guards J. P. Blevins of Metcalfe County and Jaron Brown of Lexington Bryan Station also made first-team All-State.

Blevins was second in the voting with 85 votes. Completing the roll call of five juniors in the top 10 are 6-6 forward David Graves of Lexington Catholic and 6-3 guard Todd Tackett of Paintsville. J.R. VANHOOSE Paintsville Center The pressure of being the Most Valuable Player in the 1996 State Tournament as a sophomore didn't keep VanHoose from having another banner season as a junior. R.

had a good year, considering all the publicity and recruiting going on," Paintsville coach Bill Mike Runyon said. "He basically stayed focused the whole year. VanHoose improved upon his sophomore averages of 19 points and 13.5 rebounds. This season he averaged 22.5 points and 14.5 rebounds, along with 4.2 blocks and 3.2 assists, as Paintsville reached the state semifinals. A true post man, VanHoose was most dangerous underneath.

He scored 38 points when Paintsville ended Lexington Catholic's bid for an unbeaten regular season with an 82-78 win on Feb. 21. He scored 32 against Woodmere of New York and 1 against Madison Central and Shelby County. He also pulled down 21 rebounds against Perry County Central and 17 against Paris in the All Classic Tournament. "His jumping got much better this year, and his defensive play was better," Runyon said.

"His strength and defense are the parts of his game he'll have to work on this summer. He a good outside shooter." Staying close to the basket, VanHoose hit 59.8 percent of his field-goal attempts and 74.3 percent of his free throws. He made 2 of 3 three-point shots. VanHoose carries a 3.6 grade-point average. RONI ROBINSON Franklin County Guard-forward 0Of i Robinson missed the first five games of the season because of a deep thigh bruise and sat out two games in late January for academic reasons.

He averaged 23.8 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 3.5 steals for 24 games. "In his last eight games, Roni averaged 30-31 points," Franklin County coach Gary Moore said. "That's when he played his best. He had some awesome games at the end." Robinson scored 41 against Lexington Christian on Feb. 20.

He collected 36 points against Miamisburg, Ohio; 35 against Anderson County; and 32 against Woodford County. Robinson, who scored 2,286 points in his career, averaging 19.2 for 119 games, led Franklin County to the 11th Region title as a sophomore. He was so valuable to his team this season that the Flyers went 21-3 with him in the lineup and 2-5 without him. During Robinson's four years on the varsity, Franklin County had a 108-19 record. Robinson also was a star on the football field, earning second-team All-State honors as a running back.

"Roni is the best athlete in the state," Moore said. "He had a great career in both sports. He's the best senior (basketball) player in the state." Robinson will be a non-qualifier in college, Moore said. He has not decided whether to play football or basketball, or whether to attend a junior college or a prep school. the Allen JONATHAN BEASLEY Anderson County Forward 1 Here's a big man who not only can play with his back to the basket but can take the ball to the goal while facing it.

"One of his biggest assets is he can beat you on the dribble," Anderson County coach Glen Drury said. "He'll play the three (small forward) position in college." Beasley, a three-year starter, averaged 25 points, 7.1 rebounds, 2.3 assists and 1.3 steals in 29 games. He hit '288 of 451 two-point shots (63.9 percent), 17 of 51 three-point tries (33.3 percent) and 99 of 125 free throws (79.2 percent). His 1,912 points rank him second behind Jimmy Dan Conner on Anderson County's career scoring list. "As the year went on, Beasley got better and better, and that made us a better team," Drury said.

"He's one of the major reasons we won the (Eighth) region. He made everybody around him better." Beasley scored a season-high 37 points against Elizabethtown, 35 against Henry County and 34 against Grant County. His career high was 42 against Bullitt East as a sophomore. Louisville looked at Beasley early in the season and Georgetown College has followed his every step, but Morehead State and new coach Kyle Macy are hoping he'll visit that school. Beasley, who carries a 2.4 grade-point average, will be eligible to play as a freshman in college.

ADRIAN ARMSTEAD Henderson County Guard After a great junior year, during which he led Henderson County to a 29-7 record and a berth in the State Tournament semifinals, Armstead was rated the state's No. 3 player going into this season. "He showed then what he was capable of doing," Henderson County coach Phil Gibson said. "There was a lot of pressure, pressure he put on himself and what others put on him, and that made this year tougher than it should have been. He started out well, then hit a lull in midseason, but then he really came back.

He was playing his best ball at the end of the season. He's a tremendous competitor. He never wanted to lose." Armstead, who was suspended from the team for four games in late. January for breaking team rules, averaged 17 points, five rebounds and five assists for a 21-7 team that lost to Christian County in the Second Region semifinals. His high games were 30 points against Muhlenberg South, 26 against Evansville Memorial and 25 in the regular-season finale against Elizabethtown.

He ranks fourth among Henderson County's all-time leading scorers with 1,575 points. Armstead made 153 of 305 two-point shots (50.1 percent), 20 of 60 three-point tries and 55 of 84 free throws (65.5 percent). He is a non-qualifier and will have to attend a junior college. Vincennes, Wabash, Sullivan and Daytona Beach are recruiting him. i 1 "II mm BRANDON DAVENPORT Owensboro Guard Davenport scored 37 points and dished out 11 assists in an 80-78 first-round, overtime loss to Paintsville in the 1996 State Tournament.

He followed that performance with a brilliant senior season in which he averaged 25.5 points, 5.6 assists and 2.6 steals. His 25-7 team won the 50th annual Louisville Invitational Tournament, during which he won Most Valuable Player honors by scoring 66 points in three games. Owensboro has had some great guards in the past Bobby Watson, Randy Embry, Rod Drake and Kenny Higgs, to mention a few. But Embry, now the Red Devils' coach, says Davenport "ranks up there with the best of them." With 1,702 career points, Davenport passed the legendary Cliff Hagan to take third place behind Higgs and Tim Johnson on Owensboro's all-time scoring list. Davenport's high game was 36 points against Marshall County.

He also had 34 against Breckinridge County and Evansville (find.) North and 32 against Grayson County, Madisonville and Franklin-Simpson. "He's a great player in the open court," Embry said. "He can hit the jump shot on the move, stop on a dime and shoot or he can take the ball to the basket. He's very good at drawing fouls." Davenport carries a 3.6 grade-point average and wants to play Division I ball despite being only 5 feet 9. "He has his sights high," Embry said.

"He can play Division I for a team that wants to get out and go and if the team has a big center who can play defense behind him. THOMAS JENKINS Allen Central Guard-forward Jenkins always has played better against stronger teams. As an eighth-grader on the Allen Central varsity, he nit two free throws with two seconds left to beat McDowell in the 58th District Tournament. Allen Central reached the 1994 State Tournament in Jenkins' freshman year, and he scored 27 points against eventual champion Fairdale in the quarterfinals. This season, against 1996 state champion Paintsville, Jenkins scored 88 points in three games, including 25 in a 62-57 loss in the 15th Region tourney.

"Thomas was a little too quick for Paintsville," Allen Central coach John Martin said "He had three great games in the tournament (including a season-high 39 against Betsy Layne). He's always been able to score." As a senior, Jenkins averaged 24.3 points, 11.1 rebounds and 2.9 assists for an 18-11 team. Being his team's tallest player, Jenkins played center a lot of the time. Jenkins is Allen Central's all-time career scoring leader with 2,303 points in 119 games, averaging 19.4 a game. He had 1,145 career rebounds for a 9.6 average.

"He has one of the quickest first steps I've ever seen," Martin said. "He surprises people. He doesn't shoot many three-pointers. He likes to take the ball to the basket. He's a slasher." Jenkins has a 3.0 GPA but hasn't yet qualified to play as a college freshman.

He played wide receiver in football until he was injured in the fourth game. Georgetown College, Eastern Kentucky and More-head State are interested in him. j. p. BLEVINS Metcalfe County Guard A bout with mononucleosis limited Blevins to 10 games and 244 points during his sophomore season, but he came back this season to average 26.2 points, 7.5 rebounds and five assists for a 24-6 team.

"The best thing J. P. did was make his team better," said coach Tim McMurtrey, whose squad reached the All Classic Tournament semifinals. Blevins scored 76 points in three All state tourney games, including 32 in a comeback victory over Trigg County. The University of Kentucky-bound Blevins, who joined the varsity as a seventh- g-ader, scored 42 points against Bowling reen and 40 against Greenwood.

In the Greenwood game, he was 16 for 16 at the free-throw line. He tallied 37 points against Oldham County and 33 against Monroe County. His low game was five points against Caverna on Feb. 21, but he played only 10 minutes after suffering a broken nose. P.

is a complete guard," McMurtrey said. "He sees the floor so well. You'll see at the next level how great a passer he is. In our system, he has to score." Blevins, who hit 84 of 200 three-point shots (42 percent), already has amassed 2,282 points. This season, he hit 154 of 315 two-point shots (48.9 percent) and 225 of 270 free throws (83.3 percent).

Blevins, a straight-A student, already has the score on the American College Test necessary for freshman eligibility. He also, plays on the golf team, which McMurtrey coaches. "I'm keeping him with me, McMurtrey said. "I don know what I'll do when he leaves here." DAVID GRAVES Lexington Catholic Forward Graves came into his own this season. He was the Knights' most reliable player as they won their first 27 games and finished 31-2, getting upset by Paul Dunbar 67-55 in the 11th Region final.

"That's because of what he did in the gym during the off-season," Catholic coach Danny Haney said. "He lifted weights and worked on conditioning. He's been in our program since the fifth grade. He's going to be a super college player down the road." Graves averaged 17.3 points, 5.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists and blocked 42 shots. He scored 572 points by hitting 176 of 278 two-point shots (63.3 percent), 46 of 120 three-point attempts (38.3 percent) and 82 of 109 free throws (75.2 percent).

His high game was 36 against Newport Central Catholic. He tallied 32 against Lexington Sayre and 31 against Bryan Station. In the 11th Region tourney, Graves collected 63 points in three games, including 24 against Dunbar. "David has one of the best shots I've seen," Haney said. "He has picture-perfect form.

He's only going to get better. He's got a chance to play at a nice school (in college)." Graves, who has a 3.2 grade-point average, will be eligible to play as a college freshman and has heard from Vanderbilt, Miami of Ohio and Notre Dame. He's likely to play small forward. IH IM WWW.