It’s almost May, so that means it’s time to put out some very early 13th Region boys’ and girls’ rankings and predictions out.
We’ve waited as long as we can just to see if there will be any movement from some student-athletes moving form one school to another, so bare with us if we put a player at their respective school now and they end up somewhere else in the near future.
We know of a few changes that will need to be made, and they’ll definitely change the landscape of the 13th Region landscape but until then, let’s go with what we know at the present.
13th Region 2024-25 Very Early Boys’ Team Rankings
1. South Laurel (19-11)
One thing you can guarantee year in and year out with Jeff Davis’ Cardinals — they’ll be the best defensive team in the region.
South Laurel will possess the region’s best player in Jordan Mabe along with Josh & Jordan Steele and Colton Rawlings. They almost knocked off region champion Harlan County last season in the 13th Region Tournament. This season, the Cardinals will enter as the team to beat.
2. Clay County (24-9)
The Tigers return a solid nucleus of talent that includes one of the region’s top players in Adon Grubb and teammates Jerrod Roark, Ethan Jackson, Aiden Wagers, and Grayson Hooker.
Coach Michael Jones will have his team contending for the region championship once again this upcoming season.
3. Bell County (25-8)
Coach Brad Sizemore has quietly been building a contender in Bell County, and now the Bobcats are ready to make a run at the 52nd District and 13th Region titles.
Blake Burnett returns along with a talented nucleus of players that include Cameron Hall, Ethan Buel, Cayden Huff and Jaxon Thomas.
4. Harlan County (34-5)
The Black Bears were one win away from capturing the boys’ basketball program’s first state championship.
Now Harlan County will attempt to repeat as 13th Region champions. It won’t be easy but coach Kyle Jones has the talent to accomplish the feat.
Maddox Huff returns along with Reggie Cottrell, Jaycee Carter and Brody Napier. Cottrell and Carter are two of the most underrated players in the region.
5. North Laurel (17-18)
It was a rollercoaster of a season for Nate Valentine’s Jaguars. After graduating two of the best players to ever wear the kelly green and royal blue while adding key players transferring along with injuries to key players, but somehow North Laurel managed to almost finish with a .500 record.
Reece Davidson returns along with Kole Jervis, Jordan Rawlings, Joe Smith, Cooper Elza and R.J. Noble, which will make the Jaguars a hard team to beat.
Best of the Rest
6. Knox Central (22-10)
Coach Mitchell Madden did a fantastic job during his first year as head coach of the Panthers. Look for him to continue to build Knox Central into a region title contender with Grayson Burton returning.
7. Pineville (20-11)
The Mountain Lions return one of the best one-two punches in the state in Sawyer Thompson and Ashton Moser.
8. Corbin (23-9)
The Redhounds return Eli Pietrowski and Ryder Akins while Zach Reynolds, Connor Middleton, Connor Blackburn and Lucas Brittain look to lead Corbin back to another 50th District title.
9. Whitley County (20-10)
Coach Eric Swords has done a fantastic job with the Colonels basketball program. He will have to replace four seniors while talented players such as Evan Ellis, Dee Parker, Bryson Mahan, and Aaron Rowe return.
10. Williamsburg (17-14)
The defending 13th Region All ‘A’ Classic champions have the talent to move up even further in the rankings with players such as Henry Bowling, Andrew Smith, Conner Saylor, and Cooper Prewitt returning.
Teams ready to surprise
11. Oneida Baptist (17-15)
12. Jackson County (12-17)
13. Middlesboro (10-20)
14. Harlan (6-21)
15. Barbourville (7-24)
16. Lynn Camp (8-20)
17. Red Bird (5-17)
13th Region 2024-25 Very Early Boys’ Individual Rankings
1. Jordan Mabe, South Laurel
2. Maddox Huff, Harlan County
3. Blake Burnett, Bell County
4. (tie) Sawyer Thompson, Pineville
4. (tie) Ashton Moser, Pineville
6. Grayson Burton, Knox Central
7. Reggie Cottrell, Harlan County
8. Adon Grubb, Clay County
9. Josh Steele, South Laurel
10. (tie) Colton Rawlings, South Laurel
10. (tie) Reece Davidson, North Laurel
10. (tie) Andrew Smith, Williamsburg
10. (tie) Jerrod Roark, Clay County
10. (tie) Eli Pietrowski, Corbin
