The Kentucky All-Stars boys' basketball team faces some significant obstacles in trying to end its losing streak against Indiana this weekend.
Indiana owns an 87-42 record against Kentucky and has swept the last four series dating to 2009.
This year's Kentucky team has the size to match Indiana, though it might not have the overall talent.
Indiana has three players who will play for Indiana University, two headed to Purdue, one bound for Michigan and another for Notre Dame.
In fact, every player on Indiana's roster will be playing collegiate ball at Division I schools.
The Hoosiers are led by Zak Irvin, who will play for last season's NCAA runner-up, Michigan.
The 6-foot-7 Irvin is the No. 24-rated prospect by Rivals.com and No. 22 by ESPN.
Irvin is a skilled shooting guard-small forward combo who can make three-pointers, drive and finish or kick out to open teammates.
Just as in previous years, this Kentucky-Indiana series will be a contrast in styles.
Kentucky Coach Allen Feldhaus Jr. said Indiana likes to play a run-and-gun style while Kentucky prefers to put in a system where it can get good shots.
But putting in a system can be difficult when your two best players are at practice only half the time.
Those two players are University of Kentucky signees Dominique Hawkins and Derek Willis.
Both are traveling back and forth from UK conditioning to Kentucky All-Star practices.
"It's tough to call plays when you've got people that aren't at practice every day," Feldhaus Jr. said. "So you just have to make the best of it."
Another obstacle for Kentucky might be health.
Hawkins and his Madison Central High School teammate Ken-Jah Bosley, along with Louisville Trinity guard and Boston College commit Darryl Hicks, were supposed to be the team's top three perimeter players, but Hicks tweaked his knee in a scrimmage against the Kentucky juniors Wednesday night and his status is uncertain.
But Hawkins and Bosley are tough-minded, strong guards who led Madison Central to a state championship this year.
Who better to lead the Kentucky squad?
THIS WEEKEND
What: Kentucky-Indiana All-Star Games
Friday: Girls' game at 5:30 p.m., with boys to follow at Freedom Hall in Louisville
Saturday: Girls' game at 5 p.m., with boys to follow at Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis
KENTUCKY-INDIANA ALL-STAR BOYS' ROSTERS
Kentucky
No. Name Pos. Ht. High school College
1 Dominque Hawkins G 6-1 Madison Central Kentucky
2 Ken-Jah Bosley G 6-1 Madison Central Kentucky Wesleyan
3 Devonte Grundy G 6-6 Bardstown Vincennes
4 Darryl Hicks G 6-3 Louisville Trinity Boston College
5 Stuart Jackson F/C 6-6 Central Vincennes
6 Tyler Jones G 6-0 Montgomery Co. Undecided
7 Ray Kasongo F/C 6-8 Pikeville Undecided
8 Jordan Majors G 6-2 Hopkinsville Undecided
9 Omar Prewitt F 6-6 Montgomery Co. William & Mary
10 Rusty Troutman G 6-5 Bullitt East Bellarmine
11 Jack Whitman F 6-9 Lexington Catholic William & Mary
12 Derek Willis F 6-9 Bullitt East Kentucky
Head coach: Allen Feldhaus Jr., Madison Central;
Assistant coach: Chris O'Hearn, Mason Co.
Indiana
No. Name Pos. Ht. High school College
1 Zak Irvin F 6-7 Hamilton Southeastern Michigan
2 Demetrius Jackson G 6-1 Mishawaka Marian Notre Dame
3 Bryson Scott G 6-2 Fort Wayne Northrop Purdue
4 Devin Davis F 6-6 Warren Central Indiana
5 Michael Volovic G 5-9 Carmel Butler
6 Collin Hartman F 6-6 Indianapolis Cathedral Indiana
7 V.J. Beachem F 6-7 New Haven Notre Dame
8 Clay Yeo G 6-6 Triton Valparaiso
9 Basil Smotherman F 6-7 Lawrence North Purdue
10 Blake Simmons G 6-5 Castle Evansville
11 Mike Crawford G 6-5 Tipton Saint Louis
12 Michael Schlotman G 6-3 Munster William & Mary
13 Darius Latham F 6-6 North Central Indiana (football)
Head coach: Scott Heady, Carmel
Assistant coaches: Brent Dalrymple, North Daviess; Kevin Leising, Blufton.
Comments