Pre-Season First Team All 7th Region: Frontcourt

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>I already discussed some of the guards in the 7th region that I expect to shine in the upcoming season, but now let's take a look at some of the top wings and frontcourt players in the region. After noting down all of the talented players in the region, it was extremely hard to even discern between which players should be included in these articles. However, once I got that list together, it became an even harder task to separate these talented players into 1st vs 2nd teams. That honestly speaks to how many star players are in this Louisville area region though. While this list could, and probably will, change as the season goes on, let's take a look at the 7 first team selections at this time.</p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"id":"block_6307d51bd6453","name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["254273"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Johnson is always going to be included on any list discussing the top players in the region or state because she is truly a generational talent. She's as elite as they get and to think that she is just now beginning her sophomore year is crazy. You could put Johnson on any team in any state and she's going to be successful, but she just so happens to play on one of the most talented teams in this state (who are also 2x defending state champions as we begin this season). Simply put, she is a top 5 nationally ranked player for a reason. I'm not saying she's a perfect player, but I bet just about any college program would take her as is right now. She can do a little bit of everything at an elite level and she's going to be an incredibly fun player to continue watching throughout her high school career.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_player":["398020"],"_player_evaluations_1_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Jones might be the biggest sleeper statewide, but any team she faces certainly knows who she is and what she can do. A 1st team All-Region player last season, Jones is long and active on the court. Defensively, she makes it difficult for the offense to even get the ball down low, but if they're able to, she's an excellent shot blocker and she can alter shots even if she doesn't get the block. Opposing teams have to seriously work if they want to try to keep her off the boards, but no matter how hard they work, she'll still probably find a way to get there. Offensively, Jones is extremely hard to defend. She can make amazing catches, she puts herself in good positions, and she can finish on both sides of the rim. Jones shot 60.4% overall last season and she's only gotten better since the season ended.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["255502"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"West actually received the 4th most votes for 7th region player of the year last season and I don't expect anything less in her final high school season. She led a very underrated Male team as they finished 2nd in the region in the regular season last year, finishing only behind the team that actually won the 2022 KHSAA state championship. West led the team in scoring, rebounding, u003cemu003eandu003c/emu003e 3 point field goal percentage. She has great height and length, and she's smooth around the basket. She can finish on both sides of the rim and she can stretch the defense with her ability to knock down outside shots at a high percentage (35.6%). West is a 2-way player that consistently contests shots and plays strong post defense as well.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_player":["231487"],"_player_evaluations_3_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Knight is one of the strongest true post players on this list and I'd expect her impressive numbers from last season to rise even more this season. She has a ton of moves down low so she's able to mix things up and she's able to finish extremely well, even through contact. Knight can move defenders out of the way and she also recognizes where the defense is when she catches the ball down low. When she runs into double teams or she doesn't see a scoring opportunity, she does a great job of locating and kicking to teammates. Knight plays strong post defense and can alter a lot down low as well.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["164417"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Taylor has proven to be a tough defensive assignment for opposing teams. She's long and athletic, and she uses those strengths to her advantage. Taylor can elevate over defenders to finish tough shots. Teams try to double or triple team her and she still manages to find a way to put the ball in the basket. Taylor finishes well at the rim, but she also has a strong mid-range game that's really tough to stop. She can finish through contact as well. One of the biggest strengths in Taylor's game is how well she stays with it on plays that appear to have nothing there. She doesn't give up and that typically ends with her coming up with a bucket. Taylor is also extremely hard to keep off the glass and should average a double-double throughout her senior season.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_5_player":["257276"],"_player_evaluations_5_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_5_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_5_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"Pelayo sometimes gets overlooked because she has so much talent surrounding her, but she is truly one of the best post players in the state. She keeps the ball high and with her excellent height u0026amp; length, it can be extremely hard for defenders to stop her. Pelayo posts up strong, holding off her defender, and then once she gets the ball, she can finish really well on both sides of the rim. She is a great rebounder and defender as well. While Pelayo has a ton of talent around her, she is a major key in the success SHA has had in the past couple of years. To give you a glimpse into her impressive play, she shot 63.5% overall last season and over 56% in her freshman season. She was top 3 in points, rebounds, and field goal percentage for the state champions last season and she was an impressive shot blocker as well, although I don't have those stats.","_player_evaluations_5_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_6_player":["231485"],"_player_evaluations_6_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_6_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_6_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"Gardner is one of the most versatile players on this list because she impacts the game in many ways, inside and out. She consistently plays with a high motor. Hustle plays, tough rebounds, constant deflections and steals. Anything that requires pure effort, Gardner does. She has good length, but she also has good speed and athleticism so she can truly play or guard any position. She really makes things tough on the offense as a defender, regardless of who she's playing. Gardner is an excellent offensive asset as well. She can handle the ball, she makes strong drives to the basket, she has good court vision, she makes good passes, and she can really shoot the ball. She'll impact the game no matter who's surrounding her and I think she'll have a lot of success in her junior season.","_player_evaluations_6_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":7,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"align":"","mode":"edit","anchor":"acf-block-64bdf73f4a91e"} /-->