By Ryan Hoots
January 30, 2024
We have been blessed to be alive for such a historic time for high school hoops in Kentucky. From the hype being proven real about last year’s #1 rated player in the state, Reed Sheppard. To the record held by Wayland’s “King” Kelly Coleman for 67 years being broken by a free throw sinking through the bottom of the net at Rupp Arena by current #1 player Travis Perry in last year’s edition of the KHSAA Sweet 16. It certainly has been one of the more exciting times that I can remember for prep hoops in the Bluegrass State. I have had the opportunity to watch Lyon County play a hand full of times, most recently being at the 2024 Kentucky All “A” Classic in Corbin. Any time Lyon County plays, it draws a crowd of people not commonly seen by a Single-A school from such a small town like Eddyville. People are wanting to catch a glimpse of the history maker, having that “I was there” moment with Perry. Travis is a treat to watch, there’s no short cut around it, we are witnesses to history and that should be appreciated as Lyon County’s own “Big 3” in Perry (Kentucky commit), Brady Shoulders (UT-Martin commit), and Jack Reddick (Uncommitted) look to bring the hardware that has eluded them on back-to-back appearances in the Sweet 16. When watching Lyon County, many people are focused on the two Division-1 bound seniors. As a Coach, I found myself focused on Point Guard Jack Reddick. Reddick, knows where his teammates will be at all times. This is due to a high basketball IQ, but also to the fact he has played with Shoulders and Perry since the 2nd grade. You can quickly observe each of the 3’s natural instinct as to where each other will be on the court when you watch them play. One play that impressed me was on a Shoulders rebound, Reddick called for the outlet pass – – penetrating the lane and throwing a no look dish to Perry in the left corner for a quick 3. This happened against a good Owensboro Catholic defense, the game that was never really in doubt as to who was going to come out victorious, but it was spectacular how quickly they were able to convert for points on the offensive side, it was under 8 seconds from end-to-end. Reddick was also able to hit full stride while handling the rock crossing a defender before the dish, showing yo-yo like control. He is very quick, has good leaping ability, and plays with toughness that cannot be taught. He has intangibles, I love that he is a floor burner, often diving for loose balls to get the fast paced Lyon County offense started in transition. Reddick, whom has been playing varsity ball since the 7th Grade, has grown accustomed to playing through contact and finishes well at the rim through tough defense. He also must be guarded once he touches the ball, as he can make you pay from deep or throw a full court length pass for a quick bucket. In my eyes, Jack is a mid major to low major D1 player, look for him to make an impact for any program at the next level.
The Coach Ryan Report 