Season is about a month or so away at this point so it's time to start looking ahead. Last years LPD race was tight as nails with PV, JJ Kelly, and JI Burton finishing in a 3 way tie. PV wound up winning the playoff and Appalachia ended up as Tournament Champs. All 4 teams advanced to Regions and all 4 lost in round one. Obviously with each new season brings about the fact that certain players are gone from each team, Wilson from JJK, Stewart from Burton, etc. However, what is exciting to me at least is the return of two players who missed last season due to injury Myron Pinkston from PV and Coleman from JIB. Can either push their team over the hump? Heres how I see it going and please feel free to respond with info from your team as after PV my knowledge goes downhill tremendously.

1. Appy: Dawgs are coming off a LPD Tournament Championship and return a core group of players along with a transfer post player. Biggest Strength for Appy imo is the guard play, Appy's guards dominated the end of the season last year and pretty much single handedly carried them to the title. Biggest Weakness: Depth, Appy is in serious trouble if they get into foul trouble, I'm curious to see if this ends up hurting them on defense.

2. PV: First regional trip in several years last year and the Vikings return Jordan Martin who has the potential to be the LPD POY. PV will also get back Myron Pinkston and football stud Dakota Cantrell (who should help us greatly in terms of depth). Biggest Strength: Martin, best player in the league in my opinion and plays well in a big game scored 32 last season in round one of the regional tournament. Biggest Weakness: Inexperienced at two vital positions of guard and post, if Garrison and Vaughn can keep their heads above water while adjusting to starting at the varsity level this team could be very special.

3: JI Burton: Rumors flying that this could be Stan the Man's last season at the helm of the Raiders. You know Wilson will want to go out with a bang, Coleman returns but to me the Raiders just don't have the inside presence needed to win the district, losing Stewart will hurt deeply as he was wrecking crew in the paint last season. Biggest Strength: Coaching, when you have Wilson and Williams on your staff you've got some guys who know what they are doing and how to win. Biggest Weakness: Post play, as I mentioned earlier who replaces Stewart?

4. JJ Kelly: TJ and the boys always play tough defense and they better do their best Duke Blue Devils impression this year, I just don't see the points. To, me Kelly is going to have to rely a ton of Sophomore Clark who imo works harder than anyone I've seen around here outside of AA at Coeburn. Biggest Strength: Defense, TJ's teams always play in your face defense, this will keep them in many games. Biggest Weakness: Nobody who can put the ball in the basket.

5. Pound: New coach, same story for the Wildcats. One great player and not much of a supporting cast. Bolling will dominate the interior as the best big man in the league but the question remains can they get the ball to him? Biggest Strength: Erick Bolling, dominate crushing inside player who imo is the third best post player in the region behind Otto Fletcher (Council) and Smith (Twin Valley) Biggest Weakness: Guards, who gets Bolling the ball?

6: Clintwood: I hope the Green Boys win the state title in football because it's going to be a long season in Dickenson Co. I'm afraid. The Wave lost their best player in Vanover and really I have no clue where they are going to turn. Biggest Strength: The student section can chant lets play football to almost anybody who shows up to play and they have the nicest gym in the LPD. Biggest Weakness: If you were going 8 deep with this bunch I think you would see something like this: ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?.