It’s rare that you don’t see Hopkinsville High School boys’ basketball coach Anthony Babb with a smile on his face. But when he talks about his 2024-25 squad, the smile gets even bigger.
Babb said he likes his team, which returns several key members from last year’s 11-17 squad. In addition, the Tigers are the benefactors of Heritage Christian Academy tranfers Layton Giltner and Cash Bolinger.
The Tigers already put some teams on notice with a 10-point win over Oldham County during its first scrimmage at Louisville Fairdale.
Freshman guard Jonovan Leavell also put some folks on notice as he led the Tigers with 24 points in the first scrimmage.
Leavell will team with returning juniors CJ Dillard and James Bradley, Jr., along with seniors Jonathan Hart, Treston Kay, Jarae Leavell, Artavius Moses, and Deavery Ramey to give the Tigers a potent group. Toss in sophomores point guard Brayden Kimbrough, center Giltner, guard Bolinger and Hoptown looks like it could go 10-12 deep in its rotation.
Freshman Jayon Bass and Jaden Jacobs also should see plenty of playing time.
The biggest challenge for Hoptown will be replacing the graduated Antonio Williams, who averaged 26.1 points and 13.5 rebounds a year ago. Williams is playing college basketball at Three Rivers Community College.
Babb said his players will have to figure out their roles as the season goes along to help rack up the victories.
Hopkinsville’s schedule is loaded again this year with home games against teams including Region 2 favorite Henderson County (Dec. 13), Owensboro (Jan. 3), Christian County (Jan. 10), Paducah Tilghman (Feb. 7), and University Heights Academy (Feb. 11). But the road games are against teams including Bardstown (Dec. 7 at Muhlenberg County), Madisonville-North Hopkins (Dec. 19), Owensboro Catholic and South Warren (Dec. 27 and 28 at Henderson County), UHA (Jan. 16), Daviess County (Feb. 1), and McCracken County (Feb. 15).
The Tigers open the season Dec. 2 at Ohio County.
Photo by Joe Wilson