Senior Lajuan McAdoo is one of two returning starters for the Maroons.
Two returning starters and some newcomers to key roles appear to have Madisonville-North Hopkins poised near the top of the expectations list in the 2nd Region again this season.
“Expectations at Madisonville-North are very high every year,” noted Jon Newton, who begins his third season with the Maroons. “We hope by the end of the season we are playing our best basketball and by the time the district tournament rolls around we are able to defend our district championship.
“Lyon County is the head of the class right now in Region 2 but there are about four or five of us in the hunt, and I think whoever can stay healthy and peak at the right time could make things interesting come the end of the season.”
Senior point guard Danye Frazier returns as does senior guard Lajuan McAdoo. They helped Madisonville go 23-9 a year ago.
Six-foot-7 freshman DeAaron Watkins also figures to play a huge role for the Maroons this season.
“He has had a tremendous offseason and has improved in all phases of the game,” said Newton. “DeAaron is only a freshman but has already caught the eyes of the D-1 coaches. He picked up his first D-1 offer this past fall.”
Madisonville got an unexpected surprise when Marcus Eaves decided to transfer in from Hopkins County Central for his senior season.
The 6-4 Eaves was one of the top scorers in the region last season at 26 points a game and helped the Storm reach the regional semifinals.
He is the younger brother of former Madisonville standout Jaiveon Eaves, who went on to play at Murray State.
Eaves and Watkins both hold offers from Jacksonville State.
“Eaves will help fill the void of some of the production we graduated from last year,” Newton noted. “Marcus’ versatility is going to really going to help us play many different styles.”
Seniors Javion Martin and Destin Cheirs have previous experience and will be in the rotation for the Maroons as well.
“Seniors Brayden Butler and Nyeem Peyton have done an outstanding job of leading the younger guys this off-season and have established themselves into the rotation,” said Newton.
Depth should not be an issue for the Maroons.
“We have a really strong younger class,” said Newton. “We have several freshmen and sophomores that are competing versus our upperclassmen every day and are hungry for an opportunity. I think by the end of the season we will see guys like Vonte Wilkes and LeMontae Ratcliff in our rotation.”
Madisonville has won 13 straight 7th District championships and appears to be in the driver’s seat in the district again this season.
The Maroons reached the regional semifinals last year before falling to Lyon and advanced to the championship game each of the previous three seasons — claiming titles in 2019 and 2020.
Despite some key losses to graduation last year — including leading scorer Kale Gaither (24.2 points), big man Zach Tow (12.5 points and 11.5 rebounds) and Ashton Gaines (12.3 points) — Madisonville is expected to make another deep run in the region in 2023.
The Maroons open the 2022-23 regular season at Heritage Christian Academy in Hopkinsville on Tuesday, Nov. 29.
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