Two weeks ago, a preview to the University Heights Academy Blazers’ season would have been much different than it is today. However, an injury to starting point guard KeShawn Moore in the first quarter of the Blazers’ first preseason scrimmage has Coach Terry Hayes and the UHA Blazers adapting their plans for the season in the final days before the season gets started.
The Blazers were the last team to win the 2nd Region title before the 3-year run from Lyon County, taking the title in the COVID-impacted season of 2020-2021 with a 63-61 win over Madisonville.
University Heights will have to fill the holes in the lineup left by the graduations of Gavin Grubbs, Quinton Quarles, and Kyler Baker, who accounted for more than 38 points and 13 rebounds per game and those will be no small shoes to fill.
Those three were part of a class of five seniors that led the Blazers to the 8th District championship last year and a trip to the regional semifinals before a frosty cold shooting night against Henderson County doomed their chance for another showdown with Lyon County in the regional final.
Any look at this year’s UHA team has to start with the duo of Elijah Walton and Tylin George. The pairing gives the Blazers quite possibly the best 1-2 punch in the region. George, a junior, averaged 15.1 points and 3.2 rebounds per contest and knocked down nearly 50 percent of his shots from behind the 3-point line.
Walton, a senior, averaged 12.9 points and 8.7 rebounds per contest last season.
Both figure to see those numbers increase this season and to draw plenty of attention from opposing defenses. Either player can take over during a game, making the Blazers a very difficult team to deal with. How George and Walton go will likely be one of the factors for a postseason run out of the Blazers.
The wrench in the plan for the Blazers’ plans at the beginning of the season came when expected starting point guard KeShawn Moore broke a bone in his leg during the Blazers’ preseason scrimmage against Louisville Moore. The injury is expected to sideline Moore for at least 8 weeks. Moore transferred from Todd County Central, where he played in every game last season and averaged 9.2 points and 2.8 rebounds per game. He also made 33 3-pointers for the Rebels.
The Blazers will be looking for some players to step up and play much bigger roles this season. Those include Frank Pollard (1.5 ppg), Bryson Northington (3.0 ppg), and Jaden Daniels, who was injured for much of 2023-2024. Pollard is a solid inside presence for UHA and can add some needed strength in the paint. Northington is a high-flyer who is a threat on the backdoor lob at any point during the game. Daniels gives the Blazers some more physicality down in the paint.
Coach Terry Hayes says he likes the way this team has adapted after losing 5 seniors from last season. He notes that staying healthy through the season will be one concern for his team, especially now with the absence of Keshawn Moore for a big chunk of the season.
Player Under the Radar – Junior Frank Pollard could be the surprise player this year for the Blazers. He saw action in 26 games last season as a sophomore. Coach Terry Hayes says “He does all the little things such as rebounds, plays solid defense, and makes good decisions with the basketball. He may be overlooked because his name hasn’t been out there much. I believe as the season progresses his name will be heard often.’
Big Games – University Heights has traditionally never shied away from playing big games all throughout the season and this year is no different. Right out of the gate, the Blazers open the season against Madisonville-North Hopkins. They follow that right up with early season tests against South Warren, Murray, Owensboro, and Henderson County. A possible All A regional semifinal with defending state champ Lyon County and the huge district battles with Christian County and Hopkinsville also highlight the schedule.
Outlook – The preseason injury to KeShawn Moore is going to impact the Blazers’ season. How they handle the point with him being out and then how they handle his return. Plus, how does the injury impact Moore when he comes back? That will be a huge answer to how the Blazers finish the season. UHA quite possibly has the two best players in the 8th District with George and Walton, but the Blazers also need to have some guys that can give them some minutes in big games when the starters need a break. This team, with the right answers to those questions, is one of the teams that could cut down the nets in Madisonville in March.
