Boys LIT begins Monday. A look at team to beat, contenders, dark horse and top players
The 77th annual boys basketball Louisville Invitational Tournament will tip off Monday with 16 of the area’s top teams competing for the title.
Monday’s first-round games will be played on campus sites. Quarterfinals, semifinals and Saturday’s 5 p.m. championship game will be played at Valley High School.
The 16 teams were selected via the SETH Ratings, a formula developed by Jerry Wyman, the former athletics director for Jefferson County Public Schools.
Two of the top five schools in the SETH Ratings — DeSales and Evangel Christian — declined invitations. DeSales declined in order to compete in the Kentucky 2A Championships, and Evangel Christian chose the All “A” Classic over the LIT.
Here’s a breakdown of the LIT field.
Team to beat
Trinity (13-3)
Ranked No. 4 in the state in the Kentucky High School Basketball Media Poll, the Shamrocks are led by a trio of NCAA Division I recruits: senior guard Drae Vasser (14.8 ppg), junior center Julius Edmonds (12.5 ppg, 6.7 rpg) and sophomore swingman Jayden Johnson (11.5 ppg). The big question for Trinity will be its stamina, as the team is returning from a weekend stay in New Orleans for the Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic. The Shamrocks took the tournament title, winning four games in three days (Thursday-Saturday). LIT titles: Six (last in 2019).
Contenders
Male (11-4)
The Bulldogs have been up and down through the first part of the season, posting solid victories over Trinity and North Oldham but also falling to Butler and Spencer County. Sophomore Cole Edelen (23.3) is one of the state’s top shooters and is hitting 50.5% from 3-point range (55 of 109). Keashawn Jordan (5.4 ppg, 6.8 rpg), a 6-foot-7 junior, continues to emerge as an inside presence. LIT titles: 14 (last in 2022).
Manual (12-1)
The No. 8-ranked Crimsons enter with an 11-game winning streak and earned the No. 1 seed for the LIT. Manual ranks 10th in the state in scoring (75.8 ppg) and has four starters averaging at least 12 points per game — seniors Ryan Shene (15 ppg) and Josh Darst (12.2 ppg) and juniors Malachi Coleman (16.2 ppg) and Justice Decker (12.7 ppg). Shene is the team’s top rebounder (8.8 rpg) and is shooting 42% from 3-point range (29 of 69). LIT titles: Four (last in 2008).
St. Xavier (11-2)
The No. 10-ranked Tigers have reached 100 points four times this season and rank second in the state in scoring (89.2 ppg) behind Lyon County (89.5 ppg). Four starters average double figures in scoring: juniors Chance Dillingham (18.6 ppg), Will Hanke (13.2 ppg, 7.9 rpg) and Graham Krezmien (10.2 ppg) and sophomore Jeremiah Jackson (14.8 ppg). Dillingham is shooting 42.9% from 3-point range (36 of 84). LIT titles: Two (last in 1965).
Dark horse
Fairdale (14-3)
The Bulldogs put together a solid 3-1 showing in their King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic, beating No. 11-ranked Bowling Green 55-52 for third place. Three sharpshooting guards lead the way for first-year coach John Hunt: junior Joseph Hurt (15.8 ppg) and seniors Dalton Hicks (16.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg) and Jacob Tucker (13.4 ppg). Having already defeated Jeffersontown and Butler this season, the Bulldogs have a solid shot to reach Friday’s semifinals. LIT titles: Three (last in 1994).
Long shots
Ballard (4-7)
The defending LIT champion has struggled against a tough schedule and is in danger of posting the first losing season in program history. Junior guard Sam Frazier (18.2 ppg) is the top scorer. LIT titles: Eight (last in 2023).
Beth Haven (11-3)
The Bearcats’ hot start includes victories over Warren Central, Pleasure Ridge Park and Ryle. Senior guard Jordan Harris leads the team in scoring (14.1 ppg) and rebounding (6.3 rpg). Freshman guard Michael Ray Stinnett (12.4 ppg) is shooting 46.4% from 3-point range (45 of 97). LIT titles: None.
Bullitt East (10-4)
Don’t be surprised if Jason Couch’s 16th-seeded Chargers give top-seeded Manual a scare in the first round. Junior guard Nate Wilson (10.9 ppg) leads Bullitt East’s balanced scoring attack. LIT titles: None.
Butler (8-7)
The fourth-seeded Bears upset Male in overtime on Dec. 8 but have been inconsistent over the past two weeks. Senior Dayton Williams (20.8 ppg, 8.5 rpg) is one of the city’s top players. LIT titles: One (1998).
Christian Academy (9-5)
Four of the Centurions’ five losses have come by one point, including a 66-65 overtime defeat against DeSales on Tuesday. Senior guard Jackson “B.B.” Washington ranks No. 2 in Louisville in scoring (24.2 ppg) and has signed with Florida Gulf Coast University. LIT titles: None.
Eastern (10-5)
Senior forward Sam Locke leads the Eagles in scoring (16.1 ppg) and rebounding (7.3 rpg). Precious Sam (3.7 ppg, 3 rpg), a 6-10 freshman center, recently joined the team. LIT titles: Four (last in 2011).
Holy Cross (11-6)
The Cougars knocked off Butler earlier this season and are led by the senior backcourt of Jacob Hand (20.3 ppg, 6.2 rpg) and Mike Loftis (12.6 ppg). LIT titles: None.
Jeffersontown (5-8)
Slow starts are nothing new for a Chargers program that has bounced back to win two straight Sixth Region championships. Brothers Camron McDaniels (20.4 ppg) and Lukus McDaniels (11 ppg) lead the way. LIT titles: None.
Moore (7-8)
The Mustangs have a trio of players scoring in double figures: sophomore Dayvone Harrison (17.5 ppg) and seniors Jacob Forney (13.2 ppg) and DaShawn Hall (12.4 ppg). Moore lost to first-round opponent St. Xavier, 105-64, on Dec. 22. LIT titles: One (1980).
Pleasure Ridge Park (8-7)
The Panthers have a balanced scoring attack led by senior Aiden Glass (11.3 ppg) and junior Christopher Finch (10.3 ppg). LIT titles: Six (last in 2014).
Seneca (6-5)
The Redhawks have the city’s No. 1 scorer in senior guard QuelRon House (27.2 ppg). LIT titles: Two (last in 2004).
Here is the tournament schedule. Seeds in parentheses.
Monday
At Manual — Bullitt East (16) vs. Manual (1), 6 p.m.; Christian Academy (9) vs. Ballard (8), 7:30 p.m.
At Butler — Jeffersontown (12) vs. Fairdale (5), 6 p.m.; Beth Haven (13) vs. Butler (4), 7:30 p.m.
At Male — Moore (11) vs. St. Xavier (6), 6 p.m.; Seneca (14) vs. Male (3), 7:30 p.m.
At Trinity — Pleasure Ridge Park (15) vs. Trinity (2), 6 p.m.; Holy Cross (10) vs. Eastern (7), 8 p.m.
Tuesday at Valley
Pleasure Ridge Park-Trinity winner vs. Holy Cross-Eastern winner, 6 p.m.; Moore-St. Xavier winner vs. Seneca-Male winner, 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday at Valley
Jeffersontown-Fairdale winner vs. Beth Haven-Butler winner, 6 p.m.; Christian Academy-Ballard winner vs. Bullitt East-Manual winner, 7:30 p.m.
Friday at Valley
Semifinals, 6 and 7:30 p.m.
Saturday at Valley
Final, 5 p.m.
More: Great Crossing, Lyon County 1-2 in first Kentucky High School Boys Basketball Media Poll
Reach Jason Frakes at jfrakes@courier-journal.com and follow him on X @kyhighs.
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: LIT 2024: Team to beat, contenders, top players in 16-team field
