Just a freshman this season, Lyon guard Travis Perry has scored almost 1,500 career points.
The future appears to be now for the Lyon County Lyons. With all of its big guns back from last year’s 23-10 regional semifinal squad, Lyon is not only expecting to defend its 5th District championship, it’s looking to play for the 2nd Region title in March.
And that’s with just one senior on the roster this season.
Lyon’s attack begins with 6-foot-2 freshman guard Travis Perry, who isn’t your typical freshman.
Perry was second in the state in scoring last season as an eighth grader, pumping in 26.6 points a game. Only Casey County’s Spencer Baird tallied more points a night at 27.9.
Perry, the son of Lyon head coach Ryan Perry, connected on 37.9 percent of his 3-point attempts last season, going 83 of 219 from long range.
But the younger Perry can score in a variety of ways — as evidenced by the 1,490 points he has already put up on the varsity level. He is on pace to eclipse Lyon County legend Ty Rogers’ 3,300 career points and could make a run at “King” Kelly Coleman’s state record 4,337 career points at Wayland in the 1950s.
Perry has been named the Naismith National Youth All American Mr. Basketball for the state of Kentucky in the class of 2024.
He is ranked fourth in the nation for the Class of 2024 by the Naismith National Youth All American and is the only Kentucky player in the top 50 nationally for the Class of 2024.
Perry already owns college offers from Creighton and New Orleans. Those are obviously just the beginning.
But Perry isn’t the Lyons’ only weapon.
Jackson Shoulders, a 6-5 forward, averaged a double-double last season, giving the Lyons a formidable inside-outside punch.
Shoulders scored 16.2 points a game while grabbing 11.5 boards a contest.
Shoulders is also a member of Lyon’s 1,000-points club already with 1,066 points.
Meanwhile, 6-1 junior guard Gunnar Bingham netted 9.0 points a game and is capable of putting up big numbers at the offensive end.
Junior Nick Whalin, a 6-3 junior, averaged 7.1 points and 4.6 rebounds and gives Lyon another big body inside.
Brady Shoulders, a 6-3 freshman guard, came on strong down the stretch last season and finished averaging 4.0 points a game. The younger Shoulders adds another 3-point threat out front after making 35.6 percent of his trey attempts last year.
Freshman guard Jack Reddick figures to only get better and is another option for a Lyon team that will look to push the ball up the floor quickly this season.
Clay Haines is the only senior on the 2020-21 Lyon County roster. Haines, who sat out last season, will provide backcourt depth.
A young Lyon squad last season endured the typical ups and downs, going 3-6 over one midseason stretch.
However, Lyon regrouped and went 13-1 before ending the season in the regional semifinals. The one loss — prior to bowing to Webster County in the 2nd Region semifinals — came to Calloway County in a game that Perry sat out with an ankle injury.
Lyon is among the favorites to win the regional All A Classic in January and looks to be the team to beat in the 5th District in March. The Lyons are also on the list of contenders for the 2nd Region championship.
The season begins Tuesday, Jan. 5, with a trip to district challenger Crittenden County, which has high hopes of its own this season.
Lyon has intentionally beefed up its schedule this season, with dates against Warren Central, Owensboro Catholic, Graves County, Henderson County, Marshall County and McCracken County all on the 2020-21 slate.
In a typical season, these Lyons would draw huge crowds wherever they went. COVID-19 will limit attendance early in the season, but it hasn’t tempered expectations in Eddyville.
Lyon fans who can’t make it to the home games will be able to watch live online — and for free — on the Lyon County Schools YouTube page.
