MONROE — Many of the same athletes that made Monroe High the best football team in Union County in 2009 are carrying the basketball team to elite status as well.

The 6-0 Redhawks haven’t been challenged this season, even though the seven players who get the majority of the playing time all went from football uniforms to playing a basketball game that counts with only five practice days in between.

It’s not even mid-December yet, but early indications suggest Monroe has the best boys basketball team in Union County. The Redhawks should face their first real test on Friday at Berry Academy.

The Rocky River Conference has three teams that should contend for the league title, including Berry (8-1, 3-1), Monroe and Forest Hills (4-1, 3-1).

Monroe now has two future major college football athletes on its basketball team. Issac Blakeney, a 6-foot-6 senior center, has committed to Duke University and plans to sign in February.

Earlier this week, junior Jamison Crowder was offered a full scholarship to play football for the Blue Devils.

Crowder is an unbelievable return specialist and also has the hands to play receiver in college.

One of the best athletes in Union County — which is saying a lot with the stockpile of talent in the current junior and senior classes — Crowder is quite probably the best boys basketball player in Union County. He’s an accurate shooter and a terrific playmaker. Now a three-year starter, Crowder is jumping much better this season — he had three dunks in the first half against Porter Ridge.

Forest Hills’ Markell Lotharp and Dre Huntley are among the best one-two punches in UC.

Lotharp is 6-6 and athletic with the ability to make threes, drive the baseline and dunk in traffic (as he did at CATA on Friday) or finish inside.

Lotharp (15.8 ppg, 8.0 rpg) is lean but he’s playing stronger this season and seems more focused. Huntley is 5-3 but plays much bigger. Huntley has tremendous quickness, and understands how to use it functionally to score and create for others. Huntley is averaging 15 points and 10 assists a game.

Sun Valley’s boys (4-3) are among the best teams in UC. The Spartans play a tougher schedule than most — all three of their losses are to 4A schools, including Friday’s 90-79 loss at Central Cabarrus.

The Spartans are pressing and trapping most of the time in an effort to create a tempo that favors their guard-heavy lineup.

The jury’s still out on how good Weddington (3-3), Marvin Ridge (2-3) and Parkwood (3-2) will be this season.

All three programs were not only hit by graduation, but by the opening of Cuthbertson, which tapped into their talent pools.

Union County continues to suffer from six school openings this decade, which has spread the athletic talent too thin.

It makes it harder to be successful on the state level, but the games are just as intense and competitive.