Week 7 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- With over half its regular season complete, Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) remained in firm command of the No. 1 ranking when the Week 7 National Prep Basketball Poll was released Monday.

The Monarchs have won three tournament championships this season, including the prestigious City of Palms Classic last month in Fort Myers, Fla. Three of Mater Dei's 14 victories were against teams that have been nationally or regionally ranked this season.

Matchups with national powers Whitney Young (Chicago) and No. 3 St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.), followed by the CIF section, regional, and state playoffs, are left standing between the Monarchs and their first National Prep Poll title and the first for a California team since 2000.

Week 6 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei (Santa Ana) stated loud and clear its case for the No. 1 ranking in the National Prep Poll last week by winning the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

The Monarchs, whose entire starting five are committed to Division I colleges, knocked off three current or formerly ranked teams in the tournament, including No. 4 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 52-45 in the championship game.

Meanwhile, six-time Prep Poll champion Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) moved up one spot in the rankings to No. 2 after it won the Iolani Classic in Honolulu for the fifth time in the 25-year history of the event. The Warriors beat a pair of Top 15 teams, including No. 5 Montrose Christian, 74-62 (2OT), in the championship game.

ESPN RISE announces new high school basketball tournament

ESPN RISE, in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group, has developed a new post-season boys and girls high school basketball tournament called the “National High School Invitational” (NHSI). ESPN RISE’s NHSI will feature an eight boys team tournament and a four girls team tournament; games will be televised live on the ESPN family of networks: ESPN (1 game), ESPN2 (4 games) and ESPNU (6 games). The event will take place April 3-5, 2009 at the Hanley Center at Georgetown Prep High School, Bethesda, Md.

ESPN RISE’s NHSI will invite eight boys and four girls teams from eligible four-year high schools, independent and public, that have their respective governing body’s permission to participate in the inaugural tournament. Teams will be chosen based upon their end-of-season ranking in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 and via a selection committee. Teams with post-graduate students or re-classified 5th year seniors will not be eligible for consideration for the NHSI.

“The National High School Invitational is the first ESPN RISE-created event under the new brand; it is wholly representative of the elite high school sports strategy set forth from the beginning,” said James Brown, senior vice president, ESPN RISE. “It is a chance for high school sports fans to watch some of the best teams in the ESPN RISE FAB 50 and recruits in the ESPNU 100 play on a national level.”

The following governing bodies have granted their member schools permission to participate in the NHSI to date: Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association (boys teams), the Interscholastic Athletic Association of Maryland (girls teams) and the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association (boys and girls teams).

“In collaboration with ESPN RISE, we created the NHSI to provide boys and girls teams a platform to culminate their season by playing in a high profile event against other top teams from around the nation,” said Rashid Ghazi, partner, Paragon Marketing Group. “We have been pleased with the response from schools wanting to participate and expect the event to grow exponentially in size and stature over the next few years”

The following ESPN RISE FAB 50 ranked boys teams have confirmed that they will participate in the inaugural NHSI if selected to play: #3 Oak Hill Academy (VA), #4 St. Benedict’s Prep (NJ), #5 Findlay Prep (NV) and #9 Montrose Christian (MD). Our Savior New American (NY), Mountain State Academy (WV) and Veritas Christian (NC) are among the other teams that have also agreed to participate if invited.

The NHSI is an extension of the company’s tradition of televising high school basketball games. By the end of the 2008/2009 season, ESPN Inc. will have broadcast a total of 56 regular season games on its networks since 2002; 15 during the 2008-09 season. The televised games have featured 66 different high schools, representing 20 states from across the nation.

The 2009 National High School Invitational Television Schedule is:

Fri., April 3
Boys Quarterfinals Game 1
2 p.m.
ESPNU

Fri., April 3
Boys Quarterfinals Game 2
4 p.m.
ESPNU

Fri., April 3
Boys Quarterfinals Game 3
6 p.m.
ESPNU

Fri., April 3
Boys Quarterfinals Game 4
8 p.m.
ESPNU

Sat., April 4
Boys Semifinals Game 1
11 a.m.
ESPN2

Sat., April 4
Boys Semifinals Game 2
1 p.m.
ESPN2

Sat., April 4
Girls Semifinals Game 1
4:30 p.m.
ESPNU

Sat., April 4
Girls Semifinals Game 2
6:30 p.m.
ESPNU

Sun., April 5
Girls Championship
2:30 p.m.
ESPN2

Sun., April 5
Boys Championship
4:30 p.m.
ESPN

Week 5 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- By the end of Tuesday, we could see two matchups between teams in the top five of this week's National Prep Poll.

One top-five showdown is already set, with No. 3 Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) battling fellow mid-Atlantic power No. 5 Montrose Christian in Monday's final of the Iolani Classic in Honolulu.

If No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) and No. 4 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) both win on Monday, the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., also will host a top-five battle in its championship game. The top-ranked Monarchs first must beat No. 13 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), which advanced with a 101-84 win against No. 15 Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) The Celtics will have their hands full in the other semifinal with No. 17 Winter Park (Fla.), which already has beaten two Top 25 teams in the tournament.

Week 4 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- A very big segment of the national rankings puzzle for this season could be solved when the City of Palms Classic tips off this weekend in Fort Myers, Fla.

Top-ranked Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) will compete against a field that includes preseason No. 1 and currently No. 6-ranked Duncanville (Texas), plus No. 4 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) and three other current Top 25 teams. There are another four teams in the field that began the season in the national or regional rankings.

Check out CityofPalmsClassic.com for brackets and more information. You can catch the championship and 3rd place games of the tournament December 23 on ESPNU.

Week 3 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Six-time National Prep Poll champion Mouth of Wilson (Va.) Oak Hill is beginning to look like -- well, like Oak Hill once again.

By its own very lofty standards, Oak Hill nearly fell off the prep basketball map last season finishing outside the Top 10 in the final national rankings for just the second time in the last 10 years. But the Warriors are now ranked No. 3 in the National Prep Poll after beginning the season with 12 straight wins, including a 69-57 victory against preseason No. 1-ranked Duncanville (Texas) over the weekend at the Marshall County HoopFest in Benton, Ky.

Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei (Santa Ana) is ranked No. 1 in the poll for the second straight week. The Monarchs kicked off the season by winning four games by an average of 50 points at the Loara Taco Company Invitational in Anaheim, Calif.

Week 2 National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Without even playing a game, Southern California powerhouse Mater Dei (Santa Ana) ascended to the No. 1 ranking in the Week 2 National Prep Basketball Poll.

The Monarchs switched places with preseason No. 1 Duncanville (Texas), which was upset by regionally ranked Madison (San Antonio) November 22 at the McDonald's Texas Invitational.

More changes at the top of the rankings are possible -- if not likely -- later this month when the City of Palms Classic is played in Fort Myers, Fla. The tournament's amazing field includes seven Top 25 teams, including Mater Dei and Duncanville.

ESPN releases its prep basketball schedule

ESPN and its amazingly successful family of networks has released its schedule for the upcoming high school basketball season. 

ESPN, Inc., in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group, will combine to present 15 high school boy’s basketball games this season on ESPNU, ESPN and ESPN2, as part of the returning Old Spice High School Showcase. The series of regular-season games will include teams from 10 different states, including 18 teams nationally or regionally ranked in the preseason National Prep Basketball Poll.  It will open with a doubleheader on Thursday, Dec. 11, with Bishop McGuinness (Okla.) vs. No. 20 Putnam City (Okla.) at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPNU, followed by No. 4 Lincoln (N.Y.) vs. No. 1 Duncanville (Texas) at 9:30 p.m. on ESPN.  

 

The regular-season schedule concludes Friday, Mar. 6, when No. 11 Oak Hill (Va.) takes on No. 10 Montrose Christian (Md.) on ESPN2 at 7 p.m.  In all, ESPNU, the 24-hour college sports network, will televise 11 games, ESPN2 four and ESPN one.  In addition, ESPN360.com, ESPN’s broadband digital sports television network, will simulcast every game on ESPN and ESPN2.  ESPN Scouts, Inc. basketball recruiting analyst Paul Biancardi will serve as the primary analyst for all game telecasts and will be joined by various play-by-play announcers throughout the season, including Dwayne Ballen, Quint Kessenich, Dave Ryan and Jon Sciambi.

 

Additionally on December 23, ESPNU will televise the 3^rd Place and Championship games from the Bank of America City of Palms Classic.  This tournament will feature five top 10 teams, including No. 1 Duncanville (Texas), No. 2 Mater Dei (Calif.), No. 3 Wheeler (Ga.), No. 4 Lincoln N.Y.), and No. 6 St. Patrick (N.J.).

 

ESPNU will supplement the game schedule with a weekly 30-minute show, ESPNU Recruiting Insider, which evaluates the top high school basketball recruits and their classes based on research and analysis provided by ESPN’s Scouts, Inc. The show will be aired Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. throughout the season with ESPNU anchor Lowell Galindo hosting alongside analyst Biancardi.  

 

This season, more than 20 players from the ESPNU 100 Class of 2009 player rankings are expected to participate in the series, highlighted by a matchup featuring No. 2 Derrick Favors of South Atlanta (Ga.) against No. 4 DeMarcus Cousins and his regionally ranked LeFlore High School (Ala.) team on ESPN2, Thursday, Jan. 15^th at 9 p.m.  Duncanville (Texas), Wheeler (Ga.), Mater Dei (Calif.), Fairfax (Calif.) and Montrose Christian (Md.) each feature two players ranked in the ESPNU 100.

 

Other prospects from the ESPNU 100 expected to appear in the series include: No.1 Xavier Henry, Putnam City (Okla.); No. 5 Renardo Sidney, Fairfax (Calif.); No. 7 Lance Stephenson, Lincoln (N.Y.); No. 11 Dominic Cheek, St. Anthony (N.J.); No. 19 Dexter Strickland, St. Patrick (N.J.); No. 21 Keith Gallon, Oak Hill (Va.); No. 27 Mouphtaou Yarou, Montrose Christian (Md.); No. 35 Isaiah Armwood, Montrose Christian (Md.); No. 40 Terrence Boyd, San Diego (Calif.); No. 49 David Wear, Mater Dei (Calif.); No. 50 Travis Wear, Mater Dei (Calif.); No. 58 Richard Howell, Wheeler (Ga.); No. 59 Naji Hibbert, DeMatha (Md.); No. 71 Ari Stewart, Wheeler (Ga.); No. 72 Shawn Williams, Duncanville (Texas); No. 73 Lamar Patterson, St. Benedict’s (N.J.); No. 75 Hollis Thompson, De La Salle (Calif.); No. 79 Roger Franklin, Duncanville (Texas); No. 95 Solomon Hill, Fairfax (Calif.).

  

 

2008-09 ESPNU, ESPN & ESPN2 High School Boy’s Basketball Schedule

 

Date                                                     Game                                                     Time (ET)         Network

Thu., Dec. 11	Bishop McGuinness (Okla.) vs. No. 20 Putnam City (Okla.)	7:30 p.m.	ESPNU
Thu., Dec. 11	No. 4 Lincoln (N.Y.) vs. No. 1 Duncanville (Texas)	9:30 p.m.	ESPN
Tues., Dec. 23	Bank of America City of Palms Classic 3rd Place Game	3 p.m.	ESPNU
Tues., Dec. 23	Bank of America City of Palms Classic Champ. Game	5 p.m.	ESPNU
Thu., Jan. 15	South Atlanta (Ga.) vs. LeFlore (Ala.)	9 p.m.	ESPN2
Mon., Jan. 19	No. 20 Putnam City (Okla.) vs. No. 13 St. Anthony (N.J.)	10 a.m.	ESPNU
Mon., Jan. 19	No. 3 Wheeler (Ga.) vs. No. 5 St. Benedict’s (N.J.)	12 p.m.	ESPNU
Mon., Jan. 19	LeFlore (Ala.) vs. No. 4 Lincoln (N.Y.)	2 p.m.	ESPNU
Mon., Jan. 19	No. 2 Mater Dei (Calif.) vs. No. 15 Whitney Young (Ill.)	4 p.m.	ESPNU
Fri., Jan. 23	No. 7 Fairfax (Calif.) vs. San Diego (Calif.)	9:30 p.m.	ESPN2
Sat., Feb. 7	No. 19 De La Salle (Calif.) vs. Dominguez (Calif.)	10 p.m.	ESPNU
Sat., Feb. 7	No. 5 St. Benedict’s (N.J.) vs. No. 2 Mater Dei (Calif)	12 a.m.	ESPNU
Fri., Feb. 13	No. 4 Lincoln (N.Y.) vs. No. 6 St. Patrick (N.J.)	7 p.m.	ESPN2
Tue., Feb. 17	No. 22 DeMatha (Md.) vs. Bishop O’Connell (Va.)	9 p.m.	ESPNU
Fri., Mar. 6	No. 11 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. No. 10 Montrose Christian (Md.)	7 p.m.	ESPN2

Preseason National Prep Basketball Poll released

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The preseason No. 1 basketball team in the country hails from the state of Texas for the first time in the 22-year history of the National Prep Poll.

The Duncanville Panthers, who have won 74 of their last 76 games and are bidding for their second 5A title in three seasons, take the top spot in the first national high school basketball rankings of the season.

Duncanville will feature a starting lineup with five major Division I prospects, including four already committed to Big 12 universities.

The Panthers' schedule might be the toughest in the nation, with the opportunity to play at least a half dozen fellow preseason Top 25 teams.

Preseason Top 25: No. 1 Duncanville

1. Duncanville (Texas)
Coach: Phil McNeely (675-163, 24 years at Duncanville)
2007-08 record: 35-2, Class 5A region finalist (No. 16 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: G/F Shawn Williams (6-7), Sr.; F Roger Franklin (6-5), Sr.; F Julian Washburn (6-7), Jr.; G Reger Dowell (6-1), Sr.; C/F Perry Jones (6-11), Jr.
Team strength: Size, shooting, defense
Question mark: Experience with three new starters
Toughest games: Dec. 5 vs. Oak Hill Academy (Va.) and Dec. 6 vs. Scott County (Ky.) at Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 11 vs. Bishop McGuinness (Okla.); Dec. 13 vs. Brooklyn Lincoln (N.Y.); Dec. 18-23 City of Palms Classic; Dec. 29-30 T-Mobile National HS Federation Tournament; Jan. 12 at Cedar Hill; Jan. 23 vs. LeFlore (Ala.) at Primetime Shootout; Feb. 6 vs. Cedar Hill
Outlook: The Panthers, who lost only twice and both to Top 15 teams last season, feature a blend of experience and highly talented newcomers. All five projected Duncanville starters are high Division I college prospects. The team will face one of most grueling schedules in the country, with the likelihood of facing five or more Top 25 teams. Williams (a Texas commit) and Franklin (Oklahoma St.) have been mainstays since cracking the starting lineup their freshman seasons. As a junior, Williams averaged averaged 17 points and nine rebounds while Franklin contributed 14 points and eight boards. Dowell (Oklahoma St.) has good quickness and handles the ball well. Dallas Wilson transfer Jones (a Baylor recruit) and Washburn are both ranked among the Top 10 juniors in Texas.

Preseason Top 25: No. 2 Mater Dei

2. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Coach: Gary McKnight (797-74, 26 years at Mater Dei)
2007-08 record: 35-1, Division II state champion (No. 10 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: F David Wear (6-10), Sr.; F Travis Wear (6-10), Sr.; PG Gary Franklin (6-3), Jr; G Tyler Lamb (6-5), Sr.; F Andy Brown (6-8), Sr.
Team strength: Size, experience
Question mark: Depth
Toughest games: Dec. 19-23 City of Palms Classic; Jan. 3 vs. Campbell Hall; Jan. 19 vs. Chicago Whitney Young at HoopHall Classic; Feb. 7 vs. St. Benedict's (N.J.)
Outlook: There might not be a better starting five in the country than Mater Dei's. Each player is a major Division I recruit, including the Wear twins, who have pledged to play at North Carolina. The duo are almost identical on the court with each possessing a high level of skill and good low post moves. David averaged 17 points and 10 rebounds last season while Travis contributed 16 points and 10 boards per game. Brown, who has offers from Stanford and Arizona, is an excellent wing player who can really defend and crash the boards. As a junior, he averaged 14 points and six rebounds. Mater Dei's outlook at guard improved vastly when Lamb, a UCLA pledge, enrolled in September. As a sophomore, he averaged 27 points, nine rebounds, and five assists playing at Colony (Ontario, Calif.). The point guard position is in good hands with emerging junior Franklin running the show. He is a good outside shooter who might transition into a 2-guard in college.

Preseason Top 25: No. 3 Wheeler

3. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Coach: Doug Lipscomb (405-80, 16 years at Wheeler)
2007-08 record: 30-3, Class 5A runner-up (No. 21 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: F Richard Howell (6-8), Sr.; F Ari Stewart (6-7), Sr.; G Tahj Tate (6-3), Sr.; G Phil Taylor (5-10), Jr.
Team strength: Experience and maturity
Question mark: Depth
Toughest games: Dec. 6 vs. Jackson Callaway (Miss.) at Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 19-23 City of Palms Classic; Dec. 26-30 Beach Ball Classic; vs. Dominguez; vs. St. Benedict's (N.J.) at HoopHall Classic
Outlook: With four talented starters returning from last year's second-place squad, the Wildcats have to be considered a heavy favorite to win their fourth state championship since 2002. Wheeler, which lost only to nationally ranked Norcross, Duncanville (Texas) and emerging prep power Findlay Prep (Nevada), was led in scoring last season by Howell, a North Carolina St. recruit. The versatile power forward averaged 17 points and 12 rebounds per game. Stewart, a superb athlete who has committed to Wake Forest, chipped in 16 points and eight rebounds per contest. Tate is a highly skilled 2-guard poised for a breakout senior season. The point guard duties will go mostly to Taylor, who is a shooting threat from beyond the 3-point arc.

Preseason Top 25: No. 4 Brooklyn Lincoln

4. Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
Coach: Dwayne Morton (record unavailable, 13 years at Lincoln)
2007-08 record: 28-4, Federation AA state champion (No. 6 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: G Lance Stephenson (6-5), Sr.; G Darwin Ellis (5-8), Sr.; F James Padgett (6-8), Sr.; G Shaquille Stokes (6-0), So.
Team strength: Experienced senior class
Question mark: Inexperience outside of senior class
Toughest games: Dec. 11 vs. Putnam City (Okla.); Dec. 13 vs. Duncanville (Texas); Dec. 19-23 City of Palms Classic; Jan. 19 vs. LeFlore (Ala.) at HoopHall Classic; Feb. 14 vs. Westchester (Calif.) at Primetime Shootout
Outlook: Come March, no team in the entire country has played better basketball than the Railsplitters the last two seasons. Led by super blue chipper Stephenson, Lincoln has captured back-to-back state Federation AA titles and three consecutive city titles. Identified as a phenom as early as his 8th grade year, Stephenson is a very explosive and emotional player. As a junior, he averaged 23 points, eight rebounds, and four assists per game and was named player of the year by the New York Daily News for the second consecutive year. However, the same newspaper has reported that Stephenson might face school discipline (or worse) after allegedly groping a fellow student. Without question, Stephenson's availability to the team will determine the success of Lincoln's season. The point guard duties will be shared by returning starter Ellis, who averaged 14 points, four assists, and three steals, and St. Patrick (N.J.) transfer Stokes. Padgett, a Maryland recruit who averaged 11 points and 10 rebounds, gives Lincoln a tough and physical inside presence to complement its dynamic backcourt.

Preseason Top 25: No. 5 St. Benedict's

5. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Coach: Dan Hurley (179-17, 7 years at St. Benedict's)
2007-08 record: 24-1 (No. 2 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: G Tamir Jackson (6-2), Sr.; F Tristan Thompson (6-9), Jr.; G Myck Kabongo (6-2), So.; G/F Aaron Brown (6-4), Jr.; G/F Mike Poole (6-0), Jr.; F Lamar Patterson (6-6), Sr.; F Gil Beruta (6-8), Jr.; J.P. Kambola (6-10), Jr.
Team strength: Depth, athleticism, versatility
Question mark: Inexperience, youth
Toughest games: Dec. 5 vs. Jackson Provine (Miss.) and Dec. 6 vs. Chicago Whitney Young at Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 19-23 Kruell Classic; Jan. 17 at Linden; Jan. 19 vs. Marietta Wheeler (Ga.) at HoopHall Classic; Feb. 7 vs. Mater Dei (Calif.) at Nike Extravaganza; Feb. 14 at Rice (N.Y.)
Outlook: Only two starters are back from a team that beat 10 nationally or regionally ranked teams last season. Still, the Gray Bees might have the deepest talent pool of any team in the country. Jackson, a Rice recruit who averaged 13 points and five assists last year, will be counted on for veteran leadership. Patterson, who has verballed to Pittsburgh, averaged 21 points per game during his junior year at McCaskey (Lancaster, Pa.). Ready for a big season is Thompson, a highly athletic future Texas Longhorn. Two more Class of 2010 standouts are Beruta, member of the Lithuanian U-17 national team, and Kambola, who is the nephew of NBA center Dikembe Mutombo.

Preseason Top 25: No. 6 St. Patrick

6. St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.)
Coach: Kevin Boyle (432-125, 20 years at St. Patrick)
2007-08 record: 25-5 (lost in Non-Public Group B North Jersey final), No. 13 in final National Prep Poll
Top players: F Michael Gilchrist (6-6), So.; G Dexter Strickland, Sr. (6-2); F Paris Bennett, Sr. (6-6); G Kyrie Irving, Jr. (6-2); G Kevin Boyle Jr., Jr. (5-9); G Dean Kowalski, Sr. (5-9)
Team strength: Defense, guard play, chemistry
Question mark: Shooting consistency
Toughest games: Dec. 19-23 City of Palms Classic; Dec. 26-30 Beach Ball Classic; Feb. 13 vs. Brooklyn Lincoln (N.Y.); Feb. 14 vs. Oak Hill Academy (Va.) at Primetime Shootout
Outlook: The Celtics were one of three teams from New Jersey to finish last season ranked among the Top 15 in the nation. All of St. Patrick's losses were to teams that spent time in the Top 25, including a 64-52 postseason setback to eventual Prep Poll champion St. Anthony. This year's team will be guard-heavy but highly athletic and very tough on defense. Four key contributors are back along with a very talented transfer. Nationally, Gilchrist is a consensus top 5 player in the Class of 2011. He is long and athletic, and plays aggressively on both ends of the court. Strickland, a North Carolina recruit, can play both guard sports and has a scorer's mentality. Bennett, who is headed to George Mason, has skills to play both inside and outside. Boyle considers Irving, a transfer from prep school Montclair Kimberly, the best junior in New Jersey. However, he must sit out 30 days to start the season before becoming eligible.

Preseason Top 25: No. 7 Fairfax

7. Fairfax (Los Angeles)
Coach: Harvey Kitani (563-181, 28 years at Fairfax)
2007-08 record: 27-6, LA City Section runner-up (West Coast No. 8 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: C/F Renardo Sidney (6-9), Sr; F/G Solomon Hill (6-6), Sr.); G Lance Bailey (6-3), Sr.; G Jordan Weathers (6-2), Jr.
Team strength: Top three players return, led by ultra talented Sidney
Question mark: Can young players step up?
Toughest games: Dec. 18-22 Iolani Classic; Dec. 26-30 Les Schwab Invitational; Jan. 16 vs. Westchester; Jan. 23 vs. San Diego High; Feb. 6 at Westchester; Feb. 7 vs. Chicago Whitney Young
Outlook: The Lions have the firepower to make a strong run at their fourth section title and third state championship under Kitani. The team's top three scorers are back, including McDonald's All-American shoe-in candidate Sidney. Last year, the Mississippi native averaged 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three assists in his first season at Fairfax (he also played his sophomore season in the Los Angeles area at Artesia HS). Sidney has an NBA body coupled with a full assortment of inside and outside skills. Hill averaged 16 points, eight rebounds, and three assists as a junior. He is an explosive athlete who recently de-committed from Arizona. Bailey, who averaged 10 points and six rebounds, is a terrific outside shooter. Weathers, who scored nine points per game off the bench as a sophomore, is poised for a breakout season as a scorer.

Preseason Top 25: No. 8 Findlay Prep

8. Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
Coach: Michael Peck (32-1, 1 season at Findlay Prep)
2007-08 record: 32-1
Top players: G D.J. Richardson (6-3), Sr.; Avery Bradley (6-3), Sr.; F Carlos Lopez (6-11), Sr.; F Victor Rudd (6-8), Sr.; G Cory Joseph (6-3), Jr.; C Godwin Okonji (6-9), Jr.; G Willie Hankins (6-3), So.; G Issiah Grayson (6-2), Jr.
Team strength: Speed, athleticism
Question mark: Chemistry
Toughest games: Dec. 6 vs. Montverde (Fla.) at Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 30 vs. Rice (N.Y.) at Rock Holiday Classic; Jan. 17 vs. Garfield Heights (Ohio) at Flyin' to the Hoop.
Outlook: The Pilots begin nationally ranked in their first season using only traditional four-year high school players. Though only two players return from last year's team that won 32 games -- including a 14-point decision over nationally ranked Wheeler (Ga.) -- Findlay's roster is overflowing with high-level Division I talent. Big men Lopez, a UNLV recruit, and Nigerian native Okonji, are the lone holdovers from last season. They are joined in the front court by Sylmar (Calif.) transfer Victor Rudd, a rivals.com Top 150 player in the Class of 2009. Findlay's collection of guards is top-notch. Richardson, a Peoria (Ill.) native who is committed to Illinois, is an up-tempo slasher with great speed. Bradley, who hails from Tacoma (Wash.) and is pledged to Texas, is very explosive and a likely McDonald's All-American pick. Underclassmen Cory Joseph (a native of Canada), Hankins (Van Nuys, Calif.), and Grayson (Tucker, Ga.) provide high-quality depth.

Preseason Top 25: No. 9 Hopkins

9. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.)
Coach: Ken Novak Jr. (449-71, 19 years at Hopkins; 567-118 in 26 years overall)
2007-08 record: 27-2, Class 4A section finalist (Midlands No. 3 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: F Royce White (6-7), Sr.; G/F Ray Cowels (6-4), Sr.; G/F Trent Lockett (6-4), Sr.); F Mike Broghammer (6-8), Sr.; G Marcus Williams (6-0), Sr.
Team strength: Experience, size, depth, balance
Question mark: Chemistry, staying unselfish
Toughest games: Jan. 3 Timberwolves Shootout; Jan. 9 at Sibley; Jan. 23 vs. Milwaukee Vincent; Feb. 3 at Cooper; Feb. 13 vs. Brooklyn Jefferson (N.Y.) at Nike Super Six
Outlook: Novak has led Hopkins to three state championships since 2002, but this year's team promises to be his best yet. The Royals return four starters who are Division I prospects and the program added arguably the top player in the state during the offseason. That transfer is White, a University of Minnesota recruit who played his junior season at Minneapolis De La Salle. He is highly skilled, athletic, and a great rebounder. Broghammer, a nephew of former Duke great Christian Laettner, gives the Royals a hard-working, tough inside presence. The Notre Dame recruit averaged 11 points and seven rebounds as a junior. Cowels (Santa Clara) and Lockett (Arizona St.) are a pair of wings who are athletic and capable of scoring points in bunches. They averaged 17 points and 15 points, respectively, last season. Point guard Williams contributed seven points and five assists.

Preseason Top 25: No. 10 Montrose Christian

10. Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.)
Coach: Stu Vetter (764 wins in 32 seasons)
2007-08 record: 21-4 (East Coast No. 10 in final National Prep Poll)
Top players: F/C Mouphtaou Yarou (6-9), Sr.; F Isaiah Armwood (6-7), Sr.; G Terrance Ross (6-5), Jr.; G Justin Anderson (6-5), Fr.; G Dominic Milburn (6-4), Sr.
Team strength: Athleticism, balance
Question mark: Inexperience at perimeter positions, chemistry, depth
Toughest games: Dec. 18-22 Iolani Classic; Jan. 17 vs. Trotwood-Madison (Ohio) and Jan. 18 vs. Centerville (Ohio) at Flyin' to the Hoop; March 6 vs. Oak Hill Academy (Va.); *April 3-5 at Nike Championship Tournament (*tentative)
Outlook: Vetter, a two-time national coach of the year whose teams have finished regionally ranked or better in six straight seasons, expects this year's team to be one of his best. The Mustangs' talented roster features Villanova recruit Yarou, a native of Benin in West Africa who joined the team midway through last season. Vetter says Yarou is the best big man he's coached since current NBA player Linus Kleiza. Armwood, who has also pledged to play at Villanova, is the team's only returning starter. He can jump out of the gym and should put up big numbers this season after being hampered by injuries a year ago. A pair of very talented newcomers will be counted on to lead the Montrose backcourt. Ross is a transfer from Portland Jefferson where last year he led the Democrats to a state championship and was named Oregon 5A player of the year. Anderson, a native of Spotsylvania, Va., is getting early consideration as the nation's top-ranked player in the Class of 2012. He is the complete package, according to Vetter, with the ability to shoot, handle the ball, and rebound.

Preseason Top 25: No. 11 Oak Hill Academy

11. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
Coach: Steve Smith (718-44, 23 years at Oak Hill)
2007-08 record: 34-4, No. 14 in final National Prep Poll
Top players: F Keith "Tiny" Gallon (6-9), Sr.; G Lamont "MoMo" Jones (6-0), Sr.; G Doran Lamb (6-5), Jr.; F Glen Bryant (6-7), Sr.; G Pe'shon Howard (6-3), Jr.; G Byron Allen (6-2), Jr.; C Baye Moussa Keita (6-10), Sr.
Team strength: Depth
Question mark: Inexperience at point, perimeter shooting
Toughest games: Dec. 5 vs. Duncanville (Texas) and Dec. 6 vs. Chicago Simeon at Marshall County Hoopfest; Dec. 13 vs. Whitney Young; Dec. 18-22 Iolani Classic; Jan. 17 vs. South Atlanta at HoopHall Classic; Feb. 14 vs. St. Patrick at Primetime Shootout; March 6 vs. Montrose Christian; *April 3-5 Nike Championship Tournament (*tentative)
Outlook: No team in the nation comes close to matching the Warriors' 20 consecutive finishes in the national Top 25. But Oak Hill's No. 14 final ranking last year was its worst since 2003. It was also just the third time in 12 years that the Warriors lost four or more games. One of the reasons the Warriors took their lumps in 2007-08 (if you call losing four games taking lumps) was the number of young players who saw significant minutes. Four underclassmen started one or more games. The residual chemistry and experience gained in 2007-08 should pay off this season, as should an infusion of talent from three heralded transfers. The Warriors should have a strong inside game with the return of Gallon, a 290-pound space eater with surprising agility and soft hands. He figures to become Oak Hill's unprecedented 24th McDonald's All-American pick. Joining him in the paint will be Keita, a talented but raw native of Sen