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Junior Shabazz Muhammad is ranked No. 4 in MaxPreps.com's 2012 Top 100.
Photo by Louis Lopez
Head coach: Grant Rice
2009-2010 record: 30-2, Nevada Class 4A state champions, No. 7 in final Xcellent 25
Key returnees: Rosco Allen (6-9, Jr., G/F), Ben Carter (6-8, Jr., F), Shabazz Muhammad (6-6, 210, Jr., G), Ronnie Stanley (6-7, 285, Jr., F)
Keep an eye on: Rashad Muhammad (6-4, So., G)
Scouting report: Entering his 10th season as head coach at the school, Rice has established Bishop Gorman as the big dog in Nevada basketball with four state titles and 231 wins.
Despite losing nine seniors from last year's nationally-ranked, state championship squad the Gaels aren't mapping out a rebuilding plan. With one of the top juniors in the country leading the way in Shabazz Muhammad, BG enters the season as a heavy favorite once again in the Silver State and will have plenty of opportunities to make an impression against elite competition.
"We are going to miss those guys, Johnathan Loyd (Oregon signee), Taylor Spencer (Nevada-Las Vegas football signee) and Anson Winder (BYU signee)," Rice said. "They were three- and four-year players with a lot of varsity experience. But our guys are ready to step in."
Shabazz Muhammad, who will be joined by younger brother Rashad this year, is rated the No. 4 prospect in the 2012 class by MaxPreps.com and was a first team All-State selection as a sophomore. Fellow junior Allen is also a Top 100 junior and will continue to play on the wing for the Gaels despite growing to 6-9 during the off-season.
Rice expects big things from post players Carter and Stanley, one of the nation's most highly sought-after offensive line recruits in the 2012 class.
The Gaels will participate in the City of Palms Classic and Les Schwab Invitational in December, which could be the toughest two-week stretch any team in the country will face in 2010-11. They also take on St. Patrick at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in January and Long Beach Poly at the Nike Extravaganza in February. Despite his new-look roster, Rice had no reservations about challenging his team this winter.
"It was unanimous what we wanted to do," Rice said. "We may take our lumps this year, but it will get us ready for the playoffs and to make a run next year."
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