Mansfield is our pick as the top boys basketball team in Massachusetts this season. Also watch out for Putnam, Central Catholic, Newton North and Danvers.
MaxPreps 2013-14 Massachusetts Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the boys basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Mansfield2012-13 finish: 25-3 (Division 1 runner up)
Head coach: Michael Vaughn
The Hornets return a bevy of stars, including 6-foot-5 junior forward
Brendan Hill and 6-5 guard
Ryan Boulter, who according to his coach grew three inches over the summer. They’ll need all the height they can get after losing Greg Romanko to graduation, who stood 6-8, and was a terror on the block. With a deep pool of talent, Mansfield will take another crack at the Division 1 title after last season’s disappointing loss to Putnam in overtime.
2. Putnam Vo-Tech (Springfield)2012-13 finish: 24-1 (Division 1 state champions)
Head coach: William Shepard
The Beavers used a small rotation en route to last season’s state title, utilizing only six or seven players each game. They have four of their five starters returning, including
Dizel Wright and
David Murrell, while losing senior Kayjuan Bynum to graduation. But they got a big scoop in transfer
Tyonne Malone, a 6-3 guard/forward who is being recruited by several local colleges, including UMass.
3. Central Catholic (Lawrence)2012-13 finish: 21-6 (Division 1 North champions)
Head coach: Richard Nault
Nicked up last season, unable to play at full strength in the tournament, the Raiders return this season with the talent in place to take a crack at the state title. Guard
Tyler Nelson (17.2 points per game) and 6-6 forward
Nick Cambio are the bread and butter, but there’s depth down the roster with guys like
Aaron Hall (6-6) returning in the front court.
4. Newton North (Newtonville)2012-13 finish: 20-4 (Division 1 South semifinalist)
Head coach: Paul Connolly
The Tigers will hang their hat on junior
Tommy Mobley, who averaged 19 points per game and threw up a school record nine 3-pointers in one game to go along with a school record 40 points as a sophomore. He’s only expected to be better.
5. Danvers2012-13 finish: 24-2 (Division 3 state champions)
Head coach: John Walsh
The Falcons will have huge shoes to fill with the departures of Nick McKenna, Nick Bates and Eric Martin, but can rest easy knowing that
Vinny Clifford, a 3-point specialist with a deadly mid-range game, will be leading a team that will be looking for its third-straight state title.
