MaxPreps 2014-15 New Mexico preseason boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
2013-14 finish: 22-9
Head coach: Brian Smith

The Storm return three starters from a Class 5A state quarterfinalist. Ryan Jones, a 6-foot-2 senior who has committed to UMass-Lowell, should be one of the state's premier scorers, having averaged 24 points and three assists last year. Junior Marcus Williams (6-4) averaged 13 points and eight rebounds, while senior point guard Josiah Mahboub (5-11) averaged six points and four assists. Other possible starters are 6-4 senior JaJuan Bush, 6-6 junior Henry Hattis and 6-3 senior Keyshawn Tindal.

View last season's New Mexico boys basketball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Sandia (Albuquerque)
2013-14 finish: 22-7
Head coach: Alvin Broussard



Though the Matadors don't have any full-time starters back this year, they will be deeper than usual and do have a lot of size, which is a major plus in New Mexico. Caleb Wroten, a 6-8, 265-pound junior, started at the end of the season and averaged over eight rebounds. Dylan Abbott (6-7, 210) did not play on the varsity as a junior due to transfer rules. James Lentsch and Sam Crews are a pair of 6-3 seniors who will supply scoring, while 5-8 junior Kobe Barbee-Smith is another key performer.

View last season's New Mexico boys basketball playoff brackets

3. Eldorado (Albuquerque)
2013-14 finish: 17-7
Head coach: Roy Sanchez

The Eagles will soar behind the dominance of 6-7, 240-pound Zach Gentry, who may be the state's premier performer in both basketball and football. The third-year starter averaged 18 points and 12 rebounds as a junior and could play Division I basketball if he had not chosen the football path. The other returning starter is 6-3, 200-pound senior forward Zak May, who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds. Though currently sidelined by a football injury, 6-1 junior Noah Sweitzer is expected to make major contributions, as are 5-11 senior Gavin Casias and 5-10 junior Robert Milller.

View last season's New Mexico boys basketball stat leaders

4. Carlsbad
2013-14 finish: 19-11
Head coach: Jamaal Brown



The Cavemen have improved every year under the coaching of Jamaal Brown, winning eight, 17 and 19 games in the last three years. They hope to continue their rise with four returning starters. Shakur Smith, a 6-1 senior, averaged 11 points and led the team in 3-point shooting. Trevin Ramirez, another 6-1 senior, averaged 9.2 points and 2.7 assists. Cody Boswell (5-11) is a defensive specialist. Supplying the muscle is 6-7, 215-pound sophomore Brenden Boatwright, who averaged 9.4 points, 7.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks as a freshman.

5. Hobbs
2013-14 finish: 23-8
Head coach: Mike Smith

The Eagles, who set national scoring records under legendary Ralph Tasker, are still a run-and-gun team under 1980 graduate Mike Smith. They led the state last year with an average of 76 points a game, but that's a far cry from the 100-point games under Tasker. "When you get up 35 they let the clock run," Smith pointed out. Trey Nelson, a 5-10 senior combo guard, is the lone returning starter, having averaged 10 points and four assists last year. In just his second year of organized basketball, senior Kelvin Jones (6-11, 215) averaged nine points and seven rebounds and is "getting Division 1 looks," according to coach Smith. The Eagles also will count on 5-10 senior Andre Foster, 6-3 junior Pierre Swain and 6-0 junior Jordan Gonzales.