Apple Valley is our pick as the top boys basketball team in Minnesota this season. Also be sure to watch for DeLaSalle, Osseo, Hopkins and Eden Prairie.
Tyus Jones and Apple Valley have the top team in the preseason.
Photo by Nicholas Koza
MaxPreps 2013-14 Minnesota Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
Click here to see the boys basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state1. Apple Valley2012-13 record: 31-1, Class 4A state champions
Head coach: Zach Goring
Everything starts with
Tyus Jones. The senior, who averaged 23 points and seven assists per game last season, is arguably the best point guard in the country and is ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2014 by 247Sports. The Eagles also return big man
Brock Bertram and
Dennis Austin, who each averaged 10 points per game a season ago. Apple Valley has an insanely difficult nonconference schedule, facing nationally ranked teams Whitney Young (Chicago) and Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.).
2. DeLaSalle (Minneapolis)2012-13 record: 30-1, Class 3A state champions
Head coach: Dave Thorson
DeLaSalle was very close to topping Apple Valley for the No. 1 spot because the Islanders are loaded with talent.
Reid Travis, who recently committed to Stanford, poured in 28.4 points and nine rebounds per game last season. Three other starters are returning for the Islanders in point guard
Jarvis Johnson, No. 85 in the Class of 2015 by 247Sports,
James Lawson and
Sacar Anim. The Islanders are looking for their third-straight Class 3A state title.
3. Osseo2012-13 record: 25-4
Head coach: Tim Theisen
Senior-dominated Osseo has a good mix of players back, led by
Ian Theisen. The 6-foot-9 South Dakota State recruit enters the season third on the school’s all-time scoring list and averaged 16 points and 11 rebounds per game as a junior. Shooting guard
Wheeler Baker (15 points) and
Matt Miedtke (eight points) will add some offensive punch.
4. Hopkins (Minnetonka)2012-13 record: 22-7
Head coach: Ken Novak
Junior wing
Amir Coffey -- whose dad, Richard, played in the NBA -- is an up-and-coming prospect for the Class of 2016. He’s already received offers from Indiana, Minnesota and Creighton and he’ll lead the Royals this season. Hopkins also has back seniors
Jake Wright, a Citadel verbal commit, and
Kamali Chambers and junior
John Warren to provide good balance.
5. Eden Prairie2012-13 record: 22-10
Head coach: David Flom
Andre Wallace was the team’s leading scorer a season ago with 15.4 points a game.
Anthony Anderson (9.8 points) and
Alex Ihrke (4.9) were two key members in the Eagles’ sixth-place finish in Class 4A last season.
