MaxPreps 2012-13 Idaho preseason boys basketball Fab 5

MaxPreps 2012-13 Idaho Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Borah (Boise)
Head coach: Cary Cada
2011-12 record: 25-1, Class 5A state champions

The Lions lost one of the state's top players in Ben Tucakovic, now at North Idaho College. That means the attention will turn to fellow Class 5A All-Idaho selection Isaiah Wright, a 6-foot-1 junior guard who may be the top college prospect in the state. Wright has already received attention from several Pac-12 and Mountain West schools after posting 12 points and five assists per game as a sophomore for the state champs. Senior Cody Spjute is also back after making major contributions a year ago. Borah has captured three state titles under Cada and 10 overall.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Centennial (Boise)
Head coach: Tom Aipperspach
2011-12 record: 15-11



Aipperspach has been the head coach at Centennial for nearly a quarter century with state titles in 1995 and 2003. With senior guard Daryl Robertson back in the lineup, the Patriots may have the firepower to bring Aipperspach title No. 3. Robertson averaged more than 11 points and three assists per game last season for the 5A quarterfinalists and had a big summer with the Idaho Select club team.

View last season's Idaho boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Eagle
Head coach: Tom Seifert
2011-12 record: 15-12

The Mustangs hope to contend for a state title behind the play of 6-8 senior Braiden Shaw, a Brigham Young verbal commit. Shaw posted 13.7 points and nine rebounds as a junior. Winning a state title would be a major piece of history for Eagle, which opened its doors in 1995 and has never won a boys basketball state title.

View last season's Idaho boys basketball stats leaderboard

4. Timberline (Boise)
Head coach: Josh Downey
2011-12 record: 15-11



Like Eagle, Timberline opened its doors in the 1990s and is still searching for its first boys basketball state title. Leading the charge will be a pair of key guards from last year's squad that reached the 5A semifinals before falling to eventual state champ Borah. Grant Saetrum (6-0, Sr.) returns after posting more than 10 points and four assists per game. Backcourt mate Jack Tate earned a spot on the 5A All-Tournament team. Tyler Langford, a 6-5 senior, should be also be a big part of the equation for the Wolves.

View last season's IDHSAA boys basketball playoff brackets

5. Shelley
Head coach: Dave Hadley
2011-12 record: 14-10

Senior guard McKay Cannon is the headliner for Russets. Cannon, who has offers from several Big Sky and West Coast Conference programs, put up 16.4 points and more than five assists per game as a junior. Shelley was a junior-dominated team in 2011-12 and expects to benefit from that this winter. Joining Cannon will be Chad Leckington (6-2, Sr.) and Christian Cather (Sr.) as key contributors returning for the 4A title hopeful.