Salesian returns virtually its entire roster from last year's 28-5 team and should be the top team. Don't rest on Bishop O'Dowd, Monte Vista, St. Joseph Notre Dame and St. Patrick-St. Vincent in the North Coast Section boys basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: 2015-16 Cal Basketball - High School Highlights
Check out footage of some of the California Golden Bears when they were preps.2016-17 North Coast Section preseason boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond)Head coach: Bill Mellis
2015-16 record: 28-5
The Pride are loaded with talent and returners. The team that almost beat Northern California Open champ De La Salle in the opening round of NorCals last season returns all but two players from a 13-man roster, including superb 5-foot-11 junior guard
James Akinjo, 6-5 junior forward
Jamario Bibb and twin sophomore guards
Jaden McClanahan and
Jovon McClanahan. Built on speed, depth and balance, the Pride will need to get a little more physical up front.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard
2. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland)Head coach: Lou Richie
2015-16 record: 17-15
Two seasons removed from winning a state Open Division championship with the likes of Ivan Rabb (Cal) and Paris Austin (Boise State), the Dragons experienced growing pains last season before hitting full speed by postseason. They reached the NorCal Division III final before losing to Manteca. The guard trio of juniors of
BJ Shaw (brother of former NBA player and now Lakers' assistant Brian Shaw),
Elijah Hardy and
Naseem Gaskin might be the second-best in the state, behind only Bishop Montgomery. Add in one of the most talented sophomores in the state, 6-8
Raymond Hawkins, and BOD might threaten for another state crown if not this year then certainly next.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball stat leaders3. St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda)Head coach: Don Lippi
2015-16 record: 26-9
Adam Campos, St. Joseph Notre Dame
Photo by Gregg Samelson
Lippi led the Pilots to their sixth state title last season with a 55-50 Division V win over St. Bernard (Playa del Rey) at Sleep Train Arena. St. Joseph returns all the key ingredients, including leading scorers
Jade' Smith,
Darne Duckett and
Adam Campos. Duckett and Smith are senior guards and Campos is a 6-5 sophomore post. The team even returns 5-6 sophomore guard
Kobe Keiner, who last year clinched the state title with two late free throws. He hadn't played the entire game but after Smith, a 6-3 swingman and Division I prospect, got hurt, Lippi inserted Keiner to shoot the one-and-one. He made both with 11.1 seconds to play.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball photos4. Monte Vista (Danville)Head coach: Nick Jones
2015-16 record: 24-8
It was supposed to be a rebuilding year last season for the 2014-15 Division I champs, but Jones squeezed 24 wins out of the Mustangs. They return two of the best players in the section in 6-3 guard
Austin Fadal and 6-5 post
Ashton Rust. Since Jones arrived in 2012, the Mustangs are 103-21.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball playoff brackets
5. St. Patrick-St. Vincent (Vallejo)Head coach: Derek Walker
2015-16 record: 20-12
The Bruins aren't often mentioned among the section's elite, but with the return of two of the region's top seniors, 5-10 guard
B.J. Standley (17.1 points, 5.7 assists per game) and 6-4 forward
Tavian Henderson (17.0 ppg, 6.2 rebounds), this season is different. St. Patrick-St. Vincent graduated only two seniors from a 12-man roster and should be stout with other starters
Romeo Mays and
Jake Elizalde.
