Defending champion Paul Laurence Dunbar is the favorite. But also watch out for state tournament participants Mercer County, South Laurel, Bowling Green and Taylor County in the Kentucky boys basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.
Video: Dontell Brown's highlights vs. Tates Creek
See the Paul Laurence Dunbar star in action.2016-17 Kentucky preseason boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Paul Laurence Dunbar (Lexington)
Head coach: Scott Chalk
2015-16 record: 33-6
The Bulldogs return one of the state's top players in shooting guard
Taveion Hollingsworth. Headed to Western Kentucky next year, Hollingsworth averaged 21 points per game during his junior season while earning All-State honors.
Dontell Brown, the team's starting center last year, also returns for his senior season.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky boys basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard
2. Mercer County (Harrodsburg)
Head coach: Joshua Cook
2015-16 record: 33-2
Mercer County reached the state playoffs with just one loss, but fell to eventual champion Paul Laurence Dunbar in the first round. The Titans return their top two scorers from last year in point guard
Trevon Faulkner and small forward
Dylan James. Faulkner averaged 18.6 points per game while James led the team in 3-pointers with 104 and averaged 15.6 points per game.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky boys basketball stat leaders3. Bowling Green
Head coach: D.G. Sherrill
2015-16 record: 32-4
The Purples fell to eventual state champion Paul Laurence Dunbar in the second round of the state tournament. Three of the team's top four scorers return in the form of
Kyran Jones,
Terry Taylor and
Deangelo Wilson. Taylor led the team with 15.3 points per game while Jones averaged 12.3 points and Wilson averaged 11.8 points per outing.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky boys basketball photos4. South Laurel (London)
Head coach: Jeff Davis
2015-16 record: 35-7
South Laurel won the 13th region and reached the third round of the state tournament, falling to Doss 70-63. A very young team, the Cardinals had just three seniors on last year's team and featured three eighth-graders. Leading scorer
Jared Grubb returns for his senior season. He averaged 15.6 points per game last year.
See the MaxPreps Kentucky boys basketball playoff brackets5. Taylor County (Campbellsville)
Head coach: Troy Young
2015-16 record: 26-10
The Region 5 champions reached the second round of the state tournament, falling to Doss 69-58. The Cardinals had two of the top scoring guards in the state in Quentin Goodin (22.9 points per game) and
David Sloan (20.0). Sloan returns for his senior season, along with
Dylan Gaines, who averaged 11.5 points per game.
