Las Vegas is the hotbed in the Silver State and Bishop Gorman is the top team. But keep an eye out for Clark, Centennial, Palo Verde and Valley.
Noah Robotham and Bishop Gorman are once again the Silver State's top-ranked squad, featuring yet another loaded roster.
Photo by Jim Redman
1. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)Head coach: Grant Rice
2011 finish: 28-4, State 4A championship
There is life after Shabazz Muhammad and a very healthy one for the Gaels, who return one of the nation's top seniors, 6-foot-5 shooting guard
Rashad Muhammad, top juniors in 5-10 point guard
Noah Robotham and three highly regarded sophomores in 6-7 forward
Chase Jeter, 6-10 post
Stephen Zimmerman and 6-5 small forward
Nick Blair. Shabazz was the nation's No. 2 recruit last year and leading scorer, but Rice is counting on Rashad to pick up that scoring slack. He's received offers from Maryland, Colorado, San Diego State and UTEP, to name a few, and should score more than 20 per game.
See the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings2. Clark (Las Vegas)Head coach: Chad Beeten
2011 finish: 23-5, lost in State 4A quarterfinals
When your offense starts with a shooting guard named Sir, you're likely in good shape. Clark's
Sir Washington, a 6-3 senior, has already committed to Eastern Washington. He averaged 12 points, 5.1 rebounds and 2.4 assists last year helping Clark to the playoffs for the first time since 2006. The Chargers also feature one of the country's top juniors in 6-6 forward
Diontae Jones, who is already getting interest from USC, Oklahoma and UNLV. Another top junior is 6-5 shooting guard
Sherron Wilson and he along with 6-3 sophomore
Ty'Rek Wells and 6-8 senior post
Malcolm Davis, give the Chargers plenty of punch.
View all of our Nevada boys basketball photo galleries
3. Centennial (Las Vegas)Head coach: Todd Allen
2011 finish: 24-4, lost in 4A semifinals
The Bulldogs won't go as far as twins
Malcolm Allen and
Marcus Allen take them, but as far the rest of the cast can go. Marcus, a 6-3 shooting guard, and Malcolm, a 6-1 point guard, are as solid as they come. Both have committed to Stanford and average 20 and 15 points, respectively, and have led Centennial to a record of 47-9 the past two seasons while taking Northwest crowns. They are no relation to coach Allen, but they are all definitely connected.
View last season's Nevada boys basketball stats leaderboard4. Palo Verde (Las Vegas)Head coach: Paul Sanchez
2011 finish: 19-6, lost in state finals
The Panthers lost eight key seniors to graduation, but return leading scorer
Eris Winder, a 6-foot senior guard who averaged 15.9 points and 6.1 assists per game last season. He carried Palo Verde in the postseason with 28 points against Clark, 33 versus Centennial and finishing things off with a career-high 39 against Gorman in a 102-83 defeat. Junior 6-2 shooting guard
Darrell Gaynor started as a sophomore and averaged 9.6 per game, including 21 in the season finale.
View last season's Nevada boys basketball Freeman Rankings5. Valley (Las Vegas)Head coach: Brian Farnsworth
2011 finish: 23-7, lost in 4A Sunrise Region semifinals
Farnsworth has plenty to be pleased about with five key players returning, including 6-6 forward
Daniel Young, who has already committed to Cal State Fullerton. Other key returners are 6-foot senior guard
Ryan Johnson (14 ppg), 5-9 senior guard
Chris Swanson (9.4 ppg, 6 assists pg), 6-6 junior
Spencer Mathis (8.4 ppg) and 6-foot senior guard
Keanu Peters (10.6 ppg).
View last season's NIAA boys basketball playoff brackets
