MaxPreps 2012-13 Kentucky preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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

1. Bullitt East (Mt. Washington)
Head coach: Troy Barr
2011-12 finish: 27-5, state quarterfinalist

If the sequence continues, this should be the Chargers' year — they were eliminated by the eventual state champion last year and by the state runner-up the previous year. They bring back four starters, three of them four-year starters.

University of Kentucky recruit Derek Willis, a 6-9, 205-pound senior, averaged 19 points, 11 rebounds and 4.0 blocks. He will receive plenty of support from 6-7 Elliott Young, 6-5 Rusty Troutman and 5-11 point guard Trey Rakes, all seniors. Troutman averaged 18 points and 8.0 rebounds, Elliott averaged 13 points and Rakes averaged 9.0 points and 7.0 assists. Tyler Bacon, a 6-8 sophomore, will add inside strength.



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2. Ballard (Louisville)
Head coach: Chris Renner
2011-12 finish: 24-9

Three returning starters and five Division I prospects give the Bruins hope that they could move up a notch and claim the state title for themselves. They are very quick and go all out for 32 minutes a game.

University of Louisville recruit Quentin Snider will lead the way. The 6-1 junior point guard averaged 16.9 points and 4.5 assists while shooting 45 percent from the 3-point line. Other double-figure scorers are 6-0 senior Lavonne Holland (15.7) and 6-6, 225-pound junior Kelan Martin (13.1). Other expected contributors are 6-2 senior Zach Caggins, 6-0 senior Dontez Byrd, 6-1 sophomore Jalen Perry and 6-3 freshman Malik Dow, who has Division I potential.

View last season's Kentucky boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Trinity (Louisville)
Head coach: Mike Szabo
2011-12 finish: 35-3, state champion



The defending champions will carry an 18-game winning streak into the season and they are not going to go away quietly even though they return just two starters. Their vaunted defense is supposed to be even better this year.

Seniors Darryl Hicks and James Quick can play for anybody. The 6-4, 200-pound Hicks, who is being heavily recruited for football, averaged 14 points and 6.0 rebounds. The 6-1 Quick, who definitely lives up to his name as the defending 200-meter state champion, averaged 9.0 points, 5.0 rebounds and 3.0 steals. The Shamrocks will display their depth by also using 6-0 senior Miles Rice, 6-0 senior DeMarcus Page, 6-3, 220-pound junior Craig Owens, 5-10 junior Tre Ivory, 6-9 sophomore Raymond Spalding,  6-5 sophomore Christian Thienamen and 6-4 senior Sam Strothman.

View last season's Kentucky boys basketball stat leaders 

4. Madison Central (Richmond, Ky.)
Head coach: Allen Feldhaus
2011-12 finish: 31-2

Kentucky, which has no class system, is loaded with potential state champions and the Indians can not be counted out. They return four starters and eight seniors to make a run at the big prize.

Slashing 6-1 senior point guard Dominique Hawkins is the motor that makes his team run. He averaged 19.9 points, 2.4 assists and shot 56 percent from the field. Quan Taylor, a 6-4 senior, averaged 12.1 points and 8.9 rebounds while shooting 57 percent from the field, while 6-1 senior Ken-Jah Bosley averaged 13.6 points. The Indians also will count on 6-4 senior Hunter Stocker and 6-2 senior Daniel Parke.



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5. Henry Clay (Lexington, Ky.)
Head coach: Daniel Brown
2011-12 finish: 22-9

The Blue Devils are loaded with Division I talent, but they still are young. The lone key senior is 6-6 Darien Tichenor, who averaged 4.5 points, 6.5 rebounds and 2.3 blocks.

However, they have a trio of outstanding juniors. Six-four Jordan Green averaged 13.7 points and 5.6 rebounds, 6-6 Trey Grundy averaged 12.3 points and 6.3 rebounds and 6-0 point guard Christen Cunningham averaged 11.6 points and 3.9 assists. Teddy Ware, a 5-10 junior, and 6-2 super sophomore Jeremiah Tisdale are also expected to see plenty of action.

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