Wenonah leads the way, but don't overlook schools like Hazel Green, Hoover, Carver and Midfield.
Lewis Sullivan is perhaps the state's most lauded incoming junior, and along with his Hazel Green teammates, they will look to improve upon last season's runner-up finish.
Photo by Joe Boyd
1. Wenonah (Birmingham)2011 finish: 29-7, Alabama 5A state title
Head coach: Cedric Lane
The Dragons are back after blitzing their way through the Alabama High School Athletic Association playoffs. Their smallest margin of victory in seven postseason games was seven points, and Wenonah returns two of its top three scorers from last season in 6-foot-6 senior forward
Derrunya Wilson (13.7 points per game) and senior guard
Isaiah Maston (12.9 ppg). Wilson, an
Alabama Sports Writers Association first-team All-State pick, also averaged more than 10 rebounds per game while Maston was a second-team pick. Wenonah does need to replace four seniors who played a lot last season, including honorable-mention All-State pick Chase Sadler, but has enough experienced talent to compensate for that loss. And it has a tradition of winning: Two consecutive trips to the state final after a semifinal berth, and a 150-39 record in the past five seasons.
Read our coverage of last season's Final 48 2. Hazel Green2011 finish: 21-12, lost in Alabama 6A title game
Head coach: Todd Jeffers
The Trojans have the defending ASWA Coach of the Year in Jeffers, and just as important, they bring back 6-foot-7 forward
Lewis Sullivan, who is the first sophomore ever named to the ASWA 6A All-State first team and has received offers from SEC teams. Sullivan recorded 23 double-doubles last season and he will be joined by senior guard
Austin Dempsey, a returning honorable-mention All-State player who was named MVP of the Northwest Regionals. Only two seniors have moved on from last season's team, but both were big men, so the Trojans will have to find a way to replace that size.
See all of our Alabama boys basketball photo galleries
3. Hoover2011 finish: 31-5, lost in Alabama 6A semifinals
Head coach: Charles Burkett
The Buccaneers are coming off a historic trip to the state semifinals, the first time they had ever made it that far. With
Devon Earl, an honorable-mention All-State player, they have a great shot at another trip. Earl, the 2012 Birmingham News Hoover Athlete of the Year, is receiving football recruiting interest and is a top defensive player in hoops. Four players have moved on via graduation but Hoover returns two senior forwards who played quality basketball in the postseason: 6-foot-5
Brannon Defore and 6-7
DeOntaye Curtis.
See last season's Alabama stats leaderboard4. Carver (Montgomery)2011 finish: 29-3, Alabama 6A state title
Head coach: James Jackson
The Wolverines averaged more than 70 points per game last season and have 6A All-State first-team star
Jeremy Johnson returning. Johnson scored 16 points in the state title game last season. An encore to the school's first state title since 1984 won't be easy in the ultra-competitive 6A group but there is certainly enough talent. Craig Sword has moved along so somebody will need to step in and fill that role of the other All-State first-team player. Considering Jackson is entering his 24th year at the helm, he's sure to find a solution. Height shouldn't be an issue, as out of eight players on last year's roster were taller than 6 feet.
See last season's Alabama boys basketball Freeman Rankings5. Midfield 2011 finish: 19-15, Alabama 4A state title
Head coach: Darrell Barber
Five forfeit losses made last season's record look a lot worse than it was. The Patriots lose first-team All-State player Brandon Moss but the guys who return all contributed last season, as Moss led the team in scoring followed by four different players who averaged around seven points per game. The biggest name from last season aside from Moss is Tawarren Grant,
who won the state title game with an amazing shot, but the sophomore's name is not on the roster thus far.
Alvin Murry was a sophomore captain last season and his 6-foot-3 frame will be depended upon. He took on 17 charges last season.
See last season's Alabama boys basketball playoff brackets
