MaxPreps 2016-17 Michigan preseason high school boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

By Greg Bates Nov 21, 2016, 11:00pm

Dakota leads the way. But also watch out for Clarkston, U-D Jesuit, East Lansing and North Farmington in the Michigan boys basketball #MaxPrepsFab5.

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2016-17 Michigan preseason high school boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Dakota (Macomb)
2015-16 record: 26-1
Head coach: Paul Tocco

The Cougars, No. 2 ranked going into the postseason, advanced all the way to the Class A state semifinals last season and would like to get one step farther this year. Dakota has back a great nucleus with senior guard Jermaine Jackson (21 points, 4.4 rebounds, 3.9 assists and 3.6 steals) and junior power forward and Michigan State commit Thomas Kithier (11.3 points, 10 rebounds). Senior Chris Magee also adds some scoring. The Cougars averaged 75 points per game last season and should be an offensive machine again this year.

See the MaxPreps Michigan boys basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard



2. Clarkston
2015-16 record: 20-3
Head coach: Dan Fife

The Wolves have a talented group of players coming back. Junior Foster Loyer is the best point guard in the state in the Class of 2018. He poured in 17 points per game and five assists per game last season. Senior Dylan Alderson, a University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit, is a force inside at 6-foot-4. Team him up with 6-9 sophomore Taylor Currie and the Wolves are looking like a top competitor in Class A.

See the MaxPreps Michigan boys basketball stat leaders

3. University of Detroit Jesuit
2015-16 record: 28-0, Class A state champion
Head coach: Pat Donnelly
Graphic by Ryan Escobar
Coming off their first state championship in program history, the Cubs return a solid group of players. The team ran the table a season ago, but lost Michigan Mr. Basketball Cassius Winston (21.9 points, 7.5 assists), who is now playing at Michigan State. Jesuit returns three starters and its top reserve. Seniors Greg Eboigbodin (8.8 points, 9.3 assists, University of Illinois-Chicago commit) and Eke Ikechukwu (7 points, 8.3 rebounds, Marquette commit) and junior guard Elijah Collins (6.1 points) are all back from the starting lineup. Scott Nelson was a solid player off the bench – scoring 13 points in the state title game -- for the Cubs.

See the MaxPreps Michigan boys basketball photos

4. East Lansing
2015-16 record: 23-1
Head coach: Steve Finamore



There were just three seniors on last year's squad that lost only one game – that certainly bodes well for this season. What also is nice for the Trojans is the return of star Brandon Johns, a first-team All-State member. One of the top juniors in the state, he averaged 19.7 points, 10.3 rebounds and 2.9 blocks per game. Senior guards Deandre' Robinson and Caleb Hoekstra will also be key players this season.

See the MaxPreps Michigan boys basketball playoff brackets

5. North Farmington (Farmington Hills)
2015-16 record: 24-3, Class A state runner-up
Head coach: Todd Negoshian

Of the 13 players on the Raiders' roster last season, 11 were seniors. The team won't have to quite rebuild with the return of one of its best players, Amauri Hardy. The senior point guard is garnering plenty of interest from colleges around the country. Last season during the Raiders' run to the state title game, Hardy was instrumental and averaged 14.7 points, 3.6 rebounds and 3.2 assists on the season. Some young players will need to step up this season and replace the production of Billy Thomas (19.1 points), who graduated.