Sexton is our pick as the state's top team in the preseason. But watch out for Beecher, Rockford, Rochester and Detroit Country Day.
MaxPreps 2012-13 Michigan Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. Sexton (Lansing)Head coach: Carlton Valentine
2011-12 finish: 27-1, Class B state champions
Jalen Hayes, a 6-foot-7 power forward who is an Oakland (Mich.) University commit, will take the charge for Sexton, which has won two consecutive Michigan Class B state championships and totaled an impressive 74 wins over three seasons. They finished No. 15 in the 2011-12 MaxPreps Xcellent 25. The Big Reds’ graduating class in 2012 included Denzel Valentine, now a freshman at Michigan State, and Anthony Clemmons, now at Iowa. But this may not be a rebuilding year at Sexton. Joining Hayes in a shot at a three-peat is
Trevor Manuel, a sophomore 6-8 center who already has a scholarship offer from Michigan State;
Justus Dodd, a 6-2 sophomore guard, and
Javon Cooney, a quick 5-8 guard.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings 2. Beecher (Flint)Head coach: Mike Williams
2011-12 finish: 28-0, Class C state champions
In winning its first state title in more than 20 years, Beecher blasted its way through the 2011-12 season with 28 consecutive wins and a 14-point victory over Traverse City St. Francis in the Class C final. What makes Beecher a title contender again in 2012-13 is the return of
Monte Morris, a senior point guard who has signed an NLI with Iowa State. He led the Bucs with 18 points and seven rebounds in last year’s championship game and plays a huge factor in Beecher’s title defense. The question is how strong the supporting cast will be around Morris.
View all of our Michigan boys basketball photo galleries 3. RockfordHead coach: Nick Allen
2011-12 finish: 22-6, Class A runner-up
Chase Fairchild and
Chad Carlson are part of a large senior group that as juniors carried Rockford to the state finals in Nick Allen’s first year as head coach in 2011-12. The Rams finished strong last season, winning seven consecutive in order to reach the finals against Saginaw. Expect big things in a new season at Rockford. The Rams are balanced and shoot accurately from 3-point range.
View last season's Michigan boys basketball Freeman Rankings 4. Rochester (Rochester Hills)Head coach: John Pleasant
2011-12 finish: 20-2, Class A district runner-up
The buzz in Michigan is one of the University of Kentucky’s new recruits:
James Young, a 6-6 guard/forward. One of the most highly recruited members of the Class of 2013 (No. 7 on the
MaxPreps Top 100 list), Young transferred from Troy to Rochester just before the 2012-13 school year began. Young, who averaged 25.1 pints and 10.5 rebounds last year, makes Rochester an immediate title contender. But he is joining a team that was already pretty good. The team also includes 6-8 center
Arben Camaj, who averaged 10 points and seven rebounds in 2011-12;
Manny Mendoza, a 6-3 forward who is a strong defender (an average of six rebounds and two steals per game); and
Mike Murri, a 6-4 junior wing.
View last season's Michigan boys basketball stats leaderboard 5. Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills)Head coach: Kurt Keener
2011-12 finish: 21-6, Class B state semifinalists
Detroit County Day School’s traditionally strong program will be led by a pair of returning stars, senior 6-3 guard
Austin Price, and junior 6-3 forward
Mory Diane. Price, who averaged 10.6 points and 4.1 rebounds per game last year, is a Lehigh commit. Diane averaged 8.1 points and is being recruited by several Mid-American Conference schools. Perhaps even more star power will come from
Edmond Sumner, a junior point guard whose summer ball was so impressive that Michigan and Wake Forest, among others, are recruiting him. Country Day’s march toward a title was halted last season by Sexton, and the last time Sexton didn’t win a state title (2010), it was because of a 24-point loss to Country Day in the state finals.
View last season's MHSAA boys basketball playoff brackets
