Manchester Central is our pick as the top team in the state of New Hampshire this season. Be sure to watch for Merrimack, Pembroke, Spaulding and Trinity.
Spaulding celebrated a solid campaign last season, and now is back as a part of the New Hampshire Fab 5.
File photo by Michael Listner
1. Manchester CentralHead coach: Doc Wheeler
2011-12 finish: 16-6, Division I runners up
Manchester Central came up just short of a state championship in 2012, falling to Merrimack 65-56 in the Division I championship game.
Troy Pelletier (G, Sr.) returns to hopefully lead Manchester back to its sixth state title appearance since 2000. Pelletier was a second team All-State selection as a junior.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings2. MerrimackHead coach: Tim Goodridge
2011-12 finish: 16-6, Division I state champions
Merrimack was the No. 7 seed for last year's playoffs but came on strong in the postseason behind the play of Gatorade State Player of the year Tyler Gendron to win the Division I title. While Gendron has graduated, his younger brother
Eric Gendron (6-3, G, Sr), who had 16 points in the championship game and earned honorable mention All-State honors, returns. Also back is
Dimitras Floras (G, Sr), who had a strong showing in the championship game with 23 points.
View all of our New Hampshire boys basketball photo galleries3. PembrokeHead coach: Matt Aloso
2011-12 finish: 17-3, Division II quarterfinalist
Pembroke enters the season as the favorite in Division II thanks to the return of a trio of All-State honorees.
Pat Welch (G) was All-State first team as as sophomore while senior
Rene Maher joined him on the first team.
Matt Persons (Sr) earned honorable mention All-State honors.
View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball Freeman Rankings4. Spaulding (Rochester)Head coach: Tim Cronan
2011-12 finish: 15-6, Division I semifinalist
Spaulding reached the Division I semifinals before falling to eventual champion Merrimack. Look for Spaulding to make a strong push again in 2013 thanks to the return of
Dominic Paradis, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who earned a spot on the All-State second team as a junior.
View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball stats leaderboard
5. Trinity (Manchester)Head coach: Dave Keefe
2011-12 finish: 17-4, lost in Division I semifinals
Trinity lost to rival Central 59-56 in two overtimes in the Division I semifinals last year. Center Andrew Lauderdale is gone, but his frontline teammate
Mabor Gabriel (6-6, Sr, F) is back along with second team All-State guard
Carmen Giampetruzzi.
View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball playoff brackets
