Windsor leads the way as the state's top team, but Hillhouse, Ridgefield, St. Joseph and Capital Prep aren't far behind.
Returning starter Kurt Steidl, one reason why Ridgefield is No. 3 in the Fab 5, looks to lead the Tigers to a state title this season.
Photo by Matt Dewkett
Ken Smith
2011-12 finish: 25-2, lost to New London in the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals
The Warriors can always be counted on for a few things. One is winning, something they do on a regular basis. The other is a stifling defense that has been the cornerstone of head coach Ken Smith’s teams. Windsor returns three starters — 6-6 senior center
Jaquan Harrison (11 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg), 6-5 junior forward
Jared Wilson-Frame (14.9 ppg) and 6-3 junior guard
Chaunce Dunbar.
"If these guys can really put it together and do what the coaches say, we should be okay," Smith said.
View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings2. Hillhouse (New Haven)Head coach: Renard Sutton
2011-12 finish: 26-2, lost to St. Joseph (Trumbull) in the CIAC Class LL final
Connecticut’s home office for boys basketball has won a state-record 21 CIAC championships and has the talent to make it 22. Eight of their 12 players are seniors, including 5-10 guard
Andre Anderson, 5-11 guard
Bobby Bynum, 6-7 forward
Chase Daniels, and 6-2 forward
Christopher Leaks.
"It’s just a matter of us being able to put it together on defense," head coach Renard Sutton said. "We’ve predicated our whole program on defense. Defense is going to be the whole key to everything."
View last season's Connecticut boys basketball Freeman Rankings3. RidgefieldHead coach: Carl Charles
2011-12 finish: 18-7, lost to St. Joseph (Trumbull) in the CIAC Class LL quarterfinals
As this list was being put together, more than one smart basketball mind said that Ridgefield should be included. It has seven seniors and should have a deep bench. The Tigers return three starters in 6-6 senior
Kurt Steidl
(F/G), 6-3 senior
Jeff Racy (F/G) and 6-5 sophomore
Patrick Racy (F/C). Steidl has given a verbal commitment to
Vermont.
"We’ve been a pretty strong defensive team and I anticipate that we’ll continue to be," head coach Carl Charles said. "We have more depth, so I think we’ll be able to get more into transition than in the past … We had a nice situation where we’d have four or five guys in double figures (each game). Hopefully we’ll see that similar type of balance this year."
View last season's Connecticut boys basketball stats leaderboard4. St. Joseph (Trumbull)Head coach: Chris Watts
2011-12 finish: 25-1, defeated Hillhouse for the CIAC Class LL title
The Cadets have a new voice this season in Chris Watts after Vito Montelli, the winningest coach in New England history, retired after 50 seasons. "I’ve lost half of (my voice) already," Watts joked.
Watts, a former Cadets player, had been an assistant the previous 10 seasons and was in charge of the offense the last three. St. Joseph returns two starters in junior guards
Quincy McKnight (6-3) and
Jonathan Dzurenda (6-1). They’ll be joined in the starting lineup by senior guard
Jake Pelletier (5-10) and junior guard
Raekwon Reid (5-9).
"We come back with a smaller group, but a quicker group and a more defensive-minded group," said Watts. "Sometimes we may be forced to play five guards. Sometimes we may be forced to run four guards, but the kids are adept.”
View last season's Connecticut boys basketball playoff brackets5. Capital Prep (Hartford)Head coach: Levy Gillespie
2011-12 finish: 23-4, lost to Immaculate of Danbury in the CIAC Class S final
The Trailblazers put themselves on the map last season by qualifying for their first state final. They could win it all this season as they return three starters — 5-11 senior guard
Kahlil Dukes (21.8 ppg, 4.0 assists, 2.5 spg), 6-4 senior forward
Brandon Marshall (14.7 ppg, 7.3 rpg, 1.8 spg) and 6-3 junior guard
Levy Gillespie Jr. (13.2 ppg, 7.7 rpg, 6.5 apg). Dukes has also signed a letter of intent with USC.
"He’s relentless about getting better," head coach Levy Gillespie said. "On the first day of tryouts, he’s running harder than just about anybody … No one told him this was his tryout. He’s going to USC, and he’s going hard the whole time."
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