Uncertainty surrounds the season as coronavirus concerns are on the rise heading into the winter months, but optimism remains high we will see high school hardwood action in the near future.
From Alabama to
Wyoming and every state in between, we searched coast-to-coast to find the best team from your
state heading into the 2020-21 season.
Alabama — Calhoun (Letohatchee)The defending Class 2A state champions are again led by five-star guard
J.D. Davison, who averaged 34 points per contest last season.
The Knights bring back 2020 Alaska Association of Basketball Coaches Class 4A Player of the Year
Patrick McMahon to guide a talented returning core that finished 17-4 last season.
Led by five-star senior
Michael Foster Jr., the Bruins have the talent necessary to climb into the MaxPreps Top 25 rankings this season.
After advancing to the state quarterfinals last season, the Charging Wildcats return a strong cast led by top 50 junior prospect
Kel'el Ware.
The Knights return seven of their top nine scorers from a team that advanced to the Class 5A state semifinals before the season was ended because of COVID-19.
Expected to be the team to beat despite losing all-state picks
Corey McKeithan and Amir Spears from last year's 19-5 team.
The Warriors were declared co-state champions last year after their season was cut short due to COVID-19 concerns. Although this group loses four of the top five scorers, top 100 senior
Nanna Njoku returns to lead another senior-heavy group.
The Eagles begin the season just outside the MaxPreps Top 25 at No. 37.
Malcolm Dread,
Judah Mintz and
Devin Dinkins lead the charge for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference contender.
The defending national champions begin the season at No. 1 for the third consecutive season. Led by a trio of Top 10 prospects in
Jalen Duren,
Caleb Houstan and
Dariq Whitehead, the Eagles are expected to dominate the high school hoops scene again this season.
Seven of the top eight contributors return from an Eagles team that
advanced to the Class AAAAAAA state semifinals last season. MaxPreps
Sophomore All-American
Bruce Thornton and MaxPreps Freshman All-American
Kanaan Carlyle lead the charge.
Led by 7-0 junior
Sage Tolentino, the Spartans look to capture their third consecutive Division I state championship.
The Trojans fell shy of capturing the program's first state title since 1963 last season, losing by nine points in the state title game. Second-team All-Idaho Class 5A selection
Caden McLean returns for Post Falls.
The Wolverines return four starters from a team that finished 24-9 against a grueling schedule last season. Four-star seniors
Isaiah Barnes and
Ahamad Bynum play lead roles for a talented unit favored to win its first state championship since the Jabari Parker era ended in 2012-13.
Despite losing four starters, the Lakers begin the season ranked No. 15 nationally thanks to an influx of talented transfers and an impressive recent track record. La Lu earned a sixth consecutive
GEICO Nationals invite last season (though the event was canceled due to COVID-19) and are 151-15 record during
that time period.
The Tigers return all but one player featured on their roster from last season, including all-state senior
Jaden Rodgers. Fern Creek finished 28-6 last year and debuts at No. 48.
After falling in the second round of the Class 3A state tournament last season, expectations are sky-high for a group that features a deep, talent-laden roster.
Although the Broncos lost reigning Maine Gatorade Player of the Year
Bryce Lausier, they return enough talent from last year's 28-1 team to compete for their first state title since 2015.
The Stags have established themselves as a consistent contender in the national rankings, finishing in the Top 10 each of the past three
seasons. Top 100 junior
Rodney Rice joins eight returners who saw minutes last season for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions.
The Bulldogs take aim at a third consecutive state championship after a dominant 25-2 run in 2019-20. They are led by 6-7 senior forward
Ademide Badmus.
This first-year program begins the season ranked No. 4 as MaxPreps National Player of the Year favorite
Emoni Bates leads the way flanked by backcourt stars
Jaden Akins and
Dillon Hunter.
After a number of dominant performances against national contenders in preseason contests, No. 2 senior prospect
Chet Holmgren appears ready for an incredible senior campaign. The Redhawks begin the season at No. 17, but recent success shows this team has the potential to ascend higher.
Led by top 50 senior
Daeshun Ruffin, the Chargers look to repeat as state champions despite losing five seniors who saw significant playing time.
Led by top 200 senior prospects
Jordan Nesbitt and
Jaden Jones, the Cougars are expected to be much improved from their 14-9 mark last season.
Despite losing all-state picks
Rollie Worster and
Abe Johnson from an unbeaten squad, the Knights are expected to be the team to beat.
The Mustangs begin the season ranked No. 38, returning virtually all their production from last season headlined by top 10 senior prospect
Hunter Sallis.
The No. 6 Gaels hope to break a national record with their 10th consecutive state championship. Gorman features one of the game's top backcourt duos in
Zaon Collins and
Will McClendon.
First team all-state selection
Coleman Brewster returns to guide a Clippers squad that reached the Division I state quarterfinals last season before postseason play was cut short.
Ranked No. 11 in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25, the Panthers return
seven of their top eight scorers led by top-ranked sophomore
DaJuan Wagner Jr.
Despite losing first-team all-state selection
Gonzalo Carbalan, the Bulldawgs return the bulk of their production from a team that finished 29-3 last season.
The Crusaders finished last season No. 10 after finishing 22-3 against a challenging national schedule. A talented host of returners puts this team just outside MaxPreps Top 25 despite losing their top two producers from last year.
Although the Goats' top contributor transferred, a youthful Combine Academy team grows a year older behind the leadership of former NBA player Jeff McInnis. Top 10 sophomore prospect
Robert Dillingham is a name to watch this season.
The Eagles, 18-3 last year, return each of their top five contributors from last season, including top 100 junior
Joe Hurlburt.
Top 100 senior
Trey Alexander is likely to break the 2,000-point mark this season. He sits at 1,753 career points after averaging 26.6 points per contest in 2019-20. The Chargers begin the season as favorites to capture their second state title in the past four seasons.
The Democrats were among the favorites to win the Class 6A state title before the season abruptly ended prior to state tournament play. Plenty of intrigue surrounds the development of top 10 sophomore
Mookie Cook.
The Vikings enter with sky-high expectations, kicking off the season ranked No. 12 behind a senior-filled roster that returns virtually all of its production.
The defending Division I state champions will again be led by first-team all-state selection
Sebastian Thomas, who scored the final 15 points of their 58-53 state title game triumph last season.
Lofty expectations for these Lions, who debuted at No. 14 in MaxPreps Top 25 rankings. The addition of five-star guard
Bryce McGowens could mold this deep and talented group into a contender for the program's first GEICO Nationals berth.
Led by Wisconsin commit
Michael Mors, Yankton enters the year as favorites to capture its second state championship in the past four seasons.
Although the Mustangs begin the season ranked behind No. 18 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga), a season opening loss by the Hawks catapults Houston into the state's No. 1 spot. NBA champion Mike Miller looks to impress in his first year as head coach.
The 2018-19 Class 6A state champions were favorites to repeat as state champions last season before their playoff run was cut short after advancing to the state semifinals. The Panthers narrowly edge out Richardson and St. Mark's (Dallas) as the team to beat from the Lone Star State to begin the season.
The Tigers begin the season at No. 23 and looking to build off their No. 3 finish in 2019-20.
Nolan Hickman and
Richard Isaacs lead the way for first-year head coach Paul Peterson.
Reigning Vermont Mr. Basketball,
Michel Ndayishimiye is expected to have a monster senior campaign after averaging 26.9 points, 6.9 rebounds and 4.9 assists per contest for the defending Division 1 state champions.
The Panthers are favorites to capture their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title since 2013-14, debuting at No. 9 nationally.
The Fighting Irish begin the season ranked No. 16 behind reigning MaxPreps National Junior of the Year
Paolo Banchero.
Although the Lions lose each of their top three scorers from a team that went 28-4 last season, a strong core of talented underclassmen keeps the program in good hands moving forward.
Top-ranked senior prospect
Patrick Baldwin looks to guide Hamilton to its first state title in program history. He led the Chargers to the Division 1 state quarterfinals before postseason play was cut short due to the coronavirus pandemic.
Lawson Lovering, a 7-foot Colorado pledge, looks to guide the Indians back to the program's first state championship since 2015-16. Cheyenne Central advanced to the Class 4A East regional before falling to the eventual regional champions last season.
