MaxPreps 2012-13 Washington preseason boys basketball Fab 5

MaxPreps 2012-13 Washington Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Rainier Beach (Seattle)
Head coach: Mike Bethea
2011-12 finish: 27-3, Class 3A state champions

Beach's title defense received a huge boost with the addition of Southern California transfer Shaqquan Aaron, a 6-foot-7 shooting guard regarded as one of the nation's elite Class of 2014 talents. The Vikings were loaded even before Aaron's arrival with returning state tournament MVP MarQuis Davis (5-9, Sr., G), Djuan Piper (6-6, Sr., G/F), Fuquan Niles (6-9, Sr., C) and Elijah Foster (6-6, Jr., F/C). Rainier Beach — which entered the season ranked No. 7 nationally and is seeking its seventh state title since 1988 — will participate in the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in December.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Bothell
Head coach: Ron Bollinger
2011-12 finish: 17-11, Class 4A state tournament qualifier



A year ago the Cougars featured one of the state's top backcourts in Zach LaVine and Pierre Callandret, but lacked the supporting cast to make them a legitimate contender. LaVine (6-3, 165, G), a UCLA verbal commit, and Callandret got some help over the summer with the addition of Seattle Prep transfer Josh Martin, a 6-8 forward with an offer in hand from the Washington Huskies. LaVine averaged more than 23 points per game in 2010-11 and is the state's top prospect. He blossomed over the summer and could help bring Bothell — a school known more for football success in recent years — its first state title since 1927.

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3. Bellarmine Prep (Tacoma)
Head coach: Bernie Salazar
2011-12 finish: 23-5, Class 4A state semifinalist

The Lions return the bulk of a team that was a game away from playing for the state title last winter, including Gonzaga verbal commit Lucas Meikle. The 6-7 wing will be joined by fellow seniors Isaiah Flynn (5-11, Sr., G), Sefo Liufau (6-3, Sr., F) — a star quarterback committed to Colorado — and coach's son Jacob Salazar (5-11, Jr., G) to give Prep plenty of firepower. Mar'kese Jackson (6-3, Jr., G) should also see an increased role.

View last season's Washington boys basketball stat leaders

4. Federal Way
Head coach: Jerome Collins
2012-13 finish: 16-10



Are the young Eagles ready to fly or still a year away from contender status? The Feds featured nine sophomores and freshmen on the roster a year ago and never quite got over the hump against the state's elite. Brothers D'Londo Tucker (6-0, Sr., G) and DeeShawn Tucker (6-0, Jr., G) are back to man the backcourt, while Brayon Blake (6-5, Jr., F) and Deonte Anderson (6-5, Jr., F) give the Eagles a pair of athletic, versatile big bodies.

View last season's Washington boys basketball Freeman Rankings

5. Lincoln (Tacoma)
Head coach: Aubrey Shelton
2012-13 finish: 18-8

Shelton is one of Washington's top young coaches and may have his best team after averaging nearly 20 wins per season dating back to 2007-08. Senior Tre'Shaun Fletcher (6-6, Sr., G/F) earned second team All-State honors (all classifications) as a junior, posting over 18 points and 11 rebounds per game. Arizona State and Washington State were courting the star wing, but he committed to Colorado in September. Previously known as Tre'Shaun Lexing, Fletcher changed his name to honor his mother, Bobby Fletcher. He will be joined this winter by Clover Park (Lakewood) transfer Ahmaad Rorie, a 6-0 junior point guard already committed to California. Rorie averaged 33.7 points per game at the Class 2A state tournament as a sophomore. The Abes also will receive a boost from Mount Rainier (Des Moines) transfer Caden Rowland (6-4, Sr., G).

View last season's Washington boys basketball playoff brackets