MaxPreps 2014-15 North Dakota preseason boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

1. Wahpeton
2013-14 finish: 20-6
Head coach: Jeff Ralph

Wahpeton lost in the first round of the Class A state tournament last year, but it came back to win the consolation championship. Three of the team's top scorers return from last year, including leading scorer Blaze Irwin, a 6-foot-5 forward who earned all-conference honors as a junior. Also returning is the backcourt of 6-foot junior guard Carson Zarak and 6-2 senior guard Thomas Nelson.

View last season's North Dakota boys basketball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Fargo Davies
2013-14 finish: 23-2
Head coach: Bart Manson



The Eagles captured the Class A state championship last year with a 62-55 win over St. Mary's Central. Conference MVP Tanner Kretcham and all-conference pick Andrew Kozlowski have graduated. Kretcham led the conference in scoring at 29.9 points per game while Kozlowski averaged 19 points an outing. The Eagles still return two starters from last year's team in Austin Schultz a 6-0 guard, and 5-11 guard Collin Larson.

View last season's North Dakota boys basketball playoff brackets

3. Oak Grove Lutheran (Fargo)
2013-14 finish: 27-2
Head coach: Kyle Card

The defending state champions at the Class B level, Oak Grove Lutheran returns leading scorers Carter Kretchman and Christian Adams. Kretchman, the brother of Fargo Davies standout Tanner Kretchman, averaged 19.9 points per game including 36 in the championship game against Rugby. Adams, meanwhile, averaged 17 points per game and had 29 in a semifinal win over Linton/Hazelton-Moffit-Braddock.

View last season's North Dakota boys basketball stat leaders

4. Rugby
2013-14 finish: 27-1
Head coach: Mike Santjer



Rugby nearly had its first boys basketball state championship since the 1940s, but it lost to Oak Grove Lutheran in overtime in the championship game. The Panthers have a good chance at returning to the state finals in 2015 as all-state first team pick Bradley M Heidlebaugh, a 6-4 senior forward, returns. Also back are two of the team's leading scorers in 6-0 senior guard Tanner Bernhardt and 6-4 senior center Zach Miller.

View the MaxPreps national boys basketball pro photo galleries

5. Grand Forks Central
2013-14 finish: 8-14
Head coach: Dan Carlson

While Grand Forks Central did not have a winning record last year, it returns one of the state's top young players in sophomore Jake Mussman. A 6-foot-4 senior, Mussman earned all-conference honors as a junior after averaging just over 18 points per game. He's joined by returning Treion Davis, a 5-8 senior guard.