
Tyler Green, Enterprise
Photo by David Steutel
2015-16 Northern Section Preseason Boys Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Enterprise (Redding)
Head coach: Jim Deaver
2014-15 record: 20-7
The Hornets tied for first place in the Eastern Athletic League last year, but lost in the Northern Section Division 3 playoffs to Shasta in overtime. Enterprise will be without longtime coach Mike Haworth, who stepped down as the head coach in October. Jim Deaver steps in to guide the Hornets and will have one of the section's top players in
Tyler Green, who averaged 18.6 points per game as a junior. The team's second-leading scorer,
Leo Poncia (9.9 ppg), also returns.
See last season's Northern Section boys basketball computer rankings2. Pleasant Valley (Chico)
Head coach: Tim Keating
2014-15 record: 13-15
The Vikings finished in the middle of the pack last year and actually had a losing overall record. However, the team did not graduate a single senior from last year and returns a balanced group of scorers that includes junior
Kyle Lindquist (7.9), senior
Jaret Flint (10.2) and senior
Brandt Hughes (9.9).
See Northern Section boys basketball pro photo galleries 3. Shasta (Redding)
Head coach: Bill Callaway
2014-15 record: 19-8
The Wolves knocked Enterprise out of last year's Division 3 tournament, but they fell to Foothill in the section final. Longtime coach Bill Callaway lost his top scorer from last year, but returns a rugged 6-foot-5 center in
Ben Bell and 5-10 guard
Nick Rodriguez.
See last season's California boys basketball playoff brackets4. Foothill (Palo Cedro)
Head coach: Bill Elliott
2014-15 record: 22-9
The Cougars captured the Northern Section Division 3 championship last year with a 42-38 win over Shasta (Redding) and also captured a first-round win in in the NorCal playoffs over Manteca. Foothill will miss its top two scorers from last year in all-section players Jace Fry and Beau Hamilton, but
Ryan Terras (10.4) returns along with fellow starter
Riley Williams (6.6).
See last season's Northern Section boys basketball stat leaders5. Red Bluff
Head coach: Stan Twitchell
2014-15 record: 14-12
The Spartans might have the section's best athlete in their lineup in
Lane Pritchard. As a junior he was the section MVP in baseball and in football this year he has been one of the section's top wide receivers. He also averaged 14.6 points last year and is Red Bluff's top returning scorer. Pritchard will get plenty of help from
Joey Knight (11.2).