Mikey Dixon, Sanford
File photo by Richard Ta
2015-16 Delaware Preseason Boys Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Sanford (Hockessin)Head coach: Stan Waterman
2014-15 record: 18-5, state tournament semifinals
Returning starters include senior guard
Mikey Dixon (Quinnipiac College), 6-foot-8 junior forward
Jacob Walsh and 6-1 guard
Kyle Evans to provide the Warriors with a solid core as they prepare to play perhaps the most difficult schedule in the state.
Senior
Freddy Ryle and junior
Connor Rufo saw significant playing time last season and will be joined by highly touted eighth-grader
Jay'are Davis, who Waterman calls a "Diamond in the rough."
"The Warriors' success will depend on the development of the supporting cast. They will be counted on to take that leap from being role players to main contributors." – Head coach Stan Waterman
See last season's Delaware boys basketball computer rankings2. Mount Pleasant (Wilmington)Head coach: Lisa Sullivan
2014-15 finish: 20-3, state tournament semifinals
All-state senior guard
Raheim Burnett (19 points per game, 7 assists per game) is one of nine returning players for Mount Pleasant. Other returning starters include senior guard
Robert Myrick (10 ppg, 4 steals), senior forward
Ronald Shipman-Scott (8 ppg, 8 rebounds per game) and junior guard
Keon Taylor (5 ppg, 4 apg).
Top newcomers include seniors
Richard Caldwell (guard) and
Sayvon Willis (forward), junior guard
Dejon Backus and freshman guard
Kvonn Cramer.
"Experience, a very competitive schedule and a lot of hard work will prepare them for an opportunity to challenge for a state championship." -- Head coach Lisa Sullivan
See Delaware boys basketball pro photo galleries3. St. Georges Tech (Middletown)Head coach: Rod Griffin
2014-15 finish: 12-10, state tournament second round
St. Georges returns four starters from last year's squad, led by senior guard
Lamar Hamrick (19.8 ppg, 11 rpg, 4.7 apg) and junior point guard
Kyson Rawls (16.3 ppg), a third-team all-state selection. Senior guards
Paul Brown II (10 ppg) and
Josh Williams (10.9 ppg) also return to give the Hawks a solid core of leadership and experience.
Senior guard
Mark Harris, along with freshmen
Nashon Hyland and
Michael McCants, will see significant playing time.
"Expectations are high this season as the Hawks are primed to make another run at the state championship. We play an up-tempo style and pride ourselves on a tenacious defense." – Head coach Rod Griffin
See last season's Delaware boys basketball playoff brackets4. Appoquinimink (West Middletown)Head coach: Steve Wright
2014-15 record: 18-4, state tournament quarterfinals
Junior guard
Myles Cale already has offers from James Madison, La Salle and Temple and is considered one of the top players in the state after a sophomore season in which he was named second-team all-state. He's joined by returning starters junior
Kristian Alexander, a 6-4 forward, and junior guard
Keith DeLoatch.
See last season's Delaware boys basketball stat leaders5. DoverHead coach: Stephen Wilson
2014-15 record: 14-8, state tournament second round
Senior shooting guard
Jordan Allen, a second-team all-state selection last year, has committed to Rider University and can now focus on his senior season and getting the Senators back into the state tournament for the second-straight season. He'll be joined by seniors
Terrence Woodlin and
Michael Douglas.
Jon Buzby is the play-by-play announcer for high school basketball on Fox Sports 1290AM Wilmington.