Andrew Harrison (pictured) and his brother Aaron look to end their high school careers at Fort Bend Travis with a state championship.
File photo by Jim Redman
Craig Brownson
2011-12 finish: 36-4, Class 5A state runner-up
The
Tigers have the nation's top backcourt in twins
Andrew and
Aaron Harrison – ranked Nos. 2 and 3 in the
MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100,
respectively. The Harrisons made a
highly-publicized pledge to Kentucky
in early October, allowing them to focus on winning a state title after
falling short as juniors. Collectively, the pair produced over 30 points, 10 rebounds and nearly 10 assists per game in 2011-12. While the supporting cast will be a bit of a mystery heading into the season, expect Travis to be tough on the defensive end after holding teams under 48 points per game last season.
See all of our Texas boys basketball photo galleries2. Prestonwood Christian (Plano)Head coach: Chris Mayberry
2011-12 finish: 27-4, TAPPS Class 5A state champions
PCA
senior
Julius Randle (6-8, 240) has the look of a NBA veteran and is
the No. 4 overall prospect in the MaxPreps Class of 2013 Top 100. Randle
posted over 21 points and eight rebounds per game as a junior and was
the MVP of the City of Palms Classic. Florida, Kansas and Kentucky –
among others – are battling for his services.
Mickey Mitchell, a 6-7
sophomore point-forward and burgeoning quarterback prospect, will also
be a big piece of the puzzle for Mayberry. Mitchell averaged 10.1
points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.7 assists per game as a freshman. The Lions
will also look for big things from mighty mite point guard
Marquan Botley (5-8).
See last season's Texas stats leaderboard3. DeSotoHead coach: Chris Dyer
2011-12 finish: 33-6
The
Eagles are led by a special guard in
Matt Jones, a 6-4 senior who has
already delivered a verbal pledge to Duke. Jones was a
MaxPreps Junior All-American a year ago after producing 18.5 points, 8.5 rebounds and
3.4 assists per game. The DeSoto star is also a longtime summer teammate
of Prestonwood's Randle. Junior forward
Terry Maston (6-6, 200) will be
key among the six other players returning for Dyer from last season's
squad. DeSoto will get an early test at the McDonald's Texas
Invitational – a mega-showcase for Texas public schools outside of
Houston.
See last season's Texas boys basketball Freeman Rankings4. Yates (Houston)Head coach: Greg Wise
2011-12: 34-6, Class 4A runner-up
The
Lions are expected to be a major problem in the 3A ranks after dropping
down from 4A in the offseason. In an "off" year offensively, Yates
poured in 97.5 points per game in 2011-12. Expect those numbers to
increase as some of Wise's young weapons mature and the Lions pounce on
3A competition. The headliners this season will include
Darrion Martin
(5-10, Sr., G),
Melvin Swift (6-7, Jr., F) and
Joseph Anderson (6-1,
So., G). The Houston superpower will compete in a number of major
showcases and tournaments, including December's Iolani Classic in
Hawaii.
See last season's Texas boys basketball playoff brackets5. Brandeis (San Antonio)Head coach: Marc Gardner
2011-12 finish: 27-7
The
Broncos return seven players who saw significant action a year ago,
including leading scorer
Justin Graham, a 6-2 guard who posted 14.9
points and 5.5 assists per game in 2011-12. Senior
Matt Kallead (6-2,
175, G) is also back after putting up 10.8 points and 4.8 rebounds per
game as a junior. Defense was the calling card as Brandeis reached the
regional quarterfinals last season, allowing just 46.7 points per game.
