MaxPreps 2012-13 South Carolina preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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

1. Irmo (Columbia)
Head Coach: Tim Whipple
2011-12 Finish: 24-4, Lost to Class 4A champion Gaffney in quarterfinals

After a 24-4 record last season, Irmo says goodbye to star point guard Jordan Roper, who is now at Clemson. Last year the Yellowjackets failed to defend their 2011 Class 4A state title by losing a heart-breaker to state champion Gaffney (who saw its best returning player, L.J. Peak, transfer out of state). Filling Roper's role will be senior point guard Detrek Browning (5-10) and junior Heyward Goodson (5-10). Irmo will also rely on senior swingman Justin McKie (6-4) and hopes 6-8 junior Javis Howard can take a step forward in the middle this season.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Dorman (Roebuck)
Head Coach: Thomas Ryan
2011-12 Finish: 25-4, Lost to Gaffney in Class 4A semifinals

Dorman comes back strong despite the departure of career 1,000-point scorer and highly-decorated swingman, Curtis Webb. This year, seniors Josh Black, Trey Robinson, Maurice Daniels and Brandon Pinckney will provide a solid core for the Cavaliers. Sophomore J.J. Arcega-Whiteside made a strong contribution last year as a freshman and hopes to provide an even bigger spark this season.

View last season's South Carolina boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Hartsville
Head Coach: Aric Samuel
2011-12 Finish: 22-4, Class 3A champions

The Red Foxes stormed through the 3A playoffs last season, beating Southside (Greenville) by 13 points in the championship game, in winning the school's first state championship. Led by Aric Samuel, who played for Hartsville in the 1990s, the Red Foxes will rely on two high-scoring seniors. Devontea Washington (6-4, G) led the team with 21 points and six blocked shots in last year's championship game, while point guard Jaylen Shaw added 14 points. The combo gives Hartsville one of the best returning backcourts in the state.

View last season's South Carolina boys basketball stats leaderboard

4. Keenan (Columbia)
Head Coach: Zach Norris
2011-12 Finish: 23-4, Lost to Lee Central in Class 2A quarterfinals

The Raiders lost a heart-breaker, 67-64, in last year's quarterfinals, which will make Zach Norris and his squad even hungrier this go-round. Before the playoff loss Keenan had rattled off 15 straight wins. Heading up the charge will be last season's leading scorer, 6-1 junior Marcus Stroman, who averaged 15.2 points last year as a sophomore and has already committed to South Carolina. He'll receive help from senior Eric Hopkins, who averaged 9.5 points per game last season.

View last season's SCHSL boys basketball playoff brackets

5. Spring Valley (Columbia)
Head Coach: Perry Dozier
2011-12 Finish: 13-12

Despite finishing just over .500 last season, Spring Valley returns one of the top teams in the state with senior Dominique Taylor and sophomore Perry Dozier Jr. Also a receiver on the football team, the 6-foot-3 Taylor is a super-athlete who can score. The coach's son, Dozier Jr. averaged double-figures last year as a freshman and earned Honorable Mention on the MaxPreps 2011-12 Boys Basketball Freshman All-American Team.

View all of our South Carolina boys basketball photo galleries