MaxPreps 2013-14 Utah preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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1. Lone Peak (Highland)
2012-13 finish: 26-1, Class 5A champion, MaxPreps national champion
Head coach: Quincy Lewis

What can the defending national champions do for an encore? The answer includes dominating opponents and winning championships again. Nick Emery and Eric Mika are graduated, but T.J. Haws – who signed to play for BYU – is back. The 6-foot-4 senior guard averaged 17.1 points per game and 4.6 assists per game a year ago. He was also the Knights' top 3-point shooter. Joining him in the backcourt is Lehi transfer Frank Jackson. The 6-1 sophomore guard averaged 10.1 points for the Pioneers last season.

2. Bountiful
2012-13 finish: 21-4, Lost in Class 4A semifinals
Head coach: Mike Maxwell

The Braves had a 20-game winning streak snapped with an overtime loss to eventual Class 4A champion Sky View. Many key contributors return, making a state title run seem likely. Leading the way are 6-4 senior guard Sam Merrill and 6-6 junior guard Zach Seljaas. Merrill averaged 18.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg, 5.3 apg and 2.1 spg to lead Bountiful in those categories. Seljaas offers a nice backcourt partner, after chipping in 15.3 ppg, 4.3 rpg and 3.2 apg a year ago.

3. Orem
2012-13 finish: 20-4, Lost in Class 4A first round
Head coach: Golden Holt

The Tigers had won 10 in a row before being upset in their opening playoff game against Logan last winter. Orem's chances for making more noise are much better this time. Senior forward Dalton Nixon (6-7), who will play at BYU, is back. Nixon averaged 17.5 ppg and 8.2 rpg to lead the Tigers as a junior. Orem also has an experienced guard with 6-3 senior Quinn Peters. Peters led the team with 5.5 apg and chipped in 10.3 ppg.

4. Alta (Sandy)
2012-13 finish: 16-9, Lost in Class 5A championship
Head coach: Jim Barker

The Hawks had enough talent to win a state title in most classifications a year ago but, like everyone else, could do little to stop Lone Peak. Alta will be one of Class 5A's better teams again. Senior guard Trevor Hill (6-3) returns after averaging 11.5 ppg, 5.8 rpg and 3.5 apg. Rejoining him in the backcourt is 5-11 senior guard Zach Rollins, who had a team-best 11.7 ppg. Senior forward Landon Albrecht (6-4) should give Alta a boost up front, after averaging 9.0 ppg and 5.9 rpg a year ago.

5. Davis (Kaysville)
2012-13 finish: 17-6, Lost in Class 5A quarterfinals
Head coach: Jay Welk

The Darts are consistently a hard-nosed defensive team and return their top scorers from a season ago. That should make them tough for other Class 5A teams to deal with this season. Six-foot junior guard Jesse Wade is coming off a breakout season where he led Davis with 14.8 points and 2.0 steals. Teaming with him in the backcourt again is 6-foot-2 senior guard Abel Porter, who averaged 13.7 ppg and a team-best 3.6 apg.

John Coon covers Utah high school sports for MaxPreps.com. He is a former prep sports reporter with the Salt Lake Tribune and the Deseret News. You can contact him at john_coon@hotmail.com or follow him on Twitter at @johncoonsports.