Drew Homa, Creighton Prep
Photo by Rod Adams
2015-16 Nebraska Preseason Boys Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Creighton Prep (Omaha)Head coach: Josh Luedtke
2014-15 record: 27-2, defending Class A state champion
While Luedtke did lose a solid senior class from a year ago, including Tommy Pritchard, Tyson Smiley and Chad Witecy, he does return first team All-Nebraska and Super-State shooting guard
Drew Homa for yet another state championship run.
Ethan Walz,
Will Schenken,
Nate Schimonitz,
Joey Machado and
Aguir Agau all earned plenty of state championship minutes a year ago.
See last season's Nebraska boys basketball computer rankings
2. Omaha SouthHead coach: Bruce Chubick
2014-15 record: 23-3, defending Class A runner-ups
The Packers are hoping to secure their fifth Class A state championship trophy in 2016. South has produced plenty of postseason success recently, making the Nebraska big school state title game twice in the last four seasons. However, Chubick's program has not enjoyed state championship success since 1990. Back to try and change that trend are second team all-state point guard
Karlon McSpadden,
Caleal Walker,
Aguek Arop and
Monte McGary.
See Nebraska boys basketball pro photo galleries3. NorfolkHead coach: Ben Ries
2014-15 record: 25-1, lost to Lincoln Northeast 61-43 in the Class A quarterfinals
Ries may have lost Tyler Hagedorn and his 17 points per game to the University of South Dakota following last year's undefeated regular season run. But he does return 6-foot-8 junior post/power forward
Logan Strom (10.3). Also back are
Travis Larson,
Brandon Villalpando and
Lane McCallum, boosting the Panthers' hopes of winning the school's second state title and the first one since 1987.
See last season's Nebraska boys basketball playoff brackets4. Omaha CentralHead coach: Eric Behrens
2014-15 record: 13-10, lost to Creighton Prep 61-49 in the Class A-2 district championship
If the Eagles are going to get back to their state championship winning ways,
K'Zahn Jimerson will have a lot to say about it. Omaha Central won Nebraska big school state titles from 2010-13 and won seven state championships from 2006-2013, but hasn't moved past the quarterfinals since that historic run.
See last season's Nebraska boys basketball stat leaders5. Burke (Omaha)Head coach: Kevin Kobs
2014-15 record: 13-11, lost to Norfolk 59-47 in the Class A-1 district championship
Omaha Burke's state tournament hopes fell short to the Panthers a year ago. But Kobs looks to have the right pieces to make the field of eight in March.
Wanjang Tut (9.3 ppg) and
Junub Char (9.0) return to play leading roles in carrying Kobs' program to the school's first state tournament since 2002.
Darrnell Mitchell,
Jackson Abramo and
Shereef Mitchell return after scoring a combined 21 points per game a year ago.