MaxPreps 2012-13 North Dakota preseason boys basketball Fab 5

MaxPreps 2012-13 North Dakota Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Bismarck
Head coach: Steve Miller
2011-12 finish: 21-4, Class A quarterfinalist

Bismarck gets the nod as the team to beat this year thanks in part to the return of players like Taylor Schafer, Tyler Clairmont, and Ben Jolliffe. Schafer averaged 9.7 points per game for the Demons and was one of the team's top three-point shooters with a team-high 34 buckets beyond the arc. Clairmont, meanwhile, averaged just over 6 points per game, but he is also the team's leading returning rebounder at 5 per outing. Jolliffe averaged just under 6 points and 3.5 rebounds. Coach Steve Miller will miss Gatorade State Player of the Year Dexter Werner, but 12 other players return from last year's squad.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Minot
Head coach: Dean Winczewski
2011-12 finish: 13-11, Class A quarterfinalist

Minot returns nearly every major contributor from last year's state tournament team, including Brandon Van Dusen (6-3, Sr, F) who earned All-Conference honors last season. Austin Frank (5-10, Sr, G) is another returning All-Conference pick while Kyle Gerding (6-2, Sr, F) is another returning starter.

View last season's North Dakota boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Red River (Grand Forks)
Head coach: Jason Gregory
2011-12 finish: 23-2, Class A state champion

Red River returns eight juniors from last year's group that won the Class A state championship, including second team all-state pick Mac Kroeplin (6-2, Sr, G) who averaged 17.5 points, 5.7 rebounds, 6.8 assists and had 40 three-pointers last season. John Hoplin (6-6, Sr, C) gives Red River size in the middle while Chad Bartosh (6-1, Jr, G) will perform the ball-handling duties along with Kroeplin.

View last season's North Dakota boys basketball stat leaders

4. Shanley (Fargo)
Head coach: Leon Knodel
2011-12 finish: 19-6, Class A runner-up

Some publications have Shanley favored to win it all this year after finishing second to Red River last season. The big reason for the confidence in Shanley is the return of possibly the state's top player, A.J. Jacobson. A 6-5 senior guard, Jacobson is the leading returning scorer in Class A at 23.8 points per game and he is also the leading rebounder at 10.8. He also averaged 4.2 assists, 2.4 steals and 2.8 blocks in earning all-state first team honors. Complementing Jacobson are returning all-conference guard Patrick Strom (5-10, Jr, G) and Dyland Alderman (6-1, Sr, G). Shanley returns 11 out of the 14 players from last year's squad.

View last season's NDHSAA boys basketball playoff brackets

5. St. Mary's Central (Bismarck)
Head coach: Joe Mueller
2011-12 finish: 12-8 Class A quarterfinalist

St. Mary's Central looks to challenge Minot and Bismarck for one of the top spots in the Western Dakota Association. The team is still young with three juniors figuring to lead the way this season. Coach Joe Mueller returns second team all-state pick Ben Weisbeck (6-0, Jr, G), who averaged 19.3 points per game with 6.2 rebounds. He's joined by all-conference player Scott Nagel (6-3, Jr, G) and returning letterman Darius Sparks (6-1, Jr, G).