Mgbako is regarded as the No. 5 ranked prospect in the Class of 2023 according to 247Sports while Wilcher checks in at No. 28. The teammates will go onto be rivals at the next level as Mgbako is committed to Duke and Wilcher is headed to North Carolina.
In breaking news just days before the release of the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25, Duncanville was stripped of its 2022 Class 6A state title in Texas and head coach David
Peavy has been given a one-year suspension according to multiple media
outlets reports. Despite being without their head
coach, the Panthers remain contenders to defend their national title
barring any last minutes changes to the roster.
2021-22: 29-2, No. 4 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Begin the season as the team to beat in high school basketball behind dynamic duo Wilcher and Mgbako. The Lions have a loaded schedule that includes matchups with nationally-ranked opponents Duncanville, St. Paul VI, Imhotep Charter, Calvary Christian Academy, Long Island Lutheran and National Top 10 No. 2 Sunrise Christian Academy.
2021-22: 35-1, No. 1 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Reigning national champions return a strong cast from last season headlined by 2021-22 MaxPreps National Junior of the Year
Ronald Holland. Key off-season addition
K.J. Lewis is expected to make an immediate impact with the three-time defending state champions. The Panthers have a grueling early season schedule that includes showdowns with four top 10 opponents.
2021-22: 33-1, No. 2 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Defending CIF Open Division state champions return the bulk of their core from last season with seniors
Jared McCain,
Devin Williams and
Aaron McBride headlining the rotation. The Huskies will be tested immediately with showdowns against Duncanville, Modesto Christian and Bishop Gorman as well as trips to the City of Palms Classic and John Wall Holiday Invitational prior to the new year.
2021-22: 31-5, No. 10 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Favorites to capture back-to-back Washington Catholic Athletic Conference titles for the first time in school history behind top 100 prospects
Isaiah Abraham,
Darren Harris,
DeShawn Harris-Smith and
Patrick Ngongba. The Panthers travel to the City of Palms Classic and face top 10 opponents Roselle Catholic and Sidwell Friends among other anticipated contests on the schedule.
2021-22: 29-4, No. 11 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: In search of the program's ninth state title since 2009, the Panthers are loaded with talent led by the No. 3-ranked senior prospect in the nation
Justin Edwards. Along with Edwards,
Rahmir Barno,
Ahmad Nowell and
Makye Taylor are among the top returners for a group that won 18 straight to end the season last year. A trip to the City of Palms Classic provides an early test.
2021-22: 31-2, No. 9 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: First-year head coach Maalik Wayns takes over a program that is looking for its third consecutive top 10 finish nationally. The Panthers are headlined by top five Class of 2023 prospects
D.J. Wagner and
Aaron Bradshaw, while returning the bulk of their core from last season including
Cian Medley,
Dasear Haskins and
Cornelius Robinson. They also added Top 150 junior
Billy Richmond.
2021-22: 25-5, Unranked
Breakdown: After spending a pair of seasons in Class AAAAAA, the Wildcats return to the Peach State's highest classification as favorites to capture the program's third state title in the past four seasons and ninth overall. Top-ranked senior prospect
Isaiah Collier is joined by top 100 senior
Arrinten Page along with
Jelani Hamilton,
Cameron Brown and
D.J. Mitchell in a talented starting rotation.
2021-22: 29-2, No. 18 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: High expectations surround this program after capturing the state title in Florida's highest classification last season behind 2021-22 MaxPreps National Freshman of the Year
Cameron Boozer and first team Freshman All-America selection
Cayden Boozer. The Explorers have one of the toughest schedules in high school hoops, beginning with a showdown against Duncanville later this month.
2021-22: 26-3, No. 7 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Open as slight favorites over Archbishop Stepinac and Christ the King in a loaded CHSAA behind 2021-22 MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year
Ian Jackson. Top 150 juniors
Adam Nije and
Elijah Moore are among other headliners for a deep roster featuring a number of promising freshman prospects. The Cardinals are in search of consecutive CHSAA titles for the first time in school history.
2021-22: 29-2, No. 20 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Fell to Calvary Christian Academy in the first round of the inaugural State Champions Invitational after capturing the program's third DCSAA title last season. The Quakers return three of their top four contributors from 2021-22 in
Caleb Williams,
Cam Gillus and
Jalen Rougier-Roane and are expected to challenge for another berth in the SCI at the end of the campaign.
2021-22: 30-1, No. 23
Breakdown:
Tied the national record with nine straight state championships before
falling to Liberty in the title game last season. The Gaels bring back
four starters and top 50 prospects in
Juni Mobley,
Christopher Nwuli and
Jase Richardson along with
Keenan Bey.
A ramped up schedule awaits as showdowns with Centennial, Wheeler and Camden await along with appearances in the Tarkanian Classic and
Les Schwab Invitational.
2021-22: 19-8, Unranked
Breakdown: Plenty of challenges await this program as it enters the NIBC this season to battle National Top 10 mainstays like Montverde Academy, Sunrise Christian Academy and IMG Academy. Senior guard
Jayden Reid is the only returning starter. Newcomers
Jayden Ross,
V.J. Edgecomb,
Godswill Erheriene and
Jacob Ross will be relied on heavily.
2021-22: 26-2, No. 3 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown:
Back-to-back state champions captured the inaugural State Champions
Invitational title last season after a pair of lopsided victories.
Although
Carl Cherenfant is the only key returner, the Eagles were able to reload in the off-season with the additions of
Jaylen Curry,
Ethan Lathan,
Jake Warren and
Shon Abaev. Key dates include trips to the Tarkanian Classic, Chick-fil-A Classic and Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
2021-22: 23-4, Unranked
Breakdown:
The Saints come in to the season as heavy favorites to capture the
school's 10th state championship since 2010. A strong core returns from
last season's state title-winning group as four-star guard
Robert Wright III,
Sultan Adewale and
Khaafiq Meyers are among the top returners. The schedule is headlined by trips to the 'Iolani Classic and Spalding Hoophall Classic.
2021-22: 25-4, Unranked
Breakdown: Nine players and three starters return from a team that advanced to the second round of the CIF Open Division state tournament last season. Returning starters
Brady Dunlap,
Trent Perry and
Jacob Huggins are expected to play pivotal roles for the Wolverines as they travel to the Thanksgiving Hoopfest to face Guyer and Prestonwood Christian for a pair of early tests.
2021-22: 37-1, No. 16 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Following a special season that saw the Cardinals capture the school's first state title since 1951, nobody will be sleeping on George Rogers Clark this season. The defending state champions return four of their top five scorers from last year, including each of their top three in
Jerone Morton,
Sam Parrish and
Trent Edwards. The senior-laden unit takes trips to the Beach Ball Classic and King of the Bluegrass.
2021-22: 29-3, Unranked
Breakdown: The reigning Class AAAAAA state champions are the only team in the national rankings to return all five starters as seniors
Frankquon Sherman,
Malik Ferguson,
Markel Freeman and
D.J. Douglas and top 50 junior
Derrion Reid make up the starting five again this season. Showdowns with McEachern, Newton and Wheeler loom later this month.
2021-22: 26-4, No. 13 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: Five-star junior
Boogie Fland and top 50 sophomore
Danny Carbuccia
are expected to be a formidable duo for the 2022 CHSAA Class AA
runner-up. Despite winning just one CHSAA title in 2018, Archbishop
Stepinac has been a program on the rise in recent years. Early showdowns
with Cardinal Hayes and St. Paul VI and a trip to the City of Palms
Classic are among defining games on the schedule.
2021-22: 25-5, Unranked
Breakdown: Top 25 senior
Cody Williams and No. 3-ranked sophomore
Koa Peat return to defend the first state championship in school history. Perry returns five key pieces from its title run overall and is expected to be the top team out of the Copper State again this season. They have a pair of tough contests at Hoophall West in early December, taking on Cardinal Hayes and San Ysidro.
2021-22: 15-11, Unranked
Breakdown: Coming off a sub-par season in 2021-22, the Royals appear to have the talent to compete for the program's first CHSAA title since 2019.
Kiyan Anthony,
Brandon Gardner,
Dwayne Pierce and
Brandon Williams headline prospects ranked No. 104 or higher in their classification. Christ the King travels to London to face St. Paul VI on Dec. 2 as part of the Hoophall International event.
2021-22: 30-6, Unranked
Breakdown:
The Crusaders are heavy favorites to return to the CIF Open Division
state title game in 2022-23 after falling to Centennial 59-50 in the championship last season. Although they return four starters from
last season, strong transfers are expected to challenge for starting
positions behind top returners
Jamari Phillips,
B.J. Davis and
Prince Oseya. A highly-anticipated rematch against Centennial awaits on Dec. 3.
2021-22: 26-6, Unranked
Breakdown: Despite losing their top scorer Tayshawn Comer to graduation, the Fighting Irish return three starters from a team that captured the program's first state title in Indiana's highest classification and second overall in program history. Top 10 senior prospect
Xavier Booker,
Jaron Tibbs and
Jake Davis return to the starting rotation while
Lebron Gough and
Sincere Germany are expected to replace graduated seniors.
2021-22: 25-2, No. 22 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown:
Upset undefeated Centerville in the Division I state title game last
season to ascend into the national rankings. The Tigers return three
starters as top 50 senior
Devin Royal leads the way alongside
Gavin Headings and
Juwan Turner. It appears Centerville will again be Pickerington Central's biggest challenge in their quest to repeat in the Buckeye State.
2021-22: 24-6, Unranked
Breakdown: Top 100 senior prospects
Stephon Castle and
Jakai Newton return with hopes of guiding the school to its first state title since 1964. The Rams fell to eventual state champion Norcross in the Class AAAAAAA state semifinals last season. The biggest question surrounding this team is their ability to compete in the interior as no player is listed taller than 6-foot-6 in their expected rotation.
2021-22: 22-4, No. 25 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Breakdown: A youthful group is expected to start two freshman this season as
Tyler Bright and
Tyus Thomas join key returners
Kaeden Castillero,
Angelo Kambala,
Andre Porter and top 50 junior
Dedan Thomas. The Patriots upset nine-time defending state champion Bishop Gorman last season to capture the school's first state title. Liberty competes in the Tarkanian Classic and the Classic at Damien during the holiday season.
