Seton LaSalle, last year's Pennsylvania 3A champion, hopes to celebrate again at the end of this season.
Photo by Paul Burdick
The Pioneers, along with No. 13 Central Catholic and Springfield, are one of three elite teams in a state with a great basketball tradition — and Oregon City is also in the tradition of a very strong team that doesn't rely on stars. Coach Kurt Guelsdorf has a deep, disciplined roster that will dominate inferior opponents and give more talented groups fits.
22. Seton LaSalle (Pittsburgh) 30-0The Rebels burst onto the national scene last year with a Pennsylvania 2A championship and an undefeated season — and return four starters plus out-of-state transfer
Yacine Diop. Seton LaSalle doesn't play the toughest schedule and could easily run the table again, though they will be challenged by the home cooking when they play in the Pickerington tournament in Ohio.
23. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 33-3The Monarchs lost three Pac-12 players to graduation and only return one starter, but the arrival of transfers
Karlie and
Katie Lou Samuelson should make up for a lot. Still, there's not a lot of size, plus the annual trip to the Nike TOC, so it's going to be tough for Mater Dei to stay at the level to which it's been accustomed to these past few seasons.
24. Cedar Hill (Texas) 28-7Seniors
Labrittney Jones (Arizona) and
Jada Terry (Texas A&M) give the Longhorns one of the toughest paint tandems in the country — but because they won't travel too far it will be hard to gauge just where Cedar Hill fits on the national scene. But one guarantee: The Longhorns will rebound.
25. Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 31-1So Hopkins has it all: Two big-time seniors in
Nia Coffey and
Mikka Shackelford, a big-time junior in
T.T. Starks, plenty of depth and a senior point guard who will run the 100 meters in the Big 10. Well, the Royals have everything but a national-level schedule. They can't really travel, and so will only be tested in state. Don't expect many losses, but until the rules change and Hopkins can travel, or it can entice national-level teams to Minnetonka, don't expect preseason top-ten respect.
