2015-16 South Dakota Preseason Boys Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Washington (Sioux Falls)Head coach: Craig Nelson
2014-15 record: 22-3
The Warriors beat Lincoln three times in a row before that title-game
loss. Now they must reload without Gatorade State Player of the Year
Deng Geu, who graduated. Also, Cole Benson was all-state and graduated.
Five of the nine players on last year's roster return.
Carter Keller,
Sam Siganos and
Ty Smith were all starters and they will look to avenge their loss to Lincoln.
See last season's South Dakota boys basketball computer rankings2. Lincoln (Sioux Falls)Head coach: Jeff Halseth
2014-15 record: 21-5
The defending AA champs were down 10 points to Washington entering the final quarter of the state championship game, then staged a furious comeback to win 47-45. That's the good news. The bad news is 11 seniors were on that team and three of them were all-state.
Lee Ransom was the only underclassman to see action in the title game, with two points and three rebounds in 10 minutes.
See national boys basketball pro photo galleries
3. O'Gorman (Sioux Falls)Head coach: Derek Robey
2014-15 record: 17-8
A solid amount of youth comes back for the third-place team from Class AA but two players from the All-State Tournament team graduated.
Matt Cartwright and
Jp Costello are both juniors back for their third seasons on the varsity team.
See last season's South Dakota boys basketball playoff brackets4. Roncalli (Aberdeen)Head coach: Todd Neuendorf
2014-15 record: 23-3
The Cavaliers won the Class A title for the first time in 40 years and now will have to make do without graduated Brayden McNeary, who was the South Dakota Basketball Coaches Association Class A Player of the Year.
Gus Reede saw action in the state title game as a freshman, the only underclassman to get into the game. Still, there were six sophomores on the team last year so the cabinet is still stocked.
See last season's South Dakota boys basketball stat leaders5. Riggs (Pierre)Head coach: Terry Becker
2014-15 record: 17-8
The Governors finished fifth in the Class AA tournament last season and have 12 experienced players coming back, including second-team all-state honoree
Brevin Kaiser (6-foot-4). Kaiser averaged 14.6 points, 8.9 rebounds and 2.1 assists last season. Their returning experience will make them dangerous as they try to keep up with the Sioux Falls-area teams.
