Despite losing their top two scorers, a strong returning core makes this group favorites to repeat as Class 7A state champions after capturing the program's first state crown in 2021.
Graduates one player from last year's Class 3A state runner-up team. Third team all-state selections
J.D McGee and
Matt Sanders headline an experienced core.
Reigning 6A state champions are favorites to capture the program's 16th
state championship behind five-star seniors Arkansas signee
Nick Smith and Oregon signee
Kel'el Ware.
Upstart first-year program features one of the most formidable
frontcourt duos in high school basketball with highly-regarded
juniors
Baye Fall and
Assane Diop.
Reigning Connecticut Player of the Year
Donovan Clingan returns after averaging 27.3 points, 17.2 rebounds, 5.8 blocks and 3.1 assists to lead the Rams to their first Central Connecticut Conference championship since 2003.
The Bluejays return their entire roster from a team that finished 12-3 last season. They are led by second team all-state selection
Brent Ricketts.
Begin the season ranked just outside the MaxPreps Top 25 with a roster highlighted by George Mason pledge
Devin Dinkins and Northeastern commit
Jared Turner.
Two-time reigning MaxPreps National Champions have won 49 of their last 50 games
and come into the season with seven five-star prospects, led by top
5 senior prospect
Dariq Whitehead.
The high school basketball season was canceled due to the pandemic last season so it may come as a surprise that a team who finished 0-16 in 2019-20 takes the top spot, but sophomore
Aaron Claytor and freshman
J.J. Mandaquit give the Raiders their first pair of Division I prospects since 2004.
After advancing to the state championship game for the first time in 19 years, the Timberwolves are the team to beat led by returning all-state selections
Blake Buchanan and
Kolton Mitchell.
Miami-bound forward
A.J. Casey
leads a strong returning cast that brings back three starters to face a
daunting schedule that includes trips to the City of Palms Classic and
Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.
After struggling to string together wins against a tough NIBC schedule last
season, the Lakers hope to turn it around behind top 50 guard prospects
J.J. Starling and
Jeremy Fears.
After leading Waukee to its first state title last season, the state's top-ranked junior prospect
Pryce Sandfort looks to lead the first-year school to a similar fate.
Kansas commit
Gradey Dick
is the only returning starter but the Buffaloes rebuilt their roster in
the offseason headlined by the addition of five-star senior
Mark Mitchell.
The Bruins return four of their top five scorers from a team that went 21-3 and reached the state semifinals.
An experienced group are favorites to capture the program's first state championship since 1992 and 11th overall behind seniors
Mayen Ayuel and
Owen Maloney.
First-year head coach Pete Strickland is the program's thirdsince Morgan Wootten's hiring in 1956. The Stags come in at No. 3 nationally led by Virginia
Tech pledge
Rodney Rice and Xavier commit
Tyrell Ward.
The Warriors are led by 6-9 senior center
Aidan Cammann, who looks to build on an unbeaten record last season.
The Eagles return each of their top three scorers from last season in senior Iowa State signee
Demarion Watson, top 30 junior prospect
Taison Chatman and
C.J. O'Hara. Three-star junior forward
Patrick Bath is also expected to step into a larger role this season.
Despite losing their top two scorers from last season, the Thunderbirds are favorites to capture their sixth state championship behind their top returning contributors
Josiah Dotzler and
William Kyle.
Debuted at No. 6 nationally last season before the Nevada became one of
two state associations to cancel the season due to COVID-19. The Gaels' goal is breaking the national record with a 10th consecutive state
championship this year.
Although the Raiders need to replace the production of first team all-state selection Calvin Bates, fellow all-state picks
Jackson Stone and
Braeden Falzarano are expected to step into larger roles for a team that went unbeaten last year.
Riding a 38-game win streak dating back to early in the 2019-20 season, Camden is led by top-ranked Class of 2023 prospect
D.J. Wagner. The reigning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year is joined by five-star 7-footer
Aaron Bradshaw.
The Bulldawgs return each of their top seven scorers from last season, headlined by reigning MaxPreps New Mexico Player of the Year
William Benjamin.
The Crusaders were able to play three game last season due to COVID
but return a balanced and talented group looking to remain near the top
of the rankings behind
Jayden Reid,
Jayden Pierre and
Jaxon Koroll.
Massive early season upset victory over National Top 20 preseason No. 4 Oak Hill Academy makes the Bengals the team to beat in the Tar Heel State.
Reigning MaxPreps North Dakota Player of the Year
Joe Hurlburt is the player to watch for the Eagles. Hurlburt has amassed 1,609 points and 1,134 rebounds in 97 career games entering his senior year.
The defending Division I state champions return four starters led by three-star junior
Gabe Cupps.
Following a 13-3 finish last season, the Generals will be a tough out in the Beaver State this season behind three of the states top prospects,
Adrian Mosley,
Max Von Arx and
Vashon Hardges.
Coming off an unbeaten season cut short because of the pandemic, the
Panthers are in search of their eighth state championship since 2009 behind a deep lineup that includes five-star junior
Justin Edwards and highly regarded sophomore
Ahmad Nowell.
The Lions struggled in NIBC play last season, going 1-6 at the St.
James NIBC Invitational. This season, the youthful group has depth at
every position and debuted at No. 18 in the National Top 20.
Favorites to repeat as Class B state champions behind returning all-state selections
Kalen Garry and
Rett Osthus.
Begins the season ranked No. 22 in Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 Rankings, returning four starters including reigning MaxPreps Tennessee Player of the Year
B.J. Edwards and top 100 junior
Blue Cain.
Anthony Black has been ruled ineligible by the UIL for now, but the
Panthers are still loaded — led by a frontcourt of five-star senior
Ron Holland and four-star junior
Cameron Barnes. They begin the season ranked fifth in the nation.
The Tigers lost six of their top seven scorers from last season but saw a strong influx of talent surround top 100 senior
Roddy Gayle.
Although reigning MaxPreps Vermont Player of the Year Michel Ndayishimiye graduated, second team all-state selection
Sharif Sharif looks to guide this group to its third straight state crown.
Despite suffering an early season loss to Greensboro Day, the Warriors have high expectations behind five-star prospects
Chris Livingston and
Caleb Foster. Head coach Steve Smith sits third on the all-time wins list with over 1,200 wins.
Followed an unbeaten 15-0 campaign last season with a title at the Rotary Fall League title after defeating Garfield (Seattle) 80-52 in the championship game to finish 13-0 in preseason play.
West Virginia — Huntington Prep (Huntington)Once a perennial powerhouse, expectations are for Huntington Prep to
re-establish itself on the national hoops scene after a one-year hiatus.
After advancing to the state championship game last season, all-state selections
Mckale Holte and
Deegan Williams headline a talented group.
