MaxPreps 2013-14 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 1 Montverde Academy

Key returners:

Justin Bibbs (6-4, Sr., G), Virginia Tech signee

Brendan Boyle (6-2, Sr., G)

Jordan Caroline (6-6, Sr., G/F), Southern Illinois signee

Jalyn Patterson (5-11, Sr., G), LSU signee

D'Angelo Russell (6-4, Sr., G), Ohio State signee

Ben Simmons (6-8, Jr., G/F), LSU verbal commitment

Newcomers:

Chris Egi (6-8, Sr., F), Harvard signee

Jean Marc Koumadje (7-4, Jr., C)

Makinde London (6-9, Sr., F), Xavier signee

Ahmaad Rorie (6-0, Sr., G), California signee

Circle the date:

There are no off nights built into Montverde Academy's schedule. The Eagles have games lined up with No. 12 Roselle Catholic (N.J.), No. 13 St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.) and No. 17 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.).

Then there are meetings with defending state champions Norcross (Ga.) and Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), plus showcase showdowns with St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) and Curie (Chicago).

Tournament time:

Boyle has lined up a gauntlet of high-level tournaments for his squad. First up is the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Florida, where the Eagles will enter as defending champions against a field that includes four other nationally ranked teams.

After Christmas, Montverde heads to the Wild Wings Café High School Hoops Classic, where programs like Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.) and Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) await.

Finally, the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in January should get Montverde's full attention after suffering an upset loss in the final there last season. That loss came against No. 11 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), which is also returning to the event in 2014.