Video: Corey Busta's highlights vs. Winters
See the Corning High star in action last season.2016-17 Northern Section preseason boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Pleasant Valley (Chico)
Head coach: Tim Keating
2015-16 record: 21-6
The Vikings had only one Northern Section loss during the regular season before falling to Chico 69-56 in the Northern Section Division 2 championship game. Pleasant Valley returns one of the section's top juniors in
Kevin Kremer, who averaged 10.9 points and 8.3 rebounds per game. The Vikings also have size underneath with 6-foot-5
Kyle Lindquist, who averaged 9.2 points and 4.3 rebounds as a junior.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard2. Foothill (Palo Cedro)
Head coach: Bill Elliott
2015-16 record: 15-13
The Cougars won just 15 games last year, their lowest total since 2008-09, but five of the team's top seven scorers return.
Thurman Knowles, a 5-11 junior, leads the team at point guard. He averaged 9.3 points and 3.3 assists as a sophomore on the varsity squad.
Carter Smith and
Danny Jensen also lend experience after putting up 7.4 and 6.8 points per game respectively last year.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball stat leaders3. Enterprise (Redding)
Head coach: Jim Deaver
2015-16 record: 19-9
Joe Spini, Enterprise
Photo by David Steutel
The Hornets finished one game out of first place in the Eastern Athletic League under first-year coach Jim Deaver and then fell to Shasta in the championship game of the Division 3 playoffs. While section MVP Tyler Green has graduated, three other starters return, including the coach's son
Jason Deaver. A 5-11 junior point guard, Deaver averaged 9.5 points per game, which was second behind Green.
Joe Spini, a 6-3 senior forward, also returns after averaging 8.2 points and 4.5 rebounds as a junior.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball photos4. Corning
Head coach: Kurt Wilkins
2015-16 record: 22-8
The Cardinals won the Northern Athletic League and reached the section Division 4 championship game with a very young team. Corning's top three scorers were all sophomores last year, led by
Noah Zoppi (6-0, G) with 11.4 points per game,
Brendan Hoag (6-0, G) at 10.7 points and
Corey Busta (6-2, F) at 10 points.
See the MaxPreps California boys basketball playoff brackets5. Shasta (Redding)
Head coach: Bill Callaway
2015-16 record: 15-12
The Wolves finished near the middle of the EAL during conference play, but knocked off Enterprise to claim the Division 3 championship. The Wolves lose the top six scorers from last year, but Shasta has averaged 17 wins a season over the past six years under coach Bill Callaway.
