MaxPreps 2013-14 West Virginia preseason boys basketball Fab 5

Click here to see the boys basketball preseason Fab 5 from every state

1. Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington)
Coach: Rob Fulford
2012-13 finish: 30-3, playing a national schedule

The Fighting Irish are one of the nation’s best teams, beginning the season ranked No.3 in the nation by MaxPreps. Fulford has a loaded team that features Gonzaga-bound Josh Perkins (6-3, Sr., G), who averaged 25.2 ppg, 6.9 rpg and 6.5 apg last season at Regis Jesuit (Aurora, CO), while a pair of 6-10 juniors, Thomas Bryant and Levi Cook, make an imposing front line. Depth from JaQuan Lyle (6-5, Sr., G), Seton Hall commit Angel Delgado (6-9, Sr., F) and Providence-bound Jalen Lindsey (6-8, Sr., F) make the Irish almost unstoppable. The Irsh won their first five games this season, averaging more than 100 points per game.

2. Wilson (Beckley, W. Va.)
Coach: Ron Kidd
2012-13 finish: 23-5, lost to Martinsburg, 57-52, in the 3A state championship

The Flying Eagles are a program dripping with tradition. They were seeking their 17th state championship last year, but was denied by Martinsburg. This season, it doesn’t look like anyone could get in their way. Four starters return: Donte Nabors (5-11, Sr., G), Chase Hancock (6-2. Sr., G), Brent Osborne (6-2, Jr., F) and Nequan Carrington (6-4, So., F). Nick Deems (6-5, Sr., C) will provide post presence and Jaylon Breckenridge (6-0, Sr., G) and Dal Fortune, (6-0, Sr., G) will provide depth. “Our expectations are always the same every year — playing for the state championship and cutting down the nets,” Kidd said. “We feel pretty good about these guys. They all come back with experience of playing in the state championship game.”

3. Washington (Charles Town)
Coach: Don Bullet
2012-13 finish: 22-6, lost 45-43 in the state 3A semifinals to eventual champion Martinsburg

All five starters return for the Patriots: including Dominique Newman (5-10, Sr., G), who averaged 14 ppg and 5 spg last year, Kendall Smith (6-5, Sr., F), who averaged 14 rpg, and Maleke Jones (5-7, Sr., G), who averaged 8 ppg and 3.5 apg. Adding to the Pats’ depth are Jerome Jones (6-3, Sr., F), who averaged 10 ppg and 8.5 rpg and Keldon Bell (6-3, Jr., F). “The expectations are pretty high,” Pats’ coach Don Bullet said. “We got to the state semifinals last year and we have pretty much everyone back. I think we’re going to have a little stronger bench. We’re pretty quick and we’re pretty fast.”

4. Wheeling Park
Coach: Michael Jebbia
2012-13 finish: 11-14, lost to Morgantown 67-51 in the Region I 3A championship

This was a young team that took off the latter part of last season. A lot of major cogs return, starting with Ryan Reinbeau (6-4, Jr., G), who averaged 13 ppg last year, Luke Saseen (6-4, Sr., F), who scored 11.5 ppg and Trenton Smith (6-0, Jr., G), who averaged 7 ppg. Chalmer Moffett (6-4. Jr., F), Phil Bledsoe (6-5, So., F) and transfer Toddy Goodwin-Rowe (6-0, Jr., G) will play vital roles. “We ended up the second half of last season 7-4 and the kids really came on and they really came together this summer,” Wheeling Park coach Michael Jebbia said. “We have more experience back and we’re going to be playing with more confidence.”

5. Morgantown
Coach: Tom Yester
2012-13 finish: 19-7, lost in the 3A state quarterfinals to South Charleston, 48-39; Won the Region I 3A championship

The Mohigans have a good nucleus with experience returning in Scotty Core (6-3, Sr., G), Steve Solomon (6-1, So., G) and Shaun Carden (6-4, Sr., F), who started part time last season. C.J. King (6-5, Jr., C) is a 340-pound massive inside presence and Zakeem Davis (6-3, Jr., F) is the one of the most improved players on the team. “No one is a full-time starter back, but our depth looks really good,” said legendary coach Yester. “We’re going to be able to run and shoot. My concern is rebounding. We’re not physically real big except for King.”