MaxPreps 2016-17 Minnesota preseason high school boys basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard

Video: McKinley Wright's highlights vs. Wayzata High School
See the Champlin Park star in action last season.


1. Champlin Park (Champlin)
2015-16 record: 21-7
Head coach: Mark Tuchscherer

The Rebels have won 20 or more games the past three seasons and are in store for another great year. The team returns four starters and five of its top six starters. Champlin Park features one of the top players in the Twin Cities area. McKinley Wright, a senior who averaged 19.7 points, 8.3 rebounds and 5.8 assists last season. Senior Theo John is the only other player who hit double figures last year at 11.3 points to go with 8.6 rebounds and 3.3 blocks per game. Brian Smith (9.3 points) and Josiah Strong (6.8) were valuable players last season who will be relied on as upperclassmen.

See the Minnesota boys basketball computer rankings, presented by the Army National Guard

2. Hopkins (Minnetonka)
2015-16 record: 31-1, Class 4A state champion
Head coach: Ken Novak

The Royals won their seventh state title since 2002 after losing just one game last season. The state's Mr. Basketball Amir Coffey is now playing at the University of Minnesota, but Hopkins has back one starter and its top two reserves. Senior Simon Wright is the only starter back and he was the fifth-leading scorer (11.3) last year. Ishmael El-Amin, the son of former University of Connecticut star Khalid El-Amin, scored 14.9 points per game last year off the bench. Anthony Davis, a 6-foot-2 forward, averaged 9.0 points last as a top reserve.

See the MaxPreps Minnesota boys basketball stat leaders

3. Apple Valley
2015-16 record: 29-2, Class 4A third-place finisher
Head coach: Zach Goring The Eagles were dethroned last year by Hopkins as the defending state champion. The team lost Gary Trent, No. 11 in the Class of 2017 by 247Sports.com, and his 25.9 points to a California prep school. But the team returns two starters. The top player is Tre Jones, No. 22 in the Class of 2018. The brother of Minnesota Timberwolves guard Tyus Jones averaged 16.5 points, 6.3 rebounds and 6.7 assists last season as a sophomore. Junior Luke Martens was a starter last year who chipped in 5.4 points as the sixth-leading scorer and three rebounds.

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4. Maple Grove
2015-16 record: 25-5
Head coach: Nick Schroeder

The Crimson made a run to the state tournament last season and three starters return from that squad. Leading scorer Brad Davison, a senior, is coming off a well-rounded year with 20.4 points, 6.2 rebounds and 7.7 assists. Ryan Bredensteiner is also a returning starter, averaging 2.8 points and 3 rebounds. Jack Hutchison scored 10.6 points a game off the bench and Bubba Horton chipped in 3.2 points.

See the MaxPreps Minnesota boys basketball playoff brackets

5. Lakeville North
2015-16 record: 26-6, Class 4A state runner-up
Head coach: John Orton

The Panthers came up just one win shy of winning the state title. Only one starter is back, but he's their best player, Nate Reuvers. The University of Wisconsin recruit averaged 20 points and 8.7 rebounds. Trevor Schermann, the seventh-man, scored 6.7 points per game.