
Huntington St. Joseph Prep's boys basketball team is one hot commodity in West Virginia.
Photo by Randy Sartin
2015-16 West Virginia Boys Basketball Fab 5, presented by the Army National Guard
1. Huntington St. Joseph PrepHead coach: Arkell Bruce
2014-15 record: 31-3
The independent squad finished as the No. 4 team in the country last season and this season will feature loads of skill, size and talent, led by 6-foot-7 Michigan State commit
Miles Bridges and Indiana-bound
Curtis Jones (6-3). Swingman
Micah Thomas (6-7), junior forward
Trace Young (6-8) and
Jonathan Kabongo (6-4), the sophomore brother of former Texas guard Myck Kabongo, are other high-level college players. To top it off,
Ivan Gandia, a 6-1 senior guard, is a member of the Puerto Rico junior national team. The Fighting Irish are 117-13 over the past four seasons.
See last season's West Virginia boys basketball computer rankings
2. HuntingtonHead coach: Bruce Senior
2014-15 record: 23-5
The Highlanders (23-5) won their second-straight Class AAA state championship with a 53-50 win over Parkersburg last season and return senior point guard
Tavian Dunn-Marin, who had 23 points in the title game. Another key returner is 6-1 shooting guard
JR Howard, who had 11 points and 16 rebounds against Parkersburg.
See MaxPreps West Virginia boys basketball photos3. Poca Head coach: Allen Osborne
2014-15 record: 28-0
The Dots became the first undefeated West Virginia champion in 28 years with a 57-53 win over Fairmont in the AA championship game when Noah Frampton scored 27 points. Poca, which won a state title in 1996-97, had a breakthrough season in 2010-11 (24-4) and the last two seasons the Dots have gone a combined 55-2.
See last season's West Virginia boys basketball playoff brackets4. MorgantownHead coach: David Tallman
2014-15 record: 20-5
The Mohigans didn't graduate a single senior from their 16-man roster last season. Morgantown had its season end with a 66-65 loss to Parkersburg in the regional final. Morgantown recorded the most wins since 2010-11. The team is led by
Kenzie Melko and
Steven Solomon.
See last season's West Virginia boys basketball stat leaders5. Fairmont Head coach: David Retton
2014-15 record: 23-3
The loser to Poca in the AA state title game, Fairmont returns with something to prove. Especially after it took a 20-5 lead in the title game only to lose 57-53. The Polar Bears lost four of 14 from their 2014-15 roster, but bring back, among others, senior point guard
Darhius Nunn.