MaxPreps 2013-14 Iowa preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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Content for this story provided by Jeff Johnson of the Cedar Rapids Gazette (@jeje66)

1. Iowa City West
Head coach: Steve Bergman
2012-13 finish: 26-0

The Trojans have won 52 games in a row. The lone returning starter is 6-foot-2 senior guard Wyatt Lohaus, a first-team all-state player last season who has signed with Northern Iowa. But there is a lot of talent elsewhere in 6-6 senior center Chike Ukah, 6-6 junior swingman David Dileo and impressive freshmen Devonte Lane (6-1 guard) and Connor McCaffery (6-4 guard), son of Iowa Coach Fran McCaffery.

2. Bettendorf
Head coach: Curtis Clark
2012-13 finish: 25-1

The top four scorers return for a team that won its first 25 games last season before losing to West in the Class 4A state championship game. The Bulldogs have top-notch guards in seniors Cole Clearman and Dylan Sortillo. Nicholas Baer and Kendall Jacks are standouts on the interior. All are seniors. Clearman has signed with Division II Missouri Western, Jacks with D-II Wayne State (Neb.).

3. Dubuque
Head coach: Wendell Eimers
2012-13 finish: 24-2

The Rams placed third in Class 4A. Their leading returning scorer is 6-7 senior wing player Kyle Haber (15 points per game), who has committed to Brown University. Six-foot-9 senior center Seth Bonifas is a Division II Missouri Western commitment, who at one point had a D-I offer from Iowa. 

4. Sioux City North
Head coach: John Vanderloo
2012-13 finish: 21-3

The Stars advanced to the Class 4A state tournament, and graduated one player who scored one point on that team. Six-foot-4 junior Daniel Tillo averaged 22.5 points and joins Carlos Elizalde (12 ppg) and Deontre Dean (11.5 ppg.) as returning double-figure scorers. The competition North regularly plays is substantially less than elsewhere, but this team still should be plenty good.

5. Hoover (Des Moines)
Head coach: Courtney Henderson
2012-13 finish: 18-4

The Huskies were a surprising 18-4 last season, losing in the Class 4A substate final. Six of the top seven scorers return, including leading scorers Chris King (13.5 ppg) and Malachi Canada (13.1 ppg.). Hoover isn’t a tall team, by any means, but wins with strong, aggressive man-to-man defense. It shouldn’t be an exception this winter.