MaxPreps 2013-14 Preseason Top 25 high school basketball rankings presented by the Army National Guard

Loaded with eight players already committed to Division I college basketball programs (and likely more to come), head coach Kevin Boyle and Montverde Academy begin the season at No. 1.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jason Hickman
By
Nov 6, 2013, 12:17am
St. John Bosco hopes the collective talent of (from left to right) Rodney Henderson, Lorne Currie, Vance Jackson, Daniel Hamilton, Billy Preston, Tyler Dorsey and Joseph Tate can carry it past Mater Dei in the Trinity League.
St. John Bosco hopes the collective talent of (from left to right) Rodney Henderson, Lorne Currie, Vance Jackson, Daniel Hamilton, Billy Preston, Tyler Dorsey and Joseph Tate can carry it past Mater Dei in the Trinity League.
Photo by Louis Lopez
No. 10 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)
Head coach: Derrick Taylor
2012-13 record: 24-7, CIF Southern Section Division 3A champions
Players to watch: Lorne Currie (6-2, Jr., G), Tyler Dorsey (6-4, Jr., G), Brian Enriquez (6-2, Sr., G), Daniel Hamilton (6-6, Sr., G/F, Connecticut verbal commitment), Vance Jackson (6-8, So., G/F), Billy Preston (6-7, Fr., F), Joseph Tate (6-4, So., F), Denzel Williams (6-2, Fr., G/F)

Breaking down the Braves

In most leagues around the country, Bosco would be the team with the target on its back entering 2013-14.

But the Trinity isn't most leagues.
Tyler Dorsey averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore at Bosco.
Tyler Dorsey averaged 17 points per game as a sophomore at Bosco.
Photo by Louis Lopez

Taylor's squad will be on the hunt to unseat Mater Dei, which swept the Braves in two meetings a year ago and has won 25 straight league titles (wow).

"We like our team and our chances but knocking off the Big Red Machine – that's no easy task," Taylor said.

The backcourt combination of Dorsey – who developed into a certified star on the summer circuit – and Hamilton should make just about anything possible for Bosco. That duo will be joined by Fairfax (Los Angeles) transfer Currie, another future Division I player.

La Salle (Pasadena) transfer Jackson is another huge addition. The versatile 6-8 sophomore was a MaxPreps Freshmen All-American last season after putting up 19 points per game.

"He is a big-time shooter," Taylor said. "He can really shoot it from deep and is a very savvy basketball player."

Stepping up

Expect to hear a lot about Preston over the next four years. Taylor expects the freshman manchild to earn a spot in the starting lineup.

"He's far from a finished product but he works at it all the time and is really improving," Taylor said.

Key dates
Dec. 7 – vs. Whitney Young (Chicago) at Chicago Elite Classic
Dec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Jan. 11 – vs. Modesto Christian (Calif.)
Jan. 15 – at Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Jan. 18 – vs. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 1 – vs. Etiwanda (Calif.) at Nike Extravaganza
Feb. 7 – vs. Mater Dei

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