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

Video: Mike McGuirl's highlights vs. New Britain
See the East Catholic star in action last season.


1. Hillhouse (New Haven)
Head coach: Renard Sutton
2015-16 record: 25-3

The state's home office for boys basketball was thought to be a year away from contending for a state title last season. Wrong. The Academics grinded their way through two overtimes and beat Weaver of Hartford to win the CIAC Class LL final, 94-83, their record 23th CIAC title. Hillhouse has three of the state's top players in senior Joseph Kasperzyk and juniors Christian Adams and Byron Breland. Kasperzyk, a terrific guard, averaged 14.8 points, five assists, four rebounds and four steals last season and was a first team All-State pick. Breland, a 6-foot-3 forward, averaged 14.1 points, six rebounds and four steals and was second team All-State. Adams, a 6-4 forward, averaged 11.6 points and 10 rebounds.

See the MaxPreps Connecticut boys basketball computer rankings presented by the Army National Guard

2. East Catholic (Manchester)
Head coach: Luke Reilly
2015-16 record: 26-3

The Eagles were the tournament champions in the state's best boys' basketball league (the Central Connecticut Conference) and won their second state title in three years (Class L). Senior guard Mike McGuirl (6-2) rates among the state's best players and has committed to Kansas State. He averaged 19 points, six rebounds, four blocks and four assists for the Class L champions. Sophomore guard Joe Reilly has tremendous range and scored a team-high 21 in the CCC title game. East Catholic moved up to Class LL this season, opening up the possibility of a dream matchup against Hillhouse.

See the MaxPreps Connecticut boys basketball stat leaders

3. Sacred Heart (Waterbury)
Head coach: Jon Carroll
2015-16 record: 26-2 It feels so, so strange "only" ranking the Hearts third after they pillaged the state the past three seasons and won state titles in each of those years. They graduated their big three of Mustapha Heron (Auburn), Charles Fisher and Tyran Flowers, leaving the team in the hands of senior guards Legend Johnson and Courie Stevenson and junior Raheem Solomon, a 6-3 guard, should be Sacred Heart's next big recruit. The Hearts were moved up from Class S to L this season.

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4. Notre Dame (West Haven)
Head coach: Jason Shea
2015-16 record: 18-6

The Green Knights were already going to be good given how well they did last season and what they had back. And then Tremont Waters enrolled in school. The 5-foot-10 senior guard transferred from South Kent after averaging 25 points and being given first team All-New England Preparatory School Athletic Council honors. He gave a verbal commitment to Georgetown and was also being recruited by Duke, Kentucky and UConn. So, yeah, he gives Notre Dame a big boost. Senior 6-6 forward Jalani White averaged 14 points and nine rebounds in just his fifth year playing organized basketball and has been offered by Canisius and St. Peter's. The Green Knights are yet another Class LL contender.

See the MaxPreps Connecticut boys basketball playoff brackets

5. Middletown
Head coach: Ricky Privott
2015-16 record: 24-4

The Blue Dragons were one of the state's surprising stories last season as they played for their first state title since 1994. Senior wing Ahmod Privott (14 ppg), senior 6-4 post Tyshaun James, and junior wing DeAaron Lawrence led a team hungry to return to the Class L finals and win it. Middletown will be tested early when it plays host to Hillhouse (Dec. 19). It plays at perennial power Windsor (Jan. 14), which could've made the list. It could also run into Windsor and Class LL runner-up Weaver (yet another team worthy of being on this list) in the CCC tournament.