MaxPreps 2012-13 Iowa preseason boys basketball Fab 5

MaxPreps 2012-13 Iowa Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Iowa City West
Head coach: Steve Bergman
2011-12 finish: 26-0, Class 4A state champion

It looks like more of the same this season in Iowa as the defending state champions return four starters and eight of their top nine players from an unbeaten team. Dondre Alexander, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior committed to Southern Mississippi, averaged 16 points last year. Two Northern Iowa recruits also averaged in double figures: 6-6 senior Jeremy Morgan averaged 14.8 points, while 6-2 junior Wyatt Lohaus averaged 11.7. The fourth veteran is 6-4 Myzean Batie-Gaddy, a 6-4 senior who averaged 6.5 points.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Valley (West Des Moines)
Head coach: Jeff Horner
2011-12 finish: 18-6, final 8 in Class 4A

University of Iowa recruit Peter Jok, a 6-6, 205-pound senior, should be fully recovered from a serious knee injury as a sophomore and greatly improve upon last year's averages of 10.2 points and 3.4 rebounds. Clint Boffeli, a 6-5 senior, averaged 10.9 points and 4 rebounds. Other returning starters are Tyus Mason and Trei Mitchell, both 5-10 juniors. The Tigers also will count on 6-8, 215-pound senior Cale Truhlsen, 6-2 senior D.J. Dafney and 5-10 senior Tanner Hinkle, as well as 6-7 Texas transfer Wesley Brown, a senior.

View last season's Iowa boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Dubuque
Head coach: Wendell Eimers
2011-12 finish: 18-6, Class 4A state quarterfinalist

The Rams' success probably hinges upon the recovery of standout Josh Weeber, who ruptured his Achilles tendon in June. The 6-5 senior, who has committed to Upper Iowa, averaged 15 points and 8 rebounds last year while being named first-team All-State. Other returning starters are juniors Kyle Haber, a slender 6-7 junior, who averaged 12 points, and 6-9 junior Seth Bonitas. The Rams should be even stronger in the second half of the season when 6-3 Serbian exchange student Luka Bozek becomes eligible.

View last season's Iowa boys basketball stats leaderboard

4. Ankeny
Head coach: John Petersen
2011-12 finish: 25-1, third place in Class 4A

With just two returning starters, the Hawks will count heavily on Northern Iowa recruit Ted Friedman, a 6-9, 225-pound senior who averaged 10.7 points, 6.9 rebounds and 2.9 blocks. The other returnee, 6-3 senior Bryan Sumner, averaged 8.8 points and shot 48 percent from the 3-point line. Also counted on are 5-11 junior Brent Jones, 6-3 junior Jamie Montgomery, 6-8 sophomore Jay Schon and 6-4 sophomore Cale Anselme. 

View last season's IHSAA boys basketball playoff brackets

5. Johnston
Head coach: Bobby Sandquist
2011-12 finish: 14-10

Three starters are back, led by Jay Knuth, a 6-6 junior who averaged 15 points and five rebounds. Senior Luke Jorgenson and junior Nick Stitzell also should play key roles. The 6-4 Jorgenson averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 rebounds and is a three-year starter. The 6-foot Stitzell averaged 6.6 points. The Dragons also will rely on seniors Grant Smith (6-6), Blake Miller (6-3) and Spencer Moser (6-0), along with junior Michael Mahanna (6-4) and sophomore Nick Neumann (6-0).