MaxPreps 2012-13 Maine preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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

1. Bonny Eagle (Standish)
Head coach: Richard Simonds
2011-12 finish: 17-4, lost in Class A semifinals

Simonds returns six lettermen from last year's squad that reached the Class A semifinals before falling to eventual champion Deering, 45-42. One of those lettermen is Dustin Cole (5-9, Jr, G) who earned second team All-State honors last year while averaging 17.1 points and three rebounds per game. Bonny Eagle will also look to seniors C.j. Autry (G-F) and John Thomas (F) and sophomore Ben Malloy (G).

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Deering (Portland)
Head coach: Dan LeGage
2011-12 finish: 19-3, Class A state champions

Deering won the Class A state championship last year and has 10 players returning from that squad, including 6-foot-6 All-State forward Labson Abwoch, who averaged 13.8 points and 9.2 rebounds per game last year. He'll join returning starter Thiwat Thiwat, a 6-4, senior forward, and Kyle Richards, a 6-6, junior center, to give Deering an imposing front line.

View last season's Maine boys basketball Freeman Rankings

3. Jonesport-Beals (Jonesport)
Head coach: Gordon Faulkingham
2011-12 finish: 17-4, Class D state champions

Jonesport-Beals may be a Class D team, but it has some Grade-A talent. In Garet Beal (6-5, Sr, F), the Royals have one of the state's top players after he earned All-State honors and Gatorade State Player of the Year honors while averaging 22.3 points and 8.7 rebounds per game. Eight other players return for Jonesport-Beals, which lost just three seniors to graduation.

View last season's Maine boys basketball stats leaderboard

4. Medomak Valley (Waldoboro)
Head coach: Nick DePatsy
2011-12 finish: 17-4, lost in Class B quarterfinals

The Panthers came up short in the Class B state playoffs last year, falling in the quarterfinals. Medomak Valley does return one of the top big men in the state in John Murray (6-7, Sr, C) who earned All-State honorable mention honors last season while averaging 15.6 points and 7.7 rebounds. Murray is one of seven juniors from last year's team, which graduated eight seniors. Ryan Ripley (6-4, Sr, F) also returns after earning KVAC honorable mention All-Conference honors.

View last season's Maine boys basketball playoff brackets

5. York
Head coach: Randy Small
2011-12 finish: 15-5, lost in Class B quarterfinals

York could challenge for the Class B state championship this year after falling in the second round last year to Falmouth. Leading the way is Aaron Todd, a 6-7 center who was first team all All-West Maine Conference after averaging 15 points and 12 rebounds per game. He's joined by Liam Langaas (G, Sr.), who earned second team All-Conference honors last year.