MaxPreps 2012-13 New Hampshire preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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

1. Manchester Central
Head coach: Doc Wheeler
2011-12 finish: 16-6, Division I runners up

Manchester Central came up just short of a state championship in 2012, falling to Merrimack 65-56 in the Division I championship game. Troy Pelletier (G, Sr.) returns to hopefully lead Manchester back to its sixth state title appearance since 2000. Pelletier was a second team All-State selection as a junior.

View the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings

2. Merrimack
Head coach: Tim Goodridge
2011-12 finish: 16-6, Division I state champions

Merrimack was the No. 7 seed for last year's playoffs but came on strong in the postseason behind the play of Gatorade State Player of the year Tyler Gendron to win the Division I title. While Gendron has graduated, his younger brother Eric Gendron (6-3, G, Sr), who had 16 points in the championship game and earned honorable mention All-State honors, returns. Also back is Dimitras Floras (G, Sr), who had a strong showing in the championship game with 23 points.

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3. Pembroke
Head coach: Matt Aloso
2011-12 finish: 17-3, Division II quarterfinalist

Pembroke enters the season as the favorite in Division II thanks to the return of a trio of All-State honorees. Pat Welch (G) was All-State first team as as sophomore while senior Rene Maher joined him on the first team. Matt Persons (Sr) earned honorable mention All-State honors.

View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball Freeman Rankings

4. Spaulding (Rochester)
Head coach: Tim Cronan
2011-12 finish: 15-6, Division I semifinalist

Spaulding reached the Division I semifinals before falling to eventual champion Merrimack. Look for Spaulding to make a strong push again in 2013 thanks to the return of Dominic Paradis, a 6-foot-4 senior forward who earned a spot on the All-State second team as a junior.

View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball stats leaderboard

5. Trinity (Manchester)
Head coach: Dave Keefe
2011-12 finish: 17-4, lost in Division I semifinals

Trinity lost to rival Central 59-56 in two overtimes in the Division I semifinals last year. Center Andrew Lauderdale is gone, but his frontline teammate Mabor Gabriel (6-6, Sr, F) is back along with second team All-State guard Carmen Giampetruzzi.

View last season's New Hampshire boys basketball playoff brackets