MaxPreps 2012-13 Tennessee preseason boys basketball Fab 5

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

1. Southwind (Memphis)
Head coach: Paul Edwards
2011-12 finish: 27-4

It’s one thing to be talented — and the Jaguars are led by USA Basketball U17 standout and Missouri commit Johnathan Williams III (6-foot-8 forward) — but what sets them apart is their hunger. Memphis is one of the nation’s basketball hotbeds and to make it out alive, you need intensity. Jajuan Johnson, a 6-4 senior guard, improved drastically over the summer and is the nation’s No. 94 senior. Williams is No. 66. Add in 6-4 senior guard Payton Hulsey, a Lipscomb commit, and 6-4 senior swingman Deckie Johnson, and Edwards has a sure-proof and experienced squad that is the overwhelming favorite heading into the season.

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2. White Station (Memphis)
Head coach: Jesus Patino
2011-12 finish: 15-15

The Spartans may not make the giant climb from .500 team to state champion. But they’ll sure be fun to watch. White Station will put an all-underclass team on the floor, led by the front line of 6-7 LeRon Black, 6-6 Derrick Dandridge and 6-5 Davell Roby, all juniors. The backcourt will be held down by 5-11 Chris Chiozza, another junior, and 5-10 sophomore Nych Smith. Black, ranked the No. 35 junior in the country by MaxPreps, has already committed to Baylor. Chiozza is ranked No. 75.

See last season's Tennessee stats leaderboard

3. Memphis East
Coach: Samuel Bachelor
2011-12 finish: 16-8

With two already-committed players to college, the Mustangs seemed primed to make a state-title run. In 6-7 small forward Nick King, Memphis East has one of the most versatile and talented seniors in the country. The Memphis-bound standout is ranked the No. 46 player in the nation according to MaxPreps National Basketball Editor Jason Hickman. Earvin Morris, a 6-5 small forward, is headed to Kent State with loads of all skills. “He is committed to the game and is a proven winner,” Kent State coach Rob Senderoff said about Bachelor. The team’s third big scorer should be 6-5 sophomore Keelan Lawson.

See last season's Tenneessee boys basketball Freeman Rankings

4. Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville)
Head coach: Drew Maddux
2011-12 finish: 37-2, won Division I Class AA title

Led by the nation’s No. 28 junior recruit Jalen Lindsey, the Lions look to repeat as state champions. Lindsey has been offered scholarships by Alabama, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Memphis and North Carolina State, among others. Christ Presbyterian Academy lost a load of experience to graduation but it landed one of the nation’s top freshmen in Braxton Blackwell.

See last season's Tennessee playoff brackets

5. Dyer County (Newbern)
Head coach: Derek McCord
2011-12 finish: 25-2

When you start with Robert Hubbs, a scintillating 6-4 shooting guard headed for Tennessee, you’ve got a good start. In Hubbs, the Choctaws have a major attraction who should top the 2,000-point career mark this winter. Partly due to Newbern's rural setting, national attention was slow to come for Hubbs. He finally got his chance to shine over the summer with M33M Elite – a program created by NBA veteran Mike Miller – and wowed with his size, quickness and scoring ability.