Looking into the crystal ball toward the 2023-24 high school basketball season, familiar names will be in the mix once again for the top spot in the preseason MaxPreps Top 25. We sized up the contenders with a way-too-early top 25 that features
Columbus (Miami, Fla.) taking claim as the team to beat while
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) takes claim of the No. 2 spot.
Columbus looks to continue its dominance led by reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Cameron Boozer. The Explorers have compiled a record of 56-6 with a pair of Class 7A state titles over the past two seasons.
Paul VI is an early favorite to repeat as Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season champions and return an embarrassment of riches from a team that reached GEICO Nationals for the first time in program history.
2022-23: 26-4, No. 8 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Following consecutive runs to the state title in Florida's highest classification, the Explorers have their eyes set on a national title next season behind 2022-23 MaxPreps National Player of the Year Cameron Boozer. The top-ranked prospect in the Class of 2025 will be joined by returning starters third team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America selection Cayden Boozer, Abdullahi and Fragela.
2022-23: 31-4, No. 9 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Although the Panthers lose second team MaxPreps All-America selection Harris-Smith to graduation, they are expected to return every other key contributor from one of the deepest rotations in the nation that captured the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title last season.
2022-23: 22-3, No. 3 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Replacing the production of Reid and Ross won't be easy, but MaxPreps New York Player of the Year V.J. Edgecombe headlines a loaded returning rotation for the Crusaders. Anthony, Erheriene and Jacob Ross are among the players expected to help LuHi compete for a national title next season after finishing second in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference in their first season in the league.
2022-23: 33-2, No. 6 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Third team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Perry, MaxPreps sophomore All-America honorable mention selection Khamenia and Hinton anchor a strong returning core that will be favored to repeat as CIF Open Division state champions next season.
2022-23: 28-4, No. 16 in final MaxPreps Top 25
The Quakers had a record of 19-1 and captured the State Champions Invitational title with Caleb Williams in the lineup last season (he missed 12 games with an injury).
2022-23: 34-3, No. 7 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Aletan and Perkins are big losses but top-ranked Class of 2024 prospect Johnson will help fill that void with over 2,000 points through the first three seasons of his decorated career.
2022-23: 26-3
Spent time in the MaxPreps Top 25 last season after upsetting Centennial (Corona, Calif.) en route to the John Wall Holiday Invitational title. The Ironmen return three of their top four contributors from last season headlined by No. 2-ranked Class of 2024 prospect Harper, who earned first team MaxPreps Junior All-America honors in 2022-23.
2022-23: 30-1, No. 12 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Second team MaxPreps All-America selection Peat has had a decorated start to his high school basketball career with back-to-back state titles in his first two seasons. While Williams is a significant loss for the Pumas, Brown, Harrison and Silsby form a strong supporting cast for Peat.
2022-23: 28-4, No. 21 in final MaxPreps Top 25
The defending Class 4A state champions return four of their top five scorers. MaxPreps Junior All-America honorable mention selections Boswell and Mohammed along with MaxPreps Sophomore All-America honorable mention selection White are the expected catalysts.
2022-23: 26-7
Each of the top three scorers and four of the top five contributors from last season's group are expected to return led by second team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America selection Harrington and MaxPreps Freshman All-America honorable mention selection McCoy Jr.
2022-23: 32-4, No. 18 in final MaxPreps Top 25
MaxPreps Junior All-America honorable mention selections Davis and Freeman are expected to be the catalysts for the defending Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament champions next season. The Cadets have the pieces to duplicate their success from 2022-23 after finishing the season ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the first time in program history.
2022-23: 29-0, No. 25 in final MaxPreps Top 25
Notable losses: None
The entire starting lineup returns from a dominant team that outscored its opponents by an average of 35.3 points per contest en route to the Division IV state title.
2022-23: 29-3
First team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Evans leads a talented crop of returners. The Vikings advanced to the Class 4A state semifinals last season after Evans exploded for 62 points in a 105-92 victory over Chambers (Charlotte) in the state quarterfinals.
2022-23: 22-10
The Crusaders competed against a challenging national schedule last season and dealt with injuries to key pieces but rounded into form in postseason play. Third team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Fland and MaxPreps Sophomore All-America honorable mention selection Carbuccia are the top expected returners.
Despite losing their top two producers from last season to graduation, returning starters Bailey, Thompson Jr. and first team MaxPreps Freshman All-America selection Allmond will each see increased roles in the offense next season. The Justices captured the national title last season after running the table and winning the Chick-fil-A Classic.
2022-23: 32-0, No. 13 in final MaxPreps Top 25
The Vikings were dominant in their run to the Class 3A state title last season, outscoring opponents by an average of 38 points per contest. Central Cabarrus is now 62-1 over the past two seasons and bring back three of its top five contributors from last season.
2022-23: 31-1
The defending Class 4A state champions are expected to be heavy favorites to repeat next season behind first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-America selection Thomas and Class of 2024 Pittsburgh commit Cummings. Thomas hit the game-winning floater in the state title game to lift Lincoln Park to a 62-58 victory over Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia).
2022-23: 19-10
On paper, the Cardinals project to have one of the most talented rosters in high school basketball next season centered around a pair of highly-regarded Class of 2024 guards North Carolina commit Jackson and Syracuse commit Moore. Despite struggling against in-state competition last season, Cardinal Hayes finished the year ranked No. 7 in the MaxPreps Top 25 in 2021-22.
2022-23: 23-7
Led by first team MaxPreps Junior All-America selection Bailey, the Indians will be among the favorites to capture their first Class AAAAAAA state championship since an unbeaten season in 2018-19 that saw them finish No. 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25. McEachern advanced to the state quarterfinals last season before losing to eventual state champion Wheeler (Marietta) 79-71.
Projected to lose just one significant piece from their run to the Class 5A state title in 2022-23, the Trailblazers will have an opportunity to finish the season ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 for the first time in program history next year.
2022-23: 26-2
The defending Class 6A state champions have a chance to become the fourth team from the Sooner State to finish ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25 next season with a strong group of returning talent.
After an up-and-down 2022-23 season saw them reach the Class 5A title game despite a 4-5 start to the year, the Patriots are expected to return eight of their top nine scorers from last season led by Thomas – the MaxPreps Nevada Player of the Year.
Defending Class AAAAA state champions spent time in the national rankings last season before falling out following a loss in early January. The Longhorns project to be one of the top teams out of the Peach State next season led by first team all-state selections Brown and Marshall.
Could be a top 10 team based on the talent they bring back from last season, however the Gaels struggled against in-state competition and failed to reach the Class 5A state title game for the first time in over 10 seasons.
Return six of their top seven scorers from last season led by Texas A&M commit Dockery. The Tigers advanced to the DCSAA Class AA state title game and upset St. John's (Washington, D.C.) in the process. Fort and Gilmore will be expected to step into more prominent role next season.
