Monday, November 03, 2008

Preseason NPP - Regional Rankings Sketches

NORTHEAST

1. Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln (28-4) Capsule
2. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict's (24-1) Capsule
3. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick (25-5) Capsule
4. Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony (32-0) Capsule
5. New York, Rice (23-3) The return of standout senior G Durand Scott has the Raiders favored to win the NYC's tough Catholic Association title once again.
6. Philadelphia, Neumann-Goretti (15-10) Wake Forest-bound junior PG Tony Chenault and 6-9 senior Andrew Gillette hope to lead the Saints to their third Catholic League crown since 2005.
7. Mount Vernon, N.Y. (23-4) Four starters and 11 lettermen return led by 6-4 senior Sherrod Wright, who averaged 24 points per game.
8. Paterson, N.J., Catholic (22-5) The Cougars are stocked with Division I-caliber players including Fordham-bound senior G Lance Brown plus talented underclassmen Derrick Randall (6-8), and Kyle Anderson (6-5).
9. Philadelphia, Roman Catholic (19-6) The Cahillites have Catholic League MVP G Maalik Wayns (Villanova) back but must replace longtime coach Dennis Seddon, who retired this fall after 10 CL titles in 22 seasons.
10. Lawrence, Mass., Central Catholic (25-2) The defending Division I state champion returns three starters including senior G Billy Marsden, who averaged 19 points per game.

EAST COAST

1. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (21-4) Capsule
2. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (34-4) Capsule
3. Summerville, S.C., Pinewood (27-4) Capsule
4. Arden, N.C., Christ (34-2) Capsule
5. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (20-10) Capsule
6. Raleigh, N.C., Word of God (31-3) The Holy Rams return John Wall, the consensus No. 1-rated senior PG in the nation, along with North Carolina St.-bound junior big man C.J. Leslie (6-9).
7. Washington, Gonzaga (34-1) The defending D.C. city and Alhambra Catholic tourney champion returns Princeton-bound senior F Ian Hummer (6-5) and Duke-committed junior PG Tyler Thornton (6-2).
8. Baltimore, St. Frances (29-10) The defending Baltimore Catholic league champ has several Division I recruits on its roster including Montrose Christian transfer Terrell Vinson, a 6-6 Loyola Marymount recruit.
9. Raleigh, N.C., Ravenscroft (24-6) Duke-bound senior big man Ryan Kelly (6-10) is one of four returning starters for the Ravens. Senior transfer G Luke Davis who was Pac 7 Conference player of the year at Broughton.
10. Richmond, Va., Marshall (28-3) After reaching the state semifinals last season, the Justices return blue chip junior F Travis McKie (6-6), who averaged 19 points and nine rebounds.

SOUTHEAST

1. Marietta, Ga., Wheeler (30-3) Capsule
2. Memphis, Tenn., White Station (25-13) Capsule
3. Orlando, Fla., Olympia (24-3) Capsule
4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pine Crest (28-4) Brandon Knight (6-3), the No. 1-rated junior PG in the nation, leads the Panthers' defense of the Class 3A state championship. He averaged 20 points and eight rebounds per game as a sophomore.
5. Jacksonville, Fla., Arlington Country Day (26-6) The Apaches boast highly touted big man Wally Judge (6-10) and athletic swing man Rodney Mcgruder (6-6), who are both committed to Kansas St.
6. Norcross, Ga. (29-2) First-year head coach Jesse McMillan takes over a program that has won three consecutive 5A state titles. Three starters return led by senior PG Taariq Muhammad (6-2), who averaged 10 points and nine assists per game.
7. Roswell, Ga., Centennial (24-6) The Knight have three returning starters and three transfers who were all-region last season. The talented cast is led by blue chip North Carolina St. recruit G Lorenzo Brown (6-5), who averaged 25 points per game last season.
8. Memphis, Tenn., Briarcrest Christian (26-7) The Saints have three starters returning led by state player of the year and North Carolina commit Leslie McDonald (6-5), who averaged 21 points per game last season.
9. Mobile, Ala., LeFlore (30-3) The always tough Rattlers return DeMarcus Cousins (6-9), one of the nation's top-rated big men and a UAB recruit.
10. Starkville, Miss. (28-4) The Yellowjackets, who begin the season ranked No. 1 in the Jackson Clarion-Ledger state poll, are led by 6-9 senior Chris Brand.

MIDWEST

1. Beverly Hills, Mich., Detroit Country Day (21-5) Capsule
2. Georgetown, Ky., Scott County (20-14) Capsule
3. Chicago, Whitney Young (25-5) Capsule
4. Madison, Wis., Memorial (23-3) Capsule
5. Indianapolis, Lawrence North (18-5) The Wildcats are loaded with high-major talent in the front court but need dependable play from their guards to make it all fit together. Three players who stand 6-foot-9 have committed to top Division I programs: Stephan Van Treese (Louisville), Dominique Ferguson (Kentucky), and Jeff Robinson (Purdue).
6. Cincinnati, Princeton (18-6) Four starters are back for the Vikings, including three committed to play Division I basketball. Junior G Jordan Sibert (Ohio St.) averaged 11 points per game last season.
7. Detroit, Pershing (23-4) The Doughboys are led by a pair of Michigan St. recruits in 6-2 senior G Keith Appling (21 ppg.) and 6-9 junior C Derrick Nix (18 ppg., 13 rpg.).
8. Louisville, Ky., Jeffersontown (26-6) The Chargers have enough talent and experience to challenge for their second state title in four years. Talented junior G Aaron Cosby (6-2), a transfer from Manual, will become eligible to play in December.
9. Columbus, Ohio, Northland (21-1) Ohio St.-bound junior Jared Sullinger is among three returning starters. The 6-9 power forward averaged 23 points and 14 rebounds last season.
10. Lafayette, Ind., Jefferson (23-2) The Bronchos return perhaps the best backcourt duo in the Hoosier State. Senior Brandon Williams (5-10) and junior Jesse Berry (6-1) combined to average 33 points and five assists per game last season.

MIDLANDS

1. Minnetonka, Minn., Hopkins (27-2) Capsule
2. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak (23-2) Capsule
3. Mendota Heights, Minn., Sibley (26-6) The Warriors will start four Division I prospects including Wisconsin recruit Mike Bruesewitz, a 6-7 wing who averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as a junior.
4. Marion, Iowa, Linn-Mar (20-5) The Lions are a strong favorite to win their third state title in four years. There are three Division I recruits in the starting lineup: senior F Zach Bohannon (Air Force), senior wing Nate Hutcheson (Western Michigan), and freshman PG Marcus Paige.
5. New Hope, Minn., Robbinsdale Cooper (23-9) The Hawks return their top three returning scorers led by blue chip wing Rodney Williams, a 6-5 Minnesota recruit who averaged 21 points per game as a junior.
6. Provo, Utah (21-3) Last season's 4A state champ returns talented 6-9 senior Brandon Davies, a BYU recruit, and returning all-state junior G Kyle Collinsworth (6-5).
7. Columbia, Mo., Rock Bridge (19-4) The Bruins might be the team to beat in Class 5 this season. Toledo-bound F Jordan Dressler (6-8) and talented junior wing Ricky Kreklow (6-5) return.
8. Osseo, Minn. (28-1) Gonzaga-bound big man Sam Dower (6-9) returns for the Orioles, whose only loss last season was a one-point heartbreaker to Robbinsdale Cooper in the section final.
9. Centennial, Colo., Eaglecrest (24-3) All five starters are back including all-state F Gage Wooten, who averaged 19 points and 12 rebounds as a junior.
10. Omaha, Neb., Creighton Prep (21-3) The Junior Jays have three returning starters led by 6-8 senior John Karhoff, who averaged 11 points and six rebounds per game.

SOUTHWEST

1. Duncanville, Texas (35-2) Capsule
2. Henderson, Nev., Findlay (32-1) Capsule
3. Oklahoma City, Putnam City (25-2) Capsule
4. Missouri City, Texas, Hightower (30-10) The top team in Houston looks like the Hurricanes. They are led by Pittsburgh-bound C J.J. Richardson (6-7) and TCU-bound wing Garlon Green (6-6), the younger brother of NBA player Gerald Green.
5. Houston, Strake Jesuit (27-7) The Crusaders are led by two of the top seniors in the state of Texas with Notre Dame-bound wing Joey Brooks (6-5) and 6-2 Penn St. recruit Tim Frazier.
6. Oklahoma City, Bishop McGuinness (26-4) The three-time defending 4A champ returns four starters led by Kentucky-bound big man Daniel Orton (6-11), who averaged 14 points, 11 rebounds, and an incredible nine blocked shots per game last season.
7. Gilbert, Ariz., Highland (24-6) The Hawks are led by a pair of talented sophomore guards. Matt Carlino (6-2), son of coach Mark Carlino, is committed to Indiana and Nick Johnson (6-3) has multiple Division I offers.
8. Cedar Hill, Texas (21-13) After a down year, Cedar Hill should again be one of the top teams in the Dallas Metroplex. An experienced team will be led by Utah-bound senior wing Shawn Glover (6-6).
9. Houston, Wheatley (28-5) A Class 4A region finalist last season, the Wildcats could be even stronger this year with the arrival of Texas Tech-bound G Mike Davis (6-3), who averaged over 20 points per game last season playing for St. Pius X.
10. Fayetteville, Ark. (20-8) The Purple Dogs return four starters including reigning state player of the year Fred Gulley, an Oklahoma St. recruit who averaged 16 points per game last season.

WEST COAST

1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (35-1) Capsule
2. Los Angeles, Fairfax (27-6) Capsule
3. Concord, Calif., De La Salle (28-4) Capsule
4. Seattle, Rainier Beach (28-1) Capsule
5. Los Angeles, Westchester (29-5) The Comets, who have won 75 percent of their games in 29 years under coach Ed Azzam, have three returning starters including two of the best juniors in the country. F Dwayne Polee (6-7) is committed to USC and Jordin Mayes (6-2) has emerged as one of the top point guards on the West Coast.
6. Compton, Calif., Dominguez (32-3) If everyone is eligible to play, look for the Dons to again challenge for a state title. The program is undergoing a CIF inquiry regarding transfers. Jordan Hamilton, a Texas recruit and the top-rated small forward in the country, averaged 27 points and 11 rebounds as a junior.
7. San Diego, San Diego High (23-5) The Cavers, who already returned three starters, added a top transfer in the offseason. Norman, Okla., native Terrance Boyd (6-5) joins highly touted junior F Jeremy Tyler (6-11) and talented sophomore G Xavier Roy (6-2).
8. Woodland Hills, Calif., Taft (27-4) The Toreadors must replace three starters but still have one of the most talented teams in the Los Angeles area. UNLV-bound G Justin Hawkins (6-3) averaged 15 points and three steals per game as a junior.
9. Seattle, Franklin (24-3) The Quakers have all five starters returning with blue chip G Peyton Siva (6-0) leading the way. As a junior, he averaged 21 points and six assists per game.
10. Riverside, Calif., King (32-3) Three starters return for the Wolves, who were ranked No. 22 in the final National Prep Poll last season. San Diego St. recruit Kawhi Leonard (6-8) averaged 20 points and seven rebounds per game and is extremely versatile.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Harrisburg High(PA)smashed all summer comp..should be in your regionals

Anonymous said...

Shaquille Thomas is no longer at Paterson Catholic (NJ).

Anonymous said...

Paterson Catholic still loaded with D-1 talent.

Anonymous said...

Starkville (MS) lost their opener to Meridian..Typical Starkville, never live up to their potential..

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