Preseason Top 25 Boys Basketball Poll

Now that football season is just about over, it is time for the initial Top 25 poll for boys basketball for the 2001-2002 season.

It appears that this year in boys' basketball may have more dominant teams than has been seen in quite a while.

The perennial powerhouses (Oak Hill, St. Anthony's, Louisville Male, Vashon) are in the Top 25, as well as teams with unbelievable talent (Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, The Colony, Tabor Academy).

It was a tough decision as to who was deserving of the top billing, but this year's top team in the preseason is Oak Hill Academy, with Westchester a very close second.

The Nike National High School Shootout, set for December 27th through 29th in Houston, will include eight teams ranked either nationally or regionally in the preseason poll.

The eight-team tournament will include Oak Hill, Westchester, Midwest City, Male, Rice, Beaumont Ozen, De La Salle, and St. Patrick's.

Needless to say, whoever survives that tournament will have the inside track to the national championship.

The regional rankings only include ten teams in each region for the time being, but will be expanded to include 20 teams in each region in time for the next poll, which will likely be released in the first week of January.

The amount of "Teams to Watch" will remain the same as the Top 25 football poll.

Tentatively, the poll will be released every Wednesday after the second poll is released, but will be subject to change.

And now here is the preseason Top 25:

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, VA (33-0 in 2000-01) The Warriors' winning streak currently stands at 42 games, and these wins come against some of the best competition in the country. Since Oak Hill is private, they do not play for state titles and do not compete in a league. The list of teams they play on their schedule looks very similar to the teams listed in the Top 25. Just this season, Oak Hill has committed to play 15th- ranked DeMatha, eighth-ranked Male, 19th-ranked Mater Dei, fourth-ranked Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary, and Team to Watch St. Patrick's. Oak Hill also will travel to major tournaments in Beckley, WV, Houston, and Portland. On their 12-man roster, as many as eight players may be playing in Division I next year and Steve Smith (career Oak Hill record of 471-31) will lean on senior guards Justin Gray and Eric Wilkins for leadership.

2. Westchester, Los Angeles, CA (29-2 in 2000-01) They bring back six players from last year's city championship team that was upset in the state playoffs and the Comets look to be very hungry after falling short. Hassan Adams, Brandon Heath, and Ashanti Cook are among the top guards in the country. A possible championship matchup in Houston with Oak Hill could loom large for Westchester.

3. St. Anthony, Jersey City, NJ (27-3 in 2000-01) Coach Bob Hurley Sr. keeps turning out players year after year at St. Anthony's. Hurley has a career record of 746-85 despite playing in an area perennially loaded with basketball talent. And this year is no exception, as the backcourt of Elijah Ingram, Dwain Lee, and Donald Copeland is the best in the New York City area. All three players averaged double figures in scoring last year. Add in the state freshman of the year in Marcus Williams, and the Friars could have yet another outstanding season. The Friars will oppose seventh-ranked Germantown Academy and Team to Watch Amityville in the Prime Time Shootout in Trenton on February 8 and 10.

4. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, OH (26-1 in 2000-01) One of the top players in the country is a junior and his name is LeBron James. He has led the Irish to a record that has them with just one loss in two seasons, that being a one-point decision to Oak Hill. James has shot the popularity of Irish basketball in Akron that all home games have been moved to the University of Akron to accommodate the crowds. Oak Hill is scheduled once this year for the Irish, on February 9 in Trenton, NJ, but the two teams could run into each other in Houston as well. Vashon is also on the schedule for St. Vincent-St. Mary, who is an odds-on favorite to win their fourth consecutive state title.

5. Midwest City, Midwest City, OK (26-2 in 2000-01) Midwest City has won three of the last five titles in Class 6A in Oklahoma and looks to make it four out of six with the team they have returning. Potential All-Americans in center Shelden Williams and forward DeAngelo Alexander are the top players on the Bombers, who will travel to Houston, as well as St. Louis and Columbus.

6. Vashon, St. Louis, MO (28-1 in 2000-01) Returning for the Wolverines are two of the top players in the country. Center Nicholas Kern (6-foot, 8-inches, 12.4 ppg, 9.8 rpg) and forward Jimmy McKinney (6'3", 3-inches, 19.1 ppg) are the top returnees for the two-time defending Missouri Class 4A champions.

7. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, PA (27-3) The Patriots are the best team in the generally talent-rich Philadelphia area. Center Ted Skunchas (6'11", 11-inches), guard Matt Walsh (6'6", committed to Florida, 20.1 ppg), and forward Lee Melchionni (6'9", committed to Duke, 15.0 ppg, 9.2 rpg) are the top performers.

8. Male, Louisville, KY (32-4 in 2000-01) Perennially the top team in Kentucky, this year should be no different. Senior point guard Johnny Mathis runs the show and 6-foot, 6-inches senior LaVar Carter and 6'4" junior Michael Bush fill it up for Male, whose toughest challenge this season should come from Akron St.Vincent-St. Mary.

9. The Colony, The Colony, TX (31-2 in 2000-01) It is the Big Ten backcourt at The Colony this season as Indiana-bound Bracey Wright (6'3", 22.4 ppg) and Illinois-bound Deron Williams (16.9 ppg, 9.4 apg) will lead the Cougars, who advanced as far as the Class 5A semifinals in Texas last season. Rhode Island-bound Bamfield Harmon also will contribute mightily this season.

10. Northern, Pontiac, MI (25-4 in 2000-01) Seniors Lester Abram (20.1 ppg, 9.2 rpg) and Derrick Ponder (15.5 ppg, 10.8 rpg) will lead Northern, whose varsity had the worst record of the three teams at the school last season. Dominique Hardaman, David Stephens, and Bayes Gay will also contribute for the Huskies.

11. Proviso East, Maywood, IL (25-4 in 2000-01) Proviso East is absolutely loaded this season. Illinois recruit Dee Brown and junior guard/forward Shannon Brown lead new coach Troy Jackson as he takes over the top team in Illinois. Other top players include 6'9" junior Ronnie Caldwell, 6'5" junior Gerry Williams, 6'3" sophomore Nick Brown, and Charles Richardson, Art Talley, and Mantonio Blake.

12. Rice, New York, NY (13-11 in 2000-01) Although they finished barely above break-even last season, the entire starting five returns for Rice. Top players include 7'2" junior center Shagari Alleyne, and senior guards Jason Wingate and Christian Brown. Keydren Clark also averaged 15 points per game last season and should be able to help take the heat off Alleyne.

13. Inglewood, Inglewood, CA (28-7 in 2000-01) DeAngelo Collins, a 6'10" senior, is easily the top player on the second-best team in the Los Angeles area, which is stocked with talent as usual. Jamal Walls, a transfer from Crenshaw, will help out at forward, while returning guards Ray Reed and Josh McKinney round out a solid nucleus.

14. Ozen, Beaumont, TX (36-0 in 2000-01) The best center in Texas resides on the defending Class 4A state champions, a 6'11" Kendrick Perkins is only a junior. Perkins is drawing favorable comparisons to the best center ever to come from Texas -- Shaquille O'Neal. Perkins averaged 19 points and 14 boards per game in 2000-01. A run at a second straight unbeaten season will be tested, as Ozen is a member of the stacked field at the Nike National High School Shootout in Houston and would likely contend for a national championship should they win that tournament.

15. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD (29-6 in 2000-01) Almost every high school in the United States would be ecstatic if their basketball team finished with a 29-6 record. However, for DeMatha and legendary coach Morgan Wootten, who has won nearly 1,250 games in his career, 29-6 is a down year. Maryland recruit Travis Garrison (6'9"), 6'9" junior Stephen Danley, as well as a stellar backcourt with Chris Stephenson, Corey MacRae, and Warren Williams should lead the Stags back to national prominence.

16. Montrose Christian, Rockville, MD (21-4 in 2000-01) A couple returnees and a couple transfers make this year's team a formidable one. Point guard Eric Price transferred from Gonzaga in D.C., while 6'3" Ricky Lucas transferred from Bishop O'Connell in Virginia. Add in 6'6" senior and junior guard Dominique Smallwood and the Mustangs will give DeMatha a challenge for the top team in Maryland.

17. Berkmar, Lilburn, GA (29-4 in 2000-01) Sharpshooter Wayne Arnold (6'4", 16 ppg) leads Berkmar in search of their third straight 5A title. Transfers D.J. Washington (6'3" senior) and 6'7" junior Emanuel Hodrea join a team that also returns 6'8" junior Alex Weekes and 6'7" sophomore Wynton Witherspoon.

18. Kathleen, Lakeland, FL (27-6 in 2000-01) Top scorer and Connecticut recruit Rashad Anderson (22.9 ppg) returns from the Class 4A champions, as well as 6'3" point guard Chris Capko and 5'11" D.J. Crittenden. They lead a solid senior group and will get additional help from juniors Tory Harris (6'1"), Thomas Williams (6'3") and Chris Richardson (6'8").

19. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, CA (33-2 in 2000-01) Mater Dei's football program may be down this year, but their basketball program is still prominent nationally. They will not be as good as last year's team, but will go as far as their talented juniors will take them. Big man Harrison Schaen (6'8") and guards Wesley Washington and Travente Nelson will join 6'5" senior forward Mike Strawberry on a team that will likely contend for a state title.

20. Bloomington North, Bloomington, IN (23-3 in 2000-01) The top team in the basketball-crazy Hoosier state resides not too far from the campus of Indiana University, 11.5 miles by car to be exact. North Carolina signee Sean May, the son of former IU star Scott May, averaged 23.5 points and 13.5 rebounds as a junior. Michael Davis, the son of IU coach Mike Davis, is a junior, as is starting point guard Errek Suhr and forward Nick Sexton.

21. Laurinburg Institute, Laurinburg, NC (first-year program) Laurinburg Institute, a prep school southwest of Fayetteville near the South Carolina border, has added a high school varsity level team this season. The team's head coach is Chris Chaney and Chaney has put together a solid team for the initial season. Boubacar Coly, a 6'9" transfer from Oak Hill, leads a talented group that includes 6'7" junior Regis Koundija, 6'10" junior Bienvenue Soyondo, 6'2" senior point guard Tristan Martin, and 6'6" freshman Paupe Kote.

22. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, FL (28-6 in 2000-01) Arlington Country Day is probably the most intriguing team in the Top 25. Two players who were named all-state as sophomores, 6'4" Dwan Youmans and 5'10" T.J. Bannister lead a talented group of returnees. Aric Kirkland, a 6'4" senior transfer joins fellow seniors Saul McDonald (6'7") and Jarrod Stockton (6'5"). However, the most intriguing player for this team is an eighth-grader. That is correct -- an eighth-grader. His name is Jason Bennett, and he already stands 7'1". Bennett will see varsity action despite his youth since the middle school and high school are together.

23. Tabor Academy, Marion, MA (27-5 in 2000-01) Torin Francis, a 6'10" senior, anchors the middle for a team that has already played top-ranked Oak Hill and given them a scare before finally losing. Sean Hines and Michael Robinson will look to take the pressure off of Francis, who has committed to attend Notre Dame.

24. Vincent, Milwaukee, WI (25-2 in 2000-01) Top guards Greg Brown and Maurice Wade, both of which are being hotly recruited, lead Vincent from the outside while a pair of 6'7" bookends, DeJuante Wade and Carl Landry will lead them from the inside. Vincent begins this season with a 22-game winning streak.

25. Rainier Beach, Seattle, WA (23-4 in 2000-01) Rainier Beach finished second in Washington in 3A and returns their top two players in twins Lodrick and Rodrick Stewart, both of which stand 6'4" and are juniors with outstanding vertical leaps. Senior guard Nate Robison (5'9") is the catalyst for this team, which has just four seniors on its roster.

Teams To Watch: Cedar Hill, Cedar Hill, TX; All Hallows, Bronx, NY; Poly, Long Beach, CA; Latta, Latta, SC; De La Salle, Concord, CA; St. Raymond, Bronx, NY; Modesto Christian, Modesto, CA; Brookhaven, Columbus, OH; St. Patrick, Elizabeth, NJ; Patrick Henry, Minneapolis, MN; Fremont, Los Angeles, CA; Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA; Redford, Detroit, MI; Amityville, Amityville, NY; Broughton, Raleigh, NC

Regional Rankings
East
1. St. Anthony, Jersey City, NJ (27-3)
2. Germantown Academy, Fort Washington, PA (27-3)
3. Rice, New York, NY (13-11)
4. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, MD (29-6)
5. Montrose Christian, Rockville, MD (21-4)
6. Tabor Academy, Marion, MA (27-5)
7. All Hallows, Bronx, NY (22-4)
8. St. Raymond, Bronx, NY (22-10)
9. St. Patrick, Elizabeth, NJ (21-7)
10. Amityville, Amityville, NY (27-1)

Midwest
1. St.Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, OH (26-1)
2. Vashon, St. Louis, MO (28-1)
3. Male, Louisville, KY (32-4)
4. Northern, Pontiac, MI (25-4)
5. Proviso East, Maywood, IL (25-4)
6. Bloomington North, Bloomington, IN (23-3)
7. Vincent, Milwaukee, WI (25-2)
8. Brookhaven, Columbus, OH (26-1)
9. Patrick Henry, Minneapolis, MN (28-2)
10. Redford, Detroit, MI (21-2)

South
1. Oak Hill, Mouth of Wilson, VA (33-0)
2. Midwest City, Midwest City, OK (26-2)
3. The Colony, The Colony, TX (31-2)
4. Ozen, Beaumont, TX (36-0)
5. Berkmar, Lilburn, GA (29-4)
6. Kathleen, Lakeland, FL (27-6)
7. Laurinburg Institute, Laurinburg, NC (0-0)
8. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, FL (28-6)
9. Cedar Hill, Cedar Hill, TX (33-3)
10. Latta, Latta, SC (28-2)

West
1. Westchester, Los Angeles, CA (29-2)
2. Inglewood, Los Angeles, CA (28-7)
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, CA (33-2)
4. Rainier Beach, Seattle, WA (23-4)
5. Poly, Long Beach, CA (23-6)
6. De La Salle, Concord, CA (27-5)
7. Modesto Christian, Modesto, CA (34-4)
8. Fremont, Los Angeles, CA (20-8)
9. Fairfax, Los Angeles, CA (21-6)
10. Churchill, Eugene, OR (25-3)