| 1. NOTRE DAME PREP (MASS.) |
| Record: | 27-3 |
| Comments: | Bill Barton's team claimed the top spot a year ago and it's too close to call, so we're giving the boys from Fitchburg the call to start the 2006-07 campaign. Michael Beasley (Kansas State) is the big name of the team, but Barton has his type of hard-nosed guys - such as Jamine Peterson, guards Johnny Higgins and Deonte Roberts (Wisc.-Milw.) and Damian Saunders (Marquette). |
| 2. PATTERSON SCHOOL (N.C.) |
| Record: | 34-3 |
| Comments: | Since Chris Chaney arrived, the Lenoir, N.C., school has become an instant powerhouse and this year is no different. He's loaded with quality wings: Dominique Sutton (Kansas State), Cameron Tatum (Tennessee), Tirrell Baines and Earl Pettis (Rutgers) are joined by talented junior James Tyler (LSU) and one of the top sophomores in the country - Karron Johnson. |
| 3. HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY (VA.) |
| Record: | 28-2 |
| Comments: | Kevin Keatts has a group that may not have that one superstar, but he's got a lot of guys who can step up and go for 20 on any given night. Jeff Allen (Va. Tech) is a monster on the glass, Dorenzo Hudson (Va. Tech) and Eric Wallace (Ohio) give Hargrave quality wings and Mike Scott should provide Allen help up front. The key is point guard Jordan Crawford. |
| 4. BRIDGTON ACADEMY (MAINE) |
| Record: | 23-9 |
| Comments: | The two-time NEPSAC Class A defending champs may not have the talent of some of their peers, but we're giving them the nod because, well, they have won two in a row. Justin Burrell (St. John's) is one of the best frontcourt players in the prep ranks, Greg Hill is arguably the best outside shooter and coach Whit Lesure has some other pieces - such as Paris Horne, Aaron Ellis, Rashard Green and the point guard duo of Brian Rudolph and Paul Becklens. |
| 5. SOUTH KENT SCHOOL (CONN.) |
| Record: | 18-18 |
| Comments: | You could make a case that these guys are the most talented team top to bottom, but they need to prove it this year on the court. It's an NBA frontline with 6-9 Matthew Bryan-Amaning (Washington), 6-foot-10 Dele Coker (St. John's), 6-foot-9 junior Christian Morris and 6-foot-9 Papa Dia (SMU). The guards are the key - Senior Mike Walker (SMU), junior Mark Lyons and newcomer Isaiah Thomas will need to run the team. |
| 6. BREWSTER ACADEMY (N.H.) |
| Record: | 19-9 |
| Comments: | It's hard to imagine a better inside duo than 6-foot-10 Craig Brackins (Iowa State) and ultra-athletic junior forward Emmanuel Negedu. Add in skilled forward Andre Walker (Vanderbilt), athletic shooting guard P'Allen Stinnett (Creighton), Andre McFarland (Idaho) and you have a group that could make a legitimate case for being in the top three. The key will be point guard play, where Terrell McKenzie and Dogus Balbay of Turkey will need to step up. |
| 7. STONERIDGE PREP (CALIF.) |
| Record: | N/A |
| Comments: | A year ago, it was a team loaded with foreign players. Now it's a mix of talented players from overseas and talented players from the U.S. The skill of Mamadou Diarra and Ibrahima Thomas (Okl. St.) should mix well with the intensity that juniors Troy Gillenwater and Angelo Johnson bring to the table. Boubacar Sylla is a 7-footer who will also play an important role for Babacar Sy's club. |
| 8. ST. THOMAS MORE (CONN.) |
| Record: | 27-8 |
| Comments: | You can't ever count out a Jere Quinn team - especially not one with one of the most talented juniors in the country, Devin Ebanks. Quinn will have returning point guard Marquis Jones (URI) and Tyvon Williams in the backcourt. Rutgers-bound guard Justin Sofman is also in the mix, but the key will be whether STM can get enough inside. |
| 9. NORTHFIELD MOUNT HERMON (MASS.) |
| Record: | 16-6 |
| Comments: | This is the most talented team ever to come through Northfield, Mass. Bill Batty's group is balanced with guys like Gary Correia, Tyrone Nash (Notre Dame), Matt Glass (Umass), the Williams twins (La Salle) and a couple of talented juniors - 6-foot-9 forward Andrew Van Nest and Simon McCormack. |
| 10. LEE ACADEMY (MAINE) |
| Record: | N/A |
| Comments: | Carl Parker earned a spot in the preseason poll with an early-season victory against Winchendon. Lee 7-foot-1 Tomasz Kwaitkowski, Aussie junior floor leader Nate Tomlinson, Umass-bound athletic forward Travon Wilcher and a pair of talented guards: Chris Baez and Corey Bingham. |
St. Mark's (Mass.)