Windsor, East Catholic lead preseason rankings
Much like last season’s final rankings, Windsor and East Catholic are at the top, only this time in reverse order.
Returning much of its core from last year’s state runner-up team, Windsor leads the state and area rankings. East Catholic, which graduated two Division I players, falls to second. Three other area teams - Northwest Catholic, Farmington and Prince Tech - earned spots in the state top 10. Here’s the full breakdown:
State
1. WINDSOR: The reigning Division I state runnerups, Windsor returns AllState guards in Primo Spears and Corey McKeithan, and adds South Windsor transfer Justice Ellison, a senior guard who scored 56 points against Greenwich last year.
2. EAST CATHOLIC: After winning the Division I state championship against Windsor, the Eagles graduated two Division I players in Joey Reilly and Jaylin Hunter. Yale commit Matt Knowling returns, though, and head coach Luke Reilly has always found ways to replace stars.
3. NOTRE DAMEWEST HAVEN: Notre Dame-West Haven lost to Immaculate last year in the quarterfinals, and lost All-State player Connor Raines. The Green Knights are still among the favorites to win the SCC, and have drawn rave reviews from coaches who have seen them in the preseason.
4. NORTHWEST CATHOLIC: With returning DIvision I-caliber players in Matt Curtis and Guy Ragland Jr., John Mirabello’s team is expected to bounce back from an uncharacteristic 9-12 year, and should be a contender in Division III. 5. SACRED HEARTWATERBURY: The top team in the state at one point last year, the Hearts have much to replace, with four-star guard Nate Tabor now enrolled at Christ The King in New York. They return 7-foot center Connor Tierney and sophomore guard Lorenzo Washington, and are still the favorites to win the NVL.
6. BASSICK: It will be tough to replace Kevin Crawford, but if Bassick can brave a difficult early season schedule that has them against Weaver, Hillhouse, Notre-Dame West Haven and Prince Tech, it should be just fine.
7. WATERFORD: The reigning Division II state champions need to replace stars Liam Spellman and Jay Jay Brennan, among others. But returning 6-5 center Ryan O’Connell and 6-4 forward Peyton Sutman should keep the Lancers competitive while they figure out the rest of their team.
8. IMMACULATE: The Mustangs might take a step back from last year when they were state semifinalists in Division I, but an experienced frontcourt of Joey Rios and Sean Guiry should keep them afloat while the guards learn to replace Mikey Basile.
9. FARMINGTON: The defending Division III state champions, Farmington has key losses in Makhi Hawkins and Bube
Momah, who transferred. But the guard trio of Jacob Smith, Grayson Herr and Jacob Dunst give the Indians a ton of returning experience.
10. PRINCE TECH: As long as Kazell Stewart is wearing purple, the Falcons will be a contender in Division III. Along with guard TyShawn Jackson, Stewart and the Falcons look to make a deeper run in the state tournament after losing to Farmington last year in the semifinals.
Area
1. WINDSOR
2. EAST CATHOLIC
3. NORTHWEST CATHOLIC
4. FARMINGTON
5. PRINCE TECH
6. OLD LYME: With four out of five starters returning, including dynamic big man Aedan Using, the Wildcats are the favorite to win the Shoreline Conference, and potentially make a return to the Division V state championship game.
7. GRANBY: After losing to New Canaan in the Division IV state championship game last year, the Bears return two key starters in Dylan Disabella and Rowan Heinze. Losing Eliyas Delaire to transfer hurts, but the Bears should still be a NCCC title contender.
8. SOMERS: Somers returns seven of its top eight players after making it to the Division V state semifinal last year, including All-State guard Alex Barresi. Along with Granby, it will be an NCCC contender.
9. INNOVATION: Fresh off of the best season in the school’s brief history, the Ravens have much to replace from last year’s Division V state title team. But returning senior forward LJ Hazelwood is a dominant presence on both sides of the court, and could be one of the best players in Division V.
10. WEAVER: Led by a talented junior guard in Dashon Gittens and a handful of transfers, Reggie Hatchett’s squad looks ready to compete as an independent team now in Division II.