Defense key for No. 6 Etiwanda

Etiwanda ( Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.) has plenty of talent, but what gives the Eagles potential to repeat as the CIF Southern Section Division I- AA champions is their defense, which allowed 42 points a game last season while going 28- 4.

Southern California commit Jordan McLaughlin, a senior point guard who averaged 15.6 points a game, and senior guard Dominick Alexander are the top returnees, along with senior forward Kenny Barnes, who averaged 12 points.

Last season, the Eagles mostly relied on quickness to thwart opponents’ offenses. The interesting question for Etiwanda, the No. 6 team in the Super 25 preseason boys basketball rankings, is whether the addition of 6- 9 center Jordan Naughton, a transfer from Rancho Cucamonga, and 6- 10 sophomore Roman Silva, who played for Etiwanda’s JV, will make the Eagles stingier on defense or just taller.

7. PRIME PREP, DALLAS ( 37- 2)

Begin with one of the top point guards in the country in 6- 5 senior Emmanuel Mudiay, who signed Wednesday with Southern Methodist. The Spartans cause backcourt matchup problems with Mudiay and Terrance Ferguson, a 6- 6 sophomore guard, who played for the USA 16- and- under squad last summer.

8. RAINIER BEACH, SEATTLE ( 25- 4)

With four returning starters, the Vikings have a good chance to pull off a 3A state title three- peat, led by Shaqquan Aaron, a Louisville-bound 6- 6 forward and plenty of quality bigs.

9. OAK HILL ACADEMY, MOUTH OF WILSON, VA. ( 33- 6)

The Warriors have four players headed to Atlantic Coast Conference schools: twin wings Caleb and Cody Martin ( North Carolina State); point guard Shelton Mitchell ( Wake Forest); and guard B. J. Stith ( Virginia), son of Cavalier great Bryant Stith.

10. NEUMANN- GORETTI, PHILADELPHIA ( 23- 6)

Ja’Quan Newton, a senior point guard who is headed to Miami ( Fla.), could lead the Saints to their fourth state title in the last five years.