Super 25 hoops

Findlay Prep of Henderson, Nev., is the leading boys basketball team in the preseason rankings,

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (29-3) The Pilots brought in plenty of talent to surround P.J. Washington, a 6-8 junior power forward who is listed as the No. 15 player in his class. The Pilots are 252-17 over the last seven seasons and have sent 10 players to the NBA. 2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (31-1) The Eagles have won three consecutive national titles but have to replace American Family Insurance All-USA Player of the Year Ben Simmons, a USA TODAY preseason college All-American at LSU. Montverde picked up two talented junior Canadians in 6-1 guard Marcus Carr and 6-9 center Simi Shittu, both of whom played well this summer on the AAU circuit. Returning sophomores E.J. Montgomery, a 6-9 center, and Silvio De Sousa, a 6-7 forward, will be expected to step up. 3. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (47-1) The Warriors, No. 2 in the Super 25 last season, face a major question: Can American Family Insurance All-USA forward Harry Giles, a 6-11 senior who averaged 23 points and 11 rebounds a game for Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) last season, come back this season from a knee injury he suffered in the Warriors’ first game? The signs are not good. That puts more pressure on 6-8 small forward Mario Kegler (15.4 ppg, 7.2 rpg), a Jackson, Miss., native who played for Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville) last season. 4. Advanced Prep International, Dallas (first season) The Bulldogs start with Alabama commit Terrance Ferguson, a 6-5 senior shooting guard, and junior power forward Billy Preston, who was a standout during summer AAU play. 5. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (31-3) Miles Bridges (15.7 ppg, 10.6 rpg, 3.5 apg), a 6-6 senior forward and Michigan State commit, is the top returnee for the Fighting Irish. 6. La Lumiere, La Porte, Ind. (24-3) The Lakers have one returning starter, senior shooting guard Brandon Cyrus (9.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg), but have a group of talented newcomers, including Texas commit James Banks (10.8 ppg, 8.9 rpg), a 6-10 senior center who transferred from Mount Vernon Christian (Stockbridge, Ga.). 7. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md. (33-4) The Stags have a solid nucleus led by senior guard Markelle Fultz (16.0 ppg), a Washington commit; 6-6 junior forward D.J. Harvey (14.0 ppg); and 6-3 guard Nate Darling (12.0 ppg), an Alabama at Birmingham commit. 8. Chino Hills, Calif. (15-17) The Huskies were the state Division I runners-up last season and should contend again with UCLA commit Lonzo Ball and his brother LiAngelo Ball. Lonzo, a 6-5 senior point guard, averaged 25 points, 11.2 rebounds, 9.1 assists, 5 steals and 5 blocked shots last season, while LiAngelo, a junior guard, averaged 20.1 points and 3.5 rebounds. Watch for another Ball, freshman LaMelo, to have an immediate impact. 9. Wayne, Huber Heights, Ohio (26-4) The defending state Division I champions return four starters, led by senior 6-5 guard Trey Landers (11 ppg, 7 rpg), a Dayton commit. 10. Bentonville, Ark. (23-6) The Tigers were state runners-up and bring back elite senior guard Malik Monk (26.9 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 3.0 apg) along with senior forward Tyler Robinson (11 ppg, 7.0 rpg), junior guard Jordan Hemphill (8.0 ppg) and junior guard Aaron Estrada (3.0 ppg). 11. Sierra Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-4) The Trailblazers, who won the state Division V title last season, return, to begin with, senior point guard Devearl Ramsey (13.9 ppg, 4.9 apg), a speedy Nevada commit. 12. High Point (N.C.) Christian (19-14) The Cougars raised their profile with several big-name transfers, led by Edrice “Bam” Adebayo, a 6-9 forward who averaged 32 points and 21 rebounds last season at Northside (Pinetown, N.C.); junior guard Michael Huiett Jr., who averaged 20 points per game last season at Village Christian (Fayetteville); and Montverde (Fla.) Academy’s Ty Graves, a 6-0 guard who has committed to Boston College. 13. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (29-2) The defending AAA state champion Cahillites return three Penn State commits in senior guards Tony Carr (10 ppg) and Nazeer Bostick (12 ppg) and 6-7 forward Lamar Stevens, a transfer who averaged 15 points per game last season at Haverford. D’Andre Vilmar, a 6-4 junior guard who played for the junior national team for The Bahamas, and Paul Newman (7.0 ppg), a 6-6 senior forward, are also key returnees. 14. Chaminade, St. Louis (26-4) Duke commit Jayson Tatum (26.5 ppg, 11.7 rpg), a 6-9 wing and a two-time state player of the year, has plenty of support, with Iowa commit Tyler Cook (12.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg), a 6-8 senior power forward, and 6-1 senior guard Mike Lewis, a Duquesne commit. 15. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (34-2) The Eagles retain eight regulars from their state 6A-II runner-up team, led by 5-11 senior point guard Carsen Edwards (23 ppg, 2.3 apg, 2.0 spg), a Purdue commit. 16. Simeon, Chicago (28-4) The Wolverines are led by Gonzaga commit Zach Norvell (13 ppg), a 6-4 senior guard who scored 53 points in a tournament in Las Vegas this summer. 17. Cape Henry, Virginia Beach (31-2) The Dolphins won the state independent schools title. While they might miss guard Chris Clarke, now at Virginia Tech, they have plenty of talent, including 6-6 senior wing Malcolm Weathers and 6-4 junior guard Malik Marrow. 18. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (30-3) The Wildcats lost American Family Insurance All-USA player Jaylen Brown to California but can count on elite junior point guard Darius Perry, senior point guard Makahi Eastmond and shooting guard Cam Jordan. 19. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (27-6) The Gaels lost talented 7-footers Chase Jeter and Stephen Zimmerman to graduation, but 6-11 senior center Zach Collins, a Gonzaga commit, played well during the summer and junior wing Charles O’Bannon Jr. (8.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg,2.4 apg) made the Under-16 national team. 20. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (28-4) The Lions lost American Family Insurance All-USA guard Isaiah Briscoe to Kentucky but have a chance to win their third Tournament of Champions in four years, thanks to three heralded transfers, including junior guard Nate Pierre-Louis, who averaged 15 points and 4.5 rebounds per game at St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark). 21. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (25-6) The Huskies are led by senior guard Jordan Griffin (13.8 ppg, 4.4 rpg), a Long Beach State commit, and two UCLA commits: Ike Anigbogu (4.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 2.5 bpg), a 6-9 senior center, and 6-8 junior power forward Jalen Hill (5.3 ppg, 6.1 rpg). 22. Word of God Academy, Raleigh, N.C. (29-3) The Holy Rams added highprofile Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) transfer Rawle Alkins (20 ppg), a 6-5 senior guard. 23. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-12) The Eagles won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference last season and return five players who started at one point or another. 24. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (27-4) For the first time in seven years, the Wolverines ended last season without a state championship. Miller Grove has the talent to be in contention for another title, however, with ultraquick junior point guard Alterique Gilbert (18.5 ppg, 6.2 apg), a Connecticut commit, and junior forward Raylon Richardson (12.0 ppg, 8.2 rpg, 2.4 bpg) being the top returnees. 25. Sacred Heart, Waterbury, Conn. (28-0) The Hearts have won two consecutive Class S state titles but will be playing for a Class M title this season. Sacred Heart is led by 6-5 senior wing Mustapha Heron (24.6 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 3.1 apg), an Auburn commit.