Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50: Teams No. 31-50!

Today Ballislife.com tips off its 2023-24 high school basketball coverage with our first installment of the preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 National Team Rankings. We begin with teams No. 31-50.

Note: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 24 years ago.

Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 National
Team Rankings Powered by Ballislife.com

By Ronnie Flores

(Final 2022-23 ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included; Look for preseason Region-By-Region Top 20 Rankings on Tuesday, November 7 and for the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker on Tuesday, November 21.)

GO TO: No. 31 / No. 32 / No. 33 / No. 34 / No. 35 / No. 36 / No. 37 / No. 38 / No. 39 / No. 40 / No. 41 / No. 42 / No. 43 / No. 44 / No. 45 / No. 46 / No. 47 / No. 48 / No. 49 / No. 50

31. (45) Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) 25-3
Key Players: PF Brody Kozlowski 6-7 2024 (No. 68 Rivals.com), C Taylor Feroah 6-6 2024, SG Isaac Neibaur 6-3 2024, SF Tyler Mortensen 6-4 2026, C Derelle Desire 6-10 2024.
Why This Ranking: The Chargers return three starters and 10 lettermen off a club that captured the Utah High School Activities Association (UHSAA) Class 6A title with a 66-51 victory over American Fork. It’s not just the quantity of returnees, it’s the quality as Corner Canyon has one of the best front-lines in the West Region. Kozlowski (17.7 ppg, 11.9 rpg, 65 3-point) made a national splash at last year’s State Champions Invitational (SCI) and could be in line for All-American honors with a big season. Feroah (5.5 ppg, 3 rpg) played plenty inside last year, but this year he may become even more dangerous stepping away from the basket and creating mismatches (29 3-pointers) because of the increased size. Neibaur has experience playing starter type minutes off the bench and is known for his defensive prowess. Mortensen is expected to have a breakout year and could help take this unit to the next level.
The Skinny: Similar to a few teams in this range, Corner Canyon started on the FAB 50 bubble last season and pushed its way into the rankings by winning a state state title and losing only to FAB 50 ranked foes. FAB 50 title contender Sidwell Friends of Washington, D.C., beat them by seven points in the SCI semifinals and the Chargers have to show they can take down teams of that caliber to move up. Coach Dan Hunt (470-332) loves his team’s chance to do that because of its size, overall defense and shooting capabilities. Desire comes over from Juan Diego (Draper, Utah) and has good versatility, good instincts around the basket and can face up and do damage. If Corner Canyon jells right away, it should be able to fare well against its national foes. Corner Canyon plays highly-regarded Wheeler of Georgia at the Five For The Fight National Hoopfest (Pleasant Grove, Utah) on Nov. 20-21. It will also participate in the Holiday Hoopfest in Levi and will head to Florida to play in the long-running Kruel Classic.

32. (NR) Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia, Pa.) 17-11
Key Players: C Thomas Sorber 6-9 2024 (No. 24 On3.com, Ballislife Underclass All-American, Georgetown commit), SG Darren Williams 6-4 2024 (Florida Gulf Coast commit), PF Jaden Murray 6-7 2024.
Why This Ranking: The Philadelphia Catholic League is a gauntlet and the Raiders rate as the favorites over No. 40 Archbishop Wood and Neumann-Goretti. It begins with Sorber, a returning all-PCL selection who averaged 17.8 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.5 apg, 4.5 bpg as a junior and showed well against high major summer competition. Williams (15.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.9 apg) is another honors candidate who can play multiple positions. Murray and Rocco Morabito (6-2, 2024) return to the starting lineup and are scholarship players. Ryan Everett (6-0, 2024) also has plenty of big-game experience. “We have versatility and depth and can control the paint on both sides of the floor with Thomas Sorber,” coach Joe Zeglinski said.
The Skinny: This club has the depth necessary to survive the catholic league and its national schedule and unlike others who play in a weaker league, can easily bounce back from a loss. They also must take the next step and capture a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association (PIAA) state title after losing handily to Imhotep Charter in the Class 5A semifinals. As if the returning starters aren’t enough to get the job done, coach Zeglinski (130-72) will have Christian Dunham (6-3, 2024) for the entire season after he sat out the 2022-23 playoffs. Ryan also has Brandon Russell (6-4, 2025), an all-league transfer from Pennington School (N.J.) and highly-regarded lead guard Semaj Stone (6-3, 2027). The Raiders will face highly-regarded Jackson-Reed in the first round of the Gonzaga Classic (Dec. 8-10) and will be severely tested at the City of Palms Classic in Florida, where they open with major FAB 50 title contender Columbus. Win or lose, Archbishop Ryan will play a club ranked higher than them in their second game.

33. (22) Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 30-1
Key Players: PF Koa Peat 6-8 2025 (No. 3 Rivals.com, Ballislife First Team All-American), PG Barron Silsby 6-0 2024, PF D’Andre Harrison 6-5 2025, SF Trey McKinney 6-7 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Pumas were one game away from serious FAB 50 title contention last season and return three starters and ten lettermen. We rank Perry as preseason No. 1 Arizona Interscholastic Association (AIA) club over Sunnyslope, Millennium and Desert Mountain after no AIA clubs were ranked in the preseason last year. With Peat back, there will be very few, if any, games this season where veteran coach Sam Duane (468-198) doesn’t have the best player on the floor. He’s already over 1,000 career points and is physically as dominant as any front court player in the country. The first sophomore from an AIA program to earn All-American acclaim, Peat averaged 19.7 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 3.0 apg, 1.7 bpg and 1.3 spg. Silsby is a pure shooter who will help to keep defenses honest against Peat, while Harrison is a D1 prospect whose board work and interior scoring will be key. “We know how to win after capturing back-to-back state titles and I think we shoot the ball better than last year’s team,” Duane said. “We have experience and are unselfish, but not as long or athletic as last year.”
The Skinny: We rate the Pumas as the No. 1 AIA team because they are the two-time defending state champions after downing Sunnyslope, 74-58, in the first ever AIA open division title game. They are also older and stronger than Sunnyslope and Desert Mountain, both of whom rely on a younger core, and that can be important versus a national schedule. Peat netted 35 points in last year’s title game, but how much they will miss Cody Williams (Colorado) remains to be seen. After all, some feel he’s one of the best 2024 NBA Draft prospects out there. That’s where McKinney comes into play, as the play of the Walla Walla (Wash.) transfer forward could be the X-factor. Another newcomer who can impact games is Bruce Branch (6-4, 2027). Last season, even without the untimely loss to Pinnacle, the Pumas could only climb so high because of their relatively light schedule. That’s not the case this season, as they will face highly-regarded clubs Harvard-Westlake of California and Archbishop Stepinac of New York at Hoophall West in Scottsdale (Dec. 1-2), play in the Les Schwab Invitational (Dec. 27-30) in Portland Ore., with the likes of Harvard-Westlake and FAB 50 title contender Columbus of Florida, and take on highly-regarded Grayson of Georgia at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. (Jan. 13).

34. (34) Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 26-2
Key Players: PF Dylan Warlick 6-5 2024 (Ballislife Underclass All-American, Wyoming commit), PG Chiante’ Tramble 6-2 2024, SF Bryce Potts 6-6 2024, SG Dontrell Yearby Jr. 6-2 2024, PF Xavier Ross 6-8 2024.
Why This Ranking: The Huskies rate as the top-ranked Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) club with 10 lettermen returning off a Class 6A title team. Warlick (18 ppg, 9 rpg) is the go-to player and a walking double-double who went for 16 points and 17 rebounds in the state title game. Yearby (8 ppg) is a team-first guy who relishes the big defensive assignment. Potts (8 ppg, 7 rpg) is an invaluable contributor on both ends of the floor. Ross (6 ppg) is going to take on a bigger role and Tatum Ridge (6-2, 2024) is an instant-offense player for a team that looks to wear down foes with quality paint touches. “We are big and physical and a dominant scoring team in the paint, but we need to improve our 3-point shooting,” said coach Scott Norris (445-201).
The Skinny: The Huskies are not hard to peg as the top OSSAA club and No. 5 team from the Southwest Region, but their final ranking will be determined by how well they fare out-of-state. Last year’s team started just outside the FAB 50 as the No. 11 team in the Southwest Region, but their one point loss to FAB 50 ranked Faith Family of Texas predicated how high it could climb last season and their preseason positioning this one. Edmond North did lose standout T.O. Barrett to transfer (Link Academy of Missouri), but add Tramble from Putnam City West. He’s a talented player-maker who sported averages of 16 ppg and 6 apg as a junior. Jonathan “Slim” VanBuren (6-2, 2026) and Lukas Wooldridge (6-4, 2025) add to the depth. Edmond North will participate in the Tournament of Champions in Tulsa where they could face Oklahoma’s other preseason top-ranked clubs such as Owasso or Dale and will venture to Springfield, Mo., for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (Jan. 11-13) against a field that includes Cardinal Hayes of New York and FAB 50 title contenders McEachern of Georgia, St. John Bosco of California and Paul VI of Virginia.

35. (NR) St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 15-11
Key Players: SG Trey McKenney 6-4 2025 (No. 12 ESPN.com, Ballislife Underclass All-American), PG Sharod Barnes 6-2 2025, SG Daniel “Bugsy” Smythe 6-3 2024, PF Jayden Savoury 6-6 2025, PG Isaiah “Zip” Hines 5-8 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Eaglets are a sound choice to begin as No. 1 among Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) programs as they got basically everyone back from a team that advanced to the D1 state semifinals. It looked like Cass Tech would be right in the mix, but when Darius Acuff left for IMG Academy of Florida, that made St. Mary Prep an easier choice. There is no question now McKenney is the top junior guard in the state, as he was named the 2022-23 Michigan A.P. D1 Player of the Year after upping his freshman averages of 16.9 ppg and 6 rpg to 25.4 ppg and 11.1 rpg. He might not match those numbers because the productivity of his teammates will go up a notch with another year of experience under their belt. According to coach Todd Covert, McKenney has improved as a decision-maker in pick-and-roll, and labels Smythe one of the best shooters in the state. He’s also bullish on the underclass veterans, as Barnes, Hines and Savoury have all recently picked up D1 offers. “Our top seven players return after a Final Four appearance last year,” Covert said. “We are an experienced team and battle-tested.”
The Skinny: With its talent, experience and tradition, there is no reason why St. Mary Prep can’t capture the Catholic League title and go two steps further to capture the MHSAA D1 state crown. After opening up at No. 39 in the FAB 50 in 2020-21 and No. 47 in 2021-22, St. Mary Prep was unranked in 2022-23 and toiling along before catching fire in the playoffs. That playoff run set the tone for this season, but coach Covert is a bit concerned about complacency and outside distractions. There is plenty of talent and if everyone does their job this team will have a good opportunity to move up. As if the returnees are not enough, the Eaglets add Peyton Kemp (6-1, 2027) and Quincy Wright (6-5, 2027). Kemp is a top-shelf point guard prospect while Wright can play both forwards spots. St. Mary Prep will compete in the Motor City Roundball Classic, the D.C. Hoopfest and the Oakland County Showcase.

36. (NR) Hudson Catholic (Hudson, N.J.) 16-12
Key Players: PG Tahaad Pettiford 6-1 2024 (No. 21 Rivals.com, Ballislife Underclass All-American, Auburn commit), PG Ahmad Torrence 6-3 2026, PG Omari Moore 6-3 2025, PF Javon Rampersant 6-7 2026.
Why This Ranking: The Hawks return 10 lettermen from a team that never really quite jelled but has enough talent and firepower to warrant this spot. Pettiford is one of the major reasons for the optimism, as he is one of the fastest, most exciting and highly-regarded guards in the country. He missed many games as a junior while recovering from a torn meniscus and is eager to prove he’s McDonald’s All-American worthy. He averaged 18.4 ppg as a sophomore and 16.7 ppg, 3.1 rpg and 3.1 apg for New Heights on the 2023 Nike EYBL circuit. This perimeter-oriented team also returns Torrence, a budding star who can smoothly get to the basket or set up teammates. Moore already has D1 offers and is a slashing finisher with a nice pull-up game. Alex Massung (6-1, 2024) and Saad Mitchell (6-2, 2026) provide additional depth. If this team works the boards and pushes tempo, watch out.
The Skinny: Hudson Catholic must start behind Don Bosco Prep, the team it fell to in last season’s New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Non-Public A quarterfinals. Yes, the loss count was high, but that will easily come down this year as long as Pettiford is in the lineup. With Dave Boff moving on from perennial FAB 50 power Roselle Catholic and Camden graduating a stellar senior class, the NJSIAA pecking order is as wide open as we’ve seen in years and we have a hunch the Hawks are primed for a big year. Also keep an eye out for St. Rose of Belmar, which advanced to the Non-Public B state title game with a mostly underclass lineup. As for Hudson Catholic’s interior, Rampersant is flanked by Chadd Dubois (6-4, 2025) and that duo will have to step up in order for the Hawks to survive an always-tough schedule.

37. (NR) St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 19-8
Key Players: PF Damon Friery 6-9 2025 (No. 126 On3.com), SF Sam Springer 6-7 2024, PF Reece Robinson 6-8 2024 (Cleveland St. commit), PG Quinn Woidke 6-1 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Wildcats come in as the No. 2 Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) club behind highly-regarded Richmond Heights on the strength of talented returnees and an impact newcomer. Coach Cam Joyce (a former player at Northwood and the son of St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dru Joyce II) likes his team’s combination of shooting and size. The interior is led by Friery (14.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg) and Robinson (8.1 ppg, 6.5 rpg), the latter the son of Cleveland St. coach Daniyal Robinson. Springer (4.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg) has worked hard to improve his game and is sneaky athletic as a stretch-four. St. Ignatius has plenty of firepower, but is looking to shore up its backcourt for a deep playoff run.
The Skinny: As high as Joyce is on his depth on the wings, he’s a bit concerned about the depth in his backcourt. Jack Zapolnik (6-0, 2024) averaged 5.2 ppg as a junior and is expected to up his production while Woidke will be a nice shot in the arm. He’s capable of 20-point plus outings and had a terrific summer after missing last season due to injury. If Zapolnik and Woidke find the right chemistry and transfer Kalli Johnson (6-3, 2025) from Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) blends in with the veterans, this team will be hard to beat come playoff time. Other OHSAA D1 contenders include Centerville, Hilliard Bradley and Garfield Heights, the team that knocked out the Wildcats in a D1 regional semifinal contest. St. Ignatius will get its shot at highly regarded club and defending D4 state champ Richmond Heights at the Scholastic Play-By-Play Showcase. The Wildcats also face highly-regarded Oak Ridge of Florida at the Flyin’ To The Hoop in Dayton, Ohio (Jan. 14).

38. (NR) Bullis (Potomac, Md.) 26-5*
Key Players: PG Tyler Boston 5-10 2024 (Holy Cross commit), SF Cayden Diggs 6-7 2024 (No. 86 On3.com, Old Dominion commit), PF Jewel Walker 6-4 2024 (Ohio St. commit lacrosse), C Eric Reibe 7-0 2025 (No. 86 On3.com), SG Adrien Stevens 6-4 2025 (No. 136 On3.com).
Why This Ranking: There is plenty to like off a team with three returning starters and eight lettermen back that doesn’t have a glaring weakness. The Bulldogs cracked the FAB 50 as the fourth club from the DMV, which could have five or even six teams ranked nearly each preseason, as we like the fact they are senior-oriented and highly-motivated. Boston is the catalyst, a seasoned lead guard whose toughness is only matched by his smarts. Boston was second five All-Met by the Washington Post in 2022-23. Diggs is a terrific slasher who relentlessly takes defenders off the bounce and is primed for a big senior campaign. Walker is a stud in the land of the giants, constantly working the glass and doing what it takes for his team. The team’s depth also helps push each other in practice. “We have good practice habits, enjoy the game and being around each other, but our late practice start date (Nov. 13) puts us behind some of our competition,” coach Bruce Kelley said.
The Skinny: This team isn’t well-known on the national circuit, but it doesn’t matter they just come to beat teams and go home without much fanfare. Their individual talent is much the same way; they are not the highest-ranked, but the starting five is going to leave high school with scholarships. Another reason why like Bullis is it has true talent at each of the five positions. Reibe didn’t play much as a sophomore because of a late enrollment, but he was a standout during the grassroots and June scholastic live periods and the P5 offers are starting to roll in for the 250-pound seven-footer. Stevens is a terrific defender with a budding offensive game. Depth is provided by Jayson Peterson (6-7, 2025), Angelo Dickerson (6-2, 2026), Luke Salzman (6-6, 2024) and transfer Darren Moore Jr. (6-1, 2025). The Bulldogs, who play a challenging schedule including a trip to the D.C. National Hoopfest and Hoophall East, should capture the Interstate Athletic Conference (IAC) and are highly motivated to win the Maryland Private School State Tournament. Last season, in its inaugural year, Bullis was the No. 1 seed but was shocked in the quarterfinals by No. 8 seed Mt. Zion Prep of Lanham.

39. (BB) Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) 22-2
Key Players: SF Elijah Williams 6-6 2026 (No. 3 ESPN.com), SF Warren Marshall IV 6-4 2024 (Oakland commit), PF Luke Salkowski 6-6 2024, PF Chase Van Ameyde 6-6 2024 (Notre Dame commit baseball).
Why This Ranking: The Warriors have enough returning firepower and a special transfer to warrant this spot as the No. 7 team from the Midwest Region. Coach Rick Palmer (68-36) has two returning starters and nine lettermen off a team that spent some time FAB 50 ranked before an upset loss in the Michigan High School Athletic Association (MHSAA) D1 playoffs. Marshall is a combo guard with size who can play upfront or initiate offense. The biggest thing for him to display is leadership and experience in crunch time situations and he’s embraced the role now that three talented seniors have graduated. Van Ameyde is a big-time pitcher on the diamond, but on the hardwood he’s a returning starter who does the little things necessary to win. Salkowski is a classic late bloomer who despite playing JayVee as a tenth grader, will be playing college basketball because of his work ethic and shot-making ability. Jeremiah Caffey (6-3, 2024) is another player expected to take on a bigger role.
The Skinny: The Warriors captured the Michigan Catholic High School League title, but fell to hot St. Mary Prep in the district final, 57-50, when they were No. 1 ranked in the state. This preseason, St. Mary Prep is deserving of the top spot, but don’t count out the Warriors despite the graduation of Curtis Williams (Louisville), John Blackwell (Wisconsin) and Xavier Thomas (Toledo). Palmer loves his team’s interior strength and athleticism and if Elijah Williams is as good as advertised, this team could move up in the rankings. Williams is considered one of the best prospects in the 2026 class and makes the move to Brother Rice now that his father Monty Williams is the new coach of the Detroit Pistons. Trevor Smith (6-8, 2026) is another transfer (from Okemos) and is a future D1 player. The veteran guards will be pushed by Ace Walters (6-1, 2027), the son of former NBA guard Rex Walters.

40. (NR) Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) 19-9
Key Players: SG Jalil Bethea 6-5 2024 (No. 7 247Sports.com, Ballislife Underclass All-American, Miami commit), PG Josh Reed 6-3 2024 (Drexel commit), SG Milan Dean 6-4 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Vikings have three starters and seven lettermen returning from a club that lost to Roman Catholic in both the semifinals of the Philadelphia Catholic League and PIAA Class 6A state tournament. Roman Catholic is a bit down, but Neumann-Goretti is a club that along with the Vikings will be in the thick of the PCL race with No. 32 Archbishop Ryan. Bethea leads the title hopes after averaging 23.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg and 4.3 apg as a junior while showing this summer he has an outside shot at Mr. Basketball USA honors if Wood plays up to expectations. Reed is a talented combo guard who can go inside for tough buckets or grab offensive rebounds. Dean is another returnee with all-league credentials and is known for his vertical pop. “I like our guard play, shot-making and toughness, but our lack of height is a concern,” said coach John Mosco (184-73).
The Skinny: This team is not quite to the level of the 2020-21 Wood club that opened No. 9 in the FAB 50 and played to that level before losing in the PIAA Classs 6A final to Reading by a point, but it’s very talented and can make some noise on a national scale. The interior rebounding will have to be by committee and Wood will look to force tempo and rely on the depth created by Deuce Maxey (6-1, 2025), Mike Green (5-10, 2025), Brady McAdams (6-3, 2025) and Brian Donahue (6-3, 2026). It’s not easy to rely on freshmen in the PCL, but the progress and production of Jaden Jenkins (6-8, 2027) could be vital against the better teams on the schedule. In addition to the PCL wars and a game with public league kingpin Imhotep Charter, Wood will test itself at the D.C. National Hoopfest (Dec. 9-10), the King Cotton Classic in Pine Bluff, Ark. (Dec. 27-29), and at the Spalding Hoophall Classic (Jan. 13), where it takes on highly-regarded Centennial of Corona, Calif.

41. (4) Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) 33-0
Key Players: PG Mark Zackery IV 6-0 2025, SG K.J. Windham 6-3 2024 (No. 119 247Sports.com, Northwestern commit), C Kaleb Milan 6-9 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Giants have enough back from a historic season to once again challenge for the coveted Indiana High School State Athletic Association (IHSAA) Class 4A crown. Last season, they became Indiana’s first team to win 33 consecutive games and finish unbeaten with a state title, but must replace a fine senior core. Kokomo is the IHSAA Class 4A front-runner, but we give the Giants a slight nod as the No. 2 Indiana squad over Cathedral, a team that began No. 13 in last season’s FAB and should be strong once again. Ben Davis has Zachary (6.6 ppg, 2.1 apg) back and he should be ready to go once football season ends where he is a D1 defensive back prospect. He is an instinctual and competitive athlete who went for 16 points in the state title game win over Kokomo and can also distribute. Windham (8.4 ppg) is a terrific shooter who can also guard multiple positions. Six lettermen return in total from a program that knows how to win under Don Carlisle, who also won a state title as a player for the Giants (1995 and 1996) in the old one-class system.
The Skinny: The Giants will miss Zane Doughty (Ball State), who stepped up against Kokomo star Flory Bidinga in the state title game. So, do the Giants have a legit shot at repeating? “We have a great chance,” Carlisle said. “We only lost two games in the entire program and I have some really good sophomores and a few guys from the JayVee that will contribute right away.” Milan, a transfer from Scecina Memorial in Indianapolis, gives the frontline a major boost and is a consistent double-double threat in this lineup. Also look for point guard Jahmir Avery (6-0, 2025) and Mark White (6-3, 2024), a good rebounder and athlete, to take a step forward as a senior. Carlisle is currently on administrative leave over a physical encounter involving a student in gym class, and if he doesn’t return it will be a blow and distraction to the team’s repeat chances. The Giants may not go unbeaten and must overcome any potential off-court distractions, but have just enough for a legitimate shot to be the first program to repeat in Class 4A since Carmel in 2012-13.

42. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 29-7
Key Players: SF Brandon Benjamin 6-5 2025, PF Brannon Martinsen 6-8 2026 (Ballislife Underclass All-American), PF Blake Davidson 6-8 2025, SG Luke Barnett 6-2 2026, SG Owen Verna 6-3 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Monarchs rate as a solid No. 3 among California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) clubs behind FAB 50 title contender Harvard-Westlake and CIF open contender St John Bosco. They are underclass-dominated but quite talented and motivated to compete for CIF Southern Section and state open crowns. Martinsen (12.4 ppg, 4.6 rpg) is one of the best players in California’s gifted 2026 class and still has room for plenty of improvement. Benjamin, who averaged 22.5 ppg and 8.7 rpg at nearby Canyon of Anaheim, is crafty and skilled and fits in perfectly to coach Gary McKnight’s offense that emphasizes movement without the ball and shot selection. Davidson completes the frontline and could be in store for a breakout season after playing a complimentary role last year. Verna (10.2 ppg) is a terrific spot-up shooter and Barnett (9.9 ppg) plays like a cagey veteran despite his youth.
The Skinny: From a rankings standpoint, Mater Dei has a lot of work to do, but will be plenty better than last season when a couple of streaks ended. The Monarchs didn’t qualify for the CIFSS open playoffs for the first time since it began in 2013-14 and they also saw their state-record 34-year consecutive league title streak end. McKnight, who is now 1,243-134 since 1982-83 with 11 CIF state crowns and 39 league titles in those 41 seasons, also welcomes back veteran guard Brady Karich (6-2, 2024) and Utah Tech-bound Scotty Belnap (6-5, 2024). An underclass-oriented St. John Bosco club was the team that ended the league streak and JSerra and Santa Margarita will also be formidable in the Trinity League this season. Winning league will be key before Mater Dei can think about the CIFSS open playoffs, where No. 44 Roosevelt, No. 46 Sierra Canyon of Chatsworth, Sherman Oaks Notre Dame also loom as contenders, along with defending section champ Corona Centennial and defending state champ Harvard-Westlake.

43. (NR) Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) 16-14
Key Players: SF Bryson Tucker 6-7 2024 (No. 12 On3.com), SF A.J. Swinton 6-6 2024 (No. 106 Rivals.com, Florida State commit), SG Quincy Wadley 6-4 2026 (No. 15 ESPN.com, Ballislife Underclass All-American).
Why This Ranking: The Knights count nine lettermen returning from a club that finished in the middle of the pack of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) race. It ain’t easy winning the WCAC crown and it's been ten years since Bishop O’Connell last won the tourney title. Paul VI and Gonzaga are front-runners, but we like the Knights and DeMatha Catholic to challenge in a year where perennial contender St. John’s is reeling from transfers and the illness of coach Pat Behan. Veteran coach Joe Wootten, who enters his 25th season having won game No. 500 last season (510-256), had a young club that experienced growing pains and should use that experience to its advantage this season. It adds Tucker, a streaky talent who played a partial season at IMG Academy in Florida last season. He’s an effortless scorer with a terrific basketball I.Q and talented enough to earn all-WCAC honors if the Knights challenge for the conference crown.
The Skinny: This club is deep and versatile and if Tucker is locked in with the veterans it could be a special campaign. Swinton is a versatile talent that can play upfront, handle the ball and has an improved perimeter game. He was terrific in fall leagues for a team that can run and employs an effective full-court press. Last year, Wootten carried three freshmen and it was apparent Wadley is a special talent. In fact, he was good enough to earn all-WCAC honors after averaging just a shade under 15 ppg. He’s another player with big guard capabilities with deep range to boot and already talented enough to earn USA Basketball mini-camps and event invites. It’s been 11 years since a Melo Trimble-led O’Connell club captured the WCAC crown. Before that, the Knights last won the title in Wooten’s fifth season (2003-04) and perhaps a good omen for this season was that club 20 years is also the last time the O’Connell was ranked in the preseason right in this range (No. 44).

44. (NR) Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) 23-7
Key Players: SF Brayden Burries 6-5 2025 (No. 12 247Sports.com), SG Darnez Slater 6-4 2024, PG Isaac Williamson 5-11 2025, PG Myles Walker 5-10 2025.
Why This Ranking: The Mustangs could be major players for the CIF Southern Section open division title along with No. 42 Mater Dei and No. 46 Sierra Canyon, with defending champ Harvard-Westlake of North Hollywood and highly-regarded St. John Bosco of Bellflower the early leading contenders. Coach Steve Singleton has plenty of offensive firepower on his roster led by Burries, a physical specimen and one of the best underclass players in the country. It won’t be long before he’s considered one of the best, regardless of class, and with a big season could be a California Mr. Basketball candidate. Slater is a talented scorer in his own right who moves well without the ball and can also take defenders off the dribble. With those two, Roosevelt will create plenty of matchups problems and create open shots for Williamson and Walker, who compliment each other well and give Singleton the option to go to a bigger lineup when Walker is out of the game.
The Skinny: Under Singleton, this program won the CIF D1 state crown in 2016-17 and finished just outside of the FAB 50 at No. 14 in the West Region and this club has the potential to be better. Obviously, it’s going for the open crown at the section and regional level but will have its work cut out for it to knock off the teams in its range and the three from California ranked ahead. Burries and Williamson didn’t play last season because of residency issues at their old school and will be eager to compete in meaningful games. Williamson is a knock down shooter, but he and Walker, a transfer from nearby J.W. North of Riverside, have to show consistency on the perimeter (they tend to be streaky) in order for Roosevelt to move up. Singleton (who coached Dominguez of Compton to a D2 state crown and No. 17 FAB 50 ranking in 2000-01) also has to get solid production on the interior from Kevin “Tochi” Anigbogu (6-9, 2024), a transfer from Centennial of Corona, to meet expectations. We’ll find out alot about this team and the West Region pecking order at The Classic at Damien where Roosevelt will compete with the likes of No. 50 Owyhee, St John Bosco and highly-regarded clubs American Fork of Utah and Sunnyslope of Arizona, among others.

45. (NR) South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas) 20-14
Key Players: PG Cam Carroll 6-2 2025, SF Cam Paul 6-7 2025, SG A.J. Borden 6-4 2024.
Why This Ranking: We like the Warriors as the third University Interscholastic League (UIL) team in the FAB 50 right in front of UIL kingpin Duncanville, as last season’s young squad is a year older and better. Coach Brandon Bennett returns a whopping 11 lettermen from last year’s club that lost to Highland Park in the Class 6A, Region I bi-district playoffs. Leading the way is Carroll, a physical, attacking guard that knows how to get downhill to score or set up others. Borden compliments him well, as he can post up smaller guards inside and is a terrific defender. Paul is an athletic wing scorer who can also work the boards inside. He can also keep defense honest as a pull-up shooter and has a high ceiling, which is the case for this entire team.
The Skinny: It’s a close call but we like the Warriors right in front of Duncanville as the second-to-last team from the Southwest Region in the rankings. Bennett has three excellent players and depth with a team that can really get after it defensively and only lost two seniors that were role players. South Grand Prairie has shown well in fall leagues, but has plenty of work to do and must win the Region I, District 8 title to compete with the likes of San Antonio Brennan, Plano East and No. 47 Duncanville for the UIL Class 6A state crown. Should the Texas teams in this range falter, Vashon and Chaminade of Missouri are strong clubs that will have a great chance to crack the rankings.

46. (NR) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 23-11
Key Players: PG Justin Pippen 6-4 2024, SG Isaiah Elohim 6-5 2024 (No. 34 Rivals.com), PF Noah Williams 6-6 2024, SF Bryce Cofield 6-5 2025 (No. 132 On3.com), C Majok Chuol 7-0 2024.
Why This Ranking: The fifth and final CIF team to crack the rankings are the Trailblazers, a physical and dangerous team that is eager to show the country they can still compete at a national level despite the graduation of a strong senior class. With LeBron James Jr. having graduated there won’t be as many cameras and fanfare around, of course, but Sierra Canyon will be a tough playoff out. That’s because of the maturation of Pippen and the physical strength of its high level team-oriented defense. Pippen is one of the most improved players in the country with his smooth and unselfish approach and good outside shooting, Cofield is a downhill attacker who benefits on offense from the opportunities created on defense and Williams is another team-first weapon. If Chuol continues developing and provides first-rate rim protection, this is a team few will want to see come playoff time.
The Skinny: The Trailblazers are preseason FAB 50 ranked for the tenth consecutive season, but it wasn’t an easy decision. They will have to show they can get by fellow Mission League foe Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks and compete with defending section and state open champ Harvard-Westlake. We seriously considered Arizona clubs Sunnyslope and Millennium of Arizona for one of the final FAB 50 spots, but the Trailblazers soundly defeated both clubs in fall league and were just more physical than most of the opponents they faced as regular season tune-ups. They also played a majority of the fall without the services of Elohim, a veteran player and gifted scorer who at this time last year was considered one of the most gifted players in the national senior class. He’s a skilled and deliberate offensive player and how he meshes with the core when he comes back will dictate a lot of what happens with this team down the line. Regardless of its makeup, Sierra Canyon’s defense won’t take a day off and this team is playing with a chip on its shoulder to show the media and fans they can compete at a high level without worrying about all the social media attention the team has garnered in recent seasons.

47. (3) Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) 28-1
Key Players: SG Kayden Edwards 6-2 2025 (No. 55 Rivals.com), SF B.J. Davis-Ray 6-6 2025 (No. 36 Rivals.com), PF Cam Smith 6-7 2025.
Why This Ranking: Yes, the graduation losses are heavy, but don’t look now because the Panthers will still be a player on a national scale because of their talent base, tradition and coaching. They have been the UIL’s best team for five years running and have a junior core that could make a run at another Class 6A state crown. Edwards is a lefty that’s fast with the ball in his hands at the point and a creative scorer who can get hot in a hurry when he’s off the ball. He’s flanked by Davis-Ray, a scoring wing with size that is a matchup nightmare. Both Edwards and Davis are nationally-known to recruiters and Smith is well on his way. He’s just scratching the surface of his potential, as he can pass and shoot and is even better as a switchable defender who excels contesting shots on the perimeter and around the rim. Duncanville also prides itself on good team defense and that will help it stay in close games.
The Skinny: This year’s unit won’t be as good as the last two Duncanville teams that opened up No. 7 in 2021-22 and No. 8 in 2022-23, but the Panthers don’t have to be to have a shot at the UIL Class 6A crown. After dropping out of the UIL playoffs last year right after the preseason FAB 50 dropped, and playing a national schedule, the Panthers are now eligible for the post-season and will be contenders in a wide-open race for the Class 6A crown. In addition to No. 45 South Grand Prairie, other Class 6A contenders on the FAB 50 bubble include Stony Point of Round Rock and W.T. White of Dallas. Another reason to like Duncanville in this spot is the return of coach David Peavy, the architect of the 2021-22 FAB 50 National Championship team who was suspended for one season after the UIL stripped Duncanville of its 2022 state crown. In 2020, the Panthers weren’t able to finish the season because of the outbreak of COVID-19, won it all in 2021 when it finished No. 10 in the FAB 50, were stripped of the title two seasons ago and didn’t play for one last season, so they are eager to get back in the winner’s circle. Peavy has the talent to do it, it’s just a matter of jelling at the right time down the stretch.

48. (24) Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 29-0
Key Players: SG Jaden Jackson 6-1 2024 (South Dakota St. commit), PF Robby Garcia 6-7 2025, PG Eldon Turner 5-10 2024 (Wayne St. commit), C Jacob Arop 6-6 2024.
Why This Ranking: The Thunderbirds bring back enough (eight lettermen) to rate as the No. 1 Nebraska School Activities Association (NSAA) club and No. 8 team from the Southwest Region. Josiah Dotzler is now at Creighton, but Jackson is ready to step up and lead in the quest for back-to-back Class A state titles after averaging 14.7 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.3 apg and 1.8 spg as a junior. He’s a terrific spot-up shooter and a ball-hawk on defense. Garcia (9.2 ppg, 5.6 rpg) is a clutch player and will take a step up after being the third scoring option last season. Turner (5.8 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.2 apg, 1.7 spg) is the consummate play-maker and showed improvement over the summer. Arop (5.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg) is a Grid-Hoop stud who gives this team a presence inside to take pressure off the scorers.
The Skinny: The Thunderbirds opened at No. 10 in the Southwest Region last season, but exceeded expectations in slowly rising into the Top 25. Bellevue West won all but one game last season by double-digits with an average winning margin of 26 ppg. It won’t be as dominant this season, but it simply doesn’t have to be in its quest for a state title. We like coach Steve Klein’s club because of its experience, balance and the program’s winning pedigree. If the Thunderbirds make it to the state title game once again, it will be a fifth consecutive trip to the NSAA Class A state final. This club will play highly-regarded Sunrise Christian Academy at the Heartland Hoops Classic (Feb. 10) and will hit the road to face No. 49 Totino-Grace.

49. (NR) Totino-Grace (Fridley, Minn.) 24-8
Key Players: SF Isaiah Arigu-Johnson 6-7 2024 (No. 91 On3.com, Miami commit), SF Dothan Ijadimbola 6-6 2026 (No. 34 On3.com).
Why This Ranking: The Eagles have enough firepower and versatility to come in as the No. 9 team from the Midwest Region. Coach Nick Carroll (114-57) has two mainstays upfront returning and a host of terrific underclass talent in his backcourt. After a terrific summer, Arigu-Johnson holds offers from all over the country because of his terrific grades and budding game. Ijadimbola is a versatile athlete and defender who is just scratching the surface of his potential. Another highly-regarded wing is Tyler Wagner (6-6, 2025), a good athlete and pull up shooter who works hard on his game. The backcourt is a work in progress, but Chace Watley (6-1, 2025) comes highly-regarded and Tian Chatman (6-4, 2026) is already a well-known commodity. He has a slick handle, nice crossover and can get to the basket or set up teammates. He’s the younger brother of Ohio St. freshman Taison Chatman, the star of last year’s championship team.
The Skinny: After capturing their first ever Minnesota High School League (MHSL) state title in 2021-22, the Eagles have been on a roll, capturing back-to-back Class AAA titles. The program did lose three scholarship players off its 2022-23 team, but Carroll and the rest of the coaching staff feels the personnel’s potential to three-peat is in place and far from the No. 1 issue. “Our versatility is our biggest strength,” Carroll said. “We have six rotation players 6-foot-5 or bigger and everyone shoots it. New leadership will be our biggest adjustment.” Another reason to like the Eagles is their competitive schedule. The young guards are going to have to be ready right away, as the Eagles play against defending MHSL Class AAAA champ Wayzata at the Breakdown Tip-Off Classic. They will also have two competitive contests at the Mike Miller Classic and host No. 48 Bellevue West.

50. (NR) Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho) 21-6
Key Players: SG Liam Campbell 6-5 2024 (No. 76 ESPN.com, USC commit), PF Jackson Rasmussen 6-7 2025, SG Boden Howell 6-4 2025, PG Logan Haustveit 5-11 2026.
Why This Ranking: For the second consecutive season, we begin the storm at No. 50. Last season, they were just a shade under that level, but the experience of playing at a national level will pay dividends this season. Coach Any Harrington (107-29) returns four starters from a club that lost two games in-state and should be deeper and play even more uptempo, in addition to being a year older and stronger. Campbell is one of the best players in the West Region and Rasmussen is another all-state talent who has expanded his all-around game from last season. Howell is capable of big scoring outputs as a multiple-level scorer while Haustveit is a future scholarship point guard who also uses his instincts and toughness to excel as a defensive back in football. Owyhee narrowly edges out a host of strong California clubs and Sunnyslope of Arizona in the West Region pecking order.
The Skinny: We had the right idea last year, but the wrong team, as Owyhee lost early in the season decisively to Lake City of Coeur d’Alene. That dropped the Storm out of the rankings as the first team from Idaho in 36 years of our weekly polls, but for perspective Lake City went on to finish unbeaten at 26-0 and No. 40 in the FAB 50 as the Idaho High School Activities Association (IDHSAA) Class 5A champions. There is no doubt Idaho teams have increased their profile in recent seasons as the state’s population grows, so there is a good chance there could be another one FAB 50 ranked for the second straight season after 36 years of being shut out. Another club to watch is Hillcrest of Idaho Falls, which went 25-1 and captured the Class 4A title. Both clubs will be at The Classic at Damien in SoCal, where Owyhee has gone 5-3 in the top division the past two seasons. Other major West Region contenders that will be there in La Verne, Calif., after Christmas are FAB 50 title contender St. John Bosco, Sunnyslope and No. 44 Roosevelt. The Storm also host the Pro Image Holiday Classic (Dec. 15-17), which includes Hillcrest and highly-regarded California clubs Centennial of Corona and Salesian of Richmond.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50: Teams No. 31-50!

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1

Montverde Academy (Fla.) 33-0

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2

Columbus (Fla.) 28-5

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3

Paul VI (Va.) 35-3

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4

Plano East (Tx.) 40-0

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5

L.I. Lutheran (N.Y.) 21-5

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