The top three teams in the MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard have all won national championships since 2009.

Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), Montverde Academy (Fla.) and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) are in dynasty mode and looking to continue their dominance of the high school basketball landscape.

But capable challengers have emerged. Upstart programs at La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W.Va.) and Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) are loaded and would love to legitimize their status as national powers by owning the No. 1 spot in April.

And don't forget about the dark horses. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) has an unmatched trio of big men that could prove difficult to handle. Plano West (Texas) is healthy and has all the weapons it hoped to have a year ago when eligibility issues forced a key contributor to the sideline.

Continue reading to find out how we see the race for high school basketball's mythical national title shaping up heading into the 2014-15 season.

Past MaxPreps National Champions
2014 – Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2013 – X25: Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), Academy: Montverde Academy (Fla.)
2012 – X25: St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), Academy: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
2011 – St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2010 – Yates (Houston)
2009 – Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)

Click through to begin sizing up this year's contenders with in-depth previews for all the nation's elite in our MaxPreps Preseason Xcellent 25 National High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.
25. Oldsmar Christian (Fla.)
Head coach: Jordan Fair (52-18 career record, third year as head coach at Oldsmar Christian)
2013-14 record: 16-9

KEY RETURNERS
Eric Hester (6-3, Jr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Dontay Bassett (6-9, Jr., F)
Kyle Clark (6-5, Sr., G)
L.J. Figueroa (6-5, So., G)
Justin James (6-7, Sr., F) – Wyoming verbal commitment
Andrew Moemeka (6-8, Sr., F) – Wyoming verbal commitment

EAGLE STORYLINES

* "Watch out for Oldsmar" was a common refrain among coaches this offseason. The Tampa-area school knocked off Sunshine Independent Athletic Association rival Arlington Country Day late last season and figures to take a significant step forward after loading up on quality transfers.

* Hester is the highest-rated prospect in Oldsmar's stable of standouts. He's a Top 50-caliber 2016 prospect with offers from the likes of Florida, Louisville and Memphis.

* Former Florida Gators assistant Larry Shyatt is in his fifth season as head coach at the University of Wyoming, and he's brought a bit of the Sunshine State with him to Laramie. Former Florida Mr. Basketball Allen Edwards is on the coaching staff and Miami products Charles Hankerson Jr. and Tyrell Williams are already on the roster. Next season, Oldsmar seniors James and Moemeka will continue the pipeline by heading to Laramie.

KEY DATES
Nov. 21 – at Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Jan. 23 – vs. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.)
Jan. 30 – vs. The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.)
Feb. 12 – at The Rock
Feb. 14 – Arlington Country Day
Feb. 19-21 – SIAA State Tournament
24. North Little Rock (Ark.)
Head coach: Johnny Rice (54-3 career record, third year as head coach at North Little Rock)
2013-14 record: 26-2, Class 7A state champions

KEY RETURNERS
KeVaughn Allen (6-3, Sr., G) – Florida verbal commitment
Kambrion Dickerson (6-1, Sr., G)
Sam Dunkum (6-11, Sr., C)
K.J. Hill (6-0, Sr., G) – Arkansas football verbal commitment
Adrian Moore (6-4, Jr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Dion Dobbins (6-5, So., G/F)
Jarvis Ricks (6-0, So., G)
Morris Talbert (6-4, Jr., G/F)
Gentrel Taylor (6-6, So., F/C)

CHARGING WILDCAT STORYLINES

* Few members of Class of 2015 own a more impressive resume than Allen. He's already led NLR to a pair of state titles and earned MaxPreps Junior All-American honors a year ago after putting up 21.3 points, 6.4 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game.

* If it weren't for Bentonville sensation Malik Monk, North Little Rock would also be home to the state's top junior guard in Moore. The 6-foot-4 junior has several high major offers and is one of three 7A all-state picks back for the Charging Wildcats.

* The third all-stater back for Rice is Hill, who is better known for his exploits on the football field. A four-star wide receiver, Hill committed to the in-state Razorbacks over offers from virtually every team in the SEC. "He's an elite athlete," Rice said. "To play football and basketball at the level he does, wow. He could play Division I basketball but if he were a basketball-only guy he could probably play wherever he wants."

KEY DATES
Nov. 28-30 – Rumble on the Ridge
Dec. 26-31 – Beach Ball Classic
23. North Shore (Houston)
Head coach: David Green
2013-14 record: Class 5A state champions, No. 19 final national ranking

KEY RETURNERS
Adrian Brown (6-6, Sr., F)
Derec Burks (6-2, Sr., G)
Chukumeke Egbule (6-3, Sr., F)
Jarrey Foster (6-4, Sr., G)
Kerwin Roach (6-3, Sr., G) – Texas verbal commitment

MUSTANG STORYLINES

* After leading North Shore to a state title last February, both Foster and Roach saw their stock rise on the summer circuit. Roach, a 247Sports Top 100 prospect, averaged a team-best 16.1 points and 5.3 rebounds per game while Foster contributed 12.7 and 5.5.

* The Mustangs have a veteran presence on the bench in Green, who has been a head coach for 30 years and won over 500 games. He was hired prior to the 2011-12 season after stops at four other Lone Star State high schools.

* North Shore is the rare preseason nationally ranked team that won't play a school from outside of its own state this season. With so much talent in Texas, the schedule won't be soft, but it makes winning a state title imperative in terms of being in the national Top 25 in April.

KEY DATES
Nov. 28 – at Atascocita (Humble, Texas)
Dec. 9 – vs. Cypress Woods (Cypress, Texas)
Dec. 16 – at Dekaney (Houston)
Dec. 19 – at West Brook (Beaumont, Texas)
Dec. 29-31 – Allen Holiday Invitational
Jan. 27 – vs. West Brook (Beaumont, Texas)
22. Chino Hills (Calif.)
Head coach: Steve Baik (92-29 in four seasons as head coach at Chino Hills)
2013-14 record: 29-6, Southern Section Open Division runner-up

KEY RETURNERS
LiAngelo Ball (6-5, So., G)
Lonzo Ball (6-6, Jr., G) – UCLA verbal commitment
Chazz Smith (6-7, Jr., F)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Andre Ball (6-4, Fr., G/F)
Shane Hopkins (6-8, Jr. F)
Jared Nyivih (6-6, Jr., G)
Elizjah Scott (6-4, So., G)

HUSKY STORYLINES

* Five of the team's six losses a year ago came against programs that appeared in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25, including a four-point loss to eventual national champ Mater Dei. The Huskies notched impressive victories over Wesleyan Christian Academy of North Carolina and Redondo Union. With the Ball brothers back, it's tough to envision Baik's club taking a step backward – even in a loaded Baseline League that includes Etiwanda and Damien.

* Lonzo and LiAngelo shared MVP honors at one of the fall's major events on the West Coast – the Ron Massey Memorial Fall Hoops Classic. Chino Hills overcame a field that included Bishop Gorman of Nevada and Maranatha to take home the first-place trophy. LiAngelo averaged nearly 30 points per game in the event, including 35 in the championship game. They will be joined by cousin Andre on the Husky roster this year.

* The Chino Hills basketball family suffered through a heartbreaking tragedy over the summer. Nnamdi Okongwu, a 6-9 post player who would have been a senior this season, suffered a serious head injury in a skateboarding accident and died a few days later. "Nnamdi was truly a light in our community," Baik said. "He was so positive and it was just a huge loss for us. Our kids are out to make it a special season for him." Okongwu's younger brother, Onyeka, will join the third Ball brother, Melo, in next year's freshmen class at Chino Hills – one that Baik thinks could be special in his program.

KEY DATES
Dec. 17-20 – Tarkanian Classic
Jan. 3 – TBA at Jordan Take Flight Classic
Jan. 15-17 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Jan. 23 – vs. Etiwanda (Calif.)
Feb. 6 – vs. Westchester (Los Angeles) at Nike Extravaganza
Feb. 10 – at Etiwanda
21. St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.)
Head coach: Drew Catlett (First year)
2013-14 record: 26-7, Class A state champions

KEY RETURNERS
Malik Beasley (6-3, Sr., G) – Florida State verbal commitment
Josh Coleman (6-9, Sr., F/C) – Coastal Carolina verbal commitment
Kaiser Gates (6-8, Sr., G/F) – Xavier verbal commitment
Kobi Jordan-Simmons (6-5, Jr., G)
Drew Smith (6-6, So., F)
Chris Steele (6-0, Sr., G)
Nate Waller (6-2, Sr., F)

KNIGHT STORYLINES

* Few teams nationally return a bigger portion of their production from a year ago than St. Francis. Six of the top seven from a year ago are back, led by future Seminole Beasley (19.1 points per game), Jordan-Simmons (17.4), Gates (14.4) and Coleman (6.4 points, 8.3 rebounds).

* The Knights played a challenging schedule early on last season, dropping seven games by the end of January. But St. Francis put things together down the stretch, winning 11 games in a row by an average margin of 29 points per game.

* After leading St. Francis to a state title last season, former head coach Cabral Huff was hired as director of basketball operations at Division I Georgia Southern. That opened the door for Catlett, who is a sideline veteran with previous college stops of his own at Georgia State and West Virginia.

KEY DATES
Dec. 6 – vs. Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) at Nike Explosion
Dec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 26-31 – Beach Ball Classic
Jan. 24 – Hilton Invitational
20. Chaminade (St. Louis)
Head coach: Frank Bennett (24-3 career record, second year as head coach at Chaminade)
2013-14 record: 24-3

KEY RETURNERS
Trey Collins (6-2, Sr., F)
Tyler Cook (6-7, Sr., F)
Reggie Crawford (6-3, So., G)
Will Gladson (6-9, Sr., F/C)
Jeff Jones (6-4, Sr., F)
Mike Lewis (6-1, Jr., G)
Jayson Tatum (6-8, Jr., G)

RED DEVIL STORYLINES

* Tatum is one of the most unique and special young talents in all of basketball. A true guard at 6-8, Tatum averaged 26 points, 11 rebounds and four assists per game last season en route to MaxPreps National Sophomore of the Year honors.

* Cook's rugged inside play should provide the perfect complement to Tatum on the perimeter. The 6-7 forward is being pursued by the likes of Florida, Kansas and Missouri.

* Chaminade currently has former athletes playing in the NBA, NHL and MLS. The Red Devils are represented by Brad Beal of the Washington Wizards and David Lee of the Golden State Warriors in the NBA.

KEY DATES
Nov. 20 – at Webster Groves (Mo.)
Nov. 29 – at Bentonville (Ark.)
Dec. 13 – vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) at National High School Hoopfest
Jan. 2 – vs. Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) at Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 19 – vs. Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
19. Muskegon (Mich.)
Head coach: Keith Guy (238-49 career record, 12th year as head coach)
2013-14 record: 28-0, Class A state champions

KEY RETURNERS
Blake Andrews (6-2, Jr., G)
Deyonta Davis (6-9, Sr., F/C) – Michigan State verbal commitment
Jamel French (6-4, Jr., F)
Joeviair Kennedy (6-4, Sr., G)
Daryl Kirkland (6-2, Sr., G)
Linwood Lee III (6-0, Jr., G)
Michael Littlejohn (5-10, Jr., G)
Jason Loera (5-10, Sr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Anthony Bethea (6-4, So., G/F)

BIG RED STORYLINES

* Three schools have gone back-to-back in Michigan's largest classification since the turn of the century (Pontiac Northern 2001-02, Saginaw 2007-08 and Kalamazoo Central 2010-11). The Big Reds will be favored to become the fourth after running the table last winter. "It's not something we are going to shy away from," Guy said. "But like I told our team, we have to get better. I have to coach better and we have to be a better team than we were last year. It's going to be the biggest game of the year every night when we go into somebody else's building."

* A MaxPreps Junior All-American in 2013-14 after posting 15 points, 13.5 rebounds and 7.1 blocked shots per game, Davis will be the focal point for Muskegon this time around. College and pro considerations aside, there may not be a more impactful big man in all of high school basketball. "I haven't seen a player like him come through," Guy said. "He has tremendous natural ability, unbelievable timing, great hands and I haven't seen a big run the floor like him. On top of all that, he is a total team player."

* Muskegon's football and boys basketball teams have combined to go 48-3 over the past two years with a hoops title and runner-up finish on the gridiron. Guy encourages his players to participate in multiple sports and expects to have as many as eight athletes from the football team on his varsity roster.

KEY DATES
Dec. 20 – Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.)
Jan. 3 – Curie (Chicago)
Jan. 17 – Romulus (Mich.)
Feb. 7 – Whitney Young (Chicago)
March 5 – River Rouge (Mich.)
18. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Head coach: Doug Lipscomb (515-115, 23rd year as head coach at Wheeler)
2013-14 record: 28-6, Class AAAAAA runner-up

KEY RETURNERS
Bilal Abdur-Rahim (6-5, Sr., F)
Jaylen Brown (6-7, Sr., G/F)
Makhai Eastmond (5-10, Jr., G)
Isaiah Swan (6-6, So., F)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Hakeem Ancrum (6-6, Sr. F)
Kenny Aninye (6-1, So., G)
Cameron Jordan (6-5, Jr., F)
Darius Perry (6-2, So., G)
Shembari Phillips (6-4, Sr., G) – Tennessee verbal commitment
Jacobi Rumlin-Green (6-0, Sr., G)

WILDCAT STORYLINES

* Brown catapulted to the No. 2 spot in the 247Sports Composite after an impressive summer. He was Georgia's Class AAAAAA Player of the Year as a junior after averaging more than 20 points per game. "Jaylen is a very good person," Lipscomb said. "He's very coachable, listens to instructions and is one of the hardest-working kids I have ever been around."

* Talented Ohio State pledge Daniel Giddens, a 6-9 center, said goodbye to Wheeler in the offseason, opting to play as a senior at Oak Hill Academy. But the Wildcats saw that departure offset by the arrival of Phillips, who played at nearby Tucker last season.

* Lipscomb built Wheeler into a perennial national power while raising triplets. The Lipscomb trio is now in college with son David playing for Steve Lavin at St. John's and Danielle and Douglas attending Middle Tennessee State.

KEY DATES
Dec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational
Jan. 19 – vs. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
17. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)
Head coach: Keith Gatlin (Sixth year as head coach at Wesleyan Christian)
2013-14 record: 24-9, NCISAA Class 3A state champions

KEY RETURNERS
Harry Giles (6-9, Jr., F)
Jalen Johnson (6-5, Jr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Brandon Childress (6-0, Jr., G) – Wake Forest verbal commitment
Kwe'Shaun Parker (6-2, Jr., G)

TROJAN STORYLINES

* It's not often that a high school team loses a player to a college program like North Carolina and the expectations actually increase. But that's the dynamic this season at Wesleyan, where Theo Pinson is now a Tar Heel but the new cast has the Trojans thinking big.

* The primary source of optimism is a healthy Giles, a top of the class-caliber talent who suffered a torn ACL in 2013. He returned over the summer to help the United States earn a gold medal at the FIBA U17 World Championship in Dubai.

* Childress is the son of legendary Wake Forest guard Randolph Childress, a professional journeyman who is now on the Demon Deacon coaching staff. On Oct. 24, the younger Childress committed to follow in his father's footsteps at Wake.

KEY DATES
Nov. 14 – vs. Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.)
Dec. 12 – vs. Trinity Christian (Fayetteville, N.C.)
Dec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 27-30 – HighSchoolOT.com Invitational
Jan. 15-17 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions
Jan. 3 – vs. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) at Chance Harman Classic
16. Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.)
Head coach: Rev. Ron Stelzer
2013-14 record: 28-3, No. 15 final national ranking

KEY RETURNERS
Boubacar Diakite (6-6, So., F)
Cheick Diallo (6-9, Sr., F/C)
Djibril Diallo (6-2, Sr., G)
Mamadou Docoure (6-8, Fr., F/C)
Damon Wilson (6-5, Sr., G) – Pittsburgh verbal commitment
Kassoum Yakwe (6-7, Jr., F)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Davon Dillard (6-4, Sr., G)
Cedric Kator (6-9, Jr., F/C)

PIONEER STORYLINES

* Cheick Diallo may be the best player to ever don an Our Savior uniform. A native of Mali, Diallo is the No. 4 2015 recruit by 247Sports and was a MaxPreps Junior All-American last season. Iowa State, Kansas and Kentucky are slugging it out for his services.

* Though Docoure is a freshman, he's listed as a returner. That's because he played in five games last year as an eighth-grader for OSNA, averaging over five points and three rebounds per outing. Injuries prevented him from continuing a year ago but the Pioneers are expecting big things from him this winter.

* Under Stelzer and assistant Eric Jaklitsch, Our Savior New American has been a landing spot for dozens of talented players from the African continent over the years. This year's roster features players Guinea, Mali and Nigeria.

KEY DATES
Dec. 6 – vs. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at Marshall County Hoopfest
Dec. 13 – vs. Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) at National High School Hoopfest
Dec. 19-23 – Chick-fil-A Classic
Jan. 2 – vs. Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) at Hoophall Classic West
Jan. 17 – vs. Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
15. Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.)
Head coach: Mark Hall (78-10 in three years as head coach at Cape Henry Collegiate)
2013-14 record: 26-1, VISAA Division 1 runner-up

KEY RETURNERS
Chris Clarke (6-6, Sr., G/F) – Tennessee verbal commitment
Marcus Evans (6-2, Sr., G) – Rice verbal commitment
Paul Grinde (6-9, Sr., F/C)
Iziah James (5-11, So., G)
Andrew Langston (6-1, Sr., G)
Malcolm Weathers (6-3, Jr., G)
Stephen Womack (6-2, Sr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Malik Marrow (6-3, G, So.)

DOLPHIN STORYLINES

* Despite starting the 2013-14 season 26-0, Cape Henry Collegiate ended on a bitter note in losing the VISAA Division 1 championship game to Paul VI. Even with a beefed up schedule that includes Oak Hill Academy and Wesleyan Christian Academy, don't be surprised if the Dolphins duplicate last winter's gaudy record behind the outstanding duo of Clarke and Evans.

* Hall expects a big step forward from a now-healthy Grinde and junior Weathers this season. "He's similar to Chris Clarke in a lot of ways," Hall said of Weathers. "It's going to be really exciting to see what he can do for us this year."

* Since Hall took over at Cape Henry Collegiate, the Dolphins are 36-0 on their home floor. A coach in the storied Boo Williams AAU program, Hall has two sons participating in athletics at the University of Virginia. Mark Jr. is a sophomore linebacker on the football team while Devon plays for head coach Tony Bennett on the Cavalier basketball squad.

KEY DATES
Nov. 25-29 – Coventry Health Tournament of Champions
Dec. 19-23 – Chick-fil-A Classic
Jan. 3 – vs. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) at Chance Harman Classic
Jan. 24 – vs. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at Roanoke Winter Classic
14. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
Head coach: Gary McKnight (995-85, 33rd year)
2013-14 record: 35-0, MaxPreps national champions, CIF Open Division state champions

KEY RETURNERS
M.J. Cage (6-10, Jr., C)
La'vette Parker (6-2, Sr., G)
Rex Pflueger (6-5, Sr., G) – Notre Dame verbal commitment
Bailey Stout (6-1, Jr., G)
Matthew Weyand (6-5, So., F)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Miles Brookins (6-6, So., C)
Harrison Butler (6-4, Fr., G)
K.J. Smith (6-1, Sr., G)
Reagan Lundeen (6-5, Fr., F)
Michael Wang (6-7, Fr., F)

MONARCH STORYLINES

* Mater Dei is moving on without the most accomplished player in program history in Stanley Johnson, who was the MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2013-14 and is now a freshman at Arizona. But the Monarchs still have plenty of star power on the roster. In addition to Notre Dame pledge Pflueger, McKnight is high on junior big man M.J. Cage. "He's an unbelievable talent," McKnight said. "He will be as highly recruited as anyone else we have had here." Cage averaged 14.9 points and 10.6 rebounds per game as a sophomore.

* Though the Monarchs have a couple of highly touted freshmen expected to contribute, the most notable newcomer is Smith – son of NBA champ and current TNT analyst Kenny "The Jet" Smith. K.J. was a double-figure scorer a year ago at Oaks Christian (Westlake Village, Calif.).

* McKnight is just five wins shy of 1,000 for his career. "I hope it gets to 1,300 or 1,400," he said. "I have no intention of retiring. I really enjoy what I'm doing and I'm fortunate to be at a school that has great kids and great athletes." McKnight has led Mater Dei to 11 state titles and at least 30 wins each of the last 10 seasons.

KEY DATES
Dec. 18-23 – City of Palms Classic
Dec. 26-30 – MaxPreps Holiday Classic
Feb. 7 – vs. Fairfax (Los Angeles) at Nike Extravaganza
13. Simeon (Chicago)
Head coach: Robert Smith (282-46, 11th year as head coach)
2013-14 record: 22-6

KEY RETURNERS
Ben Coupet (6-7, Jr., F)
Evan Gilyard (5-11, So., G)
Ed Morrow (6-7, Sr., F) – Nebraska verbal commitment
Isaiah Moss (6-6, Sr., G/F) – Iowa verbal commitment
Zach Norvell (6-4, Jr., G)
Frederick Scott (6-7, Sr., F)
Josh Thomas (6-3, Jr., G)
D.J. Williams (6-6, Sr., G/F) – Illinois verbal commitment

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Marquise Brown (6-0, Fr., G)

WOLVERINE STORYLINES

* After winning four straight Class 4A state titles from 2010-13 with Jabari Parker on the roster, last season was a bit of a retooling year at Simeon. The retooling is over. The Wolverines expect to be right back in the title chase along with Stevenson. The 4A title favorites will meet at the City-Suburban Showdown in February for the second year in a row.

* The Wolverines will have five players in the rotation between 6-6 and 6-7. "This may be the biggest team we have ever had," Smith said. The versatility of players like Williams – who may see time at all five positions according to Smith – will make getting them on the floor together a bit easier. Moss has seen his stock soar in recent months and is another tall Simeon senior who can operate on the perimeter.

* With all the experience in Simeon's senior and junior classes, a freshman has managed to garner plenty of attention this offseason. Brown accompanied the team on its June trip to Dubai and has a chance to join Parker as one of the few Wolverines to make a dent as a rookie. "He's pushing guys already," Smith said. "He's a true point guard and does the dirty work. He can score but is also great at getting guys open."

KEY DATES
Dec. 6 – vs. Lancaster (Texas) at Chicago Elite Classic
Dec. 19 – vs. St. Rita (Chicago)
Dec. 29-31 – Pontiac Holiday Classic
Jan. 3 – vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 9 – vs. Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.) at ARS.com National Hoopfest
Jan. 19 – vs. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 21 – vs. Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) at City-Suburban Showdown
12. Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.)
Head coach: Lou Richie (54-9 career record, third year as head coach)
2013-14 record: 28-5, North Coast Section Division III champions, CIF Open Division runner-up

KEY RETURNERS
Paris Austin (5-10, Sr., G)
Will Campbell (6-2, Jr., G)
Arinze Chidom (6-8, Sr., F)
Franklin Longrus(6-3, Sr., G/F)
Ivan Rabb (6-9, Sr., F)
Jeevin Sandhu (6-3, Sr., G/F)
Isaiah Thomas (6-9, Sr., F/C)
Austin Walker (5-10, Sr., G)

IMPACT NEWCOMERS
Naseem Gaskins (6-0, Fr., G)
Elijah Hardy (6-0, Fr., G)
Mike Hauser (7-0, Jr., C)
Alex Zhao (6-5, Sr., F)

DRAGON STORYLINES

* One of California's proudest programs, Bishop O'Dowd owns the dubious distinction of losing seven consecutive state championship games (1986, 1988, 2004, 2007, 2010, 2011 and 2014). "There is no doubt about the goal here this year," Richie said. "Win our last game of the year." With five-star forward Rabb leading a long, athletic and deep cast, that goal is well within reach.

* Chidom, who has grown 4 inches in the last year, is the brother of Duke women's basketball forward Oderah Chidom. Oderah is a sophomore in Durham and former McDonald's All-American at O'Dowd. Little brother – a 16-year-old senior – can play all five positions and defend all five positions, according to Richie.

* Even with a veteran roster in place, don't be shocked to see Hardy crack the Dragon starting lineup. "He might be the best freshman point guard in the country," Richie said.

KEY DATES
Nov. 29 – vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at NorCal Tip-Off Classic
Dec. 12 – at Montverde Academy (Fla.)
Dec. 17-20 – Iolani Classic in Honolulu
Jan. 15-17 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo.
Jan. 19 – vs. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) at Spalding Hoophall Classic
Feb. 7 – vs. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at Nike Extrava