National Prep Basketball Poll - Preseason

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- The preseason No. 1 basketball team in the country hails from the state of Texas for the first time in the 22-year history of the National Prep Poll. The Duncanville Panthers, who have won 74 of their last 76 games and are bidding for their second 5A title in three seasons, take the top spot in the first national high school basketball rankings of the season. Duncanville will feature a starting lineup with five major Division I prospects, including four already committed to Big 12 universities. The Panthers' schedule might be the toughest in the nation, with the opportunity to play at least a half dozen fellow preseason Top 25 teams.
 

The National Prep Basketball Poll is compiled by national high school sports experts Jamie DeMoney and Jeremy Plowman with input from sportswriters, analysts, and coaches. The preseason national Top 25 and regional Top 10's follow with last season's won-loss records:

Northeast Region
1. Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln (28-4)  
2. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict's (24-1)  
3. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick (25-5)  
4. Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony (32-0)  
5. New York, N.Y., Rice (23-3)  
6. Philadelphia, Pa., Neumann-Goretti (15-10)  
7. Mount Vernon, N.Y. (23-4)  
8. Paterson, N.J., Paterson Catholic (22-5)  
9. Philadelphia, Pa., Roman Catholic (19-6)  
10. Lawrence, Mass., Central Catholic (25-2)  

East Coast Region
1. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (21-4)  
2. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (34-4)  
3. Summerville, S.C., Pinewood (27-4)  
4. Arden, N.C., Christ (34-2)  
5. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (20-10)  
6. Raleigh, N.C., Word of God (31-3)  
7. Washington, D.C., Gonzaga (34-1)  
8. Baltimore, Md., St. Frances (29-10)  
9. Raleigh, N.C., Ravenscroft (24-6)  
10. Richmond, Va., Marshall (28-3)  

Southeast Region
1. Marietta, Ga., Wheeler (30-3)  
2. Memphis, Tenn., White Station (25-13)  
3. Orlando, Fla., Olympia (24-3)  
4. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Pine Crest (28-4)  
5. Jacksonville, Fla., Arlington Country Day (26-6)  
6. Norcross, Ga. (29-2)  
7. Roswell, Ga., Centennial (24-6)  
8. Memphis, Tenn., Briarcrest Christian (26-7)  
9. Mobile, Ala., LeFlore (30-3)  
10. Starkville, Miss. (28-4)  

Midwest Region
1. Beverly Hills, Mich., Detroit Country Day (21-5)  
2. Georgetown, Ky., Scott County (20-12)  
3. Chicago, Ill., Young (25-5)  
4. Madison, Wis., Memorial (23-3)  
5. Indianapolis, Ind., Lawrence North (18-5)  
6. Cincinnati, Ohio, Princeton (18-6)  
7. Detroit, Mich., Pershing (23-4)  
8. Louisville, Ky., Jeffersontown (26-6)  
9. Columbus, Ohio, Northland (21-1)  
10. Lafayette, Ind., Jefferson (23-2)  

Midlands Region
1. Minnetonka, Minn., Hopkins (27-2)  
2. Highland, Utah, Lone Peak (23-2)  
3. Mendota Heights, Minn., Sibley (26-6)  
4. Marion, Iowa, Linn-Mar (20-5)  
5. New Hope, Minn., Cooper (23-9)  
6. Provo, Utah (21-3)  
7. Columbia, Mo., Rock Bridge (19-4)  
8. Osseo, Minn. (28-1)  
9. Centennial, Colo., Eaglecrest (24-3)  
10. Omaha, Neb., Creighton Prep (21-3)  

Southwest Region
1. Duncanville, Texas (35-2)  
2. Henderson, Nev., Findlay (32-1)  
3. Oklahoma City, Okla., Putnam City (25-2)  
4. Missouri City, Texas, Hightower (30-10)  
5. Houston, Texas, Strake Jesuit (27-7)  
6. Oklahoma City, Okla., McGuinness (26-4)  
7. Gilbert, Ariz., Highland (24-6)  
8. Cedar Hill, Texas (21-13)  
9. Houston, Texas, Wheatley (28-5)  
10. Fayetteville, Ark. (20-8)  

West Coast Region
1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (35-1)  
2. Los Angeles, Calif., Fairfax (27-6)  
3. Concord, Calif., De La Salle (28-4)  
4. Seattle, Wash., Rainier Beach (28-1)  
5. Los Angeles, Calif., Westchester (29-5)  
6. Compton, Calif., Dominguez (32-3)  
7. San Diego, Calif., San Diego High (23-5)  
8. Woodland Hills, Calif., Taft (27-4)  
9. Seattle, Wash., Franklin (24-3)  
10. Riverside, Calif., King (32-3)  

FEATS OF THE WEEK: For the first time, the preseason No. 1 team in the National Prep Poll hails from the state of Texas. Dallas-area power Duncanville, which has won 74 of its last 76 games with a 5A state title in 2006-07, has four players who are committed to Big 12 universities. The roster includes 6-7 wing Shawn Williams (Texas) and 6-5 forward Roger Franklin (Oklahoma St.), who are both four-year starters. Senior point guard Reger Dowell has committed to Oklahoma St. while 6-11 post Perry Jones (Baylor) and 6-7 forward Julian Washburn are rated among the top 10 junior recruits in Texas by rivals.com. Duncanville will play a demanding schedule that includes standalone games against No. 4 Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln, No. 11 Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill, and No. 14 Georgetown, Ky., Scott County. In December, the Panthers will compete in the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., where an amazing field has been assembled that includes six preseason Top 25 teams and an additional five regionally ranked squads. Coach Phil McNeely has a 675-163 record with three state championships in 24 years at Duncanville.