Preseason High School Top 50: Notes & Just Misses
Hello all,
I am preparing to announce my list of the top 50 teams for the 2009-10 season.
There is reason for these rankings to be inaccurate, as they only reflect a team’s performance at the NAQT HSNCT and/or the PACE NSC. If a team has a rising young player who did not attend either tournament, they would not be considered in the following rankings. Additionally, if a team was not able to attend the HSNCT or NSC, they would not be considered here either.
There is also the possibility that I gathered incorrect information regarding which players are returning and which are not. If I used incorrect information or omitted someone, I apologize.
Finally, it’s important to note that these rankings are indicative only of my personal research. They are not representative of any group that I am currently or at one time was affiliated with.
The following teams had really good teams last year, but have lost a lot of key players. Some have longer traditions of high levels of play than others, but all can reasonably be expected to drop off from last year’s level. That being said, it would not be shocking to see them perform well once more. In no particular order:
Walter Johnson (MD), James Monroe (VA), Gonzaga (DC), E. O. Smith (CT), St. John’s School (TX), Stow-Munroe Falls (OH), Shady Side (PA), Rappahannock County (VA), North Hollywood (CA), Cave Spring (VA), Half Hollow Hills West (NY), Rancho Bernardo (CA), New Trier (IL), Carbondale (IL), Chaska (MN), Flushing (MI), Wheaton Warrenville South (IL), Buffalo Grove (IL), Russell (KY), Troy (MI), East Brunswick (NJ), Grosse Point North (MI), Rockford Auburn (IL), Hoggard (NC), Rocky Mount (NC), Tippecanoe (OH)
Additionally, I considered these 14 teams for entry into the top 50 but for varying reasons (graduating players, low bonus conversion, etc.), they did not make the final list but deserve some mention for a returning player or two who either show promise or come back from a team that performed well last year. Once again, in no particular order:
Hopkins (MN), Edmond Santa Fe (OK), Ballard (KY), Lafayette (LA), Drummond (OK), Robinson (VA), South Range (OH), Bristow (OK), St. Viator (IL), Penn (IN), Edmond Memorial (OK), Newtown (CT), Glasgow (MO), Arcadia (CA), Moravian (PA), Robinson (VA), Temple (TX)
Additionally, there are two teams that I have heard good things about, but am holding off on ranking them for now.
First is James Island of South Carolina. I’m not sure of what type of talent level they are returning, and they haven’t played at HSNCT since 2007 and have never appeared at a NSC. Still, they are a team to watch for the future.
Second is Parkersburg High of West Virginia. They performed well at NAC, return their entire team (which is made up mostly of juniors) and appear willing to go to either the HSNCT and NSC. They remain untested for these rankings, but could appear in the future.
The 41st through 50th teams will be posted soon.