Si's Preseason Top 20

1. OAK HILL ACADEMY, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (40--1) Despite losing four starters, including forward Michael Beasley, the Warriors are still loaded. Duke-bound senior guard Nolan Smith, who averaged 17 points last year, is the lone returning starter, but he'll be playing with some stellar transfers: senior guard Alex Legion of Detroit Country Day ( Beverly Hills, Mich.), junior guard Brandon Jennings of Dominguez ( Compton, Calif.), senior forward Julian Vaughn of South Lakes ( Reston, Va.) and junior forward Howard Thompkins of Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.).

2. ARTESIA, Lakewood, Calif. (33--1) The Pioneers are poised for another big season after winning the Division III state title last year. New head coach Loren Grover inherits a talented squad: Senior guard James Harden ( Arizona State) averaged 18.6 points last year; junior guard Malik Story (USC) is an offensive threat; and they added Piney Woods (Miss.) sophomore forward Renardo Sidney.

3. HUNTINGTON, Huntington, W.Va. (25--2) Huntington won its second consecutive Class AAA state title last year behind Patrick Patterson, a senior power forward who averaged 15.6 points. Star guard O.J. Mayo transferred in, so Huntington now has an unstoppable one-two punch.

4. MATER DEI, Santa Ana, Calif. (33--3) The Monarchs, who fell in the state finals last season for the second straight year, have three seniors: forward Taylor King (Duke), who averaged 26.4 points last year, center Alex Jacobson ( Arizona) and guard Kamyron Brown ( Oregon).

5. LAKE HOWELL, Winter Park, Fla. (28--5) Led by University of Florida recruits Nick Calathes and Chandler Parsons (sidebar, page 73), Lake Howell should win the state title.

6. DEMATHA, Hyattsville, Md. (34--1) Coach Mike Jones has plenty of firepower, including senior guard Austin Freeman ( Georgetown), senior forward Jerai Grant (Clemson) and junior big man Chris Braswell ( Georgetown).

7. SIMEON, Chicago (33--4) Led by senior guard Derrick Rose, who averaged 20 points, the Wolverines won both the Class AA state and Chicago Public League titles last year.

8. ST. BENEDICT'S PREP, Newark (29--2) The Gray Bees won their fourth Prep A title last season in Dan Hurley's five years as coach. Despite losing three top players--Lance Thomas (Duke), David Cubillan ( Marquette) and Eugene Harvey ( Seton Hall)--St. Benedict's is still loaded, led by senior guard Corey Stokes ( Villanova).

9. ST. PATRICK, Elizabeth, N.J. (29--4) Coach Kevin Boyle has one of the nation's top players in senior point guard Corey Fisher ( Villanova), who averaged 16 points last year. Senior forward Jeff Robinson ( Memphis) averaged 13.0 points, 8.5 rebounds and 4.5 assists.

10. NORCROSS, Norcross, Ga. (28--4) Eddie Martin's crew has a good chance of defending its Class AAAAA state title this year, despite losing all-state guard Jodie Meeks, who's now at Kentucky. Senior forward Gani Lawal ( Georgia Tech), who averaged 17.5 points last year, will assume more of the scoring load.