As promised, we have preseason basketball predictions and a preseason all-SWakeSports team for the year. One of the things I enjoy about basketball season is that all 10 of our local schools are on equal ground — the basketball court.
As we saw last year, Cary Academy and Cary Christian can defeat 4-A public schools like those in the Tri-Nine Conference. So unlike any other sport, we rank all 10 of those teams every week. We've changed the name to "SWakeSports rankings," which should clear up the confusion caused by last year's moniker "TCN/SWW."
Our boys basketball rankings & team: Apex, Middle Creek and Cary Academy are the only teams that return at least two starters and multiple contributors from a playoff team from last year. Apex has the best player in the area in Weston Murphy (pictured left), and one of the best coaches in David Neal. So Apex will be first to start off the season. Thursday's game at home against Millbrook will be a great one to open the season.
It should be Apex & Lee County for the Tri-Nine title this year.
Our rankings:
1. Apex - Sharpshooter Connor Belicic + Weston Murphy + coach David Neal + winning the UNCW team camp without Murphy = team to beat in 09-10.
2. Middle Creek - They're going to struggle until the football players are added, which will be tough since they'll miss conference games, but the Mustangs will be good with a number or returners despite the loss of Tom Tankelewicz and Garrius Adams.
3. Cary Academy - It's true that they lost three starters from their first playoff team since '01, but junior Cameron Walton is the area's best PG.
4. Cary Christian - They return almost everybody from a team that got red-hot last year, and junior Lindsey Johnson is a scoring machine.
5. Green Hope - I know you think I'm crazy for putting them this high, particularly after an off-season that saw the only two returning starters both transfer out. However, the Falcons had an unstoppable JV team, and I'd rather be young & talented than experienced & not. Max Povse was the best player in the program last year -- no idea why he didn't start on varsity.
6. Panther Creek - They'll be young and guard-heavy, but the Catamounts still have a top-notch coaching staff even after the loss of L.J. Hepp. In a depleted conference, Panther Creek is back to square one just like everyone else.
7. Holly Springs - This is the wild card in the new Tri-Nine Conference. The Golden Hawks have some pieces to build around, starting with forward Quinton Underwood.
8. Cary - This team can finish a lot higher than this if the attitude problem from last year is fixed. No way a team with that much talent should've won just four measly games.
9. Fuquay-Varina - They return a lot, but will it matter? It's a weaker conference, and junior Dominique Byrd is ready to break out.
10. Athens Drive - Losing all five starters is rough, and their JV team was average at best last year.
SWakeSports preseason boys basketball team:
G - Cameron Walton, Cary Academy
G - Connor Belicic, Apex
G - Lindsey Johnson, Cary Christian
F - Max Povse, Green Hope
F - Weston Murphy, Apex (preseason player of the year)
