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.