Best high school basketball team from all 50 states

Video: Preseason Top 25 high school basketball rankings

Earlier this month we released our initial Top 25 high school basketball teams, followed by the Top 100. Today we check out the best team from all 50 states and Washington, D.C. Also, make sure to check back Thursday for our Preseason National Player of the Year watch list.

From Alabama to Wyoming, we searched coast-to-coast to find the best team from your home state heading into the 2019-20 high school basketball season.

Alabama — Mountain Brook (Birmingham)

Finished last season ranked No. 5 in MaxPreps final Top 100 after a 31-3 season that culminated in the program's third consecutive state championship run. Although the Spartans lose McDonald's All-American Trendon Watford, they return a strong backcourt led by Colby Jones (Xavier commit) and Paul Stramaglia.

 

The Knights return a strong core from a 27-4 season that ended in an ASAA Class 4A semifinal loss.

The Bruins begin the year ranked No. 24 in our preseason Top 25 rankings, led by one of the most talented rotations in high school basketball.

Finished last season 25-3 and captured program's first state title. The Patriots return a core that are favorites to repeat led by lethal senior backcourt duo Detrick Reeves Jr. and Makyi Boyce.

The Trailblazers begin the year ranked at No. 3 in our preseason Top 25 rankings, guided by 5-star duo Brandon Boston, Jr. (Kentucky commit) and Ziaire Williams.

Overland finished last season 19-7 after falling in the state quarterfinals. The Trailblazers return each of their three leading scorers from last season as Graham Ike, Hezekiah Swanson and Trevon Deden provide this group with high expectations.

The Warriors return all-state performers Corey McKeithan and Amir Spears from a team that finished 24-4 after falling in the CIAC Division I state title game last season.

Favorites to repeat as state champions behind a strong rotation headlined by returning starters including Delaware Gatorade Player of the Year Jyare Davis as well as Nanna Njoku, Corey Perkins and Hassan Perkins.

The DMV power begins the year ranked at No. 17, returning a strong core led by seniors Chuck Harris (Butler commit), Myles Stute (Vanderbilt commit) and Terrance Williams (Georgetown commit).

The Eagles begin the season atop the national rankings with a loaded roster led by 5-star prospects Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State commit), Scottie Barnes (Florida State commit), Day'ron Sharpe (North Carolina commit) and Langston Love.

Georgia — McEachern (Powder Springs)

Finished off an incredible run in 2018-19 with an unbeaten 32-0 record, winning the City of Palms Classic, Bass Pro TOC and the program's first GHSAA Class AAAAAAA state title. The Indians are led by reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year Sharife Cooper (Auburn commit).

The defending HHSAA Division II state champions return each of its three all-tournament selections from last year's state tournament — Most Outstanding Player Bryce Forbes, Jake Holtz and Hayden Bayudan.

This group returns each of its three leading scorers from last season as Cooper Frith, Briggs Ranstrom and Townsend Tripple from a 23-4 finish from last season.

The Mustangs pursue their third IHSA 3A state title in the last four seasons behind a strong returning core led by 2018-19 Illinois Gatorade Player of the Year Adam Miller. An early season showdown against Whitney Young (Chicago) will challenge their claim as the state's top team.

This perennial basketball powerhouse begins the season at No. 10, as the Lakers look to qualify for their fourth GEICO Nationals in the past five years.

The defending IHSAA Class 3A state champions are expected to have another strong season in 2019-20 behind 7-foot center Xavier Foster (Iowa State commit).

The Buffaloes look to build on an historic 2018-19 that saw the program make its first GEICO Nationals appearance, finishing No. 15 in the final Top 100.

The Bulldogs return each of their top nine contributors from last season and add highly regarded freshman Kaleb Glenn to the starting rotation.

Will compete for the program's fourth consecutive state title with all five starters returning. MaxPreps second team Junior All-American Reece Beekman (Virginia commit) is back after averaging a triple-double in 2018-19.

The Scots enter the year as favorites to capture the MPA Class AAA state title after finishing an impressive 20-4 season as state finalists.

The Stags finished in the Top 10 teams in each of the past two seasons and have all the pieces to do so again led by 7-2 center Hunter Dickinson and Earl Timberlake Jr. (Miami commit).

The Bulldogs enter 2019-20 with a strong opportunity to repeat as MISAA Division 1 state champions.

The defending Division 1 state champions rely heavily on the production of sophomore phenom Emoni Bates to build on his legendary freshman season. Benton Harbor is also a contender for top team in the state.

The three-time defending state champs begin the season ranked No. 15. The Red Hawks return all five starters, headlined by Top 5 junior Chet Holmgren and 5-star guard Jalen Suggs.

The Chargers enter as favorites to capture the MHSAA Class 5A state title behind their lethal guard tandem of potent scorer Daeshun Ruffin and highly regarded sophomore Keivion Hunt.

The Wolverines are heavy favorites to capture their fourth MSHSAA Class 4A state titles in the past five years behind a strong returning core led by top 50 senior Cam'Ron Fletcher (Kentucky commit).

This group will look to avenge an overtime, buzzer-beating MHSA Class AA state title game loss behind returning first team all-state selections Rollie Worster and Abe Johnson.

The Thunderbirds reached the state semifinals and finished 26-2 last season. They return a strong core led by their leading scorer from last year Chucky Hepburn (Wisconsin commit).

The Gaels return three starters from a talented 2018-19 squad that looks to capture a ninth consecutive state championship. They will be powered by a loaded backcourt trio of Zaon Collins, Will McClendon and Noah Taitz (Stanford commit).

New Hampshire — Exeter

The Blue Hawks captured their first state title since 1977 last year, finishing off a magical, unbeaten title run. Look for this group to contend for the program's third state title behind a strong core.

The Celtics look to capture their first TOC crown since 2016-17, led by the reigning MaxPreps Sophomore of the Year and top-ranked junior prospect Jonathan Kuminga.

The defending 5A state champions have a good chance to repeat with four of their top five leading scorers returning, led by 2018-19 USA Today New Mexico Player of the Year Joziah Ramos.

The Crusaders begin the season at No. 14 in our preseason Top 25 rankings, led by returning starters Andre Curbelo, Zed Key and Jalen Celestine.

The Lions have started off 2019-20 strong with four quality in-state wins. A showdown against Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) on Friday night will determine the top team from the Tar Heel State in the early going.

Ran the table in 2018-19 and won the Class A state title. The Blue Jays return NDAPSSA first team All-State selection Broden Skunberg to lead the charge this season.

The Fighting Crusaders finished as unbeaten state champions to earn a No. 8 ranking in MaxPreps final Top 100 last season. They return key contributors Logan Duncomb, Maxwell Land, Alex Williams and Will Mccracken.

The Hornets enter as heavy favorites to repeat as state champs, returning the bulk of their production led 5-star Bryce Thompson (Kansas commit) and Trey Phipps (Oklahoma commit)

After finishing as state runner-up with a 23-5 record last season, the Lancers return all major contributors led by Brian Goracke and Isaiah Wallace.

The Philadelphia Catholic League favorites return a strong core headlined by returning starters Hakim Byrd, Jordan Hall (St. Joseph's commit) and Cameron Young (Bowling Green commit).

After capturing the program's first state title last season, this group looks to repeat behind senior guard Clay Brochu, who dropped 36 points in last year's state championship game.

The Lions are coming off their best season, finishing 34-5 and No. 27 in the final Top 100. This group is led by key newcomers Nate Tabor, Jacobi Wright and Ike Cornish.

The Cavaliers were upset in the first round of the state tournament last year to finish 20-5. They will be contenders to capture the SDHSAA Class A state title this season behind key returners Caden Casey and Ryder Kirsch.

The Hawks begin the season at No. 20 in the preseason Top 25 as they return four starters headlined by Samson Ruzhentsev (Florida commit).

The defending UIL Class 6A champions ride a 25-game winning streak into 2019-20, as they look to repeat behind a strong returning core led by Micah Peavy (Texas Tech commit).

The Tigers will look to break through in 2019-20 to capture their first GEICO Nationals win after an 0-4 start at the postseason event. They will begin the season without injured big man Mady Sissoko (Michigan State commit).

The Green Knights lost a heartbreaking 55-54 state semifinal game to the eventual state champions last season. This year, they are led by returning first team All-State selections Leo Chaikin and Michel Ndayishimiye.

After an injury-filled 2018-19, the Panthers begin the season with high expectations behind an ultra-talented guard-oriented lineup headlined by 5-star Jeremy Roach (Duke commit) and first team MaxPreps Sophomore All-American Trevor Keels.

The defending WIAA Class 3A state champions are heavy favorites to repeat, returning seven players who started at some point in 2018-19 and are led by No. 3 class of 2021 prospect Paolo Banchero,

The Irish begin the season ranked No. 5 in the nation behind their two leading scorers from last season, Jaemyn Brakefield (Duke commit), A.J. Hoggard (Michigan State commit) and a talented crop of newcomers.

The Red Raiders finished 24-3 last season after a disappointing state semifinal defeat. Guided by impact seniors Jordan Davis (Wisconsin commit), Jonathan Davis (Wisconsin commit) and Terrance Thompson this team will be favorites to get over the hump in 2019-20.

The Broncs fell just shy of capturing their first state title since 2002-03, losing by three in the state semifinals last year to finish 24-2. In 2019-20, a strong returning core is led by Gus Wright and Sam Lecholat.