by Alex Schwartz

The high school basketball season is here! Some school have already begun play for the 2009-2010 hoops season, and it's now time for Northstar Basketball to release its National Preseason High School Top 100. I have looked over numerous websites—Rivals, MaxPreps, PrepHoopsAssist, PrepNation, ESPNU, and ESPNRise—to gather as much information as possible to formulate the best possible rankings. I will be releasing my top 100 in segments. For each top 100 team I will give a little synopsis of the squad, with the higher ranked posts including more information on the teams.

It is important to note that prep schools—defined as those with 5th-year players or post-grads as well as all those in the NEPSAC—are ineligible. This includes schools like Academy of the New Church (PA), Brewster Academy (NH), Friends Central (PA), Hargrave Military Academy (VA), Hotchkiss School (CT), NIA Prep (NJ), Notre Dame Prep (MA), South Kent (CT), St. Mark's (MA), St. Thomas More (CT), Winchendon (MA), and Word of God Academy (NC). These rankings are of the top high schools—either public or private—in America.

I will start it off now with Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100's teams ranked between 76 and 100, as well as some other notable teams. Check it out:

76. Provo (UT): The top team in the Beehive State is led by BYU-bound Kyle Collinsworth '10 and the 6'6 wing will have to be at his best all season for the squad to remain ranked.

77. Sibley (MN): Featuring a talented senior duo of Jake Kreuser and Mike Rostampour, Sibley is the best team in the state of Minnesota.

78. Mount St. Joseph (MD): Notre Dame-bound Eric Atkins '10 teams with fellow seniors Ryley Beaumont and Matt Miller for a quality trio on the under-the-radar group from the Old Line State.

79. Princeton (OH): Ohio State-signee Jordan Sibert '10 is the main name on the team, but Greg Williams is another talented senior.

80. Memphis Central (TN): One of the many top-notch teams in Memphis, this bunch is led by one of the best sophomores in the country in Jarnell Stokes, along with Tulsa-bound Tim Peete '10 and D'Airrius Sorrell '12.

81. Holmes (KY): Ohio-commit Ricardo Johnson '10 leads the way for the Bluegrass State team, but Elijah Pittman '10 is talented as well.

82. Hopkins (MN): Coming off of an undefeated season, Hopkins will challenge #77 Sibley for Minnesota's top spot, and the squad is led by DJ Peterson '10, Joe Coleman '11, Marvin Singleton '11, Siyani Chambers '12, and Riley Dearring '13.

83. Bishop Luers (IN): DeShaun Thomas '10, an Ohio State-signee, is the main man for the Indiana squad, but Evan Blackmon '11 is talented too.

84. Christ the King (NY): It will be a pair of non-seniors in Corey Edwards '11 and Omar Calhoun '12 that lead the way for CTK, with seniors  Dom Milka, Maurice Barrow, and Kareem Thomas lending support.

85. Lancaster (TX): One of the many quality teams inTexas, Lancaster features a deep lineup of UTEP-signee John Bohannon'10, Lamar-bound Mychale Kyser '10, Lamar-pledge Tre Lynch '10, SheldonEarl '10, and JJ Williams '10.

86. Butler (AL): Trevor Lacey '11 is the key player for the Yellowhammer State's best team, but Dallas Jones '10 should not be overlooked either.

87. Kentwood (WA): UCLA-bound 6'10 center Josh Smith will carry this team in its quest for state supremacy.

88. Bishop Miege (KS): Teamming with Alabama-pledge Trevor Releford '10 is Oklahoma-bound football superstar Justin McCay '10.

89. Kinston (NC): Reggie Bullock '10, will stay in-state and attend North Carolina next year, is the heart and soul for this group.

90. Quality Education Academy (NC): Quincy Miller '11 is the standout for the Winston-Salem school, with Stargell Love '10 and Juvonte Reddic '10 providing senior leadership.

91. De La Salle (CA):  A traditional powerhouse, De La Salle is not quite as loaded as usual, but still features Santa Clara-bound John McArthur '10 and Nate Appel '10.

92. Ridgeway (TN): Another school from Memphis with a lot of talent, Tarik Black '10 is the feature player, but Cameron Golden '12 is very good as well.

93. De La Salle Institute (IL): Mike Shaw '11 is the go-to guy for the Chicago powerhouse and he will get help from Alex Foster '13.

94. Callaway (MS): Deville Smith '11 is the lead man in the three-headed attack that also features Jeverik Nelson '10 and Tarron Gilmore '12 for one of Mississippi's top teams.

95. Coral Reef (FL): Charles "Junior" Hankerson '10, and Alabama-bound do-it-all guard, is the key player for one of the elite teams in the Sunshine State.

96. Phoenix North (AZ): The best team in the state of Arizona is led by Arizona-signee Daniel Bejarano '10, who will carry the load for the squad.

97. Chaminade (MO): Brad Beal '11 does not have all that much help on the St. Louis team, but he is talented enough to lead this group.

98. Strake Jesuit (TX): Andrew Harrison '13 and Aaron Harrison '13 are going to have a major impact on a team that also features Elliot Franshaw '10 and Rasheed Sulaimon '12.

99. St. Peter's Prep (NJ): The Jersey City school has joined the ranks of the elite teams in the Garden State, behind a big-time quartet of Ron Roberts '10, Myles Davis '11, Keith Lumpkin '11, and Dallas Anglin '12.

100. Bishop O'Dowd (CA): A talented squad that includes Brandon Ashley '13, Richard Longruss '12, and Jordan Barton '10.

Just Missed (alphabetical order)
Centennial (GA)
Mann (SC)
Ocean View (CA)
Highland Park (KS)
Salesian (CA)
Second Baptist (TX)
Walton (GA)

Honorable Mentions (alphabetical order)
Bingham (UT)
Clearwater (FL)
Dominguez (CA)
Eastern (KY)
Fayetteville (AR)
Federal Way (WA)
Glen Oaks (LA)
King's Fork (VA)
LeFlore (AL)
Morgan Park (IL)
Mount Dora Bible (FL)
Norcross (GA)
Norfolk Christian (VA)
Pflugerville (TX)
Pinkston (TX)
Putnam City (OK)
Regis Jesuit (CO)
South Atlanta (GA)
St. John's Catholic (MD)
St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH)
Vance (NC)
Wagner (TX)
Westlake (TX)

Note- photo is of Eric Atkins and is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/