by Alex Schwartz

The 2010-11 high school basketball season is right around the corner! So, what does that mean? Well, for one it means that it is time for Northstar Basketball release its National Preseason High School Top 100.

The top 100 list will be released in five segments, plus a comprehensive list at the end with some notes on the rankings. For each team, I will provide an overview of the squad. With each segment, the size of the overview will increase and be filled with more information.

The rankings include both public and private schools, but not prep schools. For these purposes, prep schools are defined as schools that have fifth-year players and/or post-grads, as well as all schools that play in the NEPSAC. That means that teams such as Academy of the New Church (PA), Brewster Academy (NH), Hargrave Military Academy (VA), and St. Mark's (MA).

Without further ado, here is the first segment of Northstar Basketball's National Preseason High School Top 100. This segment will include the teams ranked 76 through 100 as well as 20 honorable mentions.

76. West Charlotte (NC): This team has a fantastic inside-outside duo with sophomore star Kennedy Meeks down low and North Florida-bound Jacoby Davis '11 in the backcourt, with Anthony Estes '11 as the other key player.

77. Imhotep Charter (PA): George Washington-commit Erik Copes '11, Niagara-pledge Ameen Tanskley '11, Robert Morris-bound David Appolon '11, Khyree Wooten '12, Brandon Austin '13, and Earl Brown '11 make for a big-time group of talent.

78. Centennial (CA): A trio of future Division I players lead the way for this Golden State team in Gelaun Wheelwright, Long Beach State-bound Michael Caffey, and New Mexico-pledge Dominique Dunning.

79. De La Salle (IL): Illiois-commit Mike Shaw '11 is far and away the team's headliner, but sophomores Alex Foster and Jaylon Tate are quality players as well.

80. Life Center Academy (NJ): One of 14 schools with multiple players in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150 in Ohio State-bound LaQuinton Ross and Pitt-pledge John Johnson, who team with Rashawn Cunningham '11, Matt Johnson '12, and Jayson Johnson '11.

81. Cedar Hill (TX): Kansas State-commit Thomas Gipson '11 is the go-to guy, but Zeldrick King '12, Billy Johnson '11, and Brandon Harris '12 should not be overlooked.

82. Detroit Southeastern (MI): This senior laden-team is led by Michigan State-commit Brandan Kearney and Dayton-pledge Percy Gibson, who receive support from fellow class of 2011 players Ed Brown, Davonte Carter, and football standout Darryl Flemister.

83. Second Baptist (TX): Talented class of 2012 point guard LJ Rose is the go-to guy, but he has three quality big men to work with in Alex Cooper '11, Khadeem Lattin '14, and Julien Person '11.

84. Bryan (TX): Elite scoring point guard J-Mychal Reese '12 is the main man for the Lone Star State squad, but he has support from sophomore guards Travon Landry and Chris Johnson.

85. Butler (AL): Stocky senior point guard Trevor Lacy is one of the best players in the state and he has help in the backcourt from Justin Pride '12.

86. Lawrence Central (IN): One of the the many talented teams in the Indianapolis area, Lawrence Central relies heavily on-non seniors Jared Drew '12, Richard Freeman '13, Tyler Corley '12, and the best of the bunch Jeremy Hollowell '12.

87. Callaway (MS): Mississippi State-bound point guard Deville Smith '11 is the key player for the best team in the Magnolia State, but big men Trey Bolden '13 and Tarron Gilmore '12 can do damage as well.

88. Merrillville (IN): Although not especially loaded, Merrillville is a superb squad that is led by senior guard Jeremiah Jones and junior big man Edward Seay.

89. Davidson Day (NC): This well-coached squad features a go-to guy in Clemson-bound Bernard Sullivan '11 as well as Furman-commit Keith Belfield '11.

90. Thomas Jefferson (NY): The best public school team in New York is headed by a quartet of seniors in Manhattan-commit Davontay Grace, fellow Manhattan-pledge Edson Avila, Shamel Williams, and Tyquan Goodlett, while Thaddeus Hall '12 and Eric Turpin '11 are solid as well.

91. Dwyer (FL): Standout football quarterback Jacoby Brissett '11 is one of the key players on the hardwood for Dwyer, but Joell James '12 is the team's top player and he forms a nice interior duo with Penn-commit Greg Louis '11.

92. Columbia (GA): This Peach State team is coming off of a terrific season and will be led this year by Georgia Southern-pledge Chris Daniels '11, Jarmal Reid '12, and Tahj Shamsid-Deen '13.

93. Dulles (TX): D'Angelo Harrison, a tremendous scoring guard who is committed to St. John's, is going to have to just about do it all, but as the #21 ranked player in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150, he is capable of doing just that.

94. Rice (NY): Cincinnati-bound Jermaine Sanders is the key player for this experienced squad from the Big Apple, but fellow seniors Josh Gomez, Richard Council, Emmanuel Andjar, Kevin Perez, and Devaughn Reid are talented players as well.

95. Sanford School (DE): The best team in the state of Delaware is led by the best player in the state, Syracuse-bound Trevor Cooney '11, but also has athletic wing Deon Jones '11, and Khallid Hart '12.

96. Jamesville-DeWitt (NY): A powerhouse in the Empire State the past few years, J-D boasts the #2 ranked player in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2012 Top 50, massive post presence DaJuan Coleman.

97. Perspectives Charter (IL): Although basically a one-man team, that one man is Kentucky-commit Anthony Davis '11, the #3 ranked player in the NBE Post-Summer Class of 2011 Top 150.

98. Park Tudor School (IN): Heady floor general Kevin "Yogi" Ferrell leads the way for this Hoosier State squad, but he has help from big-time freshman Trevon Bluiett and Troy Spears as well as his junior classmate JB Rapp.

99. Rockdale County (GA): Tennessee-bound Kevin Ware '11 is the go-to guy for Rockdale County, with Darion Clark '12, CJ Wilson '13, and Bernard Thompson '11 as the other key members of the squad.

100. JL Mann (SC): The best team in the state of South Carolina is led by the state's top player, South Carolina-bound Damien Leonard '11, and he will have support from players such as Darrice Whitley '11 and Breylon Jones '11.

Honorable Mentions (alphabetical order)
Atascocita (TX)
Brehm Prep (IL)
Castro Valley (CA)
Fort Bend Bush (TX)
Hamilton (WI)
Hillhouse (CT)
Huron (MI)
Johnson (MN)
La Lumiere (IN)
Lew Wallace (IN)
Little Rock Hall (AR)
Marcus (TX)
Meridian (MS)
Mesa (AZ)
Orlando Christian Prep (FL)
Orr Academy (IL)
Rainier Beach (WA)
Regis Jesuit (CO)
Romulus (MI)
Sheldon (CA)

Note- photo is of Mike Shaw and is from http://goldandbluezone.com/
Note- ESPN, MaxPreps, Rivals, and Scout used as sources for information