2016-17 high school boys’ basketball preview: Preseason Top 20, All-Met Watch

Chris Lykes 0) is back for his senior year at Gonzaga, which will have its hands full with D.J. Harvey and DeMatha as well as the rest of the WCAC. (Katherine Frey/The Washington Post)

PRESEASON TOP 20 RANKINGS

1. Gonzaga Final 2015-16 record: 24-10 (Final ranking: 19)

The Eagles have their entire starting lineup back this year, including reigning Washington Catholic Athletic Conference player of the year Chris Lykes (Miami).

2. H.D. Woodson 33-0 (1)

The two-time defending DCIAA champions are coming off a perfect season, and juniors Kiyon Boyd and Derquan Washington return to form a dynamic back court.

3. DeMatha 32-5 (3)

The Stags will have top Division I signees on the perimeter (Notre Dame recruit D.J. Harvey) and in the paint (Connecticut recruit Josh Carlton) this winter.

4. O’Connell 20-11 (NR)

The Knights feature one of the tallest lineups in the Washington area and expect guards Xavier Johnson and Matt Lewis to emerge as focal points on the perimeter.

5. Sidwell Friends 19-8 (NR)

Penn commit Jelani Williams leads a talented back court as the Quakers return all five starters after reaching the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference final.

As the NBA shifts toward small ball, height still rules high school hoops

6. Potomac (Va.) 27-2 (6)

Four starters return for the defending Virginia 5A state champions, who dropped just one game against local competition last season.

7. Episcopal 25-4 (8)

The two-time defending IAC champions will go for a three-peat behind electric guard George Mawanda-Kalema (Brown), who averaged 18.1 points per game as a junior.

8. National Christian 30-2 (2)

The defending Capital Beltway League champions will be led by forward Terrance Lewis, one of several new faces expected to emerge after playing complementary roles in the past.

9. Eleanor Roosevelt 24-3 (5)

Junior Jaden Faulkner and senior Gus Okafor will take on more of the scoring burden after the Raiders won their second Maryland 4A state title in four years last season.

10. Georgetown Prep 15-10 (NR)

The Little Hoyas could break through for an IAC title this year with guards Jared Bynum (18.4 points per game) and Mezie Offurum (6.4) leading the way.

11. Rock Creek Christian 10-13 (NR)

The addition of O’Connell transfer Sherif Kenney and the development of big man Jermaine Harris give the Eagles plenty of optimism after a subpar 2015-16 season.

12. Douglass 20-2 (11)

The Eagles enter the season with a 24-game home winning streak and two Division I-caliber players in guard Donald Carey and forward Zion Cousins (Howard).

13. Maret 18-11 (NR)

Luka Garza (Iowa) is the area's leading returning scorer and provides the Frogs with a 6-foot-11 paint presence alongside promising big man E.J. Jarvis.

14. Wise 16-4 (NR)

The Pumas return the tandem of seniors Michael Speight and Darron Barnes and add sharpshooter Brandon Howell, an all-DCIAA first-team pick from Theodore Roosevelt.

2016-17 girls’ basketball preview: Preseason Top 20, All-Met Watch

15. McNamara 17-13 (NR)

Senior Jamir Moultrie (La Salle) leads a sophomore-heavy lineup after scoring at least 15 points in 11 of the Mustangs’ final 13 games last year.

16. Theodore Roosevelt 27-5 (NR)

The Rough Riders return four of their top five scorers from a season ago, when their only DCIAA losses came against league champion H.D. Woodson.

17. Paul VI 20-14 (NR)

With senior Aaron Thompson (Pittsburgh) and top 2018 recruit Brandon Slater in the fold, the Panthers have one of the area’s most intriguing back courts this winter.

18. West Potomac 19-8 (NR)

The Wolverines return five of their six leading scorers from last season, including athletic slashers such as Khalil Williams-Diggins (15.1 points per game) and Daryl Mackey Jr.

19. Bullis 16-11 (NR)

Chyree Walker (Delaware) and Vado Morse will help the Bulldogs stay in the hunt for an IAC championship after dropping the last three games of 2015-16.

20. Seneca Valley 21-5 (NR)

Senior guard Brandon Simpson is one of three returning starters for the Screaming Eagles, who reached the Maryland 3A semifinals last season.

On the bubble: Glenelg Country (18-8), Potomac (Md.) (11-11), Loudoun Valley (26-1), Riverdale Baptist (26-13), St. Andrew's (15-9)

D.C., MARYLAND, PRIVATE SCHOOL PREVIEW CAPSULES

Montgomery | Prince George's | SMAC | Anne Arundel | Howard

VIRGINIA PREVIEW CAPSULES

Virginia 6A North region | Virginia 6A South region | Virginia 5A North region

Virginia 4A West region | Virginia 3A, 2A East regions

PRESEASON ALL-MET WATCH

First team

G Kiyon Boyd , H.D. Woodson, 6-5, Jr.

An imposing offensive threat during the Warriors’ 33-0 run last year who emerged as a national recruit this offseason.

G Chris Lykes , Gonzaga, 5-8, Sr.

The Miami signee and reigning WCAC player of the year is an electric playmaker who averaged 22 points per game last season.

G Jelani Williams , Sidwell Friends, 6-5, Sr.

Pennsylvania recruit can fill up a box score and averaged more than 16 points and seven assists for the Quakers last year.

F Luka Garza , Maret, 6-11, Sr.

The area’s leading returning scorer is an Iowa signee with a soft touch around the basket and a smooth shooting stroke from outside.

F Nate Watson , O'Connell, 6-9, Sr.

The Providence recruit is a classic back-to-the basket big man but will show off an improving jumper this year.

Second team

G D.J. Harvey , DeMatha, 6-6, Sr.

The Notre Dame signee has prototypical size for the next level and a sneaky-good midrange game.

G George Mawanda-Kalema , Episcopal, 6-2, Sr.

The Brown recruit should thrive as the lead guard for the two-time defending IAC champions this winter.

G Khalil Williams-Diggins , West Potomac, 5-10, Sr.

An emerging point guard who was held below double figures in scoring just four times last year could help the Wolverines break out.

F Anthony Longpre , Glenelg Country, 6-10, Sr.

This rapidly improving Quebec native committed to St. Joseph’s after averaging a double-double last year.

F Ejike Obinna , Virginia Academy, 6-9, Sr.

A Nigerian transplant and Vanderbilt signee who can defend the rim and rebound as well as anyone in the area.

On the bubble

Guards: Evan Buckley, Stone Bridge, So.; Jared Bynum, Georgetown Prep, Jr.; Donald Carey, Douglass, Sr.; Quinton Drayton, Bowie, Sr.; Justin Faison, Gwynn Park, Sr.; Dom Fragala, Champe, Sr.; Langston Gaither, Hayfield, Sr.; Brayden Gault, Battlefield, Jr.; Jalen Gibbs, North Point, Sr.; Deion Hammond, Riverdale Baptist, Sr.; Dwayne Hill, Hylton, Sr.; Prentiss Hubb, Gonzaga, Jr.; Emanuel Hylton, St. John's, Sr.; Judah Jordan, Capitol Christian, So.; Bryan Knapp, Jewish Day, Sr.; Jamir Moultrie, McNamara, Sr.; Everett Mouton, Westlake, Sr.; Jonathan Mustamu, Kennedy, Sr.; Chimezie Offurum, Georgetown Prep, Jr.; Brandon Simpson, Seneca Valley, Sr.; Brandon Slater, Paul VI, Jr.; Denmark Slay, St. Stephen's/St. Agnes, Sr.; Wynston Tabbs, St. Mary's Ryken, Jr.; Keleaf Tate, Cesar Chavez, Sr.; Aaron Thompson, Paul VI, Sr.; Jamal Washington, Potomac (Va.), Sr.; James West IV, Freedom-Woodbridge, Sr.

Forwards: Emmanuel Aghayere, South Lakes, Jr.; Milos Apic, Sandy Spring Friends, Sr.; Darron Barnes, Wise, Sr.; Donald Brewer, Theodore Roosevelt, Sr.; Josh Carlton, DeMatha, Sr.; Dayvon Cuffey, Glen Burnie, Sr.; Anthony Duruji, St. Andrew's, Sr.; John Fierstein, Quince Orchard, Sr.; Jack Foley, Marshall, Sr.; Jermaine Harris, Rock Creek Christian, Jr.; Terrance Lewis, National Christian, Sr., Jordan Miller, Loudoun Valley, Jr.; Nana Opoku, Potomac (Va.), Sr.; Chyree Walker, Bullis, Sr.