We continue our 2014-15 preseason rankings release with region-by region rankings. We go 20 deep from five separate regions of the nation and take a look at bubble teams that just missed the FAB 50. Preseason No. 1 ranked teams by region are Oak Hill Academy (East), Montverde Academy (Southeast), Stevenson (Midwest), Plano West (Southwest) and Findlay Prep (West). Nobody across the country ranks as many teams as GrassrootsHoops.net.
The Grassroots Hoops region-by-region Top 20 rankings are used to give more deserving teams recognition and to track which teams will jump in the FAB 50 if they do well during the Holiday tournaments.
There are always teams just right out side the FAB 50 that are deserving, as many teams have the resume and talent to be ranked somewhere between 40-50 in our rankings. In many ways, teams No. 26-50 are bubble squads for the top 25. The top 10 or dozen is where you really see the separation of talent and the schedules warranted to be considered mythical national champion.
Check the links below for the preseason 2014-15 Grassroots Hoops Top 20 Regional Rankings:
Preseason East Region Top 20 | Preseason Southeast Region Top 20 | Preseason Midwest Region Top 20 | Preseason Southwest Region Top 20 | Preseason West Top 20
Just Missed FAB 50 Teams
(Special recognition for teams just outside the FAB 50)
West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) 24-4
We really wanted to get the Lions in there, but 13 teams from the West Region would have been just a bit too much. With its excellent backcourt led by Payton Pritchard, West Linn has the talent and experience to warrant a FAB 50 ranking before too long. It will head to the Tarkanian Classic in December to potentially test itself against seven FAB 50 ranked teams, including No. 50 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah).
Muskegon (Muskegon, Mich.) 28-0
With their 28-0 mark and Class A state title in tow, the Big Reds are unofficially team No. 51 in the rankings. Deyonta Davis is a serious Grassroots Hoops All-American candidate and has some talented pieces around him, but the graduation loss of Grid-Hoop stud Deshaun Thrower will be hard to overcome right away. Muskegon also has some football players that need to be incorporated into the rotation. The Big Reds face No. 41 Arthur Hill (Saginaw, Mich.) on December 20.
Oldsmar Christian (Oldsmar, Fla.) 16-9
We nearly had a third team from the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) in, but we’ll wait and see if Oldsmar starts off the season on a roll after finishing last season hot. Its talent level is high with two D1 bound forwards in Andrew Moemeka and Justin James and a talented underclass backcourt. Oldsmar Christian will square off against No. 6 Arlington Country Day on November 21. Oak Ridge of Orlando with Antonio Blakeney and six other lettermen returning was another Florida team strongly considered.
Others: Constitution (Philadelphia, Pa.); DeSoto (DeSoto, Texas); St. Anthony’s (Jersey City, N.J.).
RELATED: Preseason East Region Top 20 | Preseason Southeast Region Top 20 | Preseason Midwest Region Top 20 | Preseason Southwest Region Top 20 | Preseason West Top 20 | Preseason Grassroots Hoops FAB 50 (1-15) | Preseason Grassroots Hoops FAB 50 (16-30) | Preseason Grassroots Hoops FAB 50 (31-50)
Ronnie Flores is the Publisher and Editor of GrassrootsHoops.net. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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