Defending Champion Favored In CT High School Boys Hoop Preseason Poll

CONNECTICUT — With the high school boys basketball regular season set to commence Thursday night, members of the Connecticut sports media cast their ballots to determine the preseason top 10 teams.

Defending Division I champion East Catholic garnered 11 of 19 first-place votes to top the poll, ahead of the school it defeated in last year's final, Notre Dame-West Haven. The Green Knights collected seven top nods, while third-place Northwest Catholic received the other first-place vote.

Here are the top 10, plus all other teams receiving support.

1. East Catholic
2. Notre Dame-West Haven
3. Northwest Catholic
4. Windsor
5. Kolbe Cathedral
6. Wilbur Cross
7. (tie) Fairfield Prep
7. (tie) Notre Dame-Fairfield
9. St. Bernard
10. Daniel Hand

Also receiving votes: Bloomfield, Ridgefield, Conard, Danbury, Hillhouse, Wilton, Holy Cross, Windham, Cromwell, Bristol Central, SMSA, Norwich Free Academy, New London, Waterford, WCA, Granby, East Lyme, Kennedy, Prince Tech, Staples, St. Joseph, Achievement First, Platt.

Voters: Paul Augeri, Middletown Press; Adam Betz, Journal Inquirer; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Matt Finkel, WVIT-30; Mark Jaffee, Waterbury Republican-American; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Sean Krofssik, Record-Journal of Meriden; Mike Madera, GameTimeCT; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Dave Phillips, Shore Line Newspapers; John Pierson, WTNH-8; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Chris Saunders, WATR-AM; Ben Talbott, Bird’s Eye Sports; Richard Zalusky, The Chronicle of Willimantic; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Joe Zone, WFSB-3.
Compiled by Joe Morelli