East Catholic Tops Preseason Boys Basketball Poll

MANCHESTER, CT — East Catholic High School of Manchester was tabbed the state's best scholastic boys basketball team in preseason voting by a panel of media members.

The Eagles finished 26-2 in 2016-17, bowing out of the Class LL tournament in the semifinals. They are currently placed in Division I under the newly-aligned five-division format enacted this season by the CIAC.

Here are the top 10, plus all other schools which received votes:

1. East Catholic
2. Sacred Heart
3. Notre Dame-Fairfield
4. Hillhouse
5. Trinity Catholic
6. Holy Cross
7. Bassick
8. Crosby
9. Windsor
10. Weaver

Also receiving votes: Waterford, Notre Dame-West Haven, Danbury, East Hartford, Middletown, Wilbur Cross, Wilton, Ledyard, Waterbury Career, Fairfield Warde, Bloomfield, East Hampton, East Lyme, Ridgefield, Career, Brookfield, Fairfield Prep, New London, Northwest Catholic, Simsbury, Guilford, Kennedy, Bunnell, Stamford, Amity Regional, Trumbull, Lewis Mills.

Voters: Bill Bloxsom, HAN Network; Doug Bonjour, Connecticut Post; Jim Bransfield, Middletown Press; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Scott Ericson, Stamford Advocate; Sean Krofssik, Record-Journal; Mike Madera, Elm City Newspapers; Joe Morelli, New Haven Register; Joe Palladino, Republican-American; Dave Phillips, Shore Line Newspapers; John Pierson, WTNH; Marc Robbins, Vantage Sports; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Ben Talbott, Bird’s Eye Sports; Richard Zalusky, The Chronicle; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin.

Photo credit: Tim Jensen