MaxPreps 2012-13 Arizona Boys Basketball Preseason Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard

1. Dobson (Mesa)
Head coach: Rick McConnell
2011-12 finish: 18-12, first-round loss in AIA Division I playoffs

Coming off a playoff season and with the return of 6-foot-4 junior guard and Arizona State-bound Kodi Justice, Dobson figured to make a deeper playoff push. But when the Mustangs landed Colorado-bound Jaron Hopkins, a 6-5 guard who transferred from Basha, Dobson moved to the head of the class. Hopkins averaged 21.8 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists and 5.3 assists per game and made 60 percent of his shots last year at Basha (22-7). The Mustangs lost only three seniors off last year's team and received another transfer in Ryan Richardson, a 6-3 shooting guard from Perry. He averaged 7.5 points last year and his team eliminated Basha in the playoffs.

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2. Pinnacle (Phoenix)
Head coach: Charles Wilde
2011-12 finish: 30-4, lost in Division I semifinals.

The Pioneers return three starters from last year's team, including 6-5 shooting guard Drew Bender, who led a balanced scoring attack last season at 14.4 points per game. Bender, who is headed to Rice, shot 48 percent from the field, 35 percent on 3-pointers and 80 percent at the line. Pinnacle also returns one of the state's top juniors in 6-4 Dorian Pickens, who averaged 13.7 points and 5.7 rebounds per game last season. Other top returners are 6-foot junior point guard Trey Ingram and 6-5 senior forward Lee Andari. Under Wilde, the Pioneers have won at least 20 games in five of the last eight years.

See last season's Arizona stats leaderboard

3. Corona del Sol (Tempe)
Head coach: Sam Duane Jr.
2011-12 finish: 32-1, won state Division I championship

It's difficult to follow up perfection, and the Aztecs just about were last season en route to their first state title since 1994. They lost eight seniors to graduation but return super 6-2 junior point guard Casey Benson, who might have been the best player on the court during a 66-53 triumph in the state title win over Chavez. Benson, rated the No. 48 junior in the country, made 8 of 14 shots including three 3-pointers en route to a team-high 22 points. Corona del Sol lost most of its muscle down low and now-Arizona State wing Calean Robinson, but also return 6-5 sophomore wing Cassius Peat and 6-2 senior guard Bryan Siefker.

See last season's Arizona boys basketball Freeman Rankings

4. Chavez (Laveen)
Head coach: Gary Lee
2011-12 finish: 27-6, lost in state Division I championship

Led by one of the state's top juniors, 6-5 forward Pablo Rivas, the Champions should make another state title run. Rivas shot 52 percent from the field and averaged 11 rebounds and 4 blocks per game. Other top returners include 5-11 senior guard Will Holt (8.5 ppg) and 5-10 senior guard Jesse Salazar.

See last season's AIA playoff brackets

5. Mountain View (Mesa)
Head coach: Gary Ernst
2011-12 finish: 21-8, lost in second round of Division I playoffs

Most of the Toros' hopes center around – quite literally – 6-9 junior Payton Dastrup, a power forward and post who is ranked the No. 14 recruit in the country for the Class of 2014. The top recruit in the state – any class – can shoot from anywhere on the court and has a variety of post moves. Mountain View graduated most of its squad from last year, but returns six players, including 6-5 senior Brian Butler.