Germantown Academy (Ft. Washington, PA.) USA Today picked the Patriots as the fifth best prep team in the nation in its preseason poll. And well it should. Led by three seniors that have already committed to Division I colleges, they are a very big, talented basketball team. The Patriots are the reigning Philadelphia Catholic League champions and are considered better than last year's team. Led by top-20 center, Ted Skuchas ( Vanderbilt), 6-11, forward Lee Melchioni ( Duke) 6-8, and guard Matt Walsh ( Florida), 6-6, the Patriots hope to improve on last year's 27-3 record. Assisting the threesome are Jeff Curtin, 6-3, Adam Goodman, 6-0, and Matt Berman, 5-9.

Westbury Christian High School (Houston, TX) Making its third appearance are the Wildcats of Westbury Christian. They have won six of the past seven Texas Prep Championships, and look poised to repeat again. They are led by senior Ndudi Ebi, 6-10, a preseason top-100 player, senior Lucian Graham, a 6-7 guard, and junior forward Ugo Ihekweazu, 6-5. Coach Gregg Glenn always brings a disciplined, patient team to the tournament.

Archbishop Molloy High School (Queens, N.Y.) Also making its third tournament appearance are the Stanners of Molloy, the reigning New York City champions. Legendary head coach Jack Curran is New York State's winningest coach ( 794-285). He has six returning letterman, any of which can lead the team: Kevin Hamilton, Jamaal Wagner, Leonzo Cuiman, Stephon Cherry, Kevin Diffley and Paul Tuomey. Add to these super sophomore Sundiata Gaines and the Stanners figure to challenge for their second DC Classic Championship ( 1999).

Roanoke Catholic School(Roanoke, VA) The reigning Independent Schools, Division II Champions are led by one of the more remarkable players in the Old Dominion state, J.R. Reynolds. A starter for the Celtics since the eighth grade, Reynolds, 6-3, caught the eye of nearly all Division I coaches, including UVA's Pete Gillen. Prior to the start of this season, Reynolds, a junior, committed to play for the Virginia Cavaliers. Last year he averaged 20.1 ppg, 8.8 rebs, and 6 assists. He enters his junior year with nearly 1,500 points. He is not the only Catholic player recruited by Division I schools. The others are: senior guard Phillip Wall, 6-0, Tadas Mankevicius, 6-9, and Matt Nowlin, 6-4, who was the MVP in last year's state prep championship tournament.

T.C. Williams High School (Alexandria, VA). Head coach Chavez Mabry has built a successful program in just his third year. Last year the Titan's made it to the final four of the state championship tourney ( AAA, Division 6). They are led by senior point guard Alton Fortner, 5-11, who averaged 10 ppg and 4 assists last year. Senior Dwight Parrish, 5-10, is a 3-point specialist ( shooting over 60% last year). Junior forward Willie Shaw, 6-6, 243 lbs, provides power up front, and junior small forward Antonio Hunt, 6-2, is quick on the inside. Maurice Sumter, who played JV last year, looks good in the preseason. 

Bishop McNamara High School (Forestville, MD). New Coach Kevin Sutton, formerly an assistant coach at Old Dominion University, is pleased with this year's team, which he says is " upbeat and well balanced". The Mustangs are led by senior small forward Charles Cook, 6-4, junior Kevin Talley, 6-3, off guard, junior Kevin Hall, point guard, and sophomore Abdulai Jollah, guard. Exchange student, junior Aurinas Trustkauskas, 6-7, is a power forward. 

Spingarn High School (Washington, DC). Reigning city champion, Spingarn High, is off to a fast start, 4-1, recently beating highly-ranked Dunbar High School of Baltimore, 63-61. Led by senior point guard Mikail Malik, 14 ppg, 5 assists, Spingarn is a veteran team, including Daniel Marshall, Mike Castro, and Sohi Frazier. 

Gonzaga College High School (Washington, DC) Coach Dick Myers' team is lacking height this year but not quickness. In fact, this may be the quickest Eagle's squad ever. Point guard Chris Sumner, 6-0, 8 ppg, 5 assists, led the conference in steals last year. Upfront are two sophomores who got a lot of playing time last year, forward Antwan Harrison, 6-3. 5 ppg, and forward Stanley Hodge, 6-3, 4 ppg. The center is junior Luke Owings, 6-5, and vying for the off guard position are junior Lorenzo Miles, 6-0, and senior Brian Brannan, 5-10.