VYPE Hot 20: Basketball State Contenders

Remember these teams are ranked in the order, regardless of classification, of who has the best chance to cut down the nets in state title games. 20. ARLINGTON BOWIE BOYS Bowie has a lot of guys back including the football team's best player, Christian Matthews, who helps the Volunteers push the ball up the court. Bowie lost to Lewisville last year in the area round of the playoffs. 19. ARGYLE GIRLS The Eagles return 11 lettermen off a regional semifinal team, so they could be primed for a trip to Austin. Emma Forrer (5-8, Sr.), Jessica Bonfield (5-11, Sr.), Colbea Harris (5-8, Jr.) and Amy Beecher (5-8, Sr.) all averaged more than 7.4 points per game last season. 18. MANSFIELD TIMBERVIEW GIRLS The Wolves went 35-3 last year in 5A, so they should be a title contender in 4A, right? The arsenal is there with Keena Mays (5-8, Jr.), who had 12.6 points per game last year. And, Timberview won't have to get through Lincoln to get to the state tournament. 17. MANSFIELD SUMMIT GIRLS The Jaguars should make another deep run in the playoffs, and may have the experience to get to Austin under coach Tammy Lusinger. Senior district MVP Starr Crawford (6-0) averages 14.5 points and 11 rebounds per game. The Jags only lost three players off last year's team, so watch out. 16. LANCASTER BOYS The Tigers have kind of disappeared off the radar since coach Joe Rushing left, but still Lancaster is more than capable of getting back to a state tournament under Ferrin Douglas. Lancaster is loaded with talent on the inside with Daniel Skinner (6-8, Jr.) and on the perimeter with John Bohannon (6-0, Jr.). 15. HIGHLAND PARK BOYS The Scots graduated a ton of players off last year' team that lost a heartbreaker to South Oak Cliff in the regional finals. But let's face it, all coaches know almost every year will be one in which you have to reload with new players, so coach David Piehler should be ready after the offseason to put another good team on the floor. Tucker Robinson (6-3, Sr.) and Josh Thurman (5-11, Jr.) will be the leaders. 14. ARGYLE BOYS The Argyle boys went undefeated at the varsity and junior varsity levels in district last season. So winning, and knowing how to do it shouldn't be a problem for John King's team. Several top players are back from last year's regional semifinal team. Caden Dickerson (6-4, Sr.) was an all-state pick last year. The Eagles lose four seniors, but the depth in the program should make Argyle a state title contender. 13. GARLAND NAAMAN FOREST GIRLS The Rangers burst onto the scene last year and made a run to the state semifinals. So now Naaman Forest should be more than comfortable about winning and handling what comes with it. The Rangers get solid guard play with Tiffany Halliway (5-5, Sr.) and Krystal Jackson (5-2, Jr.) to go with district MVP Jasmine Godbolt (6-0, Sr.) 12. DUNCANVILLE GIRLS The Pantherettes went to the regional finals last year, and should have another strong team under Cathy Self-Morgan. Duncanville is a deep team even after graduating six Division I players. Jasmine Davis (6-0, Sr.) and Ashley Roberts (5-10, Sr.) are the returning starters, but there are also other players that got plenty of playing time last year such as Catherine Williams (6-3, soph.) and Brenna Dillard (6-1, Sr.). 11. DESOTO BOYS The Eagles are young, but coach Chris Dyer is one of the best in the area and will get the chance to groom this team play to how he wants them to, and that means getting after it on the defensive end. DeSoto should be able to push it with Dericio Dandridge (5-9, Jr.) and Taylor Alexander (5-10, Sr.). 10. PLANO WEST BOYS A lot is being written about Plano West and how much potential the Wolves have, never mind that they fell in the second round of the playoffs last year. The press goes to Jackson Jeffcoat (6-4, Jr.), who averaged a double-double last season, but who still has room for improvement. Tyler Melville (6-1, Sr.) and Bakari Turner (6-2, Jr.) form a good backcourt, and coach Anthony Morgan does a good job with his team. The Wolves still need to convince themselves they are tough enough to beat good teams like Duncanville. 9. FW DUNBAR BOYS Coach Robert Hughes Jr.'s team fell in the regional quarterfinals last year, but Dunbar is always a threat to get to Austin because of talent and because they play in a weaker Region I far away from South Oak Cliff and Lincoln. Darius White (6-3, Jr.) was the newcomer of the year last year, but Jason Smith, who averaged 18.3 points per game last season, has transferred to Arlington Grace Prep. That means the Wildcats bring back only one starter from last season. 8. LINCOLN BOYS Lincoln could supplant South Oak Cliff as the best 4A team in the Dallas area this year. All of the ingredients are there. LeBryan Nash (6-6, soph.) could be the best player at Lincoln since Chris Bosh. Don Canyon (6-3, Jr.) is also a Division I recruit in the making. Lincoln went 12-0 in district last year. Look for a repeat and at worst another regional tournament appearance. 7. CEDAR HILL BOYS It's good to see coach David Milson back with a strong team. It was strange to see the Longhorns go 7-7 and miss the playoffs last year. Tanner Milson (6-1, Jr.) and Oliver Wells (6-2, Jr.) will key what should be a Cedar Hill revival. 6. NORTH CROWLEY BOYS The Panthers will have to defend their state championship without Oklahoma signee Willie Warren, who was unstoppable in the playoffs. But it's not like coach Tommy Brakel didn't win before Warren, so look for North Crowley to be a force again. Dontee' Kinney (6-4, Sr.) and Tony McGilveary (6-5, Sr.) combined to average 20 points a game last year and will get more looks with Warren gone. 5. DESOTO GIRLS Larry Goad's team lost just twice last year, one of them in the state title game to Cy-Fair. Some key players return -- Kiara Parker (5-8 ,Sr.), who averaged six points last year, and Kelli Willingham (5-5, Jr.), who averaged 7.5 points and 4.5 assists per game last year. 4. LINCOLN GIRLS It's difficult to imagine Lincoln not reaching another state tournament, but the Tigers did take a blow when Kimetria Hayden (5-11, Sr.), who averaged 17.9 points per game last year, injured her knee. Coach Michael Ensley told the Dallas Morning News that Hayden could return for the playoffs. It would be foolish to think Ensley won't get enough out of his team to get to the state finals again, with or without Hayden. 3. BISHOP LYNCH GIRLS The expectation is always a state championship at Lynch. Coach Andy Zilhlman's team was 32-8 last year, and as usual, once the Friars are done with public schools, they dominate the private schools. The Friars won their seventh consecutive state title last year. Alex Green (Sr.) and Kristen Ring (Sr.) are the leaders. 2. SOUTH OAK CLIFF BOYS There is still turmoil about how exactly South Oak Cliff is getting it done, from Darrell Arthur to other grade problems. One thing can't be argued -- as long as coach James Mays is on the Golden Bears' bench, the hotels in Austin can go ahead and book the Golden Bears' rooms. SOC's state title team last year was senior-oriented and led by J'Mison Morgan, who is at UCLA now. This year's team will be small and quick and provide another glimpse of how good of a coach Mays is. 1. DUNCANVILLE BOYS Duncanville and coach Phil McNeely should be plenty motivated after falling short last year with a regional semifinal loss to North Crowley. And it only helps that a lot of the players who had to endure that loss are back. The debate will continue over who is the better player, Shawn Williams (6-7, Sr.) or Roger Franklin (6-7, Sr.). Most teams would just kill to have one of these guys.