Preseason District 6 Basketball Power Rankings

[Crimson's Ghost]

I'm going to give basketball a shot here. A few people asked about it and I'll do my best.  Perhaps someone can shed some light on how District 5 factors into things.  I know they'll be separate in class A and AA. But in AAA, it's only Chestnut Ridge and Everett. So I'm not sure if they will be absorbed into District 6, or will form a sub-region with the City League and District 9.  I'm going to operate under the assumption they aren't in District 6.  I will assume Somerset/Bedford will be a part of District 6 in 4A, since they have been involved with District Six in the past. 
So, if anyone has a link to the state playoff brackets, I'd very much appreciate it.  

Basketball rankings are hard. The results aren't as easy to find, since not everyone keeps up with Maxpreps.  There's also the weather factor and games may not get made up ect.   Football is easier to keep track of and there are more research assets to help with it. So if you see any corrections or missed results throughout the year, please 

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]AAAAAA[/center]
[left]1. State College [/left]
[left]State College is coming off a 13-12 season. They are the defending District Six champions, in the old AAAA classification. The Little Lions were very young last year and were led by Drew Friberg who is entering his junior season.  They should be a little better this season, but they have a challenging schedule. [/left]

[left]2. Altoona[/left]
[left]Doug West takes over an Altoona program in need of a change. The former Villanova star and NBA player should bring some much needed life into a program coming off a dismal 11-13 season. [/left]

[left]3. Mifflin County [/left]
[left]Mifflin County finished 1-18 last season and were a combined 0-4 last season against Altoona and State College.  Things may pick up for the Huskies, but they are a distant third in this. [/left]

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]AAAAA[/center]
[left]1. Hollidaysburg[/left]
[left]Hollidaysburg had a big season last year under Brad Lear. In two seasons, Lear has guided the Golden Tigers to 16 wins in 2015 and 21 wins last season. They lose a lot of senior leadership off of last year's state playoff team, but there still is enough around to have another strong campaign. [/left]

[left]2. Central Mountain [/left]
[left]Central Mountain went 13-10 last season and have some pieces in place to have an even better year this year. The Wildcats may benefit from dropping out of the largest classification and play schools closer to their own size.  Look for senior Kyle Everhart to have a big season after averaging 13 point per game in 2016. [/left]

3. Bellefonte
Bellefonte went 6-17 and lost in the first round of the AAA playoffs to top-seed Somerset. They played better down the stretch, but still struggled mightily in the Mountain Athletic Conference. New Head Coach Kris Glunt will look to get things turned around this season. 

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]AAAA[/center]

[left]1. Johnstown[/left]
[left]The Johnstown Trojans are seemingly always a force in basketball, and this should be another strong year. They return all five starters including 6'5" senior center Jemal Gause. Also returning is senior guard, Tavis Price. The Trojans were 14-10 last season, but expect a few more wins and a deeper run in the playoffs this season. [/left]

[left]2. Tyrone [/left]
[left]Tyrone loses all-everything player Anthony Politza, but they return just about everything else off a team that advanced to the state playoffs last season. Juniors Parker Mitchell and Dylan Thomas should be the focal players this season for the Golden Eagles. [/left]

[left]3. Forest Hills[/left]
[left]Forest Hills had a solid season in 2016, and will look to build on that this year. The Rangers will look to have a strong inside presence with 6'4" Adam Cecere and 6'3" Ryan Richardson.  Senior Guard Jared Wehner should help balance out the lineup. [/left]


[left]Just Missed - Central, Somerset, Huntingdon[/left]

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]AAA[/center]

1. Westmont 
Westmont returns a very tall and very experienced team. The Hilltoppers have to figure to be one of the favorites in the LHAC and District 6AAA.  Senior forwards Justin Bulas and Jake Elders provide size and rebounding. Senior sharp-shooter Ben Molchany can stretch the floor.  The Hilltoppers are poised for a very good season. 

2. Bellwood-Antis
Losing Nathan Davis will be tough to overcome, but the Blue Devils didn't go 24-3 with just one guy. Joey Padula and Jarrett Tanneyhill should both have very big seasons. They will absolutely be in the title hunt come February. 

3. Richland 
Losing three senior starters would usually seem like a tough thing to overcome, but Richland has some really good young talent.  Junior Tyler Zimmerman should have a breakout season.  Sophomore forward Collin Instone and junior Trevy Hardison should give Richland a strong inside game as well.  The key will be freshman Caleb Burke running the point effectively. 

4. Central Cambria 
Central Cambria brings back their top three scorers from last season's playoff team. Evan Bopp and Matt Holsinger perhaps form one of the best frontcourts in District Six.  Senior Nate Gillen gives them a serious outside shooting threat.  Look for the Red Devils to be very much improved. 

5. Penns Valley
The Rams lose a lot from last season's "Sweet 16" appearence, but it just seems hard to count them out anyways.  This is a program that always has success and will be a factor in the postseason. Give it time, but this is a team that could be in there in the end.


Just Missed - Ligonier Valley, Penn Cambria, West Shamokin

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]AA[/center]
[left]1. Bishop McCort [/left]
[left]The Crimson Crushers return three starters off a 15-8 team from last season.  Imil Britt, Andre Nash, and Logan Kasper form a very strong backcourt, while junior forward Matt Petrosky could be poised to have a breakout season. [/left]

[left]2. Bishop Guilfoyle[/left]
[left]The Marauders may be slow out of the gates, but will be a force late in the season.  Most of this team plays football, and it takes a while getting into the rhythm of basketball. [/left]

[left]3. Moshannon Valley[/left]
[left]6'7" Connor Holbinko is the anchor of this team.  Curtis Neff is also a key player back for the Knights. They finished 16-8 last season and nearly upset a pretty good Bishop Carroll team in the playoffs. [/left]

[left]4. Homer Center[/left]
[left]Homer Center had a dream season in 2016, but many of those players are gone.  Still, this is always a consistent program and they should be a good team, but probably not a repeat of 27-1. [/left]

[left]5. West Branch[/left]
[left]West Branch has won 59 games the past three seasons. The Warriors will lose four starters and rely heavily on Justin Rothrock. It'll be a new look team, but they deserve the benefit of the doubt for now. [/left]

[left]Just Missed - Portage, Penns Manor, Purchase Line[/left]

[TheGreenGoblin1998]

How does PC compare in AAA this year?

[Crimson's Ghost]

[center]A[/center]
[left]1. Saltsburg [/left]
[left]All the expectations are there - this is the year for the Saltsburg Trojans. Nick Porter and Frank Plowman should lead this team to contention for a Heritage and a District Six title, perhaps more. [/left]

[left]2. Bishop Carroll [/left]
[left]It's hard to count out a Cosie Aliquo coached team.  They relied so much on David Swatsworth and Raymond Watt last season, but they do have three starters back including Ben Eckenrode. It may take a while, but they'll be a factor late in the season. [/left]

[left]3. Ferndale [/left]
[left]The Yellow Jackets lose Ray Hinton, and that's nothing that can be brushed aside. He did so much for that tram the past few seasons. Bruce Shaffer, Julius Thomas, and Romello Shirley provide a solid nucleus for success this season. [/left]

[left]4. Saint Joseph's Catholic Academy[/left]
[left]This program is still growing, but they should be a factor in the new-look class A. [/left]

[left]Just Missed - Williamsburg, Belleville Mennonite, Blacklick Valley.[/left]

[Crimson's Ghost]

How does PC compare in AAA this year?

I think they'll be better than their 7-15 record of last year. AAA seems really competitive. Mason Ronan will need to have a good season for them.

[ChrisKentRam]

Great work as always Crimson. Always a fun read, and hopefully gets everyone talking about hoops. I think you put some very good lists together. At this time of year it's hard to really argue with anything you said.

In double a I would probably take Homer and West Branch out, and put Portage and Penns Manor in. As I said, it's hard to really argue with the way you have it, I just think both teams lost too much production, especially West Branch.