High school boys basketball: Contenders abound in 5A

For the first time in a long time, you'll need two hands to count the number of contenders in Class 5A high school boys basketball this season. You might even need to borrow a finger or two from a friend for a more accurate count.

As the first month of the season has proved, there is an unbelievable amount of parity in the 5A ranks.

Sure, a Lone Peak team led by reigning Mr. Basketball Tyler Haws is still the team to beat, but even the Knights aren't invincible. Three of their Division I talents from a year ago are gone, and the Knights have already lost to Provo and narrowly beat Alta earlier this week.

"When you lose those kinds of guys, you're not going be able to replace those guys with as good a players," said Lone Peak coach Quincy Lewis.

After Lone Peak, and even surprising Alta, the list of legitimate 5A contenders in no particular order includes Skyline, Riverton, West Jordan, Lehi, Davis, Pleasant Grove, Bingham, Jordan.

Considering that already this year Jordan defeated Davis, Davis knocked off Bingham and Bingham beat Jordan reveals just what a wild season we're in store for in 5A.

"I think this is the best 5A has been since the 2005-06 season when Bingham won it," said Lewis.

With so many quality programs, it puts an even greater emphasis on region play this year. The good teams will make the state tournament, that's an inevitability. But the seeding heading into the state tournament is going to be huge. There are no gimme games at state, but a No. 1 seed definitely has an easier opening-round draw than a No. 2 or 3 seed.

The most wide-open leagues are definitely Regions 2 and 3.

In Region 2, heading into Friday night's games, Skyline was one of only two remaining undefeated teams in 5A, but the Eagles are by no means a shoo-in to win the league title despite three returning starters.

Alta plays solid defense and is more balanced offensively this year, whereas Jordan has good size and a solid senior and junior class. Don't be surprised if these teams beat each other up and finish with identical 8-2 region records.

The same scenario could unfold in Region 3.

Even the Region 3 coaches don't know how things will play out, as West Jordan and Bingham tied for first in a preseason coaches poll, followed by Riverton in third. It's Riverton, though, that is off to the best start with a 6-0 record heading into Friday's game against Lehi.

Point guard Scott Friel is the player that makes Riverton go, and coach Steve Galley says he's really improved his ballhandling since the end of last year.