High school boys basketball: Region 4 preview

Region play gets underway for most regions in Utah in the first week of January, and here's at look at Region 4. Projections were based on preseason coaches votes.

1. Lone Peak Knights

Coach: Quincy Lewis

2007-2008 record: 23-2

2008-2009 record thus far: 7-2

Returning starters: One

Key players: Tyler Haws, Nate Austin, Dillon Smith, Brandon Reeves

Region opener: vs. Spanish Fork, Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Outlook: Even though Lone Peak only has one returning starter back, Tyler Haws is the reigning Deseret News Mr. Basketball recipient and the type of player you can build a championship team around. The BYU signee is off to a great start this year as he patiently waits for the supporting cast around him to figure things out. One of those players is 6-foot-10 big man Nate Austin, another BYU signee. Things haven't gone very smoothly for Lone Peak this preseason, particularly on offense. It has been winning games with defense, but coach Lewis expects the offense to figure things out by region play.

2. Pleasant Grove Vikings

Coach: Randy McAllister

2007-2008 record: 18-4

2008-2009 record thus far: 6-4

Returning starters: Three

Key players: CJ Wilcox, LeSean Wilcox, Sefa Tanoai, Dallas Lloyd

Region opener: vs. Timpanogos, Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Outlook: With CJ Wilcox the Vikings are a lock to claim one of Region 4's three playoff berths, but with the way things have been going this preseason it might come as a No. 3 seed. Yes, C.J. Wilcox has been as good as advertised averaging 19.7 ppg, but the supporting cast just hasn't stepped up to the challenge yet. Pleasant Grove has also been prone to turnovers in losses to West Jordan, Provo, Riverton and Jordan. It's not that those losses are bad, with the three teams owning a combined record of 33-4, but good teams find ways to win games against good teams, but Pleasant Grove hasn't figured that out yet.

3. Lehi Pioneers

Coach: Craig Gladwell

2007-2008 record: 7-14

2008-2009 record thus far: 7-2

Returning starters: Three

Key players: William Walker, Jacob Obiama, Kyle Hinton, Corey Smith.

Region opener: vs. American Fork, Wednesday, Jan. 14.

Outlook: Most people thought Lehi would be third fiddle in Region 4 behind Lone Peak and Pleasant Grove, but the first month and a half of the season has changed those expectations. Led by William Walker and balanced scoring from the rest of the team Lehi has jumped out to a 7-2 preseason record. In reality, it was a narrow 52-46 loss to No. 1 Provo to open the season that put Lehi on the map. This might finally be the year Lehi is competitive in Region 4 and Class 5A after making the jump from 3A several years ago.

4. American Fork Cavemen

Coach: Doug Mecham

2007-2008 record: 5-16