Listen to this articleThe season tipped off Monday night for some area teams, so what better time for preps coordinator Colin Likas to reveal his first full rankings of the 2019-2020 campaign:
RK., TEAM REC. (PREV.)
1. Danville 0-0 (1)
Vikings return All-Area first-teamer Tevin Smith and several other key members from Class 4A sectional finalist.
2. Champaign Central 0-0 (6)
Khailieo Terry will be a year more comfortable running the point, and Pryce Punkay also will contribute a lot.
3. Urbana 0-0 (5)
Tigers lost first-teamer Payton Sheen but retain important guys like Chris Cross, Jermale Young, Bryson Tatum.
4. Cissna Park 0-0 (3)
Timberwolves must make up for absence of 6-foot-7 Stadeli twins, still should be able to shoot the lights out.
5. Bismarck-Henning/Rossville-Alvin 1-0 (10)
Drew Reifsteck remains in the fold for a Blue Devils program that graduated very little among key athletes.
6. Tuscola 0-0 (8)
Jalen Quinn alone will generate some wins for the Warriors, who also boast guys like Jacob Kibler, Ben Dixon.
7. St. Joseph-Ogden 0-0 (9)
Spartans lost Jack Cook and Joel Orcutt, but keep similarly strong pieces such as Chance Izard and Payton Cain.
8. Centennial 1-0 (—)
Chargers must make up for loss of Bryson Cowper, but started year knocking off Mahomet-Seymour on Monday.
9. Judah Christian 1-0 (4)
Tribe lost a bit from Class 1A sectional finalist, still can rack up wins with Noah Jackson, Tyler Grenda leading.
10. Unity 0-1 (—)
Rockets return majority of regulars and should shoot well, though they lost to Effingham St. Anthony on Monday.