Jeff George, Tommy Delaunay, and James Tatter's Preseason Top 25 Boys & Girls!

Jeff's Boys Picks

Editor's Comments

Teams to Watch: Charlotte Catholic, Asheville


RANKTEAMLAST RESULTCOMMENTS
1
The clear #1 team by all preseason measures, and could be one of the best top 5's in NC history.
2
The only team with strong enough stats to be considered a challenger for the overall #1 coming into the season.
3
Great track times and one of the best at improving over the summer.
4
Deep and strong, with excellent spring results to support returning XC times.
5
Essentially even with #3 and #4 coming into the season, and certainly could be on the podium in November.
6
The first of the "Tier 2" teams, with strong returning times from XC and track (but no Improvement Rating yet to complete the statistical profile).
7
The competition in the Cary/Apex/Morrisville area is intense! This is a program on the verge of perennial prominence, needing one more step forward.
8
Depth is the big concern, but the firepower up front is solid.
9
The best combined boys & girls program in NC the last 3 years. 
10
Great 1600 depth in the spring makes the Imps look even stronger.
11
I think they're likely to be in the top 10 by season's end, but they have some work to do to get there.
12
This is the start of "Tier 3," and the Pride's big 3200 times from track season have them at the top of it.
13
Solid all-around team with speed and depth that will be hard to beat.
14
Going to be in a dogfight for the top 3 spots in their classification.
15
Rapidly on their way back to the top of the NCISAA after a bit of a down year.
16
Could be squeezed out in an ultra-competitive area, but don't be surprised if the Cougars manage to emerge.
17
Probably have the clearest path to the state meet of any 4A team, and the talent to get it done.
18
Showed strong progress during track season that bumps them up.
19
Track season raised a red flag (only 4 deep under 12 in the 3200?) but I'm betting it's not the true measure of this team.
20
Still looking for consistency from the Vikings, but they're going to break through at some point.
21
Can they carry over momentum from a very good track season?
22
Finished 6th in 3A with one of the youngest teams in the state (1 sr, 1 jr), but 3A got crowded.
23
Huge 3200 team score in the spring shows the Knights are reloading.
24
Has been showing flashes over the past two seasons; can it come together in such an intensely competitive region?
25
Surprisingly strong Improvement Rating for a small school.