The National Prep Basketball Poll is compiled by national high school sports experts Jamie DeMoney and Jeremy Plowman and a panel of sportswriters. The national Top 25 and regional Top 10's follow with last season's won-loss records:

1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (29-5) ,
roster loaded with Division I prospects
2. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick (22-6) ,
features nation's top frosh in Derrick Caracter
3. Columbus, Ohio, Brookhaven (27-1) ,
led by Oklahoma signees Andrew Lavender and Brandon Foust
4. Minnetonka, Minn., Hopkins (28-2) ,
has three Division I recruits, led by Duke signee Kris Humphries
5. Lexington, Ky., Catholic (33-2) ,
returns a trio of standout juniors
6. Aurora, Ill., West (27-3) ,
bolstered by Marquette recruit Dameon Mason
7. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (32-1) ,
only loss last season was to preseason No. 1 Mater Dei
8. Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary (23-4) ,
superstar LeBron James expected to forgo college for NBA
9. Indianapolis, Pike (24-4) ,
two top transfers help make Red Devils state's preseason No. 1 team
10. Chicago, Crane (21-8) ,
could be cream of crop in Chicago Public League
11. Philadelphia, Bartram (25-1) ,
leads the pack in Philadelphia Public League
12. Seattle, Rainier Beach (28-1) ,
features the high-flying Stewart twins, Rodrick and Lodrick
13. Orlando, Fla., Edgewater (26-4) ,
top team in Florida led by standout junior Darius Washington
14. Detroit, Redford (21-2) ,
Michigan recruit G Dion Harris runs the show
15. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (23-6) ,
coach Stu Vetter coached Prep Poll champion in 1998
16. Miami, Christian (38-2) ,
season outlook damaged by transfer of 6-8 standout Ivan Lopez
17. New York, Rice (29-2) ,
features developing 7-3 big man Shagari Alleyne
18. Beaumont, Texas, Ozen (32-3) ,
senior Kendrick Perkins is a consensus top-5 player
19. Winston-Salem, N.C., Reynolds (27-6) ,
averages 6-foot-8 along its front line
20. Minneapolis, Henry (29-4) ,
three-time defending 3A state champ
21. Jackson, Miss., Lanier (32-5) ,
top sophomore Monta Ellis runs the point
22. Oklahoma City, Putnam City (27-1) ,
defending 6A state titlist
23. Cherry Hill, N.J., Camden Catholic (25-3) ,
led by the Cangelosi twins, Eric and Nick
24. Springfield, Mo., Kickapoo (26-2) ,
PG Spencer Laurie is headed to Missouri
25. Oradell, N.J., Bergen Catholic (25-7) ,
led by do-everything F Sean Banks

Northeast
1. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick, 22-6
2. Philadelphia, Bartram, 25-1
3. New York, Rice, 29-2
4. Cherry Hill, N.J., Camden Catholic, 25-3
5. Oradell, N.J., Bergen Catholic, 25-7
6. Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln, 25-6
7. Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony, 29-1
8. Bronx, N.Y., St. Raymond, 17-10
9. Barrington, R.I., St. Andrews, 25-8
10. Rochester, N.Y., McQuaid, 24-3

East Coast
1. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill, 32-1
2. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian, 23-6
3. Winston-Salem, N.C., Reynolds, 27-6
4. Arlington, Va., Bishop O'Connell, 30-6
5. Bennettsville, S.C., Marlboro County, 28-2
6. Baltimore, Douglass, 28-0
7. Hockessin, Del., Sanford, 24-2
8. Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha, 32-3
9. Fayetteville, N.C., Seventy-First, 28-3
10. Clemmons, N.C., West Forsyth, 26-4

Southeast
1. Lexington, Ky., Catholic, 33-2
2. Orlando, Fla., Edgewater, 26-4
3. Miami, Christian, 38-2
4. Jackson, Miss., Lanier, 32-5
5. Jacksonville, Fla., Arlington Country Day, 22-2
6. Memphis, Tenn., White Station, 36-2
7. Monroe, La., Ouachita, 36-2
8. Radcliff, Ky., North Hardin, 31-5
9. Stone Mountain, Ga., Redan, 19-6
10. Memphis, Tenn., East, 20-8

Midwest
1. Columbus, Ohio, Brookhaven, 27-1
2. Aurora, Ill., West, 27-3
3. Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 23-4
4. Indianapolis, Pike, 24-4
5. Chicago, Crane, 21-8
6. Detroit, Redford, 21-2
7. Maywood, Ill., Proviso East 26-3
8. Madison, Wis., La Follette, 25-1
9. Peoria, Ill., Richwoods, 24-5
10. Detroit, Renaissance, 22-5

Midlands
1. Minnetonka, Minn., Hopkins, 28-2
2. Minneapolis, Henry, 29-4
3. Springfield, Mo., Kickapoo, 26-2
4. St. Louis, Hazelwood Central, 23-6
5. Kansas City, Mo., Westport, 23-6
6. Columbia, Mo., Hickman 22-5
7. Sioux City, Iowa, East, 25-1
8. Denver, East, 18-3
9. Fargo, N.D., North, 25-0
10. Litchfield, Minn., 30-2

Southwest
1. Beaumont, Texas, Ozen, 32-3
2. Oklahoma City, Putnam City, 27-1
3. Houston, Westbury Christian, 27-10
4. Tulsa, Okla., Washington, 27-0
5. Cedar Hill, Texas, 32-3
6. Missouri City, Texas, Hightower, 24-4
7. North Las Vegas, Nev., Cheyenne, 30-5
8. Fort Worth, Texas, Dunbar, 33-3
9. Little Rock, Ark., Parkview, 27-3
10. Aldine, Texas, Nimitz, 28-5

West Coast
1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei, 29-5
2. Seattle, Rainier Beach, 28-1
3. Los Angeles, Fairfax, 30-5
4. Los Angeles, Westchester, 32-2
5. Moreno Valley, Calif., Canyon Springs, 20-9
6. Honolulu, Iolani, 25-2
7. Portland, Ore., Jefferson, 20-5
8. Los Angeles, Loyola, 27-4
9. Oakland, Calif., Technical, 28-4
10. Seattle, Seattle Prep, 17-8

FEATS OF THE WEEK: For the second consecutive year a team from Southern California begins the season ranked No. 1 in the National Prep Poll as Santa Ana, Mater Dei takes the top spot in the preseason Top 25. Coach Gary McKnight's Monarchs return three Division I-signed players from a 2001-02 team that won 29 games including handing then-No. 1 Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill its only loss. Six-foot-five swingman D.J. Strawberry has signed to play at Maryland, 6-3 guard Wesley Washington will attend Minnesota and 6-9 post Harrison Schaen is Princeton-bound. Mater Dei will face a demanding cross-country schedule that includes an appearance at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., where seven nationally or regionally ranked teams will compete, including second-ranked Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick. Also on the 2002-03 slate is a Jan. 4 meeting at the Great Western Forum versus No. 8 Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary and its superstar LeBron James . . . Here are the previous preseason No. 1 teams with their final record and ranking for that season: 1988--Bronx, N.Y., Tolentine (30-1) 1st; 1989--Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony (32-0) 1st; 1990--Chicago, King (30-0) 1st; 1991--Philadelphia, Simon Gratz (27-1) 1st; 1992--Baltimore, Dunbar (29-0) 1st; 1993--Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (30-0) 1st; 1994--Los Angeles, Crenshaw (29-2) 2nd; 1995--Frederick, Md., St. John's at Prospect Hall (22-1) 2nd; 1996--Jersey City, N.J. St. Anthony (31-0) 1st; 1997--Miami, Senior (36-1) 2nd; 1998--Frederick, Md., St. John's at Prospect Hall (25-0) 1st; 1999--Hyattsville, Md., DeMatha (28-4) 8th; 2000--Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (30-2) 2nd; 2001--Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (33-0) 1st; 2002--Los Angeles, Westchester (32-2) 5th.

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