As the sun rises on the IHSA Boys Basketball season, the John A. Logan College SI Basketball Preseason Poll is here!
The Centralia Orphans are the overwhelming favorite to dominate the South this season with 10 first place votes in the preseason poll. With sophomore Archie Goeway expected to take another step up following a phenomenal freshman campaign and surrounded by players like junior Michael Organ, the Orphans look like a tough opponent for any and all.
Despite not receiving any first place votes, the Mt. Vernon Rams are also expected to be one of the top teams, voted #2 in the preseason poll. They return the likes of Cale Maurer and Eli Prost for big senior seasons.
Coming in at #3 is the Nashville Hornets. Their senior guard Maddox Ritzel is expected to dazzle in his farewell season.
The Pinckneyville Panthers slot in at #4. Matt Laur and his son Ty don’t have the likes of Riley Bauersachs and A.J. Keith to lean on this season but Ty McConnell figures to fill that void and form a monster duo.
The Marion Wildcats round out the top 5, also picking up a first place vote. The Wildcats graduated several stars last season but still are expected to compete with the top teams in the region.
Murphysboro is the #6 preseason team, expected to bounce back from their shocking Regional Semifinals loss to Massac County in February. The Red Devils center themselves around big man Kemmeon Hale and guards Myles Guthman and Cash Brooks. They also expect some reinforcements coming up from their Middle School team that won the Class L State Title.
Woodlawn is the #7 preseason team, garnering the final first place vote. the Cardinals already figured to take a few steps up but the transfer of guard Kyle Cooper has many thinking Woodlawn is the top 1A team in the South and wouldn’t be shocked by a deep postseason run.
The Carbondale Terriers are the #8 preseason team. They return multiple key players like Jaxon Marlow-Evans, Calen Lilly, and Mikaden Greene that should make things easy for Tommy Holder in his first year as Terriers head coach.
The Carterville Lions are the #9 team in the area. With returners like Colton Hawkins and Kaden Wilson, as well as the sharp mind of head coach Shane Hawkins, the Lions are always a team not to be overlooked.
Rounding out the top 10 is the Waltonville Spartans. Despite losing Kyle Cooper they still return Gage Peterson and Brendan Klingler and are expected to bring the same type of play the 28-win Spartans had last season.
Here’s a look at the Full Rankings:
| Rank | School (Record) [First Place Votes] | Points | Rank Last Week |
| 1 | Centralia (0-0) [10] | 127 | N/A |
| 2 | Mt. Vernon (0-0) | 95 | N/A |
| 3 | Nashville (0-0) | 81 | N/A |
| 4 | Pinckneyville (0-0) [1] | 78 | N/A |
| 5 | Marion (0-0) [1] | 59 | N/A |
| 6 | Murphysboro (0-0) | 49 | N/A |
| 7 | Woodlawn (0-0) [1] | 35 | N/A |
| 8 | Carbondale (0-0) | 33 | N/A |
| 9 | Carterville (0-0) | 30 | N/A |
| 10 | Waltonville (0-0) | 29 | N/A |
Also receiving votes: Benton 27, Goreville 19, Herrin 16, Cairo 7, Massac County 7, Du Quoin 5, Anna-Jonesboro 4, Century 4, Vienna 3, Harrisburg 3, Chester 2, Fairfield 1, Meridian 1
*The John A. Logan Little Egypt Football Poll is voted on by a trusted group of area coaches and media members each week
