MaxPreps 2012 Preseason Xcellent 25 Basketball preview: No. 10 Salesian

Key returners:

Jabari Bird (6-5, Sr., G/F) – No. 24 ranked Class of 2013 prospect, California verbal commitment

Mario Dunn (6-0, Sr., G) – Montana verbal commitment

Markel Leonard (6-0, Sr., G) – Cal Poly verbal commitment

Jermaine Edmonds (6-4, Sr., F)

Newcomers:

Jonathan Galloway (6-8, Jr., F)

Lance Coleman (6-5, So., F)

Ben Kone (6-7, Fr., F)

Circle the date:
In what could be a key primer for the section and state playoffs, Salesian will take on nationally ranked Sheldon (Sacramento) on Feb. 2. The pairing produced a classic last season as Salesian overcame a double-digit deficit to beat the eventual Division I state runner-up. Another big test will come at West Virginia's Cancer Research Classic in January against defending Pennsylvania Class AAA state champ Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia).

Tournament time:
Salesian will participate in the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in December, where programs like Lincoln (Tacoma, Wash.), Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and Sheldon (again) would love to bolster their national resumes with a win over a Top 10 team like the Pride. The historic Gridley Invitational – which Salesian has won four years in a row – is also on the slate.