Defending Champion Tops Pre-Season Connecticut Boys Basketball Poll

CONNECTICUT —The top two teams in the 2023-24 Division I state boys basketball tournament have maintained those positions through pre-season balloting of the state's sports media.

Defending champion Notre Dame-West Haven received the top nod on all 17 ballots submitted, with runner-up St. Bernard placing second. Notre Dame Prep, Windsor and East Catholic round out the top five. In all, 29 teams earned support from the scribes.

Here are the top 10, plus all other programs receiving votes.

1. Notre Dame-West Haven
2. St. Bernard
3. Notre Dame Prep
4. Windsor
5. East Catholic
6. Northwest Catholic
7. Kolbe Cathedral
8. New London
9. West Haven
10. Staples

Also receiving votes: Ridgefield, Waterbury Career Academy, Hillhouse, Trumbull, Holy Cross, Wilbur Cross, Cheney Tech, Bunnell, Cromwell, Fairfield Warde, Bloomfield, Fitch, SMSA, Lyme-Old Lyme, Manchester, Crosby, Newington, Stamford, Xavier.

Voters: Justin DeVellis, News 12 Connecticut; Mike DiMauro, The Day of New London; Erik Dobratz, WTNH-8; Scott Ericson, GametimeCT; Matt Finkel, WVIT-30; Tim Jensen, Patch Media Corp.; Jonah Karp, Fox61; Mike Madera, GametimeCT correspondent; Joe Morelli, GametimeCT; Dave Phillips, GametimeCT correspondent; Lori Riley, Hartford Courant; Kevin Roberts, Waterbury Republican-American; Dave Ruden, The Ruden Report; Chris Saunders, WATR-AM; Ben Talbott, Bird’s Eye Sports; Jimmy Zanor, Norwich Bulletin; Joe Zone, WFSB-3.
Compiled by Joe Morelli