La Salle sat on the throne of Rhode Island high school boys basketball last season.
Since 2013, just four schools have been crowned state champions across 12 seasons. That run can be greatly attributed to Bishop Hendricken’s eight titles during that time. Hendricken has now gone two straight years without hoisting the trophy, and all signs point to this being a year where Hendricken is a contender.
But there will be a few feisty opponents standing in the way of the Hawks and their 22nd state title. Some teams always seem to find themselves in the mix, while others may come as a complete surprise.
Here are our preseason power rankings for Rhode Island high school hoops.
1. Bishop Hendricken
Last season: 22-8 Overall, 12-3 League
Head Coach: Jamal Gomes
Division I
After falling in both the Rhode Island state championship and the Division I championship last year, the Hawks are prepared to return seeking revenge. Best of luck to any team attempting to take down Hendricken’s three-headed monster — Deion Ellis-Cipriano, Michael D’Ambra and Will Cary. They will make life immensely difficult for opponents. The Hawks will be strong, athletic and have more size and improved shot-making compared to a year ago. Those strengths will be tested with interstate matchups against New London (Conn.), East Catholic (Conn.) and Bridgewater-Raynham (Mass.) — all ranked in the top 10 in their respective states.
2. Lincoln
Last season: 15-11 Overall, 12-8 League
Head Coach: Jeremy Wilner
Division I
Not only are the Lions returning star point guard Gianni Pagios, but they’re getting Josh Bergeron back from the torn ACL he suffered in the opening game last year. Bergeron is a knock-down shooter and provides some valuable size. His presence will only further free up Pagios, who was also battling a foot injury last year. They are also bringing back Andrew Picozzi, who made Coaches Association Third Team All-State last year. Lincoln is healthy this year and primed to aim higher than its No. 7 finish in Division I last year. The Lions are entering just their second season in the top division, as they made the jump following a near-perfect 26-1 season that was capped off with a Div. II championship in 2024.
3. La Salle
Last season: 27-2 Overall, 16-0 League
Head Coach: Mike McParlin
Division I
The Rams are always going to be in the mix, especially when they have a player like Nick Tarro. They were the team that defeated Bishop Hendricken in both of the aforementioned championship games, but they graduated a significant number of players from that team. Gone is 2025 Rhode Island Gatorade Player of the Year Liam Simpson. Much of the onus will fall on the powerful Tarro, who has potential to be the best player in the state. Guard Jaden Givens will look to ease the burden on Tarro and keep the Rams among the state’s elite.
4. Barrington
Last season: 19-7 Overall, 14-5 League
Head Coach: Mike Raffa
Division I
The Eagles have a veteran team and lost few players to graduation. All four of last year’s top scorers are back. Caleb Satisfield is the Eagles’ main man, as he averaged 18 points in 26 contests last season. He is a phenomenal all-around athlete. They are a well-coached team and have an array of capable shooters, namely Colin McDermott. A 6-foot-4 forward in Ryan Rigamonti rounds out Barrington’s top scorers, all of whom averaged at least 14 points per game last season. This will be a dangerous team that will be a hard out when the shots are falling.
5. Central
Last season: 19-9 Overall, 12-5 League
Head Coach: Mike Reed
Division I
The Knights are primed to be longer, bigger and more athletic than last season. They’re going to play fast and continue deploying their pressing identity. Sophomore John Ramos will lead the way as the team’s primary scorer, and if he continues playing at the high level he showed during his freshman year, he could make the jump to prep school. Ramos will undoubtedly be one of the best players in the state this year. Khamaree Benton is another capable scorer who spent last season as the sixth man, but will now join the starting lineup. The Knights struggled with size last season, but that should no longer be an issue with the addition of some taller presences inside.
6. Classical
Last season: 20-7 Overall, 15-3 League
Head Coach: John Kavanagh
Division I
The Purple lost three of their five top scorers, but as long as they have Eliezer Delbrey, they’ll be just fine. The senior guard led Rhode Island in scoring last season with his 22.6 points per game. Delbrey is only one player, of course, but his tough shot-making ability is hard to stop. Classical also has 6-foot-6 Mohammed Fadia to serve as a rim protector on the defensive end. Otherwise, there’s a ton of open opportunities on this team and they’ll need some players to step up and take on a larger role to see success.
7. Portsmouth
Last season: 17-8 Overall, 11-6 League
Head Coach: Sean Casey
Division I
The Patriots are led by Adam Conheeny, who is living proof that the quarterback position in football translates to point guard in basketball. Conheeny is a crafty player and never hesitates to take a shot. They’ll need him to continue his fearless play, as Portsmouth doesn’t have a boatload of returning players. Like Classical, this team requires some secondary scorers to pick up the slack and take some of the pressure off its star scorer, especially with the increased attention that Conheeny will command.
8. Moses Brown
Last season: 23-3 Overall, 15-0 League
Head Coach: Calvin Jones
Division II
The Quakers aren’t in Division I, but thanks to the pure skill of their starters, they cannot be slept on. While they aren’t as deep due to prep school departures, the top-end talent on the roster is enough to compete with schools in every division. They play a very controlled brand of basketball and it’s hard to rush them and put them off their game. Moses Brown makes open shots, and any team that can consistently do that is going to be a tough matchup. It would come as a surprise if the Quakers don’t finish atop Div. II for the second straight year.
9. Johnston
Last season: 0-22 Overall, 0-20 League
Head Coach: Michael Bedrosian
Division I
The Panthers lost all 22 of their games a year ago. They closed a game within single digits of their opponent just four times, good for a -485 point differential. So how are they here just one season later? After winning the Div. II championship in 2022-23 and making it to the semifinals the following year — a combined 37-13 across both seasons — Johnston transitioned to Division I at the same time that it lost its entire team to graduation. Now, they could be poised to shock the state. Returners Ronnie Vento and Mike Morsilli will serve as the team’s leaders, but the X-Factor is Jordan Diclo, widely considered to be the best freshman in Rhode Island. If everything falls into place, the Panthers could be in for a remarkable turnaround.
10. Cranston West
Last season: 12-11 Overall, 12-10 League
Division II
The Falcons were a middling Div. II team last season, but now project to be among the top teams in the division. They’re bringing back point guard Nate Conca and forward Noah Germain to run the show. Conca will be Cranston West’s floor general, while Germain is a strong and athletic presence in the post. The team is well-balanced and has fantastic guard play on top of an aggressive defensive identity. The Falcons ended last season on a tear, winning six straight games prior to their postseason exit, and are looking to carry that momentum into the upcoming campaign.
