Frank Burlison

I continue the systematic four-day march to my projected Final Four field today, with Nos. 12 to 9 of my preseason Top 16 . . .

No. 12 BAYLOR

Why: The Bears are loaded with big and gifted frontcourt talent, the most notable of those players being Perry Jones III, and have a cluster of “impact” newcomers who will help on the perimeter, including JC All-American point guard Pierre Jackson and deep-shooting freshman Quincy Miller.

Why not: What if those touted newcomers can’t jump-start a program that underachieved (at 7-9) in the Big 12 last season?

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And the countdown begins – so to speak . . .

The 2011-12 college hoops season is top heavy with squads that are more than capable earning one of the four reservations in New Orleans for the final weekend of the season.

In a few days I’ll unveil the teams I believe fall into that category.

For now, it’s time to unveil my preseason choices as the best 16 teams in the country.

I’ll give you four teams a day, starting at  . . .

No.

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GILBERT, Ariz. – What was I able to cull from watching 15 Arizona Preps Fall Showcase games in the Premier Courts facility over a Saturday-Sunday stretch of a little more than 28 hours?

For one, there are several Arizona prep seniors that have the ability to make major impacts a year from now on the college programs they’re expected to sign national letters of intent with early next month.

For another, there were a handful of other in-state seniors that haven’t yet received the kind of regional and national recruiting attention they’re deserving of.

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GILBERT, Ariz. – Ten games and just about as many hours later, I stumbled out of the Premier Courts facility, and into my rental car, and drove the three miles into Mesa to check into my hotel room, bleary-eyed, Saturday night.

My quest to see the Anthony Ray/Arizona Magic-fronted Arizona Preps Fall Showcase meant I was up at 4 a.m. for a 7 o’clock flight out of John Wayne Airport in south Orange County, so you’ll understand if I don’t catch all of my typos.

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The high school basketball weekend . . . a preview:
• I’ll be at the Arizona Premier Basketball Academy in Gilbert for the 13th annual Arizona Preps Fall Showcase Saturday and Sunday. Be sure to check in regularly on BurlisonOnBasketball.com for updates. Many of the state’s best players are expected to participate.
• The HAX (in the Los Angeles suburb of Harbor City) will play host to the Phiten Super-16 Tournament, which begins Saturday at 2 p.m. and wraps up with the championship game at 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

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