The pre-season basketball rankings are usually a wide spray of prognostication. This year is no different. Ten of the twelve 4A teams recieved votes. In 3A, fifteen teams got at least one mention; thirteen in 2A, and sixteen teams in 1A.

The defending champs all hover near the top as well as the teams who brought home hardware from state last year. There was not one champion ranked #1 in their class to begin the season.

Let's begin in 4A. Natrona was #1 to begin the season last year. They kept that ranking all the way to the semi finals before being knocked off by Rock Springs. The Mustangs don the target again this year with 156 points. That was three better than defending champion Gillette who is #2. Central is tied with Green River. The Indians won the 4A Consolation title last year and Evanston ranks fifth.

Newcastle has the most #1 votes in 3A, but, they are #2 to begin the year. Buffalo put up more votes in the next places to outpoint the Dogies 189 to 168. The Bison started last year ranked #1 as well. Kemmerer and a new coach are #3 with last year's Champs from Lander #4. Douglas is the #5 team with ten more teams getting votes but were a ways back from the top five. The voting was pretty even in 3A with Buffalo getting three #1 votes, Newcastle five, and Kemmerer and Lander getting four each.

2A voters have the title going through Ethete. Wyoming Indian picked up twelve of the twenty one top votes and rank #1. Defending champions Lusk are #2 with Thermopolis the #3 team. Wind River stays in the top five after their 29-1 season a year ago and are fourth. Moorcroft rides the success of their football team and starts the hoop season ranked fifth. The top four teams all recieved #1 ballots. Lusk was the pre season fave last year and ended up winning the 2A title beating the Cougars in OT in the semi's and then Sundance in the finals.

1A's number one last year was Burlington. The Huskies begin this year the same way. They pulled nine of the top votes. Southeast is #2 after being runners up last year. Defending champs from Encampment rank third followed by Saratoga and Snake River. Sixteen other teams picked up at least one vote in the first poll of the season.

Check out the COMPLETE VOTING BREAKDOWN HERE

The rankings for the ladies will be tabulated today and will be released first thing Thursday morning. Teams get their seasons underway as early as today, but, most will begin with tournaments tomorrow. Check WyoPrpes.com for scores all weekend long.