Five local contests will be among the first regular-season contests played on Nov. 18: Bonneville versus Summit Academy, Roy at Maple Mountain, Northridge versus Kearns, Ben Lomond at Park City and Layton Christian versus Lone Peak. All contests are scheduled for 7 p.m.

Davis and Morgan, led by tenured coaches Chad Sims and Scott Hunt, respectively, are on the hook for defending the 6A and 3A state titles. Some of those teams’ star power returns this winter, but whether it’ll be enough for a repeat – or whether another region foe gets in the way  – is all on the table.

The offseason featured several notable storylines, including a regional coaching swap that involved Kyle Bullinger exiting Bonneville for Box Elder shortly after the 2024-25 season ended in March as well as the high-profile arrival of three-star point guard Gabriel Sularski to Layton Christian in July.

To tide you over until football season wraps, here’s our list of preseason names to know before the regular season tips off later this month.

NORTHERN UTAH BOYS BASKETBALL PRESEASON WATCHLIST

Karter Miller | F | Jr. | Layton

The son of Lancers coach Kelby Miller, Karter Miller was an integral part of a deep postseason run that ended a game shy of the big one, as region foe Davis knocked Layton out in the 6A semifinals 75-55 in Salt Lake City a year ago.

Nonetheless, Miller produced a mega junior campaign (16.8 ppg, 6.4 apg, 6.4 reb, 3.0 spg) that positions him as one of Region 1’s must-watch point guards this winter. Miller has offers from Utah and Weber State.

Layton hosts Viewmont to tip off the season on Nov. 21.

Carter Robinson | C/PF | Sr. | Syracuse

Carter Robinson (14.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg, 1.1 bpg) returns alongside fellow senior Skyler Orton (15.0 ppg) as the second-leading scorer from last year’s 11-13 finish and provides perhaps a big sigh of relief inside the paint for the Titans.

It’s Syracuse’s second season under coach Greg Godderidge, and Robinson will undoubtedly be expected to exceed the bar set for himself in 2025.

Syracuse hosts Fremont to tip off the season on Nov. 19.

Bode Sparrow | G | Jr. | Davis

Known for his football stardom, Bode Sparrow can just as easily translate his moves to the hardwood.

Sparrow (10.2 ppg, 2.7 apg, 3.6 rpg, 2.4 spg) lent a hand to the program’s eighth state title and the second of Sims’ career with 16 points scored in a 75-66 win over top seed Herriman in the 6A state title a year ago in Salt Lake City.

Davis tips off the season at Westlake on Nov. 25.

Bryson Landis | C/PF | So. | Bonneville

Bryson Landis (11.1 ppg, 7.1 rpg, 1.3 bpg) made his name known in a short time during his freshman season, which ended with a 9-15 record and Bullinger jumping ship for neighboring Box Elder.

At 6-foot-4 and 200 pounds, Landis will be an instrumental part of Jacob Lower’s first season as the Lakers’ head coach.

Bonneville hosts Summit Academy to tip off the season on Nov. 18.

Jordan Harrison | G/F | Sr. | West Field

Jordan Harrison (9.5 ppg, 2.4 apg, 4.5 rpg, 1.0 spg) returns as the Longhorns’ second-leading producer from last year’s 11-14 inaugural campaign. Second-year coach Mike Russell, the son of Ogden coaching legend Phil Russell, returns Harrison and five more seniors to his program this year.

West Field hosts Morgan to open the season on Nov. 21.

Jesse Jones | PF/C | Sr. | Roy

Jesse Jones (11.5 ppg, 7.6 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg, 0.5 bpg) will play a pivotal role in lifting Roy from a 6-17 finish last season under returning third-year coach Ryan Hannah. The 6-foot-6 big man leads the team’s returning production after the departure of Colby Frokjer, now a punter at Montana State.

Roy tips off the season at Maple Mountain on Nov. 18.

Zach Hancock | C | Sr. | Fremont

Zach Hancock (9.2 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 0.9 apg, 0.3 bpg) is a lineman in the fall and a must-guard center by late December. He returns the most production of any returning player on Fremont’s roster following a 5-19 setback last season.

Fremont tips off the season at Syracuse on Nov. 19.

Ryan Jenson | CG | Jr. | Box Elder

A year ago, Ryan Jenson (9.0 ppg, 1.6 apg, 5.0 rpg, 0.9 spg) carved out his own role for the Bees throughout a tumultuous 6-17 campaign that saw Russell Beck leave the program and Casey Blacker jump in as interim coach.

But the choppiest of waters have seemingly passed, and the hire of Bullinger should bring a bit of stability to a rebuilding Bees program hoping to raise its profile in Year 1.

Box Elder tips off the season at Logan on Nov. 19.

Daniel Sunkuli | CG | Sr. | Northridge

Daniel Sunkuli is poised to help Northridge move the bar this year.

Last year, Sunkuli (11.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.7 spg) and graduate Cael Lake were driving Northridge’s 9-15 start to the Cameron Wood era. The Knights produced a compelling 70-68 first-round loss at Woods Cross for an early exit in the 5A postseason.

Northridge hosts Kearns to tip off the season on Nov. 18.

Korver VanBeekum | G | Jr. | Ben Lomond

The younger brother of last year’s leading scorer, Jaerdan VanBeekum, Korver VanBeekum returns as one of Ben Lomond’s leading contributors in Lyndon Johnson’s return to coaching high school hoops.

Korver VanBeekum (10.5 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 2.5 apg, 1.1 spg) saw action in all 25 games last season as the Scots went 6-19 to finish Tanoka Beard’s tenure.

BL tips off the season at Park City on Nov. 18

Jackson Maw | C/PF | Sr. | Ogden

Maw (15.8 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 1.6 apg, 0.8 spg) was a constant throughout an 11-13 finish to Trent Porter’s third season as the Tigers’ head coach. He’ll return to lead a mixture of returning seniors and newcomers this season.

Ogden hosts Juab to tip off the season on Nov. 19.

Bracken Saunders | SG | Sr. | Morgan

Saunders and the Trojans (nearly) reached perfection a year ago.

Now a senior, Saunders (18.4 ppg, 6.2 rpg, 4.3 apg, 2.3 spg, 0.5 blk) has an understandably large task ahead of him as one of the team’s leading faces from last year’s 3A state championship run. He’ll be complemented by returning seniors Mason Williams and Jake Hansen.

Morgan hosts Hunter to tip off the season on Nov. 19.

Gabriel Sularski | PG | Sr. | Layton Christian

Sularski made headlines in July, announcing his transfer to Layton Christian from his home state of Illinois, where he was the No. 2 point guard in the state and the No. 130 nationally-ranked player in the Class of 2026.

Sularski (16.0 ppg, 4.1 rpg, 4.4 apg) comes to Utah following an international stint with Poland’s under-16 team last fall. He currently holds offers from Michigan State, Notre Dame, Purdue, Indiana and Tennessee.

LCA hosts Lone Peak to tip off the season on Nov. 18.

Connect with reporter Conner Becker via email at cbecker@standard.net.