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It feels like football season started just yesterday, but the end of the boys basketball season seems an eternity away.

Here is another major difference: Prognosticating hoops is much simpler.

The road to Comcast is nearly four months long, but naming favorites to reach the University of Maryland in mid-March requires little presumption.

Once again, Springbrook is the team to beat, even though the two-time defending Class 4A state champions return no starters.

How is that possible? Senior DeShaunt Walker was just seventh in the rotation a year ago, but has some of the most dynamic guard skills in the county. Six-foot-6 Samni Ogunjobi was a force in summer-league games, while the Blue Devils have size, talent, and quickness to spare with Jared Watson and Einstein transfer Miles Jackson.

But per usual, head coach Tom Crowell is playing it coy.

"Springbrook is rebuilding, believe me; for us, this is a rebuilding year," he said. "Our goal every year is to try to win a state championship. ... If we can meet that this year, I don't know."

There is nothing bashful about Quince Orchard's expectations; just ask head man Paul Foringer, who feels the Class 3A newcomer "could actually maybe win a state championship." The Montgomery County summer league champions — and last year's 4A West Region runners-up — have two full five-player units, with experienced guards in Evan Sirkey and Mac Kennedy and promising 6-4 forward Andre Gaines leading the way.

Confidence is not lacking in Foringer's peers, either.

In the words of Northwest's Jesse Irvin: "I strongly believe we have regional championship potential."

After a 1-7 start, the Jaguars beat Wootton and Richard Montgomery twice each and upset the Cougars. They have athleticism to spare with forwards Willy Lee, Andrew and Brian Duriji and point guard Destin Davis.

The Rockets, meanwhile, return four three-year starters to a team that finished five games over .500. They have all bases covered, with savvy point guard Nick Brown, slasher Dominique Hansberry, sharpshooter T.J. Fitzgerald and big man Shawn Stephens.

"We should be better than last year," Spear said. "With 10 seniors on our roster, we hope to make a deep playoff run."

Blake also returns four starters, and went from rebuilding to revelation quickly last year, finishing 18-4 and featuring talent at every position. Point guard Max Hedgepeth brings the moxie, Carlton Agwu the ruggedness, while juniors Ryan Frazier, Matt McGugan and Brandon Hedley were all high scorers.

Year after year, its Northeast Consortium rival slips through the cracks, but Paint Branch has won 55 games over the last three years. The Panthers bear the look of a contender, led by agile 6-4 swingman Devin Gallman and the spidery arms of 6-7 Rycourt Macauley.

Want a darkhorse? Whitman bears the look, with a top-six rotation of exclusively seniors. Eddie Wytkind and brothers Demetrius and Ervin Cook are all perfect for the Vikings' draw-and-kick offense.

Poolesville kept its big guns, and as such, could also be a legit state contender. 2008-09 All-Gazette first-teamer Brendan McFall is back, and the do-it-all guard is complemented by one of the county's premier 3-point shooters, wing forward Kevin Baker.

Montrose Christian has turned into one of the country's premier programs, and Division I talents Terrence Ross (University of Maryland), Josh Hairston (Duke, N.C.) and potential superstar Justin Anderson have the Mustangs ranked No. 5 in the country in the ESPN Fab50 poll.

Georgetown Prep has an elite talent in its own right, Georgetown University commit Markel Starks, but will need big production from 6-4 swingmen Nat Eggleston and Thurgood Wynn to compete for an Interstate Athletic Conference championship. Landon took the title last year, and while Gazette Player of the Year Christian Webster is gone, guards Danny Rubin, Delonte Wellington and center Darion Atkins were all major role players.

Guru grades

-Preseason top five:

1. Montrose Christian

2. Springbrook

3. Quince Orchard

4. Blake

5. Georgetown Prep