Ryle checked in at No. 3 and Conner at No. 9 in the Northern Kentucky boys basketball preseason coaches poll released Thursday, Sept. 24.

The Northern Kentucky Boys Basketball Coaches Association (NKBBCA) poll, voted on by coaches across the region, placed Covington Catholic at No. 1 after the Colonels won the Ninth Region championship last season. Newport ranked second, Beechwood fourth and Highlands fifth. Simon Kenton, Campbell County, Dixie Heights, Conner and Lloyd Memorial filled out spots six through 10, according to LinkNKY.

Ryle's ranking follows a 23-9 season under head coach Nick Dorning. The Union school reached the Ninth Region championship game for the first time since Justin Doellman led the Raiders to the KHSAA Sweet 16 in 2002. Covington Catholic ended that run with an 82-51 win in the region final on March 10 at NKU's Truist Arena.

The Raiders return three of five starters: Holden Smith, Grace Nsuti and Blake Broz. Nsuti grabbed 13 rebounds in Ryle's 56-46 quarterfinal win over Newport in March despite playing only 5 minutes and 20 seconds in the first half because of foul trouble. Smith averaged 17.2 points during a KBC Northern Kentucky tournament weekend in May.

Ryle lost two senior starters.

Dorning said after the March 10 region final loss that his players had nothing to hang their heads about.

Conner, the Hebron school coached by Nate Browning, finished 15-13 last season. The Cougars beat Highlands 79-76 in the Ninth Region quarterfinals, with Finn Louden scoring 36 points and hitting 6 of 8 three-pointers. Conner's season ended in the semifinals with a 92-41 loss to Covington Catholic.

The KHSAA basketball season officially begins with practices on Oct. 15. First regular-season games are set for Nov. 30. The NKBBCA's top 10 players list is expected the week of Sept. 28.