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There also will be another change in this year's event. The tournament was held the week after Thanksgiving last year. MSHSAA rules changes on when practices can start prompted tournament officials to shift it later last season.
The tournament has been moved back to Thanksgiving Week this season and will start on Wednesday night. All tournament games will be played Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday.
Here are thumbnails on the teams as reported by the coaches during the seed meeting.
1. Borgia - The Knights went 28-3 last season under Head Coach Dave Neier. The Knights return two starters from that team, both Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-State picks last year.
Senior Nathan Scheer led the Knights in scoring at 15-9 points per game. He signed a letter of intent to play for Missouri State last Wednesday. Scheer also led the team in rebounding last year. He ended the season with a broken bone in a foot, but has had surgery and is ready to go again this season.
Senior Tyler Ressel was the MVP of last year's Turkey Tournament. He averaged 10.9 points per game last season and is the top returning player in three-point baskets, free-throw shooting, assists and steals.
Players who played on the varsity squad last year who could move into the starting unit include junior forward Ben Ruether and senior guard Sam Tochtrop.
2. Maplewood-Richmond Heights - Corey Frazier's Blue Devils went 30-3 last year while winning the Class 3 state championship. That team graduated four seniors, including Bryant Allen, who led the Blue Devils in just about every category last year and was the St. Louis Post-Dispatch Player of the Year.
Two starters return for the Blue Devils. Bryton Hobbs, a 5-11 senior point guard, averaged 15.4 points per game last season, good for second on the team. Calvin Belts Jr., a 6-5 forward, averaged 7.1 points and 6.1 rebounds per game last season.
Frazier reported two other players with considerable experience are returning as well.
3. Pacific - John VanLeer's Indians went 20-8 last season and graduated seven seniors. However, the Indians will rebuild with returning players and players moving up from a 17-7 junior varsity team.
Junior Marco Romano, who averaged 6.7 points and 3.9 rebounds last season, is the most experienced Pacific returner. Andrew Reidt, a 6-5 senior, is back out for the team this year. He has not played since his freshman season, but was a varsity player then.
Other key players include junior guard Chris Jackson, senior guard Chad Jones and junior forward George Hinkle III.
4. Washington - Greg Dunigan's Blue Jays went 11-16 last season, but return a bunch of experienced players.
Leading the way are 6-4 senior forward Skyler Suggs and 5-11 senior guard Aaron Spurgeon.
Suggs was the team's leading scorer and rebounder last season at 11.5 points and 9.9 rebounds per game. Spurgeon averaged 8.8 points per game and led the team in assists and steals.
Dunigan reported that of the other returning players, three or four started for the Blue Jays at different times last year.
One concern for the Blue Jays is height. Dunigan said that after Suggs, the tallest players are in the 6-1 range.
5. Wellston - The Trojans are a team of change this season. Last year, the team went 12-16 officially after going 21-8 on the court. The Trojans were forced to forfeit a number of games due to using ineligible players. That's led to a number of changes for this year's team.
The team is returning its leading scorer from last year, Ben McLemore. He averaged 15.6 points and 11 rebounds per game for the Trojans last year.
6. Union - John Barnes returns for his second season with the Wildcats, who went 7-19 last season. Alex Rolwing, a 6-6 post player, returns to lead the Wildcats after averaging 10.9 points and 7.7 rebounds per game last season.
Junior Bryan Schaefer is another potential impact returner. He averaged 3.6 points and 3.3 rebounds per game last year. Barnes sees him fitting in on the wing.
Two players who could make an impact are sophomore Ryan Coons and junior Devin Arand.
Other new players who could see considerable playing time include freshman Brandon Ford, juniors Matt Hulsey and Austin Bell and sophomore T.J. Johnson. Hulsey could miss time early in the season due to injury.
Barnes said the team will fill in with players moving up from last year's junior varsity team.
7. University City - The Lions were hampered by the fact that their coach did not show up for the seed meeting. As the coach was not at the meeting, there was no report on returning players. The Lions have a new coach this year as longtime leader Danny Wansley stepped down after last season.
University City was 5-20 last season.
8. Carnahan - Not much is known about Carnahan School of the Future from St. Louis. The coach was unable to attend the seed meeting, but did forward information that the school is in its fifth year and went 18-3 last season with mostly a junior varsity schedule.
