MaxPreps Texas Top 25 high school basketball rankings

Video: National Player of the Year Watch List
Atascocita's Carsen Edwards among candidates for top honors.

Atascocita (Humble) is bidding to become the UIL's first undefeated state champion at the largest classification in nine seasons.

The Eagles (37-0), No. 1 throughout the season in the MaxPreps Texas Top 25, need wins on Friday and Saturday at San Antonio's Alamodome to complete a dream season.

The last champion to go undefeated was Duncanville (39-0) in 2007. In the years since, two other large school state champions, Marcus (Flower Mound) in 2011 and North Crowley in 2008, lost one game on the way to securing a title.

In a Friday night semifinal, Atascocita will face No. 4 Houston Math, Science & Tech (32-4), assuring the Houston area of a team in Saturday night's title game. In the first semifinal on Friday, No. 2 DeSoto (34-2) will clash with 32-3 Steele (Cibolo), ranked No. 11.

In Class 5A, No. 3 Lancaster (34-2) is positioned to defend its 2015 state title. The Tigers in a Thursday semifinal meet 35-2 Vela (Edinburg). The late semifinal matches 35-2 Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City), ranked No. 5, against 23-11 Dunbar (Fort Worth).


1. (Last week: 1) Atascocita (Humble) 37-0
The Eagles rolled in the Region II title game, defeating Westlake (Austin) 80-65 to secure a state tournament berth. Fabian White scored 28 and Purdue signee Carsen Edwards had 23.

2. (2) DeSoto 34-2
Jordan Berry and Julian Miranda scored 11 each in a 53-47 Class 6A Region I title game victory over South Grand Prairie to cap a 3-0 week.

3. (3) Lancaster 34-2
Jakolby Pemberton scored 21 points as the defending Class 5A state champion earned a berth to the final four with an 86-57 blowout of West Mesquite in the Region II title game.

4. (6) Houston Math Science & Tech 32-4
Sophomore guard Kendric Davis scored 27 points and Kennard Robinson had 24 in an 83-77 victory over Cypress Lakes (Katy) in the Class 6A Region III title game.

5. (5) Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City) 35-2
The Knights rallied from a 16-point second-quarter deficit to defeat Ozen (Beaumont) 67-65 in the Class 5A Region III title game. Chad Bowie contributed 18 points.

6. (8) Shoemaker (Killeen) 34-3*
Count the Wolves as one of five teams eliminated so far from the playoffs by Atascocita (Humble). The end came in a Region II semifinal, 64-56.

7. (21) Ozen (Beaumont) 31-4*
Despite a 26-point effort by Josh Boyd, the Panthers fell to Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City) 67-65 in the Class 5A Region III title game.

8. (NR) Cypress Lakes (Katy) 25-8*
Kentucky signee De'Aaron Fox, coming off 40-point efforts, was held to four in the first half and 24 for the game in a 83-77 loss to Houston Math, Science & Tech in the Class 6A Region III title game.

9. (13) Steele (Cibolo) 32-3
Gerald Liddell had 16 points and Kijana Love scored 14 in a 60-43 victory over United (Laredo) in the 6A Region IV title game.

10. (15) South Grand Prairie 26-9*
Oklahoma State signee Cameron McGriff scored 17 points, but the Warriors were eliminated by fellow District 8-6A foe DeSoto in the Class 6A Region I title game, 53-47.

11. (22) Westlake (Austin) 30-4*
An impressive playoff run came to an end in the Region II title game at the hands of No. 1 Atascocita (Humble) 80-65.

12. (14) Prestonwood Christian (Plano) 33-7*
The Lions clinched their fifth consecutive TAPPS 5A state title and third under coach Chris Lovell with a 111-65 rout of St. Anthony (San Antonio) in the title game. Schnider Herard, a 6-10 Mississippi State signee, had 16 rebounds and 14 points.

13. (4) Benjamin Davis (Houston) 29-3*
Royce Hamm scored 26 in a season-ending 87-78 loss to Cypress Lakes (Katy) in the Region III quarterfinal.

14. (7) Tascosa (Amarillo) 31-1*
A third-round 67-43 loss to Martin (Arlington) spoiled the Rebels' perfect record and ended their season.

15. (10) Skyline (Dallas) 32-3*
A Region II semifinal 46-32 loss to Westlake (Austin) ended the Raiders' season.

16. (16) Brandeis (San Antonio) 31-2*
Lost to Judson (Converse) in an area playoff.

17. (9) North Crowley (Fort Worth) 30-4*
The Panthers were ousted by Coronado (Lubbock) in a third-round playoff, 87-73.

18. (17) Klein Forest (Houston) 27-6*
Ousted in the third round by Atascocita (Humble) 73-58.

19. (NR) Dobie (Houston) 23-13*
The fourth seed from District 22-6A made it to the Region III tournament, losing 79-70 to Cypress Lakes (Katy) despite 25 points from Joshua Cooper.

20. (NR) Martin (Arlington) 27-7*
After eliminating previously-undefeated Tascosa (Amarillo) in the Region I quarterfinal, the Warriors fell in the semifinal round 51-48 to South Grand Prairie.

21. (NR) Alief Taylor (Houston) 22-12*
The fourth seed from District 23-6A put three playoff wins together. But the run ended in a 60-46 loss to Houston Math, Science & Tech in a Region III semifinal.

22. (11) Fort Bend Hightower (Missouri City) 32-5*
Dobie (Pasadena) ended the Hurricanes' season with a 59-56 third-round victory.

23. (12) Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) 30-5*
Alief Taylor (Houston) surprised the Tigers in a third-round elimination, 53-51.

24. (19) Yates (Houston) 29-4*
In a Class 5A Region III semifinal, Fort Bend Elkins (Missouri City) routed the Lions, 97-71.

25. (NR) Dunbar (Fort Worth) 23-11
After an eight-year absence, the Flying Wildcats are making their 15th state tournament appearance by virtue of routing Rider (Wichita Falls) 95-62 in the Class 5A Region I final.

*Season complete

Dropped out: No. 18 Plano East, No. 20 Clemens (Schertz), No. 23 Cypress Ranch (Houston), No. 24 Rowlett, No. 25 Lakeview (Garland).

Teams to watch

Big Sandy (Dallardsville) 38-2

Brownfield 30-3

East Chambers (Winnie) 33-6

La Marque 32-8

Levelland 25-11

Lincoln (Dallas) 22-14

Silsbee 30-5

Van Alstyne 30-9

Vela (Edinburg) 35-2

Westbury Christian (Houston) 33-7*