Sagemont jumped 18 spots in this week's rankings after a dominant run through the Florida Class 3A state tournament. The Lions beat Tampa Prep by 31 points in the title game.
Photo by Gary McCullough
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 29-0Stanley Johnson went off for 42 points Friday as the Monarchs handled Mayfair (Lakewood) 77-59 in the Southern Section Open Division quarterfinals. Mater Dei meets J.W. North (Riverside) on Tuesday in the semifinals.
2. (4) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 25-0 *The Eagles saw their only loss of the season overturned Friday as former No. 3 Curie (Chicago) forfeited all 24 wins in 2013-14 after multiple players were discovered to be ineligible. Curie beat Montverde Academy with a late rally in January at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. Montverde has played 10 games against teams that have appeared in the national rankings this season and won two of the nation's most prestigious tournaments in the City of Palms Classic and Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
3. (2) Rainier Beach (Seattle), 26-0The Vikings will have to operate in a pressure-packed environment later this week at the Tacoma Dome with a Class 3A three-peat and trip to Dick's Nationals in New York City on the line. Rainier Beach opens the 3A state tournament Thursday against Shadle Park (Spokane).
4. (22) Sagemont (Weston, Fla.), 33-0The Lions made a statement in the final two rounds of the Florida Class 3A state tournament, hammering then-No. 9 Providence (Jacksonville) 78-59 in the semis and Tampa Prep 79-48 in the championship. Sagemont beat teams from Alabama, Arkansas, Illinois and Missouri in addition to the Sunshine State this season.
5. (6) Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), 28-1NCA is the NCISAA Class 2A state champion and may be under consideration for a spot in the Dick's Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
