High school basketball rankings: Paul VI finishes No. 1, crowned MaxPreps National Champion

Panthers went 35-3, captured VISAA Division I state title and advanced to Chipotle Nationals championship game.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens
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Apr 8, 2024, 11:30am
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) established itself as the best team in high school basketball this season with big out-of-state victories and a third consecutive VISAA Division I state championship. The Panthers are the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Champions after finishing No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Under head coach Glenn Farello, Paul VI (35-3) built a strong resume with wins over No. 13 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), No. 18 Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), No. 23 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) twice, No. 25 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), National Top 10 No. 3 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) twice and National Top 10 No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) twice.

Paul VI outscored opponents by an average margin of 23.4 points per contest and averaged 77.5 points per game. The Panthers went 15-3 against teams ranked in the top 100.

During their run to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament championship, the Panthers dispatched Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) 69-41 in the quarterfinals, knocked off Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) 65-44 in the semifinals and took down Gonzaga 63-51 in the title game.
PVI continued its momentum in state tournament play, blowing past Benedictine (Richmond) 90-56 in the quarterfinals, Blue Ridge (St. George) 91-63 in the semifinals and St. Anne's-Belfield (Charlottesville) 72-62 in the Division I state title game.

Following a loss to No. 2 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in January, Paul VI reeled off 21 consecutive victories and advanced to the Chipotle Nationals title game. At Chipotle, they picked up victories over IMG Academy and Link Academy before suffering their second loss to National Top 10 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).

Duke signee Darren Harris (17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game) led a balanced attack for the Panthers that featured sophomore Jordan Smith, Connecticut signee Isaiah Abraham, Notre Dame signee Garrett Sundra, Rhode Island signee Ben Hammond and four-star junior Adlan Elamin.

The Panthers also added top 20 Duke signee Patrick Ngongba for their run to the Chipotle Nationals title game. Ngongba missed the entire season with a foot injury before averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in limited action across three games at Chipotle Nationals.

Paul VI has won 41 consecutive regular season Washington Catholic Athletic Conference games and captured its third consecutive WCAC regular season title this season. The Virginia powerhouse also captured the title at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions title and finished in third at the City of Palms Classic after falling to Montverde Academy in the semifinals.
Since taking over the program in 2007, Glenn Farello has built Paul VI into a perennial national power. The Panthers schedule ambitiously and have sent a steady stream of talented players to the major college ranks. (Photo: Michael Woods)
Since taking over the program in 2007, Glenn Farello has built Paul VI into a perennial national power. The Panthers schedule ambitiously and have sent a steady stream of talented players to the major college ranks. (Photo: Michael Woods)
Past MaxPreps National Champions

2009 — Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
2010 — Yates (Houston)
2011 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2012 — St. Anthony
2013 — Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
2014 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2016 — Chino Hills (Calif.)
2017 — Nathan Hale (Seattle)
2018 — Montverde Academy
2019 — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
2020 — Montverde Academy
2021 — Montverde Academy

Final MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings

Record: 35-3
VISAA Division I state champion, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion, Chipotle Nationals runner-up.

Record: 28-5
Class 7A state champion.

Record: 33-3
Open Division state champion.

Record: 31-4
Open Division state semifinalist.

Record: 30-2
Class AAAAAAA state champion.

Record: 30-0
Division 2 state champion.

Record: 27-4
Class 7A state runner-up.

Record: 40-0
Class 6A state runner-up.

Record: 29-3
Non-Public A state champion.

Record: 29-2
Non-Public B state champion.

Record: 26-4
CHSAA Class AA city champion, PSAL vs. CHSAA Class AA champion.

Record: 38-2
Class 6A state runner-up.

Record: 26-6
Class AAAAAAA state runner-up.

Record: 29-3
Class 4A state champion.

Record: 29-1
Class 4A state champion.

Record: 28-3
Class AAAAA state champion.

Record: 29-2
Class AAAA state champion.

Record: 27-3

Record: 25-3
Class 2 state champion.

Record: 27-4
Class AA state champion.

Record: 33-0
Class 3A state champion.

Record: 27-1
Division 1 state champion.

Record: 28-6
Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament runner-up. Class AA state semifinalist.

Record: 30-2
Group 2 state champion.

Record: 28-7
Division I state champion.

Next 75

Record: 29-0
Class 2A state champion.

Record: 36-3
Sweet 16 state champion.

Record: 31-2
Open Division state runner-up.

Record: 29-3
Class 5A state champion.

Record: 36-2
Sweet 16 state semifinalist.

Record: 28-2
Class AAAAA state champion.

Record: 24-6
Open Division state champion.

Record: 34-4
Class 4A state champion.

Record: 27-2
Class 7A state runner-up.

Record: 30-3
Class 7A state runner-up.

Record: 27-1
Class A state champion.

Record: 25-8
Class AA runner-up.

Record: 33-3
Class AA semifinalist.

Record: 25-5
Open Division state runner-up.

Record: 27-3
Private school state runner-up.

Record: 26-3
Division I state champion.

Record: 34-4
Class 6A state semifinalist.

Record: 30-3

Record: 31-4

Record: 26-4

Record: 31-4

Record: 26-4
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 30-1
Class 5A state champion.

Record: 29-6
Division I state semifinalist.

Record: 31-5

Record: 24-7

Record: 31-3

Record: 24-4
Class 6A state runner-up.

Record: 31-2
Class 2A state champion.

Record: 23-3
Class A state runner-up.

Record: 25-6
Class AAAAAAA state semifinalist.

Record: 36-3

Record: 33-4
Division I Select state champion.

Record: 22-6

Record: 24-3
Class 5A state champion.

Record: 26-5
NCISAA Class 4A state champion.

Record: 25-8
Class 3A state champion.

Record: 32-1
Class 4A state runner-up.

Record: 26-4
Division 1 state champion.

Record: 23-6

Record: 25-6
Class AAAA state champion.

Record: 29-2
Class AAAA state runner-up.

Record: 27-3
Class AAA state champion.

Record: 27-3
Division 1 state runner-up.

Record: 24-5
Class 5A state champion.

Record: 32-6
Division I Class 4A state champion.

Record: 27-2

Record: 32-4
Division I Class 4A state runner-up.

Record: 33-5
Division I Class 4A state semifinalist.

Record: 32-3
Class 7A state semifinalist.

Record: 26-4
VISAA Division I state runner-up.

Record: 27-6
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 23-9

Record: 27-3
Class 4A state champion.

Record: 23-6
Class 4A state runner-up.

Record: 32-1

Record: 24-3
Class 5A state champion.

Record: 26-2
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 25-0
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 28-3

Record: 32-4

Record: 29-4

Record: 23-6
CHSAA Class AA city semifinalist.

Record: 26-3
Non-Public A state semifinalist.

Record: 29-3
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 25-7

Record: 36-5
Baltimore Catholic League regular season champion.

Record: 30-3
Class 6A state champion.

Record: 30-2
Class 2A state runner-up.

Record: 23-3
Division 1 state runner-up.

Record: 35-2
Class 3A state champion.

Record: 25-5
Division 2 state runner-up.

Record: 27-2
Division I state semifinalist.

Record: 25-3
Philadelphia Catholic League regular season and tournament champion.

Record: 31-1
Class 3A state semifinalist.

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