The Montverde Academy Invitational was the biggest influence on this week’s Xcellent 25 Boys Basketball Rankings presented by the National Guard.
Host school Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), which was ranked No. 20 in the preseason, knocked off two of the top 15 teams in the country over the weekend to capture the title. Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) was the victim in the championship game and drops from No. 4 last week to No. 10. More importantly, it signals that a new mythical national champion will be crowned this season as a two-loss team is unlikely to wear that crown.
James Bell, Montverde Academy
File photo by Jim Redman
The tournament champions knocked off then-No. 13 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) in the semifinals. Montrose also lost to Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) in the third-place game, dropping completely out of this week’s rankings.
The Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif., has a chance to make a similar impact on the Xcellent 25 next week.
The event will feature a pair of games pitting ranked teams. No. 6 Mater Dei will face No. 14 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) and No. 11 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) takes on No. 24 Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.).
Read on for this week’s Xcellent 25.
Xcellent 25 National High School Boys Basketball Rankings
1. (1) Yates (Houston, Texas), 22-0
The Lions have won 46 games in a row dating back to last season, including a pair of lopsided thrashings last week. Western Kentucky signee Brandon Peters and Providence-bound Joseph Young combined for 69 points in a 142-52 victory over Houston Austin. Yates followed with a 125-26 win over Houston Lee. The difference was 135 points when the same two teams met on Jan. 5.
2. (2) Northland (Columbus, Ohio), 14-0
The Vikings were pushed by Canton Timken on Saturday night before pulling away for a 64-54 win. Senior All-American candidate Jared Sullinger tallied 26 points and 15 rebounds while J.D. Weatherspoon added 25 points (including nine dunks, according to CantonRep.com). Northland also posted wins over Columbus Centennial (78-61) and Columbus East (99-50) last week.
3. (3) Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 15-0
The Panthers turned back Indianapolis Pike and star junior guard Marquis Teague on Friday night, 66-55. Butler signee Erik Fromm, a 6-8 post, piled up 26 points and 17 rebounds. Bloomington South is five wins away from recording back-to-back unbeaten regular seasons.
4. (5) Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.), 14-0
The Cougars made 14-0 look easy with a 50-point win over Elmwood Park and 66-point win over Pompton Lakes last week. Seton Hall signee Fuquan Edwin led the way against Elmwood Park with 27 points, while junior guard Myles Mack sparked a 39-10 first-quarter explosion against Pompton Lakes with a game-high 19 points.
5. (6) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 14-1
Impressive weekend for Danny Hurley’s Gray Bees. The highlight was a 52-50 win over previously-unbeaten and then-No. 18 Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.) on Sunday at the Lehigh Valley Hoop Group Showcase in Allentown, Pa. Aaron Brown and Sidiki Johnson combined for 30 points against the Colonials. St. Benedict’s also recorded easy wins over Hill (Pottstown, Pa.) and De La Salle (Chicago, Ill.), the latter coming at the Newark National Invitational.
6. (9) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 19-1
Mater Dei was as impressive in January as anybody in the country. The Monarchs finished the first month of the year strong with back-to-back 100-point outings last week. Head coach Gary McKnight’s squad dusted off Bellflower St. John Bosco 101-63 on Wednesday behind 23 points from Arizona State-bound senior Keala King. Two days later, the future Sun Devil and fellow Pac-10-bound seniors Gary Franklin (California) and Tyler Lamb (UCLA) combined for 71 points in a 101-67 win over Orange Lutheran.
7. (7) Ames (Iowa), 15-0
Harrison Barnes and Doug McDermott continued to produce big for Ames on Saturday night, combining for 51 points as the Little Cyclones blasted Marshalltown, 85-50. A night earlier, it was Barnes and McDermott scoring 46 points in a 75-45 win over West Des Moines Valley. The Little Cyclones have won 41 games in a row.
8. (8) Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 26-1
Bad weather was the Greenies’ biggest challenge this week, forcing a postponement of a Friday game against Lewisville Forsyth Country Day. Christ School rolled to a pair of victories prior to that, blasting Asheville School (101-41) and Swannanoa Asheville Christian Academy (102-61).
9. (10) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 16-1
No sweat for the Saints this week in blowout wins over Norristown Kennedy-Kenrick Catholic (80-46) and Fairless Hills Conwell-Egan (99-57). Neumann-Goretti tested its depth in both contests, getting points from 13 players against Kennedy-Kenrick and 11 against Conwell-Egan.
10. (4) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 25-2
The Pilots saw their chances of repeating as high school basketball’s mythical national champion fly away Saturday night, losing in the finals of the Montverde Academy Invitational to the host school, Montverde Academy (Fla.). Cory Joseph continued his outstanding senior season in the championship game with 21 points. Findlay Prep reached the finals with wins over two other Sunshine State schools, Oldsmar Christian and Jacksonville Arlington Country Day.
11. (12) St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 15-2
The Celtics’ challenging week began with a 74-52 win over previously unbeaten Plainfield. Next was an 83-30 win over Scotch Plains on Thursday. St. Patrick faced Joe Jackson and White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) on Saturday at the Newark National Invitational, needing 29 points – including 15 in the fourth quarter – from star junior Michael Gilchrist to edge the Spartans, 68-66. The fun ended Sunday with a 75-58 victory over St. Bernard’s behind 23 points from Duke-bound senior guard Kyrie Irving.
12. (14) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 21-2
After blowing out Christian Faith Center Academy (Creedmoor, N.C.) 99-49 in a rare home game Wednesday, scheduled contests against Siegel (Murfreesboro, Tenn.) and Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.) were canceled due to weather.
13. (15) Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), 22-1
The Stallions notched their biggest win of the season last Monday against Jacksonville Arlington Country Day. University of Florida signee Patric Young scored 14 points to lead Providence past Country Day 54-51 in front of an estimated 4,500 fans at the University of North Florida. St. Augustine (75-35) and Jacksonville University Christian (70-32) were no match for Providence later in the week.
14. (16) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 20-1
The Gaels scored 80 points or more in all 10 games they played in January, capped by a 106-89 storming of Las Vegas Western on Friday night. Surging sophomore Shabazz Muhammad poured in 32 points while seniors John Loyd and Anson Winder added 21 and 20, respectively. Las Vegas Durango (84-55) and Las Vegas Spring Valley (97-62) also fell victim to Bishop Gorman. The Gaels’ Feb. 6 matchup with No. 6 Mater Dei is huge.
15. (17) Bellaire (Texas), 26-1
Bring on the Class 5A state playoffs – the Cardinals have to be tired of beating up District 20 competition. Bellaire has won eight games in a row by 27 points or more, including drubbings of Houston Madison (81-54) and Houston Chavez (99-41) last week.
16. (19) Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.), 17-0
Weather wiped out a Friday game against Memphis Overton. The Roadrunners logged a 78-53 win over Memphis Kirby as Christopher Brewer (18 points), Darryl Marshall (15), Cameron Golden (14) and Tarik Black (12) all reached double figures.
17. (21) Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.), 21-1
The Golden Wildcats did not play this week. Like No. 16 Ridgeway, weather erased their only scheduled contest. Melrose probably won’t complain as it will use the extra time to prepare for the Memphis area’s most anticipated game of the year Tuesday against White Station. That showdown will be followed by a Friday rematch with Memphis Central, who handed head coach Jermaine Johnson’s squad its only loss of the season back on Jan. 14. Pivotal week for the G-Cats.
18. (22) Half Hollow Hills West (Dix Hills, N.Y.), 13-0
Tennessee-bound senior Tobias Harris and junior guard Tavon Sledge continue to excel for the Colts. Harris posted 17 points and 15 rebounds while Sledge added eight points and handed out 14 assists in a 64-55 win over Deer Park on Saturday night. HHHW also earned weekday wins over Brookhaven Bellport (85-77) and Copiague (82-60).
19. (18) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), 17-1
Despite suffering their first loss of the season on Sunday to No. 5 St. Benedict’s Prep, the Colonials pushed the New Jersey independent to the wire before losing 52-50. St. Joseph’s-bound center C.J. Aiken, a 6-10 senior, scored 16 points against the Gray Bees, prompting Hurley to call him “the best big guy we’ve played this year.” Plymouth Whitemarsh was dominant Friday night in a 67-44 win over Philadelphia Imhotep Charter behind 20 points from senior guard Whis Grant.
20. (NR) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 20-4
The Eagles had an impressive run over the weekend, beating Woods Haven Prep (Hollywood Beach, Fla.), then-No. 13 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) and then-No. 4 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) to capture the title in their own tournament. Montverde Academy topped defending national champion Findlay Prep in the final, 54-51, behind 23 points from Villanova-bound wing James Bell. Montverde’s losses this season have come to unranked Winter Park (Fla.), featuring star junior Austin Rivers, last week’s No. 23 Mount Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.), No. 4 Paterson Catholic and No. 5 St. Benedict’s.
21. (24) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 15-1
The Crusaders coasted to easy wins over Beaverton Aloha (72-45) and Beaverton (77-45) last week. Round two against Metro League rival Westview – who beat Jesuit twice last season – looms Tuesday.
22. (25) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 12-1
Ray McCallum Jr. helped the Yellowjackets bounce back from their first loss of the season with a 63-56 win over a solid Taylor Kennedy program on Tuesday with 16 points. Country Day played without 6-10 junior Amir Williams and senior guard Jason Ray in that game, as well as a 73-50 win over Orchard Lake St. Mary Prep on Friday. Williams is expected to return for the Yellowjackets’ tilt with No. 2 Northland at Delta College in Saginaw, Mich., on Saturday.
Jordan Clarkson, Wagner
File photo by Robbie Rakestraw
The Thunderbirds make their 2009-10 Xcellent 25 debut after being prominent in the computer-generated MaxPreps Freeman Rankings (No. 10 last week) for much of the season. Wagner’s latest victory came Saturday night against Converse Judson as Jordan Clarkson led the way with 20 points. Senior forward Andre Roberson added 16 points and 11 rebounds for the T-Birds, who have won 21 games in a row.
24. (NR) Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.), 17-3
The Toreadors looked like the team we ranked No. 12 in the preseason Saturday night in a 71-64 win over Gardena Serra, who entered the contest with a 22-1 record and looking to break into the Xcellent 25 itself. De’Andre Daniels, a 6-8 junior committed to Texas, was big against Serra with 28 points. Since back-to-back losses at the MaxPreps Holiday Classic in December, Taft has buried opponents by an average of 33.2 points per game en route to an 8-0 record. An opportunity for complete redemption awaits Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza where the Toreadors will face No. 11 St. Patrick.
25. (NR) Bowman Academy (Gary, Ind.), 15-0
Unheralded Bowman Academy, a 1A charter school that opened in 2003, makes its Xcellent 25 debut after beating Deshaun Thomas and Fort Wayne Bishop Luers 90-81 Saturday night in front of nearly 2,000 fans. Super sophomore DeJuan Marrero, a 6-5 forward, led the Eagles against Luers with 19 points while 6-1 senior guard Tyrae Robinson added 16. Bowman Academy owns a couple of impressive wins over solid Indianapolis programs Howe and Broad Ripple, as well as defending Kentucky state champion Holmes at the Marshall County Hoopfest in early December.
Dropped out: No. 11 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), No. 13 Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), No. 20 Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio), No. 23 Mt. Lebanon (Pittsburgh, Pa.)
