Xcellent 25 high school boys basketball rankings

The most pivotal seven-hour stretch of the entire high school basketball season is just a week away.

Monday's lineup at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., will offer stiff challenges to the top three teams in this week's Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Fresh off a three-point win over Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia, No. 1 Simeon (Chicago) battles Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) in what may the toughest test of the season for the two-time defending Illinois Class 4A champs.

No. 2 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) takes on aforementioned Miller Grove, while No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) squares off with No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). DeMatha also plays Northwest Catholic (West Hartford, Conn.) at the event Saturday.

Here's a look at the entire five-day lineup at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

Read on for a complete rundown of this week's rankings.

Xcellent 25 High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

1. (No. 1 last week) Simeon (Chicago) (13-0)
There should be a healthy buzz in the building when the Wolverines take the floor against Findlay Prep in the biggest game of the Spalding Hoophall Classic. It may take a special effort from junior phenom Jabari Parker to help Simeon get past head coach Michael Peck's Nevada juggernaut.

2. (2) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (10-0)
The Friars are beating teams by an average of 37.6 points per game this season. St. Anthony meets St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) at the Dan Finn Classic prior to making its second trip to Massachusetts this season.

3. (3) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (12-0)
It's tough not to reward the Stags in the rankings considering how well they are playing. DeMatha faces a tough Thursday through Monday stretch that includes games with Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), Northwest Catholic (West Hartford, Conn.) and Bishop Gorman.

4. (4) Grace Prep (Arlington, Texas) (12-2)
The Lions have played six teams that have been featured in the Xcellent 25 or Academy Top 10 this season and are 4-2 in those contests.

5. (6) Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) (21-2)
The Marauders have won four in a row – all by 13 points or more – since losing to Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas) on Dec. 29.