High school basketball: Guide to the 2025-26 season, including top teams, players and events

By Jordan Divens Nov 28, 2025, 10:00am

National rankings, best players at every position, active coaching wins leaders and longest active win streaks highlighted.

Since late October, MaxPreps has been previewing the 2025-26 high school basketball season from the release of national rankings to identifying the top teams and players in all 50 states.

We have consolidated all that information into one place to help fans get up to speed ahead of tip-off.

Included are a look at the top teams, players and events. Preseason rankings split into the National Top 10 encompassing academy and independent programs and the MaxPreps Top 25 featuring high schools which compete for a state title as part of a recognized governing body.

Click "Full Article" links for more information on each category.
Preseason MaxPreps Top 25



Preseason National Top 10

Preseason All-America Team
First Team
Jason Crowe Jr., Inglewood (Calif.)
Colben Landrew, Wheeler
Brandon McCoy, Sierra Canyon
Dylan Mingo, Long Island Lutheran
Jordan Smith, Paul VI

Second Team
Latrell Allmond, Petersburg
Arafan Diane, Iowa United (Des Moines, Iowa)
Caleb Holt, Prolific Prep
Baba Oladotun, Blake (Silver Spring, Md.)
Cameron Williams, St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Third Team
J.J. Andrews, Little Rock Christian Academy (Little Rock, Ark.)
Toni Bryant, Zephyrhills Christian Academy (Zephyrhills, Fla.)
Bryson Howard, Heritage (Frisco, Texas)
Jasiah Jervis, Archbishop Stepinac
Miles Sadler, CIA-Bella Vista

Honorable Mention
Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)
Tajh Ariza, Link Academy
Bruce Branch, Prolific Prep
Christian Collins, St. John Bosco
Caleb Gaskins, Columbus
Jalen Montonati, Owasso
Adonis Ratliff, Archbishop Stepinac
Jaxon Richardson, Southeastern Prep Academy National
Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara
A.J. Williams, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.)

Best player in all 50 states
Alabama — Gage Mayfield, Hale County (Moundville)
Alaska — Bristol Tobin, Grace Christian (Anchorage)
Arizona — Cameron Williams, St. Mary's
Arkansas — J.J. Andrews, Little Rock Christian Academy
California — Brandon McCoy, Sierra Canyon
Colorado — Luke Howery, Chaparral (Parker)
Connecticut — Abdou Toure, Notre Dame (West Haven)
Delaware — Mason Collins, Tatnall (Wilmington)
District of Columbia — Anthony Brown, Archbishop Carroll
Florida — Caleb Gaskins, Columbus
Georgia — Colben Landrew, Wheeler
Hawaii — Tanoa Scanlan, Punahou (Honolulu)
Idaho — Gabe Eddins, Centennial (Boise)
Illinois — Jaxson Davis, Warren Township (Gurnee)
Indiana — Luke Ertel, Mt. Vernon (Fortville)
Iowa — Colin Rice, Northwest (Waukee)
Kansas — Conor Kerrigan, Shawnee Mission South (Shawnee Mission)
Kentucky — Braxton Keathley, Martin County (Inez)
Louisiana — Ahmad Hudson, Ruston
Maine — Nolan Ames, Camden Hills (Rockport)
Maryland — Baba Oladotun, Blake
Massachusetts — Javi Lopez, Central Catholic (Lawrence)
Michigan — Kelvin Torbert, Jr., East Lansing
Minnesota — Ty Schlagel, Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul)
Mississippi — Sam Funches, Germantown (Madison)
Missouri — Scottie Adkinson, Webster Groves
Montana — Lincoln Rogers, Sentinel (Missoula)
Nebraska — Sawyer Smith, Ogallala
Nevada — Munir Greig, Coronado (Henderson)
New Hampshire — Isaiah Reis, Portsmouth
New Jersey — Micah Gordon, Plainfield
New Mexico — Remy Albrecht, Cleveland (Rio Rancho)
New York — Jasiah Jervis, Archbishop Stepinac
North Carolina — Dionte Neal, Reidsville
North Dakota — Brooks Bakko, Kindred 
Ohio — Marcus Johnson, Garfield Heights
Oklahoma — Jalen Montonati, Owasso
Oregon — Jemai Lake, Tualatin
Pennsylvania — Colton Hiller, Coatesville
Rhode Island — Eliezer Delbrey, Classical (Providence)
South Carolina — Josh Leonard, Wilson (Florence)
South Dakota — Marvin Richard III, Pine Ridge
Tennessee — Fred Smith Jr., Briarcrest Christian (Eads)
Texas — Bryson Howard, Heritage
Utah — Gavin Lowe, Olympus (Salt Lake City)
Vermont — Pascal Munezero, Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
Virginia — Jordan Smith, Paul VI
Washington — Tyran Stokes, Rainier Beach (Seattle)
West Virginia — Eli Sancomb, Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling)
Wisconsin — Dooney Johnson, Milwaukee Juneau (Milwaukee)
Wyoming — Nate Miner, Sheridan

Best team in all 50 states
Alabama — Hoover
Alaska — Grace Christian
Arizona — Millennium
Arkansas — Bryant
California — Sierra Canyon
Colorado — Chaparral
Connecticut — Notre Dame
Delaware — St. Georges Tech (Middletown)
District of Columbia — Sidwell Friends
Florida — Columbus
Georgia — Wheeler
Hawaii — Punahou
Idaho — Owyhee (Meridian)
Illinois — DePaul College Prep (Chicago)
Indiana — Saint Joseph
Iowa — Northwest
Kansas — Shawnee Mission South
Kentucky — St. Xavier (Louisville)
Louisiana — Metairie Park Country Day (Metairie)
Maine — Windham
Maryland — Bishop McNamara
Massachusetts — Central Catholic (Lawrence)
Michigan — East Lansing
Minnesota — Wayzata
Mississippi — Starkville
Missouri — Principia (St. Louis)
Montana — Lockwood (Billings)
Nebraska — Omaha Westside (Omaha)
Nevada — Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
New Hampshire — Portsmouth
New Jersey — Plainfield
New Mexico — Sandia (Albuquerque)
New York — Archbishop Stepinac
North Carolina — Greensboro Day (Greensboro)
North Dakota — Kindred
Ohio — Lakota West (West Chester)
Oklahoma — Owasso
Oregon — Grant (Portland)
Pennsylvania — Father Judge (Philadelphia)
Rhode Island — Barrington
South Carolina — Ridge View (Columbia)
South Dakota — West Central
Tennessee — Webb
Texas — Seven Lakes
Utah — Timpview
Vermont — Rice Memorial (South Burlington)
Virginia — Petersburg
Washington — Rainier Beach
West Virginia — Wheeling Central Catholic (Wheeling)
Wisconsin — Wisconsin Lutheran
Wyoming — Sheridan
Tournaments and events to watch
November
13-15 — Hoopfest Basketball Invitational (Houston, Texas)
14-15 — Noble Classic Tip-Off (Arlington, Texas)
14-15 — Phenom Hoops Tip-Off Classic (Davidson, N.C.)
14-16 — Grind Sesssion Boca Raton (Boca Raton, Fla.)
15 — On the Radar Tip-Off (Norcross, Ga.)
20-22 — McDonald's Texas Invitational (Pasadena, Texas)
21-22 — George Lynch Invitational (Charlotte, N.C.)
21-22 — Made Hoops Miami Tip-Off (Miami, Fla.)
21-22 — Noble Classic Session II (Dallas, Texas)
21-23 — Grind Session Roswell (Roswell, Ga.)
21-23 — National Prep Showcase (New Haven, Conn.)
22 — Hawks Naismith Tipoff Classic (Atlanta, Ga.)
22 — Trinity-Mission League Challenge (Los Angeles, Calif.)
22-25 — Jared Cook Classic (Suwanee, Ga.)
24-25 — Piney-Woods Hoopfest (Lufkin, Texas)
24-25 — Holiday Hoopsgiving (Huntsville, Ala.)
24-25 — Sun Bash Orlando (Orlando, Fla.)
24-26 — Five for the Fight (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
25-29 — Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions (Washington, Ill.)
28-29 — Holiday Hoopsgiving (Atlanta, Ga.)
28-29 — Lighthouse Classic (Corinth, Miss.)
28-29 — National Hoopfeast (Tampa, Fla.)
28-29 — Thanksgiving Hoopfest (Duncanville, Texas)
29 — NorCal Tip-Off Classic (Dublin, Calif.)
29-30 — Mayhem on Military Road (Washington, D.C.)



December
1-4 — Ryse Williams Pac Shores Showcase (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
3-6 — Good Guys vs. Cancer Classic (Kill Devil Hills, N.C.)
4-6 — Hoopfest at Marshall County (Benton, Ky.)
4-7 — Grind Session Murray (Murray, Ky.)
5-6 — Chicago Elite Classic (Chicago, Ill.)
5-6 — Kruel Classic (Coral Springs, Fla.)
5-6 — Leon Brogden Hoopfest (Wilmington, N.C.)
5-6 — Norm Stewart Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
5-6 — Red River Hoopfest (Texarkana, Texas)
5-6 — Take Flight Challenge (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
5-7 — Sunshine Classic (Montverde, Fla.)
5-7 — Xaverian Classic (Olney, Md.)
6 — Tournament of Champions Super Saturday (Marietta, Ga.)
7 — William F. Plunkett Jr Christmas Classic (White Plains, N.Y.)
11-13 — Bojangles Bash (Columbia, S.C.)
11-13 — The Elite 8 (Santa Maria, Calif.)
12-13 — Holiday Hoopfest (Lehi, Utah)
12-13 — Nike EYBL NBA Cup (Las Vegas, Nev.)
12-13 — Sun Bash Miami (Miami, Fla.)
12-13 — Turnkey Hardwood Classic (Knoxville, Tenn.)
12-14 — Gonzaga DC Classic (Washington, D.C.)
12-14 — Grind Session Hopkinsville (Hopkinsville, Ky.)
13 — Breakdown Tip-Off Classic (Edina, Minn.)
13 — Hawks Naismith Holiday Classic (Norcross, Ga.)
13-14 — Made Hoops Main Event (Louisville, Ky.)
16-20 — 'Iolani Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii)
16-23 — Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.)
18-22 — King of the Bluegrass (Louisville, Ky.)
18-22 — Kruel Classic (Coral Springs, Fla.)
18-23 — City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)
19-20 — Hoopfest in Paradise (Nassau, Bahamas)
19-21 — Grind Session Fort Worth (Fort Worth, Texas)
26-29 — Kingdom of the Sun (Ocala, Fla.)
26-30 — Governors Challenge (Salisbury, Md.)
26-30 — John Wall Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.)
26-30 — Les Schwab Invitational (Hillsboro, Ore.)
26-30 — The Classic at Damien (La Verne, Calif.)
26-31 — The Classic at Tennessee High School (Bristol, Tenn.)
26-30 — Desert Holiday Classic (Rancho Mirage, Calif.)
26-30 — Torrey Pines Holiday Classic (San Diego, Calif.)
27-28 — Jordan Holiday Classic (Brooklyn, N.Y.)
27-30 — Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
28-30 — Championship Basketball Tournament (Fort Worth, Texas)
29-31 — Hoop City Classic (Mitchell, S.D.)
29-31 — Pontiac Holiday Classic
29-31 — Tulsa Tournament of Champions (Tulsa, Okla.)

January
1-3 — Hoophall West (Mesa, Ariz.)
1-3 — Memphis Hoopfest (Memphis, Tenn.)
1-3 — Sun Bash Tampa Bay (Tampa, Fla.)
2-3 — Crusader Classic (White Plains, N.Y.)
2-4 — Grind Session Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
3 — Behan Strong Classic (Washington, D.C.)
9-10 — Sun Bash Jacksonville (Jacksonville, Fla.)
9-11 — Grind Session Paducah (Paducah, Ky.)
9-11 — La Porte Invitational (La Porte, Ind.)
10 — Highland Shootout (Highland, Ill.)
15-17 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
15-19 — Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
16-18 — Grind Session Daytona Beach (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
16-19 — The St. James MLK Classic (Springfield, Va.)
16-19 — Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational (Dayton, Ohio)
17-18 — Hoophall Invitational (Springfield, Mass.)
19 — De La Salle MLK Classic (Concord, Calif.)
22-24 — Alaska Airlines Classic (Anchorage, Alaska)
23-25 — Air Capital Hoopfest (Wichita, Kan.)
23-25 — Grind Session Napa (Napa, Calif.)
22-24 — Quincy Shootout (Quincy, Ill.)
23-24 — Nike Extravaganza (Santa Ana, Calif.)
29-31 — Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (Montverde, Fla.)
29-31 — Western Maryland Classic (McHenry, Md.)
30 - Feb. 1 — Grind Session Champaign (Champaign, Ill.)
31 — Coaches for the Cure Classic (Glen Allen, Va.)
31 — Longhorn Steakhouse Classic (Milton, Ga.)
31 — Very Melo Classic (Towson, Md.)

February
5-7 — LuHi Invitational (Brookville, N.Y.)
6-7 — Dr. Pepper Classic (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
6-8 — Grind Session Lanham (Lanham, Md.)
12-15 — Grind Session Los Angeles (Los Angeles, Calif.)
14 — Heartland Hoops Classic (Grand Island, Neb.)
20-22 — Grind Session Orlando (Orlando, Fla.)
27 - March 1 — Grind Session Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Expanded Preseason MaxPreps Top 100
27. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)
29. Plainfield (N.J.)
30. Father Judge (Philadelphia, Pa.)
35. Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)
40. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)
41. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)
42. DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.)
43. East Lansing (Mich.)
44. North Dame (West Haven, Conn.)
46. Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)
47. St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.)
65. Chaparral (Parker, Colo.)
72. Webster Groves (Mo.)
77. Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)
80. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)
81. Omaha Westside (Omaha, Neb.)
84. Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.)
88. Bryant (Ark.)
92. Hoover (Ala.)
95. Heritage (Frisco, Texas)

Best players at every position
1. Brandon McCoy, Sierra Canyon
2. Dylan Mingo, Long Island Lutheran
3. Jason Crowe Jr., Inglewood
4. Miles Sadler, CIA-Bella Vista
5. Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian

1. Jordan Smith, Paul VI
2. Caleb Holt, Prolific Prep
3. Colben Landrew, Wheeler
4. Jasiah Jervis, Archbishop Stepinac
5. Bryson Howard, Heritage

1. Tyran Stokes, Rainier Beach
2. Baba Oladotun, Blake
3. J.J. Andrews, Little Rock Christian Academy
4. Jaxon Richardson, Southeastern Prep Academy
5. Qayden Samuels, Bishop McNamara



1. Cameron Williams, St. Mary's
2. Latrell Allmond, Petersburg
3. Toni Bryant, Zephyrhills Christian Academy
4. Caleb Gaskins, Columbus
5. Christian Collins, St. John Bosco

1. Arafan Diane, Iowa United
2. Adonis Ratliff, Archbishop Stepinac
3. Obinna Ekezie Jr., Southeastern Prep Academy
4. Ethan Taylor, Link Academy
5. Darius Ratliff, Archbishop Stepinac

Active coaching wins leaders
1. Gary McKnight, Mater Dei — 1,294
2. Richard Duease, Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.) — 1,257
3. Freddy Johnson, Greensboro Day — 1,221
4. Charles Smith, Peabody (Alexandria, La.) — 1,184
5. Danny Broussard, St. Thomas More (Lafayette, La.) — 1,167
6. Mike LeDuc, Damien (La Verne, Calif.) — 1,095
7. Paul Rodio, St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.) — 1,044
8. Jeff Bell, Graford (Texas) — 1,011
9. Ken Novak Jr., Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) — 993
10. Aaron Straub, Elk County Catholic (St. Marys, Pa.) — 989

Longest active win streaks entering the season
1. Reidsville — 60
T3. Crane (Ore.) — 45
T3. Hoover — 45*

* Lost game early in 2025-26 season