High school basketball: Montverde Academy headlines way-too-early 2023-24 NIBC power rankings

By Jordan Divens Aug 8, 2023, 10:00am

Cooper Flagg, Eagles aiming for second consecutive NIBC crown.

The National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC) is the highest level of high school hoops with previous national champions IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) among the heavyweight programs.

Last season, the NIBC saw six of its 10 teams finish the season ranked in the National Top 10 and one team ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25. Five teams qualified for GEICO Nationals.

Montverde Academy captured the NIBC title last season with a record of 11-1 in conference play. The Eagles will be heavily favored to finish on top again with a strong group of returners headlined by highly-regarded rising junior Cooper Flagg.

Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) won the inaugural NIBC title in 2021-22 with a record of 9-1 and followed up with a record of 7-5 last season. But things will look different in Bel Aire this season after head coach Luke Barnwell accepted an assistant coaching position at Texas Tech.



NEPSAC powerhouse Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) replaces Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) as the 10th team in the NIBC. Bishop Walsh finished in last place each of the past two seasons.

Read on for a sneak peek at how the NIBC is stacking up for 2023-24.
Derik Queen is one of the top returners for a loaded Montverde Academy rotation. (Photo: Brian Bautista)
Derik Queen is one of the top returners for a loaded Montverde Academy rotation. (Photo: Brian Bautista)
1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
Last season: 23-3 (11-1 in NIBC, first place), No. 2 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: The defending NIBC champions enter the season as favorites to repeat as conference champions with another loaded roster built around No. 2-ranked Class of 2025 prospect Cooper Flagg. Alongside the 6-foot-8 wing, five-star prospects Liam McNeeley, Derik Queen and Asa Newell lead a talented frontcourt into 2023-24. Former Neumann-Goretti guard Robert Wright III joins returning top 100 prospects Curtis Givens and Bryce Heard in a talented backcourt. The Eagles have captured six GEICO Nationals titles under head coach Kevin Boyle but were upset in the first round of the national championship event last season.

Last season: 18-10 (5-7, seventh place), No. 8 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: After failing to qualify for GEICO Nationals for the first time since 2015 and finishing in the bottom half of the NIBC last season, the Lakers completely overhauled their roster this off-season. The Hoosier State powerhouse may have its most talented roster since capturing the program's only GEICO Nationals title in 2017 behind Class of 2025 standouts Darius Adams, Melvin Bell, Jerry Easter, Jalen Haralson and Chuck Love. La Lumiere is primed for a vastly improved 2023-24 season with a chance to compete for its first NIBC title.

Last season: 22-3 (10-2, second place), No. 3 in MaxPreps Top 25
2023-24 outlook: Following a second place finish in their inaugural season in the NIBC, the Crusaders have the pieces to compete for a conference title as well as a national title this season with a strong mix of returning talent and key additions. Five-star Class of 2024 wing V.J. Edgecombe headlines a talented a talented crop of returners with Godswill Erheriene, Dylan Mingo, Kayden Mingo and Jayden Ross also expected back next season. Additions include four-star Class of 2025 prospect Kiyan Anthony and shifty point guard Nigel James.

Last season: 18-8 (8-4, tied for third place), No. 5 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: The recent addition of five-star Class of 2025 prospect Darius Acuff is a major boost for the Ascenders. The Detroit native joins highly-regarded prospects Amier Ali, Amari Allen, Khani Rooths and Chase McCarty. IMG Academy has a combined 15-7 record in its first two seasons in the NIBC.
 
Last season: 24-7 (8-4, tied for third place), No. 3 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: A shift in leadership will see Pete Kaffey take over as head coach after former head coach Ed Gipson left the program in the off-season. Kaffey takes over a talented roster that includes returners Vyctorius Miller, Jamari Phillips and Pharoah Compton plus key additions Jeremiah Fears, Davion Hannah, Del Jones and Sammie Yeanay.

Last season: 19-10 (7-5, tied for fifth place), No. 9 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: The Tigers have their most talented roster under fourth-year head coach Paul Peterson with impact returners Isiah Harwell and Malick Diallo joined by highly-regarded incomers Taj Degourville, John Mobley and Christopher Nwuli. After an up-and-down season that was full of mixed results, Wasatch Academy will look to avoid the slip-ups against non-conference foes that cost it a spot in GEICO Nationals last season.

Last season: 24-15 (1-11, tied for ninth place)
2023-24 outlook: One of the most successful programs in high school basketball history saw its longtime head coach Steve Smith retire after 37 successful seasons at the helm following the 2021-22 season. The Warriors subsequently struggled to maintain their winning brand last season under Yerrick Stoneman. Oak Hill Academy will look to rebound in a major way this season with key additions of Christian Anderson, Francis Chukwudebelu, Martez Harris, Elton James, Deondrea Lindsey and Jaye Nash.



Last season: 21-8 (7-5, tied for fifth place), No. 4 in National Top 10
2023-24 outlook: Projecting SCA's fortunes is challenging after the exit of former head coach Luke Barnwell, who compiled a record of 224-39 in 10 seasons. A new era at Sunrise Christian Academy will begin with a talented crop of transfers that includes Franck Belibi, David Castillo, Elijah Elliott, Jeremiah Green and Kany Tchanda.

9. Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)
Last season: 35-6, first season in NIBC
2023-24 outlook: Brewster Academy looks to make the transition into the high school game after a successful season on the prep school circuit in 2022-23. The Bobcats have captured seven national prep championships since 2010 and have averaged more than 30 wins per season over the past 15 years with a win percentage of 87 percent. Head coach Jason Smith will lead the Brewster Academy high school team into the NIBC next season with key additions of Nojus Indrusaitis, Daniel Johnson, Cole Kirouac, DJ Shine and Sebastian Wilkins leading the charge.

Last season: 16-10 (2-10, eighth place)
2023-24 outlook: Although Legacy Early College is projected to finish at the bottom of the conference again this season, new additions Elijah Crawford, Terry Copeland, Cole Hansen, Travelle Bryson and Adrian Shackleton will look to keep this group competitive

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