Xcellent 25 high school boys basketball rankings

For the second year in a row, Monday action at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., results in a new No. 1-ranked team in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.

Last season it was Milton (Ga.) knocking off then-No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), clearing the way for St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) to take over. The Celtics would eventually relinquish the top spot to St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.).

Ironically, it's legendary head coach Bob Hurley and St. Anthony that move to No. 1 this week following a win Monday over Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) combined with a Simeon (Chicago) loss to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.).

According to Hurley, his 2011-12 Friars are far from a finished product.



"This is an absolute work in progress. We played St. Benedict's two weeks ago and we were absolutely awful," Hurley said. "We left there very confused, offensively, about what we were doing well at that point."

The Friars were crowned national champions in 2011 and extended their winning streak to 45 games Monday in Springfield.

Read on for a complete look at this week's rankings.

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

1. (No. 2 last week) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (12-0)
The Friars haven't lost since March 13, 2010.

2. (4) Grace Prep (Arlington, Texas) (15-2)
The Lions closed out Flyin' to the Hoop in Ohio on Monday night with a 60-42 win over Thurgood Marshall of Dayton.



3. (5) Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas) (23-2)
The Marauders have held their last five opponents to 45 points or less.

4. (14) Milton (Ga.) (13-4) *
The Eagles dominated two of New York's better programs by a combined 62 points over the weekend en route to the tournament title at the Burger King Classic in Erie, Pa. Milton might be playing better than anybody in the country right now.

5. (6) Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) (15-0)
A Kris Jenkins 3-pointer at the buzzer kept the Eagles perfect Monday night against Aquille Carr and Patterson (Baltimore) in a 75-73 classic.

{PAGEBREAK} 6. (3) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (15-1)
The Stags probably don't like looking up in the rankings at Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rival Gonzaga, but that debate will be settled Saturday on DeMatha's home court.

7. (1) Simeon (Chicago) (15-1)
The Wolverines will look to regroup after a rattling, 25-point loss to Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

8. (7) Chester (Pa.) (13-0)
The Clippers face always-tough rival Penn Wood (Lansdowne) Tuesday night.



9. (8) Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) (18-1)
The high-scoring Jaguars have topped the 80-point mark 10 times this season.

10. (10) Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.) (17-0)
The Roadrunners won four games last week, including a Saturday showdown with perennial Memphis power White Station.

{PAGEBREAK} 11. (12) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (16-2)
Led by Katin Reinhardt's 35 points, the Monarchs were ruthless in an 88-50 win over Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) on Monday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

12. (9) Prestonwood Christian (Plano, Texas) (16-4)
The Lions looked out of sorts Saturday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in an 85-55 loss to Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).

13. (24) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (13-3)
The Gaels showed what they can do at full strength Monday at the Hoophall Classic with an impressive 73-63 win over then-No. 3 DeMatha.

14. (13) Wichita Heights (Kan.) (8-0)
Kansas-bound forward Perry Ellis piled up 29 points and five rebounds in the Falcons' latest win, a 70-60 triumph over Wichita East.



15. (16) Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) (10-2)
The Saints rolled past Philadelphia Catholic League foes Archbishop Ryan and Archbishop Carroll last week.

{PAGEBREAK} 16. (18) Westbury Christian (Houston) (17-2)
The Wildcats beat teams from three states to win the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., over the weekend.

17. (20) Olympic (Charlotte, N.C.) (17-0)
Clemson signee Josh Smith tallied 22 points and 13 rebounds as the Trojans pulled out a tough road win at Charlotte Catholic Friday night, 83-66.

18. (21) Columbia (Decatur, Ga.) (16-1)
Head coach Phil McCrary's club has won each of its last four games by 17 points or more.

19. (22) Proviso East (Maywood, Ill.) (14-0)
The Pirates stayed perfect with a 79-37 drubbing of Willowbrook (Villa Park) last week.

20. (23) Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (10-2)
The Knights held both Viewmont (Bountiful) and Riverton to less than 40 points in wins last week.



{PAGEBREAK} 21. (25) Dunbar (Dayton, Ohio) (11-0)
Head coach Peter Pullen's bunch is averaging 87.3 points per game over its last nine outings.

22. (NR) Pershing (Detroit) (9-0)
The Doughboys – averaging more than 80 points per game this season – won a huge showdown Friday night with previously unbeaten Sexton (Lansing), 81-80, behind 26 points apiece from Sherron Dorsey-Walker and Martez Walker.

23. (NR) Long Beach Poly (Calif.) (13-1)
After an early December loss to Loyola (Los Angeles), the Jackrabbits have reeled off 10 wins in a row – including a 64-58 win over then-No. 19 Rainier Beach (Seattle) at the King Holiday Hoopfest on Monday.

24. (NR) Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) (17-2)
The Tigers' only losses came against No. 13 Bishop Gorman (by two points) and Academy Top 10 entry Montverde Academy.

25. (11) Sexton (Lansing, Mich.) (7-1)
A one-point loss to a hot and undefeated Pershing team shouldn't diminish Sexton's spectacular early-season run, which included wins over state title contenders Romulus and Kalamazoo Central.

Dropped out: No. 15 last week Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.); No. 17 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); No. 19 Rainier Beach (Seattle)