High school basketball rankings: Paul VI finishes No. 1, crowned MaxPreps National Champion

Panthers went 35-3, captured VISAA Division I state title and advanced to Chipotle Nationals championship game.

MaxPreps National Basketball Editor Jordan Divens presents the Final MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings of the 2023-2024 season.

Final MaxPreps Top 25 Basketball Rankings | 2023-2024 Season 205,668 views 1:09

Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) established itself as the best team in high school basketball this season with big out-of-state victories and a third consecutive VISAA Division I state championship. The Panthers are the 2023-24 MaxPreps National Champions after finishing No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Under head coach Glenn Farello, Paul VI (35-3) built a strong resume with wins over No. 13 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), No. 18 Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.), No. 23 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) twice, No. 25 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), National Top 10 No. 3 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) twice and National Top 10 No. 6 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) twice.

Paul VI outscored opponents by an average margin of 23.4 points per contest and averaged 77.5 points per game. The Panthers went 15-3 against teams ranked in the top 100.

During their run to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament championship, the Panthers dispatched Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) 69-41 in the quarterfinals, knocked off Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) 65-44 in the semifinals and took down Gonzaga 63-51 in the title game.

PVI continued its momentum in state tournament play, blowing past Benedictine (Richmond) 90-56 in the quarterfinals, Blue Ridge (St. George) 91-63 in the semifinals and St. Anne's-Belfield (Charlottesville) 72-62 in the Division I state title game.

Following a loss to No. 2 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in January, Paul VI reeled off 21 consecutive victories and advanced to the Chipotle Nationals title game. At Chipotle, they picked up victories over IMG Academy and Link Academy before suffering their second loss to National Top 10 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).

Duke signee Darren Harris (17.2 points, 4.5 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game) led a balanced attack for the Panthers that featured sophomore Jordan Smith, Connecticut signee Isaiah Abraham, Notre Dame signee Garrett Sundra, Rhode Island signee Ben Hammond and four-star junior Adlan Elamin.

The Panthers also added top 20 Duke signee Patrick Ngongba for their run to the Chipotle Nationals title game. Ngongba missed the entire season with a foot injury before averaging 6.0 points, 5.3 rebounds and 2.3 assists in limited action across three games at Chipotle Nationals.

Paul VI has won 41 consecutive regular season Washington Catholic Athletic Conference games and captured its third consecutive WCAC regular season title this season. The Virginia powerhouse also captured the title at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions title and finished in third at the City of Palms Classic after falling to Montverde Academy in the semifinals.

Since taking over the program in 2007, Glenn Farello has built Paul VI into a perennial national power. The Panthers schedule ambitiously and have sent a steady stream of talented players to the major college ranks. (Photo: Michael Woods)

Past MaxPreps National Champions

2009 — Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
2010 — Yates (Houston)
2011 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2012 — St. Anthony
2013 — Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
2014 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2016 — Chino Hills (Calif.)
2017 — Nathan Hale (Seattle)
2018 — Montverde Academy
2019 — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
2020 — Montverde Academy
2021 — Montverde Academy

2022 — Duncanville (Texas)

2023 — John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)

Final MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings

1. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)

Record: 35-3

VISAA Division I state champion, Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament champion, Chipotle Nationals runner-up.

2. Columbus (Miami, Fla.)

Record: 28-5

Class 7A state champion.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)

Record: 33-3

Open Division state champion.

4. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)

Record: 31-4

Open Division state semifinalist.

5. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 30-2

Class AAAAAAA state champion.

6. Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Record: 30-0

Division 2 state champion.

7. Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.)

Record: 27-4

Class 7A state runner-up.

8. Plano East (Plano, Texas)

Record: 40-0

Class 6A state runner-up.

9. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.)

Record: 29-3

Non-Public A state champion.

10. St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.)

Record: 29-2

Non-Public B state champion.

11. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)

Record: 26-4

CHSAA Class AA city champion, PSAL vs. CHSAA Class AA champion.

12. Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas)

Record: 38-2

Class 6A state runner-up.

13. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)

Record: 26-6

Class AAAAAAA state runner-up.

14. North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.)

Record: 29-3

Class 4A state champion.

15. Fishers (Ind.)

Record: 29-1

Class 4A state champion.

16. Kell (Marietta, Ga.)

Record: 28-3

Class AAAAA state champion.

17. Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.)

Record: 29-2

Class AAAA state champion.

18. Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.)

Record: 27-3

19. John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)

Record: 25-3

Class 2 state champion.

20. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 27-4

Class AA state champion.

21. Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.)

Record: 33-0

Class 3A state champion.

22. St. Mary's Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.)

Record: 27-1

Division 1 state champion.

23. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 28-6

Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament runner-up. Class AA state semifinalist.

24. Camden (N.J.)

Record: 30-2

Group 2 state champion.

25. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 28-7

Division I state champion.

Next 75

26. Reidsville (N.C.)

Record: 29-0

Class 2A state champion.

27. Lyon County (Eddyville, Ky.)

Record: 36-3

Sweet 16 state champion.

28. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond, Calif.)

Record: 31-2

Open Division state runner-up.

29. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Record: 29-3

Class 5A state champion.

30. Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.)

Record: 36-2

Sweet 16 state semifinalist.

31. Lexington (Lexington, S.C.)

Record: 28-2

Class AAAAA state champion.

32. Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)

Record: 24-6

Open Division state champion.

33. Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Ill.)

Record: 34-4

Class 4A state champion.

34. Winter Haven (Fla.)

Record: 27-2

Class 7A state runner-up.

35. Hoover (Ala.)

Record: 30-3

Class 7A state runner-up.

36. Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.)

Record: 27-1

Class A state champion.

37. St. John's (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 25-8

Class AA runner-up.

38. Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 33-3

Class AA semifinalist.

39. Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)

Record: 25-5

Open Division state runner-up.

40. Bullis (Potomac, Md.)

Record: 27-3

Private school state runner-up.

41. St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio)

Record: 26-3

Division I state champion.

42. Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas)

Record: 34-4

Class 6A state semifinalist.

43. Carlsbad (Calif.)

Record: 30-3

44. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)

Record: 31-4

45. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 26-4

46. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)

Record: 31-4

47. Owasso (Okla.)

Record: 26-4

Class 6A state champion.

48. Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Record: 30-1

Class 5A state champion.

49. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)

Record: 29-6

Division I state semifinalist.

50. Brennan (San Antonio, Texas)

Record: 31-5

51. St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey, Calif.)

Record: 24-7

52. Curie (Chicago, Ill.)

Record: 31-3

53. Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.)

Record: 24-4

Class 6A state runner-up.

54. Dale (Okla.)

Record: 31-2

Class 2A state champion.

55. Millard North (Omaha, Neb.)

Record: 23-3

Class A state runner-up.

56. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)

Record: 25-6

Class AAAAAAA state semifinalist.

57. Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas)

Record: 36-3

58. Liberty Magnet (Baton Rouge, La.)

Record: 33-4

Division I Select state champion.

59. Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.)

Record: 22-6

60. Olympus (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Record: 24-3

Class 5A state champion.

61. Christ School (Arden, N.C.)

Record: 26-5

NCISAA Class 4A state champion.

62. Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.)

Record: 25-8

Class 3A state champion.

63. New Hanover (Wilmington, N.C.)

Record: 32-1

Class 4A state runner-up.

64. Marquette University (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Record: 26-4

Division 1 state champion.

65. Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 23-6

66. Minnetonka (Minn.)

Record: 25-6

Class AAAA state champion.

67. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)

Record: 29-2

Class AAAA state runner-up.

68. Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.)

Record: 27-3

Class AAA state champion.

69. Arrowhead (Hartland, Wis.)

Record: 27-3

Division 1 state runner-up.

70. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Record: 24-5

Class 5A state champion.

71. Independence (Thompson's Station, Tenn.)

Record: 32-6

Division I Class 4A state champion.

72. De Pere (Wis.)

Record: 27-2

73. Cookeville (Tenn.)

Record: 32-4

Division I Class 4A state runner-up.

74. Bartlett (Tenn.)

Record: 33-5

Division I Class 4A state semifinalist.

75. Huntsville (Ala.)

Record: 32-3

Class 7A state semifinalist.

76. St. Anne's-Belfield (Charlottesville, Va.)

Record: 26-4

VISAA Division I state runner-up.

77. Central (Little Rock, Ark.)

Record: 27-6

Class 6A state champion.

78. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)

Record: 23-9

79. Lincoln Park Performing Arts (Midland, Pa.)

Record: 27-3

Class 4A state champion.

80. Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.)

Record: 23-6

Class 4A state runner-up.

81. Fort Bend Clements (Sugar Land, Texas)

Record: 32-1

82. Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho)

Record: 24-3

Class 5A state champion.

83. Valor Christian (Highlands Ranch, Colo.)

Record: 26-2

Class 6A state champion.

84. Shawnee Mission Northwest (Shawnee Mission, Kan.)

Record: 25-0

Class 6A state champion.

85. Lexington Catholic (Lexington, Ky.)

Record: 28-3

86. Newport (Ky.)

Record: 32-4

87. Cordova (Tenn.)

Record: 29-4

88. St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.)

Record: 23-6

CHSAA Class AA city semifinalist.

89. St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City, N.J.)

Record: 26-3

Non-Public A state semifinalist.

90. Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.)

Record: 29-3

Class 6A state champion.

91. JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)

Record: 25-7

92. Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 36-5

Baltimore Catholic League regular season champion.

93. Central York (York, Pa.)

Record: 30-3

Class 6A state champion.

94. Farmville Central (Farmville, N.C.)

Record: 30-2

Class 2A state runner-up.

95. North Farmington (Farmington Hills, Mich.)

Record: 23-3

Division 1 state runner-up.

96. DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.)

Record: 35-2

Class 3A state champion.

97. Pewaukee (Wis.)

Record: 25-5

Division 2 state runner-up.

98. Hayes (Delaware, Ohio)

Record: 27-2

Division I state semifinalist.

99. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Record: 25-3

Philadelphia Catholic League regular season and tournament champion.

100. Hickory (N.C.)

Record: 31-1

Class 3A state semifinalist.

High school basketball rankings: Paul VI finishes No. 1, crowned MaxPreps National Champion

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