Bob Hurley’s Friars finish the season at No. 1 in the MaxPreps National Rankings after 32-0 campaign.
MaxPreps.com Staff Report
2007-2008 MaxPreps National Rankings – Compiled by Ned Freeman
2007-2008 MaxPreps National Champion - St. Anthony (N.J.)
Head Coach: Bob Hurley
Record: 32-0
Key Wins: Lone Peak, Utah; American Christian, Pa.; St. Patrick, N.J.
MVP: Mike Rosario, 6-3, Sr., G (Rutgers)
In hindsight, everyone should have seen this coming. When you combine arguably the greatest high school head coach ever with an abundance of Division I talent, a season like the one St. Anthony experienced this winter shouldn’t have been unexpected.
The only question mark for the Friars entering the season was their ability to put away Garden State rival St. Patrick, and they answered March 5 with a 64-52 victory over Kevin Boyle’s Celtics. That set up a 69-36 win over Science Park March 17 for the school’s 10th Tournament of Champions title.
St. Anthony overwhelmed nearly every opponent on its schedule, averaging 78.4 points per game while allowing just 39.5.
Hurley will say goodbye to six seniors headed for major college basketball in Alberto Estwick (Fordham), Jio Fontan (Fordham), A.J. Rogers (St. Joseph’s), Mike Rosario (Rutgers), Tyshawn Taylor (Marquette) and Travon Woodall (Pittsburgh).
Rounding Out the Top 20…
(2) Lincoln (N.Y.)
Head Coach: Dwayne “Tiny” Morton
Record: 30-4
Key Wins: Rice, N.Y.; Bishop Maginn, N.Y.; Holy Cross, N.Y. (twice)
MVP: Lance Stephenson, 6-5, Jr., G
(3) McClymonds (Calif.)
Head Coach: Dwight Nathaniel
Record: 32-0
Key Wins: Estrella Foothills, Ariz.; De La Salle, Calif. (twice); Dominguez, Calif.
MVP: Damon Powell, 6-5, Jr., F
(4) Saginaw (Mich.)
Head Coach: Lou Dawkins
Record: 26-1
Key Wins: Toledo Libbey, Ohio; Arthur Hill, Mich. (twice); Clarkston, Mich.
MVP: Draymond Green, 6-7, Sr., F (Michigan State)
(5) St. Benedict’s Prep (N.J.)
Head Coach: Dan Hurley
Record: 24-1
Key Wins: Oak Hill Academy, Va.; South Atlanta, Ga.; Rice, N.Y.; St. Patrick, N.J.
MVP: Samardo Samuels, 6-9, Sr., F (Louisville)
(6) North Crowley (Texas)
Head Coach: Tommy Brakel
Record: 38-1
Key Wins: Carroll, La. (twice); Duncanville, Texas; Dulles, Texas
MVP: Willie Warren, 6-4, Sr., G (Oklahoma)
(7) Dominguez (Calif.)
Head Coach: Russell Otis
Record: 32-3
Key Wins: Fairfax, Calif. (twice); Franklin, Wash.; Campbell Hall, Calif.; Mater Dei, Calif.
MVP: Jordan Hamilton, 6-7, Jr., G/F
(8) Mater Dei (Calif.)
Head Coach: Gary McKnight
Record: 35-1
Key Wins: Santa Margarita, Calif. (twice); Farragut, Ill.; Archbishop Mitty, Calif.
MVP: David Wear, 6-10, Jr., F (North Carolina); Travis Wear, 6-10, Jr., F (North Carolina)
(9) Rice (N.Y.)
Head Coach: Maurice “Mo” Hicks
Record: 23-3
Key Wins: Mason County, Ky.; Mt. Vernon, N.Y.; St. Patrick, N.J.; St. Raymond, N.Y. (twice)
MVP: Kemba Walker, 6-1, Sr., G (Connecticut)
(10) Minnetonka (Minn.)
Head Coach: John Hedstrom
Record: 28-3
Key Wins: Hopkins, Minn. (twice); Sibley, Minn. (twice)
MVP: Anthony Tucker, 6-5, Sr., G (Iowa)
(11) Taft (Calif.)
Head Coach: Derrick Taylor
Record: 27-4
Key Wins: Dominguez, Calif. (twice); Kinston, N.C.; Westchester, Calif.; Fairfax, Calif.
MVP: Larry Drew, 6-0, Sr., G (North Carolina)
(12) Campbell Hall (Calif.)
Head Coach: Terry Kelly
Record: 31-5
Key Wins: Compton, Calif. (twice); Minnetonka, Minn.; St. Mary’s, Calif.
MVP: Jrue Holiday, 6-4, Sr., G (UCLA)
(13) Iowa City (Iowa)
Head Coach: Andy Woodley
Record: 25-1
Key Wins: Linn-Mar, Iowa (twice); Davenport Central, Iowa
MVP: Matt Gatens, 6-5, Sr., G (Iowa)
(14) Duncanville (Texas)
Head Coach: Phil McNeely
Record: 36-2
Key Wins: Putnam City, Okla.; Klein Collins, Texas; Wheeler, Ga.; De Soto, Texas (twice)
MVP: Shawn Williams, 6-7, Jr., G/F
(15) Lone Peak (Utah)
Head Coach: Quincy Lewis
Record: 22-2
Key Wins: Centennial, Ga.; Davis, Utah; Bingham, Utah
MVP: Tyler Haws, 6-5, Jr., G/F
(16) Hopkins (Minn.)
Head Coach: Ken Novak
Record: 27-2
Key Wins: Sibley, Minn.; DeMatha Catholic, Md.; Minnetonka, Minn.
MVP: Raymond Cowles, 6-4, Jr., F
(17) Central Catholic (Mass.)
Head Coach: Rick Nault
Record: 25-2
Key Wins: Bishop Hendricken, R.I.; Charlestown, Mass.; Boston College, Mass.; St. John’s, Mass.
MVP: Adrian Gonzalez, 6-5, Sr., F; Billy Marsden, 5-10, Jr., G
(18) Norcross (Ga.)
Head Coach: Eddie Martin
Record: 29-2
Key Wins: Harvey Cox, La.; Centennial, Ga.; Westlake, Ga.; Wheeler, Ga.
MVP: Al-Farouq Aminu, 6-9, Sr., F (Wake Forest)
(19) Burlington (Vt.)
Head Coach: Matt Johnson
Record: 24-0
Key Wins: Harwood, Vt.; Rice Memorial, Vt.
MVP: Joe O’Shea, 6-4, So., F
(20) Gonzaga (D.C.)
Head Coach: Steve Turner
Record: 34-1
Key Wins: Bishop O’Connell, Va. (four times); DeMatha Catholic, Md.; Benedictine, Va.
MVP: Ian Hummer, 6-6, Jr., F
