Preseason Top 25 High School Basketball Rankings: No. 1 Montverde Academy

By Jordan Divens Oct 17, 2018, 10:15am

Elite transfers Precious Achiuwa, Cade Cunningham, Moses Moody and Omar Payne lead Eagles in 2018-19.

Video: Preseason Top 25 Basketball Rankings
Breaking down the national contenders heading into the 2018-19 season.


Head Coach: Kevin Boyle
Last Season: 35-0 (GEICO Nationals Champions)
Head coach Kevin Boyle
Head coach Kevin Boyle
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Players to Watch:
Precious Achiuwa (6-foot-9, Sr., F)
Harlond Beverly (6-4, Sr., G)
Cade Cunningham (6-5, Jr., G)
Balsa Koprivica (7-1, Sr., C)
Moses Moody (6-5, Jr., G)
Omar Payne (6-9, Sr., F) — Committed to Florida
Justin Powell (6-5, Jr., G)
Guard Cade Cunningham
Guard Cade Cunningham
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Key Games/Events:
Dec. 7 - vs. Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) — ARS National Hoopfest (Washington, D.C.)
Dec. 8 - vs. Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) — ARS National Hoopfest
Dec. 18-22 — Iolani Classic (Honolulu)
Jan. 4 - vs. Norcross (Ga.) — Cancer Research Classic (Wheeling, W.Va.)
Jan. 5 - vs. La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) — Cancer Research Classic
Jan. 19 - vs. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
Jan. 21 - vs. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) — Spalding Hoophall Classic
Jan 24-26 - Montverde Academy Invitational (Montverde, Fla.)
Feb. 2 - vs. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) — ARS National Hoopfest (Tampa, Fla.)
Forward Precious Achiuwa
Forward Precious Achiuwa
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Season Preview:
Coming off a perfect 35-0 season that culminated with a record-breaking fourth GEICO Nationals title, the Eagles begin 2018-19 where they finished last season.

Although they lose the majority of their 2017-18 core, the perennial powerhouse reloaded with the deepest and most talented crop of prospects in the nation.

Facing nine opponents featured in the preseason Top 25, and participating in the 'Iolani Classic and Montverde Academy Invitational, Montverde has once again given itself an extremely competitive schedule that will test the loaded group throughout the season.

Along with players to watch like Achiuwa, Payne, Moody, Koprivica, and Cunningham, the Eagles feature three elite freshmen this season. Ryan Nembhard, a 6-foot guard, Dariq Whitehead, a 6-5 wing, and Caleb Houstan, a 6-8 wing are all potential 5-star talents in the Class of 2022 that will be fighting for minutes on a roster jam-packed with NBA-caliber talent.

GALLERY: MaxPreps preseason photo shoot with the Eagles
Montverde Academy has the deepest and most talented crop of prospects in the nation.
Montverde Academy has the deepest and most talented crop of prospects in the nation.
Photo by Andrew Bershaw



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