MaxPreps Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings

1. (No. 1 last week) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 27-0
The Monarchs begin CIF Southern Section Open Division play Friday against Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello). The 16-team bracket could be one of the nation's toughest postseason tests with heavyweights like Chino Hills, Centennial (Corona), Etiwanda, Loyola (Los Angeles), Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower), among others, joining Mater Dei. Click here to see the bracket

2. (2) Rainier Beach (Seattle), 22-0
The Vikings were tested Saturday night in the Metro League tournament title game, escaping with a 68-65 win over Eastside Catholic (Sammamish). It was just the second time this season that Rainier Beach was held to less than 70 points.

3. (3) Curie (Chicago), 22-1
Cliff Alexander has carried the mail in big games for the Condors all year but got some help Sunday in a 71-64 win over Simeon in the Chicago Public Schools Tournament quarterfinals. Brother act Joshua and Joseph Stamps combined for 28 points as Curie advanced to face Hyde Park in the semifinals Wednesday.

4. (4) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 24-1
The Eagles got a push Sunday against St. Joseph (Metuchen, N.J.) but pulled away in the fourth quarter for a 79-70 win. Combined with a victory over defending state champ Roselle Catholic on Friday, Montverde Academy went 2-0 in head coach Kevin Boyle's return to New Jersey over the weekend. Boyle spent two decades as the head coach at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.).



5. (5) White Station (Memphis, Tenn.), 26-1
After a full week off, the Spartans begin District 16-AAA tournament play Monday.{PAGEBREAK}

6. (7) St. John's (Washington, D.C.), 26-1
The Cadets wrapped up their first Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season title since 2000 with a 66-63 win over Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Sunday. St. John's has won 24 in a row since a December loss to No. 24 Paul VI.

7. (6) Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), 25-1
Calvary Baptist Day (Winston-Salem, N.C.) and Victory Christian Center (Charlotte, N.C.) will tangle for the unenviable task of facing the Knights Thursday in the NCISAA Class 2A state tournament.

8. (9) Arsenal Technical (Indianapolis), 18-2
The Titans did not play last week but return to the floor Friday against Zionsville.

9. (10) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 18-2
A Friday contest with Traders Point Christian Academy (Whitestown) was cancelled due to weather. The Lakers are scheduled to return to the floor Thursday against 22ft Academy (Greenville, S.C.).

10. (11) Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), 24-4
The Stallions opened FHSAA Class 3A state tournament play with a 77-29 win over Oak Hall (Gainesville). Providence continues its quest for a title Tuesday against University Christian (Jacksonville).{PAGEBREAK} 11. (12) Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross, Ga.), 26-0
Head coach Eddie Martin and the Spartans are scheduled to meet Westminster (Atlanta) in the Region 6-AA finals on Monday.



12. (13) Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 29-1
Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) and Desert Ridge (Mesa) will meet for the right to face Corona del Sol Saturday in the second round of the Division I state tournament. The Aztecs are four wins away from their third-straight state title.

13. (14) Apple Valley (Minn.), 23-1
Duke-bound senior point man Tyus Jones averaged 24.5 points and 12 assists per game in two victories last week.

14. (15) Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), 22-3
The Apaches lost on the court to Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville) last week but saw that result overturned a few days later as a result of an ineligible player. It's tough to weigh scenarios like this in the national rankings but a recent win over No. 16 Oak Hill Academy helps give ACD the benefit of the doubt.

15. (16) Whitney Young (Chicago), 20-5
No. 3 Curie and Whitney Young are one win away from setting up a dream final in the Chicago Public Schools Tournament. The Dolphins beat Morgan Park 72-62 on Sunday to advance to the semifinals, where they will meet Orr on Wednesday.{PAGEBREAK} 16. (17) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 31-3
The Warriors had a pair of weather-related cancellations last week – including what would have been a key contest against Benedictine (Richmond, Va.).

17. (18) Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.), 22-4
Another team knocked off by Mother Nature over the weekend, the Irish had games with Archbishop Alter (Kettering, Ohio) and Genesis Academy (Lynchburg, Va.) cancelled.

18. (19) Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.), 20-0
The Dolphins have won their last seven games by an average margin of 38.1 points per outing. The Tidewater Conference of Independent Schools Tournament begins Tuesday.



19. (20) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 24-4
Winners of 15 in a row, the Gaels begin regional play Wednesday against Sierra Vista (Las Vegas).

20. (21) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 25-4
After more than a week off, the Pilots return to the floor Monday night against Planet Athlete Academy of Arizona.{PAGEBREAK} 21. (22) Lincoln (Brooklyn, N.Y.), 24-3
The Railsplitters are the kings of Brooklyn after a 90-71 win over Jefferson on Saturday night in the boro final. It was the eighth year in a row Lincoln and Jefferson have met in the boro championship game.

22. (23) Muskegon (Mich.), 17-0
Junior forward Deyonta Davis is picking up steam as an All-American candidate after recording 17 points, 27 rebounds and 16 blocked shots Saturday in a 68-59 win over a talented Mt. Clemens squad.

23. (24) Carmel (Ind.), 16-1
Ryan Cline came up big with 18 points as Carmel beat Hamilton Southeastern (Fishers) – ranked No. 2 in the state behind Carmel by many media outlets – in a showdown last week. The Greyhounds followed by clamping down on Terre Haute North for a 46-26 win over the weekend.

24. (25) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 21-5
The Panthers close out Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play this week with games against DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.). The WCAC tournament begins Saturday.

25. (NR) Sagemont (Weston, Fla.), 29-0
Safer picks in this spot were available but time to tip the cap to the unbeaten Lions. Sagemont is two wins away from setting up a potential Class 3A state semifinal showdown with No. 10 Providence. Brookfield Central (Brookfield, Wis.), Judson (Converse, Texas), Centennial (Corona, Calif.), Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) and Potomac (Dumfries, Va.) all earned strong consideration here.



Dropped out: No. 8 last week Loyola (Los Angeles)