Signature early season showdowns are already beginning to form the national high school basketball landscape as five teams drop from the preseason National Top 20 rankings.
Southern California Academy is the biggest riser this week, jumping to No. 8 in the nation after defeating previous No. 6 Prolific Prep 80-63. Other newcomers to this week's rankings are West Oaks Academy, The Skill Factory, The Rock and DME Academy.
Three of the newcomers come from the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association, as West Oaks Academy, The Rock and DME Academy are current favorites to compete for the league championship this season.
Attention turns to Atlanta this weekend as Holiday Hoopsgiving takes center stage, featuring six teams ranked in this week's National Top 20.
AZ Compass Prep remains No. 1 after starting the 2021-22 season 8-0.
File Photo by Mike Jones
Record: 8-0 | Preseason: 1
The Dragons hold onto the top spot, narrowly Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 69-68 on a
Kylan Boswell game-winner. Auburn pledge
Chance Westry led the way with 27 points.
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 2
Eagles take on No. 13 Real Salt Lake Academy and Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) — No. 21 in MaxPreps Top 25 rankings — at the Holiday Hoopsgiving.
Record: 1-0 | Preseason: 3
Following a 67-35 victory over Admiral Farragut (St. Petersburg, Fla.), the Ascenders have a two week break before facing No. 2 Montverde Academy, No. 4 Sunrise Christian Academy and No. 9 Oak Hill Academy in NIBC action.
Record: 3-0 | Preseason: 5
Defeated Legacy School of Sports Sciences (Spring, Texas) 88-48 behind a game-high 20 from
Gradey Dick while
Mark Mitchell chipped in 18 points and eight rebounds. The Buffaloes travel to the Memphis Hardwood Classic to face Christian Brothers (St. Louis) and Bartlett (Tenn.) this week.
Record: 6-0 | Preseason: 7
First-year program has been impressive early in the season, including picking up a 92-70 quality win over No. 16 Huntington Prep. They face their toughest challenge of the early season on Friday against No. 12 Prolific Prep.
Record: 10-0 | Preseason: 8
Highly touted prospects
Kamari Lands and
Malachi Palmer are off to hot starts for a high-powered Bruins offense averaging over 100 points per contest.
Record: 5-0 | Preseason: 9
The Lakers are outscoring opponents by an average of 54.4 points per contest through their first five games. They're off until Dec. 2-4 when they will compete in the Bob Kirk Invitational against No. 11 Wasatch Academy, No. 19 Legacy Early College and Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.).
Record: 4-0 | Preseason: NR
Burst onto the national scene after blowing past Prolific Prep behind 27 points and six rebounds from
Amaree Abram and
Jaxon Kohler's 23 points and 11 rebounds. They take on Burlington (N.C.) and Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) at Holiday Hoopsgiving.
Record: 8-1 | Preseason: 4
Drop five spots after falling to Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) 55-54 at the Carmel Christian Tip-Off. Kentucky signee
Chris Livingston leads the way, averaging just under 20 points through nine games.
Record: 3-0 | Preseason: 10
Off to a strong start behind behind Illinois signee
Jayden Epps (28 points, four assists) and Virginia Tech signee
Patrick Wessler (21 points, 15 rebounds).
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 11
Open their 2021-22 campaign against Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.) and Bishop Louglin (Brooklyn, N.Y.) at Holiday Hoopsgiving.
Record: 5-1 | Preseason: 6
Suffered a tough early season 80-63 loss to No. 8 Southern California Academy (Castaic) to drop outside the top 10. Paced by
M.J. Rice and
Tre White, who are both averaging 18 points. The Crew face another test on Friday against No. 5 Link Academy.
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 12
Take on a pair of major challenges at Holiday Hoopsgiving: No. 2 Montverde Academy and Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.).
Record: 0-0 | Preseason: 13
Open their season Nov. 30, playing host to Hun (Princeton, N.J.
Record: 4-0 | Preseason: Not Ranked
Despite losing highly touted Class of 2023 prospects Matt and Ryan Bewley to the Overtime Elite League, the Flame appear to have replaced their productions with
Maurice Odum,
Faheim Meran and others.
16. The Skill Factory (Atlanta)
Record: 8-1 | Preseason: Not Ranked
Secured
a spot in the national rankings after an early season 90-84 victory
over The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.). Top 100 senior Kam Craft led
the way with 25 points and 16 rebounds in the win.
Record: 1-1 | Preseason: 15
Split a pair of games at the Darius Miles Blood Sweat & Tears Showcase, losing to No. 5 Link Academy 92-70 before knocking off Universal Academy (Irving, Texas) 67-64. Next up: showdowns with Donda Prep (Simi Valley, Calif.) and No. 8 Southern California Academy at Holiday Hoopsgiving.
Record: 2-0 | Preseason: 19
Opened the year with a pair of close victories over Southwest Ohio Prep (Springfield, Ohio) and Franklin Prep (Charlotte, N.C.) paced by under-the-radar junior
Jordann Dumont who averaged of 31.5 points and 13.5 rebounds.
Record: 5-1 | Preseason: NR
Established themselves as a top contender in the SIAA with victories over DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Central Pointe Christian Academy (Kissimmee, Fla.).
Record: 6-1 | Preseason: NR
Jumped into the national rankings after upsetting Preseason No. 18 Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) 71-67. Senior guard
Niccolo Moretti finished with 17 points, 10 rebounds and nine assists in the signature win.
