The MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings continue to experience turnover as three new teams enter the mix this week ahead of what could be the defining week of the 2023-24 season.
The other Springfield (Massachusetts) will play host to 12 ranked teams at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. Headlining matchups include No. 19
North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) vs.
Camden (N.J.), National Top 10 No. 2
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) vs. No. 5
Columbus (Miami, Fla.), No. 9
Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs.
Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.), No. 4
Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) vs.
Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and No. 8
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) vs. No. 11
McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) and No. 1 Paul VI facing No. 5 Columbus.
Mater Dei guard Owen Verna tallied 15 points, four rebounds and four assists in an 83-62 victory over St. John Bosco. The Monarchs debut at No. 14 in the MaxPreps Top 25 this week. (Photo: Louis Lopez)
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 1
Top-ranked Panthers have a busy week ahead as they travel to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions from Thursday through Saturday before traveling to the Spalding Hoophall Classic for a showdown with No. 5 Columbus on Monday.
Record: 22-0
| Last week: 4
Secured a victory over Plano 68-53 paced by a team-high 22 points from three-star junior
D.J. Hall. The Panthers jump ahead of a two-loss Myers Park team that is now void of a win against a ranked opponent after John Marshall fell from the MaxPreps Top 25 this week.
Record: 11-2 | Last week: 3
Knocked off Hough (Cornelius) 70-35 led by 21 points, eight rebounds, three assists and three steals from four-star Notre Dame signee
Sir Mohammed and defeated Ardrey Kell (Charlotte) 54-38 paced by a game-high 22 points from four-star junior
Sadiq White Jr.
Record: 8-2 | Last week: 5
Took down St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) 54-45 without five-star Rutgers commit
Dylan Harper, who is out due to injury. Senior guard
Isaiah Brown scored 20 points while junior guard
Brady Loughlin contributed 17 points in the win. The Ironmen have a daunting week ahead with three tough in-state contests before facing Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) on Sunday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Record: 13-4
| Last week: 8
Continued to pile up quality wins last week, defeating Mater Lakes Academy (Miami) 85-54, Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale) 61-58 and Lake Worth 69-56 to jump three spots in the rankings. The schedule doesn't let up this week with games against National Top 10 No. 2 Long Island Lutheran on Saturday and No. 1 Paul VI on Monday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 6
A defining week awaits the top team from the Sooner State as the Huskies travel to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
Record: 15-0 | Last week: 7
After winning the Chick-fil-A Classic American Division title put this group on the map, they look to keep their momentum in the rankings this week with a pair of anticipated in-state showdowns with Westwood (Blythewood) on Friday and Gray Collegiate Academy (West Columbia) on Monday.
Record: 17-1
| Last week: 9
Four-star USC signee
Trent Perry tallied 23 points while four-star junior
Nikolas Khamenia contributed 21 points in a 74-62 victory over Heritage Christian (Northridge). The Wolverines have a tough stretch ahead, highlighted by a showdown with No. 11 McEachern on Monday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 10
Picked up an out-of-state victory over North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.) 68-51 behind 21 points, six rebounds and four assists from four-star Purdue signee
Gicarri Harris. The Rams take on a quality one-loss Archer (Lawrenceville) squad tonight before traveling to the Spalding Hoophall Classic for a showdown with Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) on Saturday.
Record: 12-2
| Last week: 2
Despite dropping back-to-back games to No. 15 Bishop O'Connell 65-57 and National Top 10 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) 93-51 last week, the Eagles still have an impressive resume. Gonzaga meets Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) on Sunday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Record: 10-3
| Last week: 13
Notched a quality victory over Alexander (Douglasville) 58-46 led by 19 points, 13 rebounds, three assists and three blocks from five-star Rutgers signee
Ace Bailey. The Indians have a difficult week ahead with a trip to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions from Thursday through Saturday before facing No. 8 Harvard-Westlake at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Monday.
Record: 21-1
| Last week: 11
Senior forward
Caleb Harrison led the way with 19 points, 11 rebounds,
four assists and three blocks in a 60-51 victory over Grissom
(Huntsville). The Panthers travel to Albertsville tonight for a conference showdown.
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 12
Responded from their first loss of the season with a 72-43 blowout of Cedar Ridge (Round Rock) guided by 18 points, five rebounds and three blocks from three-star Villanova signee
Josiah Moseley in 14 minutes of action. The Tigers will be heavy favorites in all remaining games prior to postseason play.
Record: 17-1
| Last week: NR
The Monarchs have a Friday meeting with Catholic Memorial (West Roxbury, Mass.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Record: 13-3 | Last week: 14
Followed their Beach Ball Classic title with a signature victory over
previous No. 2 Gonzaga 65-57 led by 27 points and eight rebounds from
three-star senior
Jadyn Harris.
However, the Knights drop one spot following a 64-50 loss to DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) Monday night.
Record: 18-1 | Last week: 22
Defeated Northeast (Oakland Park, Fla.) 68-62 before escaping with a 62-61 victory over St. Joseph (Santa Maria) behind a team-high 26 points from junior
Brayden Burries, who sank a game-winning shot in the final seconds.
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 17
Winners of 41 straight games dating back to last season, the Redbirds face their biggest test of the season Saturday when they take on fellow unbeaten Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee), who are led by five-star Duke signee
Kon Knueppel. De Pere has outscored their opponents by 34.8 points per contest this season.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 19
Own the nation's second-longest winning streak with 45 consecutive victories dating back to the start of last season. The Vikings have outscored their opponents by 40.8 points per contest this season and are considered heavy favorites in their final 11 games of regular season action.
Record: 11-2 | Last week: 20
Following a 72-13 blowout of West Mecklenburg (Charlotte), the Vikings face a pair of in-state opponents before traveling to the Spalding Hoophall Classic for a showdown with Camden (N.J.) on Saturday.
Record: 12-2 | Last week: 21
A trip to Flyin' to the Hoop awaits the Pioneers this week as they face off against St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) on Sunday and Reynoldsburg (Ohio) on Monday. Oak Ridge owns a victory over No. 22 Christ the King in the 'Iolani Classic title game.
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 23
Top 40 Creighton signee
Jackson McAndrew pumped in 28 points to lead the Trojans to a 94-76 victory over Lakeville North. The defending Class AAAA state champions have won 22 games in a row dating back to last season.
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 24
Overcame a 20-point deficit to defeat Jefferson (Brooklyn) 69-66 paced by a team-high 21 points and six rebounds from three-star senior
Qin Pang along with 18 points and nine rebounds from Iowa State signee
Dwayne Pierce.
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 25
Senior guard
Kobi Bowles and junior guard
Azavier Robinson each contributed a team-high 15 points in a 62-47 victory over Warren Central (Indianapolis). The Wildcats appear to be the team to beat in the Hoosier State with just two games decided by single digits this season.
Record: 9-1 | Last week: NR
Picked up a quality victory over St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) 52-48 in double-overtime paced by 27 points, eight rebounds, four steals, three assists and three blocks from four-star Villanova signee
Matthew Hodge.
Record: 13-3 | Last week: NR
The Longhorns have won 12 consecutive games – including four en route to the Arby's Classic title – and have a showdown with No. 12 Huntsville looming on Jan. 20.
