Unlike a year ago, it’s unlikely that the winner of April’s ESPN Rise National High School Invitational will be crowned mythical national champion.
Recent results – including key battles at last weekend’s PrimeTime Shootout in New Jersey – have all but eliminated the top independent high school powers from No. 1 consideration.
Repeat unlikely for Cory Joseph and Findlay Prep.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
It’s not that schools like defending national champion Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and juggernaut Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) have been bad – far from it with those two combining for a 52-5 record against rugged competition.
Yates (Houston, Texas) and Northland (Columbus, Ohio) have been that good, making it difficult to envision both falling in their respective postseasons and throwing the national championship picture into chaos.
Yates has held the No. 1 spot with Northland at No. 2 for a month. The Texas 4A power is piling up 117.7 points per game and winning by an average of 52 points per game.
The Jared Sullinger-led Vikings are posting 83.1 points per contest and allowing just 47.3. Most impressive, Northland has wins over both Findlay and Oak Hill.
No. 3 Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.) has won 46 games in a row and shouldn't be overlooked. Restricted by travel rules in the Hoosier State, the lack of a national resume is the only factor keeping the Panthers from the same type of acclaim as Yates and Northland.
No. 5 St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) is the National High School Invitational’s best hope for producing a No. 1 team. The Gray Bees haven’t lost since December and are thriving behind the play of seniors Aaron Brown and Gilvydas Biruta and sensational junior guard Myck Kabongo.
Read on for this week’s complete rankings.
Xcellent 25 National High School Boys Basketball Rankings
1. (1) Yates (Houston, Texas), 26-0
The Lions have scored 100 points or more in seven straight games entering the final week of the regular season. Yates beat Houston Waltrip by 52 points last Wednesday and followed with a 45-point beating of Houston Westbury two nights later. Senior guards Joseph Young and Brandon Peters are each averaging over 25 points per game for head coach Greg Wise’s squad.
2. (2) Northland (Columbus, Ohio), 18-0
The Vikings wrapped up an undefeated regular season last week with dominating victories over fellow Columbus schools Linden-McKinley (106-26), Beechcroft (86-60) and Mifflin (82-45). National Player of the Year candidate Jared Sullinger has been the story all year for Northland, but senior forward J.D. Weatherspoon (13.7 points, 6.8 rebounds per game) and junior guard Trey Burke (15.3 points, 7.8 assists per game) also deserve a mention.
3. (3) Bloomington South (Bloomington, Ind.), 17-0
Win No. 43 in a row for the Panthers came Saturday night at Indianapolis Warren Central, 62-51. Six-foot-nine senior Erik Fromm, a Butler signee, continued to shine on a Bloomington South team full of standouts with 20 points and 10 boards against Warren Central.
4. (4) Paterson Catholic (Paterson, N.J.), 19-0
The Cougars aren’t quite Yates when it comes to putting points on the scoreboard, but two more 90-point efforts last week raised their points-per-game average to 84.4 this season. Davon Daniels led the way with 20 points in a 98-53 win over North Haledon Eastern Christian on Tuesday, while Seton Hall-bound senior wing Fuquan Edwin sparked a 99-60 thumping of Paterson Eastside on Saturday with 22 points.
5. (5) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 18-1
The Gray Bees’ only game of the week was a lopsided one Friday night at the PrimeTime Shootout. Star junior guard Myck Kabongo tallied 20 points, 11 assists and six steals to lead an 82-38 blowout over Lakewood. St. Benedict’s Prep has won 15 games in a row since losing to Winter Park (Fla.) in December at the City of Palms Classic.
6. (6) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 24-1
The Monarchs are making a mockery of the Trinity League this season, perennially one of California’s tougher affiliations. Santa Margarita (87-47) and Bellflower St. John Bosco (86-41) were the latest league opponents to fall victim to Mater Dei and its trio of Pac-10-bound stars – Gary Franklin (California), Keala King (Arizona State) and Tyler Lamb (UCLA).
7. (7) Ames (Ames, Iowa), 20-0
The Little Cyclones are two wins away from their second straight perfect regular season after running away from Mason City on Friday night, 85-42. Ames did suffer a scare in that contest when McDonald’s All-American pick Harrison Barnes was undercut on a fast break and came down on his back. According to Luke Plansky of the Ames Tribune, Barnes suffered a bruised hip but isn’t expected to miss any action.
8. (8) Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 32-1
The Greenies closed out the regular season with four dominant victories last week, averaging 88 points per contest and winning each by 20 points or more. The most impressive came Tuesday against Meadowcreek of Norcross, Ga., who was 20-3 entering the contest and rocked by Christ School 89-65 behind 16 points from senior point guard Eric Smith.
9. (9) Neumann & Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.), 20-1
The Saints received their first true test since mid-January on Sunday against Radnor Archbishop Carroll. Down by eight following the first quarter, Neumann-Goretti rallied behind Daniel Stewart (16 points), Tony Chennault (15 points) and Lamin Fulton (15 points) for a 66-58 win. Things came a little easier last Tuesday in a 100-54 victory against Philadelphia Bishop McDevitt as six Saints scored in double figures.
10. (10) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 27-2
After nearly two weeks off following a loss in the final of the Montverde Academy Invitational on Jan. 30, the Pilots returned and won a pair at the PrimeTime Shootout in Trenton, N.J., over the weekend. Senior guard Cory Joseph keyed both efforts, scoring 19 points in a 64-48 win over Hotchkiss (Lakeville, Conn.) and 18 in a hard-earned, 63-56 victory over Trenton Catholic.
11. (13) Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), 26-1
The Stallions cruised to the District 6-2A title by pasting University Christian, 84-48. Kentucky-bound senior wing Stacey Poole Jr. scored a team-high 20 points in the victory. Providence will face Gainesville St. Francis on Thursday in the first round of the 2A state tournament.
12. (15) Bellaire (Bellaire, Texas), 30-1
The Cardinals closed the regular season with blowout wins over Houston Sam Houston (105-49) and Houston Milby (91-62). Jeremy Hines, a 6-2 senior guard, erupted for 29 points against Sam Houston. Bellaire begins Texas’ grueling, 128-team state tournament next Monday or Tuesday.
13. (16) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), 25-2
The Gaels are scheduled to begin the postseason next Wednesday against Las Vegas Arbor View, but a lawsuit involving another school and forfeited games could put the schedule for Sunset Region playoff games in doubt. Bishop Gorman’s two losses this season – both close games – came to No. 6 Mater Dei and No. 10 Findlay Prep. The Gaels played Findlay without several two-sport athletes who were recovering from a playoff run with the Gorman football team.
Two triple-doubles in a week for Tobias Harris.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
The Colts faced Middle Village Christ the King on Sunday at the PrimeTime Shootout in what amounted to a “prove it” game for a team that hasn’t faced many name opponents this winter. They did just that. Star senior forward
Tobias Harris posted a triple-double (19 points, 14 rebounds, 11 blocked shots) and junior guard
Tavon Sledge added 24 points in a 73-69 win over the CHSAA power. Incredibly, Harris also posted a triple-double Wednesday against Smithtown West with 28 points, 15 rebounds and 11 swats. The Colts took that contest 80-52.
15. (19) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), 21-1
The Colonials roared past Norristown (60-47), Wyncote Cheltenham (77-52) and Erdenheim Springfield Township (75-28) during a three-win week. C.J. Aiken, a 6-10 senior headed to St. Joseph’s, went for a season-high 34 points against Cheltenham to go along with 17 rebounds and four blocked shots.
16. (21) Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.), 14-1
After seeing its schedule thrown into disarray by weather-related cancellations, Country Day returned to the court with wins against Ann Arbor Pioneer (75-55) and Detroit Southeastern (80-66) over the weekend. Ray McCallum scored 23 points and 6-10 junior Amir Williams added 15 in the Yellowjackets’ win over Pioneer on Friday night.
17. (12) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 25-3
For a program as proud as Oak Hill Academy, any loss makes for a disappointing weekend. But any momentum gained from a Friday night victory over former national No. 1 St. Patrick went away with a loss to unranked St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City, N.J.) on Saturday. Although it will be no consolation for the Warriors (and especially head coach Steve Smith), senior guard Doron Lamb padded his All-American credentials with 49 points in the loss to St. Peter’s Prep.
18. (11) St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 19-3
What a wild weekend for the Celtics. It started with news Friday morning that the program would be banned from postseason play in New Jersey after head coach Kevin Boyle – suspended for three games in the fallout – oversaw improper workouts in October. The same night, St. Patrick fell on the court to No. 16 Oak Hill Academy, 79-78. Showing their resolve, the Celtics bounced back by thrashing Rice (New York, N.Y.) on Saturday, 74-58. Senior guard Kyrie Irving and junior forward Michael Gilchrist combined for 41 points in the PrimeTime Shootout victory.
19. (14) Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.), 22-1
A dangerous Germantown squad handed the Roadrunners their first loss of the season Friday, 78-63. Ridgeway didn’t have to wait long for redemption, taking its frustration out on Memphis Craigmont the following night, 74-59. White Station is up next for head coach Wes Henning’s squad in the Class AAA city title game Thursday.
20. (19) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 22-4
The regular season is complete for the Eagles. Expect Montverde Academy to earn a spot in the National High School Invitational.
21. (20) Jesuit (Portland, Ore.), 19-1
The Crusaders have reeled off 12 wins in a row since losing to Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) in December. Beaverton schools Southridge (80-52) and Aloha (69-44) were no match for Oregon’s defending Class 6A state champions last week.
22. (22) Wagner (San Antonio, Texas), 32-1
Wagner continued its march to the postseason by steamrolling South San Antonio (76-54) and San Antonio East Central (90-75). The T-Birds’ super duo of seniors Jordan Clarkson and Andre Roberson combined for 53 points, 22 rebounds and eight assists against East Central.
23. (25) Penn Wood (Lansdowne, Pa.), 18-3
Senior guard Tyree Johnson scored 19 points and handed out eight assists as the Patriots crushed Concordville Glen Mills, 73-49, in their only game last week. Junior wing forward Aaron Brown eclipsed the 1,000-point mark for his career with a dunk in the third quarter.
24. (NR) Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), 25-0
The Tigers haven’t played the flashiest schedule or been consistently dominant, but 25-0 is 25-0 is 25-0... Senior guards Fredrick Conner (17.7 points per game) and Jonathan Randolph (14.8) lead Blanche Ely into Thursday’s Class 5A state regional quarterfinals against West Boca.
25. (NR) Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.), 23-3
The Comets’ 62-44 loss to Rice on Jan. 23 is still alarming, but keep in mind, it was the team’s second trip to the East Coast in as many weekends. More importantly than any single loss, Westchester owns victories this season over No. 17 Oak Hill Academy, No. 21 Jesuit and No. 23 Penn Wood, in addition to in-state power Woodland Hills Taft and Bob Hurley’s storied St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) program. Since the loss to Rice, head coach Ed Azzam’s squad has won seven in a row.
Dropped Out: No. 23 Winter Park (Winter Park, Fla.), No. 24 Bowman Academy (Gary, Ind.)
