One position that hasn't seen much volatility is the top spot as Duncanville (Texas) further distanced itself from the field with an Aric Demings buzzer-beating 3-pointer in the thrilling 67-66 win over Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), the No. 1 team in the National Top 20, a separate ranking for programs and basketball academies that don't compete for a state title.
Holiday tournaments begin this week as many teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 face their toughest stretch of games of the year.
The City of Palms Classic is the headlining event of these holiday tournaments as the 16-team field features four top 10 teams from the MaxPreps Top 25, along with three top 10 teams in the MaxPreps National Top 20.
Other events worth watching include the the 'Iolani Classic, headlined by No. 3 Sierra Canyon and No. 20 St. Paul VI, and the Tarkanian Classic, featuring No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 21 Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.).
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 3
Open the year Friday on ESPNU against No. 12 Roselle Catholic.
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 4
Nebraska signee
Ramel Lloyd Jr. paced the Trailblazers with a game-high 17 points in a 65-52 victory over Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) at the Phoenix Suns' home arena at Hoophall West over the weekend. Sierra Canyon travels to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic on Saturday.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 5
Under-the-radar Class of 2023 guard
Jayden Reid averaged 25 points and five assists over a pair of blowout wins for the Crusaders. LuHi faces No. 24 Cardinal Hayes in an Empire State showdown on Saturday at the PSA Cardinals Showcase.
Record: 4-0 | Last week: 6
After winning their first four games by an average of 38.3 points, the Eagles will be heavily tested at the City of Palms Classic. They begin with a first-round matchup Friday against No. 7 Greensboro Day.
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 7
Picked up an impressive out-of-state victory over previously unbeaten Sunnyslope (Phoenix) 64-31 at Hoophall West. The Huskies compete in Hoophall Central this week with showdowns against Totino-Grace (Fridley, Minn.) and Bellevue West (Bellevue, Nebraska) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 8
The Bengals begin City of Palms Classic play against No. 5 Calvary Christian Academy on Friday. The perennial Tarheel State powerhouse will see their standing tested this week against a loaded field.
Record: 6-0
| Last week: 18
The Eagles rise 10 spots after capturing the Gonzaga DC Classic title with a 59-56 win over No. 13 St. Frances Academy. Senior forward
Quinn Clark was named tournament MVP, while George Mason pledge
Devin Dinkins joined him on the all-tournament team.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 10
The Knights tip-off the year Friday with a first round showdown with Whitney Young (Chicago) at the City of Palms Classic.
Record: 6-1 | Last week: NR
Following a steep fall from the rankings after a surprising 62-48 loss at the hands of Jonesboro (Ark.), the Charging Wildcats rebounded by beating previous No. 2 Richardson 82-68 at the Battle in the Bluff. They open City of Palms Classic play Saturday against Dr. Phillips (Orlando).
Record: 11-1
| Last week: 2
Despite the loss to North Little Rock, the Eagles have one of the strongest resume's in high school basketball highlighted by a signature 21-point blowout win over top National Top 20 contender AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.).
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 11
Open the year with a highly anticipated in-state matchup at No. 2 Camden.
Record: 11-1
| Last week: 9
Prior to their championship game defeat to Gonzaga, the Panthers picked up a pair of hard-fought wins over Coolidge (Washington, D.C.) 64-61 and Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) 64-46.
Record: 5-1 | Last week: 13
Escaped with an 80-79 win over St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) in a quadruple-overtime thriller at Hoophall West, led by 36 points from Xavier commit
Tyrell Ward.
Record: 2-0 | Last week: 14
Blew past their first pair of opponents by an average of 29.5 points per contest.
Record: 1-0
| Last week: 21
Opened
their campaign with a 60-57 victory over previous No. 12
Imhotep Charter, led by senior guard
Daniel Alcantara who finished with a game-high 27 points.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 15
Captured a pair of wins over Millenium (Goodyear, Ariz.) 90-53 and St. Mary's (Phoenix) 90-63 over the weekend. The Gaels host the Tarkanian Classic this week, taking on Evangel Christian (Louisville, Ky.) on Friday.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 20
Notched convincing wins over Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.) 85-62 and Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.) 69-41 to continue their steady ascension in the early season rankings.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 17
For the second consecutive weekend, the Hilltoppers were tested in their 51-48 Hillcrest (Country Club Hills, Ill.) win at the Team Rose Classic Shootout.
Record: 5-0 | Last week: 19
The Panthers escaped with a 75-74 win over Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.) ahead of their trip to the 'Iolani Classic. The Panthers open 'Iolani play with a first round contest against Maryknoll (Honolulu) on Saturday.
Record: 6-1 | Last week: 22
Continue to show promise early, defeating James Clemens (Madison, Ala.) 78-58 in the AL versus GA Braggin' Rights Showcase.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 23
Travels to the King of the Bluegrass tournament to face a strong 16-team field with a first round contest against George Rogers Clark (Winchester, Ky.) on Saturday.
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 24
After eight wins by 21 or more points to begin the season, the Gaels face their first challenge of the season against No. 25 Imhotep Charter on Saturday at the Diane Mosco Shootout.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: NR
The second newcomer in this week's rankings defeated previous No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 70-67. Another showdown awaits Saturday against No. 4 Long Island Lutheran.
Record: 1-1
| Last week: 12
Bounced back from a season-opening loss to No. 16 Reading with a 61-46 victory over Salesianum (Wilmington, Del.). A challenging slate awaits with Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) on Wednesday, Martin Luther King (Philadelphia) on Thursday and No. 23 Mount St. Joseph on Saturday.
