No. 1 Link Academy created further separation from No. 2 Prolific Prep after winning the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions title and picking up a signature victory over No. 4
Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) in the championship game.
The second-ranked Crew remain unbeaten, but haven't pulled way from No. 3 Montverde Academy. Prolific Prep maintains its spot in the National Top 10 despite just one wins over a currently ranked opponent while Montverde Academy has yet to show that its tough national schedule has prepared them the rigors of another GEICO Nationals run.
While the top six teams in the National Top 10 appear to be in position for a GEICO bid at the end of the season, the finals two spots remain very much up for grabs with no team rising above the others.
Montverde Academy's Liam McNeeley surpassed 1,000 career points over the weekend at the Spalding Hoophall Classic. (Photo: Lonnie Webb)
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 1
Solidified its top spot by capturing the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions title with wins over St. Rita (Chicago) 74-52, Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 55-44 and No. 4 Sunrise Christian Academy 72-66. The Lions were led by a balanced attack in the title game as Baylor signee
Ja'Kobe Walter had 17 points, North Carolina commit
Elliot Cadeau had 16 points and eight assists, and Tennessee signees
Cameron Carr and
Cade Phillips each had 13.
Record: 21-0 | Last week: 2
Defeated Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 72-62 and Westtown (West Chester, Pa.) 71-33 over the weekend to remain unbeaten. The Crew have a chance to notch their first win over a National Top 10 opponent on Saturday against No. 8 Dream City Christian.
Record: 14-2 | Last week: 3
The Eagles continue to position themselves for the top spot in GEICO Nationals with wins over Winter Haven (Fla.) 99-61, No. 10 La Lumiere 85-63 and No. 4 Sunrise Christian Academy 64-51. If the Eagles run the table and defeat No. 1 Link Academy at the Metro Classic on Feb. 3, they'll take over the top spot in the rankings prior to postseason play.
Record: 12-5 | Last week: 4
Although the Buffaloes dropped back-to-back results against No. 1 Link Academy 72-66 and No. 3 Montverde Academy 64-51, they remain at No. 4 in the National Top 10 with a head-to-head victory over No. 5 IMG Academy 77-61 earlier in the month.
Record: 11-4 | Last week: 6
Notched victories over Newton (Covington, Ga.) 61-52 and No. 6 AZ Compass Prep 58-53 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic to bolster the resume. George Washington signee
Jacoi Hutchinson and Maryland signee
Jamie Kaiser led the way with 17 points apiece in the AZ Compass Prep win.
Record: 14-4 | Last week: 5
Split a pair at the Spalding Hoophall Classic, defeating Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 55-35 before falling to No. 5 IMG Academy 58-53. North Carolina signee
Zayden High led the way with 15 points and six rebounds on 5-of-5 from the field in the win over Oak Hill Academy.
Record: 17-4 | Last week: 10
Picked up three wins over the weekend, defeating Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.) 57-43, PHH Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) 66-65 and No. 10 The Rock 77-58. DME Academy is now 7-0 in SIAA play this season.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: NR
The Eagles ascend into the national rankings prior to a big weekend at the Crush in the Valley where they face No. 2 Prolific Prep on Saturday and Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.) on Sunday.
Record: 9-6
| Last week: 7
The Lakers continued to struggle, falling to No. 3 Montverde Academy 85-63 on Saturday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic before losing to Huntington Prep (Huntington. W. Va.) 73-71 at Flyin' to the Hoop. La Lumiere drops to 3-4 in NIBC play.
Record: 20-6 | Last week: NR
Jump into
the National Top 10 as other teams fall out despite getting blown out by SIAA opponent DME
Academy 77-58 on Tuesday.
