For the second week in a row, there is a new No. 1 in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings.
Columbus (Miami, Fla.) reclaims the spot it held going into the season after outlasting No. 2
Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in a triple-overtime thriller over the weekend.
Calvary Christian Academy's inclusion came with some questions. All eight players on the team's MaxPreps roster are also playing in Overtime Elite this
season for a club affiliate known as Fear of God Athletics, which is is coached by Calvary Christian Academy head coach Cilk
McSweeney.
Fear of God Athletics also includes two regulars who are not on the Calvary
Christian Academy roster.
According to the CCA coaching staff, the Florida High School Athletic
Association (FHSAA) approved their participation in Overtime Elite running concurrently with their high school basketball season as
long as they do not wear jerseys with Calvary Christian Academy
displayed.
Although the program will be splitting time between Overtime Elite and the high school season, the coaching staff believes the FHSAA is on board with allowing the Eagles to take part in postseason play. Participation in postseason play as part of a recognized governing body is the paramount component to MaxPreps Top 25 eligibility, so Calvary Christian Academy is in the mix despite the unusual arrangement with a professional basketball league.
Calvary Christian Academy currently has 20 games on its high school schedule and 20 games scheduled in Overtime Elite. The Eagles are undefeated in the high school space. Overtime Elite results will be ignored for rankings purposes.
Read on a for a complete look at this week's MaxPreps Top 25.
Duke signee Cayden Boozer scored 22 points and dished out eight assists as new No. 1 Columbus knocked off No. 2 Gonzaga over the weekend. (Photo: Carl Kafka)
Record: 5-1 | Last week: 3
After falling out of the top spot in the first regular season rankings update, the Explorers have reclaimed their spot as the team to beat in high school basketball after escaping with an 85-79 triple-overtime victory against Gonzaga. Five-star Duke signee
Cameron Boozer finished with 31 points and 13 rebounds while knocking down a pair of game-tying 3-pointers with time winding down in regulation and the second overtime.
Record: 1-1 | Last week: 2
Split a pair of games against top five opponents, knocking off previous No. 4 Oak Ridge 62-51 before falling short of No. 1 Columbus 85-79 in triple-overtime. The Eagles were led by 20 points and 15 rebounds from four-star Virginia Tech signee
Christian Gurdak in the victory over Oak Ridge.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 5
Four-star Harvard signee
Elzie Harrington exploded for a career-high 41 points to guide the Braves to an 85-77 victory over St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey). St. John Bosco hosts the Bosco Winter Classic this week and participates in The Classic at Damien upcoming after Christmas.
Record: 7-0 | Last week: 6
Secured a signature victory over previous No. 21 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) 77-68 over the weekend to confirm their standing as the team to beat in the Peach State. Four-star Georgia signee
Jacob Wilkins tallied 23 points, 11 rebounds and six blocks, while five-star junior
Caleb Holt chipped in 15 points, five assists and five rebounds.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 7
Knocked off Central Catholic (Portland, Ore.) 59-49 guided by 17 points, 16 rebounds and four assists from five-star senior
Koa Peat and 18 points, seven rebounds and five assists from
Bruce Branch III.
Record: 5-1 | Last week: 8
Bounced
back from a loss to No. 21 Brennan with a 70-56 win over Poly
(Riverside). The Mustangs have a pair of in-state contests
before traveling to the Tarkanian Classic prior to Christmas and The
Classic at Damien after the holiday.
Record: 7-0 | Last week: 10
Notched their first win over an out-of-state opponent this season, taking down Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho) 74-51 at the Take Flight Challenge paced by 21 points, 10 rebounds and eights assists from five-star Duke signee
Nikolas Khamenia.
Record: 5-1 | Last week: 4
Although the Pioneers suffered their first setback of the season against No. 2 Gonzaga, they were able to overcome a 14-point deficit to defeat Evans (Orlando) 85-80 the following night as LSU signee
Jalen Reece, Ohio pledge
CeZanne Mosley and Providence signee
Jamier Jones combined for 62 points.
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 11
The Buccaneers have outscored opponents by an average margin of 25.3 points per game.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 13
Top 30 Kentucky signee
Malachi Moreno is off to a hot start, averaging 24.7 points, 16.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists and 2.7 blocks per contest. Great Crossing has an anticipated in-state contest with St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) on Sunday before traveling to the City of Palms Classic next week.
Record: 2-0 | Last week: 15
Opened the season with a pair of double-digit victories, knocking off Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.) 71-58 behind 29 points from three-star Richmond commit
Aiden Argabright and defeating Hampton (Va.) 70-51 led by 27 points from four-star junior
Latrell Allmond.
Record: 4-1 | Last week: 14
Following
a big win over then-No. 1 Brennan,
the Cadets suffered a disappointing setback to Wasatch
Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 70-58 two days later. Junior guard
Devin Toatley led the way with 17 points, six assists and six rebounds in the win over Brennan.
Record: 2-1 | Last week: 12
Suffered
an upset loss to Highland (Warrenton, Va.) 41-33 before bouncing back
with a 49-43 triumph over previous No. 9 Paul VI led by 18 points and
five assists from four-star Kentucky signee
Acaden Lewis. The Quakers also knocked off No. 19 DeMatha in their season opener.
Record: 2-1
| Last week: 9
Despite picking up a victory over National Top 10 No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) 67-63, the Panthers drop five spots after the loss to Sidwell Friends. Five-star junior
Jordan Smith led the charge with 19 points, five rebounds, five assists and four steals against IMG Academy.
Record: 5-0 | Last week: 16
Took
home their first out-of-state victory this season by defeating Kimball
(Dallas) 57-44 paced by 32 points from five-star Baylor signee
Tounde Yessoufou.
The Knights take on a pair of Golden State opponents before traveling to
the City of Palms Classic to face off against Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.)
in the first round of the four-team Sunshine Series.
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 17
Traveled to the Palmetto State and took down a pair of out-of-state opponents, blowing past Cardinal Newman (Columbia, S.C.) 74-45 paced by 22 points and seven rebounds from American commit
Madden Collins and Wilson (Florence, S.C.) 74-56 behind 21 points and five assists from Collins.
Record: 3-1 | Last week: NR
Responded to a season-opening loss to No. 13 Sidwell Friends by taking down previous No. 1 Brennan 77-61 behind 22 points, three rebounds and three assists from junior guard
Ace Meeks. The Stags added a win over Highland (Warrenton, Va.) 53-50 the following night guided by a team-high 15 points from senior guard
Kade Sebastian.
Record: 1-0 | Last week: 18
Lafayette-bound big man
Shareef Jackson started his senior campaign strong by posting 19 points and 10 rebounds in a 46-28 victory over Sanford (Hockessin, Del.). The Cahillites travel to the Gonzaga DC Classic this weekend — matching up with Coolidge (Washington, D.C.) in the first round Friday.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 19
Won their sixth consecutive game by double-digits to open the season, defeating Village Christian (Sun Valley, Calif.) 75-65 led by 18 points and nine rebounds from junior
Zachary White along with 15 points, six steals and five rebounds from three-star Rutgers signee
Angelino Mark.
Record: 11-2 | Last week: 1
After spending a week as the top-ranked team in high school basketball, the Bears were humbled by two lopsided losses on consecutive nights at the National High School Hoops Festival.
Record: 11-1 | Last week: 20
Secured a 74-60 triumph over McKinney (Texas) guided by a team-high 16 points from senior guard
Khalil Walker and 14 points to go with 11 rebounds from senior forward
Antoine Shannon. An anticipated matchup with fellow one-loss program Plano West (Plano) looms Friday.
Record: 12-0 | Last week: 23
Picked up two wins over Georgia opponents over the weekend, taking down Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.) 65-58 behind 21 points and six assists from Lipscomb University signee
J.D. Gossett and Norcross (Ga.) 66-56 guided by 20 points, six rebounds and five assists from four-star Auburn signee
Simon Walker.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: NR
The Eagles own a statement victory over Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) 75-45 early in the season and take on top 100 program Sagemont (Weston, Fla.) tonight.
Record: 4-0 | Last week: NR
Record: 1-0 | Last week: 25
Under-the-radar junior guard
Dionte Neal posted a triple-double with 17 points, 11 assists and 10 steals in the Rams season-opening victory over Glenn (Kernersville, N.C.).
