The majority of the teams featured in the National Top 10 basketball rankings have concluded regular season action as the Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament takes center stage next week with an automatic berth into Chipotle Nationals on the line.
The inaugural EYBL tournament will be held March 5-8 at the Riverview Park Activities Center in North Augusta, S.C., with the top 10 teams in the standings during the regular season earning invites.
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) jumps four spots this week after staying hot down the stretch, including a 66-63 victory over No. 6
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) to conclude the regular season. The Crusaders have not lost since Dec. 18.
Top 20 Houston signee Isiah Harwell has helped guide Wasatch Academy into a strong position to earn a Chipotle Nationals bid. (Photo: Terry Cullop)
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 1
Finished tied atop the Nike EYBL Scholastic regular season standings after going 9-2. The Bobcats face the winner of No. 2 Long Island Lutheran and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament on March 6.
Record: 18-5 | Last week: 6
Although the Crusaders started the season 3-5 while battling injuries, they have been one of the hottest teams in high school basketball since their rocky start with 15 straight wins. Lutheran has knocked off MaxPreps Top 25 No. 1 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), No. 12 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), No. 13 John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) and National Top 10 No. 6 IMG Academy and No. 8 AZ Compass Prep during its run.
Record: 24-3 | Last week: 4
Tied for first place in Nike EYBL Scholastic play with a 9-2 record. The Tigers take on the winner of No. 8 AZ Compass Prep and Link Academy in the conference tournament March 6.
Record: 19-6 | Last week: 2
Defending Chipotle Nationals champions struggled a bit down the stretch, losing two of their last three games of the season against Link Academy 40-39 and No. 6 IMG Academy 68-62. The Eagles look to solidify their spot in Chipotle Nationals at the Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament, where they take on No. 5 CIA-Bella Vista in the quarterfinals March 6.
Record: 20-5 | Last week: 3
Split a pair of games against ranked opponents since the last rankings update. The Bears knocked off No. 6 IMG Academy 91-82 in double-overtime paced by 31 points, five rebounds and five assists from four-star junior
Miles Sadler before falling to No. 3 Wasatch Academy 70-66.
Record: 21-6 | Last week: 5
Following back-to-back losses to No. 5 CIA-Bell Vista and No. 2 Long Island Lutheran, the Ascenders kept their Chipotle Nationals hopes afloat with a 68-62 victory against No. 4 Montverde Academy behind a game-high 26 points from five-star Arkansas signee
Darius Acuff to close out the regular season.
Record: 25-5 | Last week: 7
MaxPreps National Player of the Year candidate
Darryn Peterson is having a tremendous senior campaign, averaging 30.4 points, 7.1 assists, 6.8 rebounds and 2.2 steals per contest for the Crew.
Record: 19-7 | Last week: 8
Enter the Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament as the No. 9 seed after going 5-6 in EYBL action. The Dragons face Link Academy in the opening round with the winner going up against No. 3 Wasatch Academy in the quarterfinals.
Record: 27-4 | Last week: 9
Avenged an early-season loss with a 66-57 victory against Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) led by a team-high 17 points, 12 rebounds and four assists from four-star SMU signee
Jaden Toombs.
Record: 16-6 | Last week: 10
Open Nike EYBL Scholastic tournament action as the No. 4 seed after going 7-4 in EYBL play during the regular season. The Buffaloes take on No. 6 IMG Academy in the quarterfinals.
