The MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings continue to take shape as the 2023-24 season reaches postseason play in numerous states around the country this week including California and Florida.
The postseason pairings were announced by California's Southern Section over the weekend with one massive surprise. No. 18
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) was omitted from the Open Division and placed in Division 1 despite an impressive resume that included knocking off top-seeded
Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) two weeks prior. The Knights remain the fourth-highest ranked team from the Golden State in the national rankings this week despite the snub.
Previous No. 24
Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) dropped out of the rankings after suffering its first setback of the season last week. The loss paved way for
Winter Haven (Fla.) to enter the MaxPreps Top 25 for the first time this season ahead of its postseason opener.
Although there was little movement within the rankings, playoff action is certain to cause some major shake ups in the rankings over the next two months.
Top 40 junior Nikolas Khamenia helped Harvard-Westlake climb back into the top 10 after winning the Mission League tournament. (Photo: Lonnie Webb)
Record: 20-4 | Last week: 1
Closed out regular season action with an 84-45 victory over Florida
Christian (Miami) paced by 21 points, eight rebounds, five assists
and five steals from top 40 Michigan State signee
Jase Richardson. The
Explorers face the winner of Coral Gables vs. Ferguson
(Miami) in the Class 7A District 16 semifinals Thursday.
Record: 22-2 | Last week: 2
Improved to 9-0 in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference action with a 74-55 victory over Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). The Panthers have five wins over nationally-ranked opponents this season, defeating No. 4 Myers Park, No. 7 Gonzaga, No. 18 McEachern, No. 19 Bishop O'Connell and National Top 10 No. 4 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.).
Record: 30-0 | Last week: 3
The team to beat in the Lone Star State knocked off Coppell 77-50 paced by 15 points from three-star junior
D.J. Hall and senior guard
Xavier Miller. The Panthers have now compiled 30 or more wins in back-to-back seasons.
Record: 18-2 | Last week: 5
Four games remain in regular season play before the Mustangs begin their quest for a second consecutive Class 4A state title. The Mustangs have won eight straight games by 16 points or more and have outscored opponents by 20.8 points per contest on the season.
Record: 18-3 | Last week: 6
Advanced to the Bergen County Jamboree semifinals with a 72-31 victory over St. Mary (Rutherford) paced by a game-high 18 points from five-star Rutgers commit
Dylan Harper. The Ironmen travel to Bergen Catholic (Oradell) tonight before a Bergen County Jamboree semifinal showdown with Northern Highlands (Allendale) on Saturday.
Record: 29-1 | Last week: 8
Overcame a major scare last week, coming from behind to knock off Cedar Ridge (Round Rock) 50-48 on a buzzer-beating layup from senior
Junior Goodlet following a steal from senior
Alan Guyton. Four-star Villanova signee
Josiah Moseley led the way with a game-high 16 points.
Record: 26-3
| Last week: 12
Won the Mission League tournament with victories over No. 18 Notre Dame 60-56 in the semifinals and Crespi 72-54 in the title game. The defending state champions received the No. 1 seed in the Open Division playoffs and begin pool play with a matchup against Centennial (Corona) on Friday.
Record: 20-4 | Last week: 7
Suffered a setback to National Top 10 No. 3 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 75-60 over the weekend at the Melo Classic. The Eagles look to bounce back and avenge a loss earlier in the season against No. 19 Bishop O'Connell tonight.
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 10
Picked up a pair of 43-point victories last week to continue their dominant stretch. The Vikings have their biggest challenge remaining in regular season play this week when they take on Pewaukee on Friday. The Vikings knocked off Pewaukee 78-65 earlier in the season.
Record: 24-2 | Last week: 4
Suffered
a shocking loss to Crespi (Encino) 64-61 in overtime in the Mission
League semifinals on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer from sophomore
Joe Sterling
to cap an 8-0 run to end the game. The Trailblazers look to bounce back
this week in Open Division pool play with a showdown against St. John
Bosco (Bellflower) on Friday.
Record: 21-2 | Last week: 11
Concluded regular season action with an 84-55 loss to National Top 10 No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.). Despite the setback, the Purple Roses remain just outside the top 10 as they head into postseason play.
Record: 18-3 | Last week: 13
The Crusaders have won 12 consecutive games since losing to No. 11 St. Rose on Dec. 29. Last week they secured a statement 99-64 triumph against Christ the King (Middle Village) paced by 22 points, seven rebounds and three steals from top 25 Kentucky signee
Boogie Fland.
Record: 21-3 | Last week: 14
Following a 10-day layoff from action after their signature victory over National Top 10 No. 5 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), the Pioneers take on the winner of Dr. Phillips (Orlando) vs. West Orange (Winter Haven) in the Class 7A District 5 semifinals Thursday.
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 15
Avenged their lone loss of the season with a 64-52 victory on the road over Westwood (Blythewood) guided by four-star sophomore
Korie Corbett and sophomore guard
Yale Davis, who each finished with a team-high 13 points.
Record: 21-2 | Last week: 16
Close out their regular season slate this week with matchups against South Gwinnett (Snellville) tonight and Newton (Covington) on Thursday. The Rams are favorites to capture their first state title in program history.
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 17
Picked up victories over St. John Bosco (Bellflower) 72-66 and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) 73-59 to close out the regular season. The Monarchs begin Open Division pool play with a matchup against St. Pius-X St. Matthias Academy (Downey) on Friday.
Record: 18-5 | Last week: 18
Two
games remain in the regular season for the Indians as they take on
North Paulding (Dallas) tonight before traveling to Harrison (Kennesaw)
on Friday. McEachern is in search of its second state title in school
history after capturing their first in 2019.
Record: 24-3 | Last week: 9
A four-point loss to No. 7 Harvard-Westlake in the Mission League semifinals marked a third straight loss for the Knights. Notre Dame was subsequently omitted from Open Division play in a decision that has baffled many in Southern California.
Record: 18-5 | Last week: 19
Sit at third in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference standings with a 6-3 record entering a big matchup at No. 8 Gonzaga tonight. The Knights defeated Gonzaga 65-57 in their previous meeting back on Jan. 5.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 25
Avenged
one of their regular season losses with a 63-50 win over Centennial
(Corona) in the Big VII League title game. Top 15 junior
Brayden Burries
finished with a team-high 31 points in the victory. The Mustangs have
an opportunity to avenge their other regular season loss this week
against JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) in Open Division pool
play.
Record: 20-0 | Last week: 20
The Vikings have won 12 consecutive games by 29 or more points to increase their margin of victory to over 44 points per outing this season. Four games remain in the regular season for Central.
Record: 20-3 | Last week: 21
The final game of the regular season awaits Friday as the Longhorns look for their 20th consecutive victory against Greater Atlanta Christian (Norcross). Kell is the favorite to repeat as Class AAAAA state champions.
Record: 27-2 | Last week: 22
Escaped with a 59-56 victory over Clinton Grace (Clinton, Md.) behind 20 points, six rebounds and five blocks from junior forward
Jayden Fort.
Record: 23-1 | Last week: 23
Notched a 75-25 victory over Corbin led by 21 points and 10 rebounds from junior guard
Vince Dawson. Great Crossing's lone loss came against No. 19 Bishop O'Connell in the Beach Ball Classic title game.
Record: 22-1 | Last week: NR
Concluded regular season action with a 73-68 triumph against Norland (Miami). The Blue Devils will battle the winner of Ridge Community (Davenport) vs. George Jenkins (Lakeland) in the Class 7A District 9 semifinals Thursday.
