The 2022-23 high school basketball season is nearing its end as the MaxPreps Top 25 continues to take shape based on postseason results around the country.
No. 9
Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and No. 15
Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) each completed runs to back-to-back state titles over the weekend. Columbus knocked off Winter Haven 50-48 in the title game of Florida's highest classification while Perry defeated Sunnyslope 74-58 in Arizona's Open Division title game.
The next two weekends will be filled with state championship results as the teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 continue to make their cases to move up in the national rankings.
No. 18 Sidwell Friends has a record of 17-1 since junior Caleb Williams returned from injury. (Photo: Sheila Haddad)
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 1
Look to close out a perfect season with a second straight VHSL Class 2 state championship on Saturday against Radford. The Justices are going for their fifth state championship since 2014.
Record: 29-1 | Last week: 2
Season complete.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 3
Finished second in NIBC play with a record of 10-2. The Crusaders went 3-0 over the weekend at the Pete Hollis Showcase, defeating Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) 69-57, National Top 10 No. 4 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Air, Kan.) 58-53 and National Top 10 No. 6 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) 64-51 to position themselves strongly for GEICO Nationals.
Record: 30-3 | Last week: 4
The defending CIF Open Division state champions made quick work of St. Augustine (San Diego) in an 89-67 victory in the second round of the state tournament. The Huskies take on No. 14 Harvard-Westlake tonight before a potential title game showdown on Saturday.
Record: 23-2 | Last week: 6
Season complete.
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 7
Five-star Kentucky signee
Justin Edwards scored a team-high 18 points to guide the Panthers to a 69-58 victory over Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia) in the District XII Class 5A championship game. The Panthers begin their PIAA Class 5A state title defense with a first round matchup against Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem) on Friday.
Record: 31-3 | Last week: 8
Captured the VISAA Division I state crown with wins over St. Stephen's & St. Agnes (Alexandria) 96-52, Blue Ridge (St. George) 77-57 and St. Anne's Belfield (Charlottesville) 69-56 in the title game. Maryland signee
Deshawn Harris-Smith scored 23 points in the second half to finish with 28 points, seven rebounds and seven assists in the championship game.
Record: 32-3 | Last week: 9
Top-ranked junior
Tre Johnson surpassed 2,000 career points after sinking seven 3-pointers en route to a game-high 25 points in a 62-36 victory over Byron Nelson (Trophy Club) to send the Wildcats to their first state semifinals appearance since 1968. Lake Highlands faces DeSoto on Friday in its semifinal matchup before a potential title game showdown with No. 13 Beaumont United on Saturday.
Record: 26-4 | Last week: 11
Completed their run to consecutive Class 7A state titles with a 50-48 win over Winter Haven sparked by a late steal by junior
Malik Abdullahi leading to a game-winning layup with six seconds remaining by
Garyn Bess. Four-star sophomore
Cayden Boozer scored a game-high 21 points in the win.
Record: 30-3 | Last week: 5
Suffered an upset loss to Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) 66-63 in the DCSAA Class AA state semifinals despite four-star junior
Donnie Freeman contributing 15 points, 17 rebounds and four assists. The Cadets compete in the Alhambra Tournament this week with a first-round matchup against Catholic (Virginia Beach, Va.) on Thursday.
Record: 29-0 | Last week: 10
Face off against Cathedral (Indianapolis) in the regional championship game on Saturday. The Giants knocked off Cathedral 62-50 in their previous meeting back on Dec. 10 led by strong performances from Valparaiso signee
Zane Doughty and junior
K.J. Windham.
Record: 27-1 | Last week: 12
Led by top 50 Oregon signee
Jackson Shelstad, the Lions are heavy favorites to capture the program's first state championship since winning four straight from 2013 through 2016 this weekend. West Linn battles Central Catholic in the Class 6A state quarterfinals on Thursday.
Record: 35-1 | Last week: 13
Four-star Washington signee
Wesley Yates III led the way with 22 points and six rebounds to lead the Timberwolves to a 53-48 victory over Clear Falls (League City) in the Class 6A state quarterfinals. Beaumont United takes on Brennan (San Antonio) on Friday in the semifinals.
Record: 31-2 | Last week: 14
Notched a 69-64 victory over St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) led by a team-high 18 points and eight rebounds from senior
Brady Dunlap to avenge their lone loss in CIF Open Division Southern Section pool play. The Wolverines have a highly-anticipated showdown with No. 4 Centennial tonight in the CIF Open Division Southern Regional title game.
Record: 30-1 | Last week: 15
Secured their second straight state championship by defeating Sunnyslope (Phoenix) 74-58 in the title game paced by a monster performance from five-star sophomore
Koa Peat, who finished with a game-high 35 points, six rebounds and four blocks on 13 of 18 from the field and 9 of 12 from the free throw line.
Record: 22-5 | Last week: 17
Closed out their run to back-to-back state titles with a victory over St. Rose (Belmar) 68-59 in the Non-Public B title game paced by a game-high 23 points from Arizona State signee
Akil Watson. The Lions are expected to compete in the upcoming State Champions Invitational next month.
Record: 31-3 | Last week: 18
Head coach Rob Smith looks to close out his final season at the helm with his seventh state championship and fifth MaxPreps Top 25 finish in 19 seasons. The Wolverines face Saint Ignatius College Prep (Chicago) on Friday in the IHSA Class 3A state semifinals prior to a potential title game on Saturday
Record: 27-4 | Last week: NR
Make a significant jump into the rankings after securing the DCSAA Class AA state title with victories over Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 58-46 in the semifinals and Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) 63-47 in the title game. The Quakers have gone 17-1 since star junior Caleb Williams returned from injury.
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 19
Look to become the first unbeaten Class A state champion since Millard South went 25-0 in 1989. The Thunderbirds begin state tournament action Wednesday against North Star (Lincoln) with a potential championship contest awaiting them on Saturday.
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 20
Claimed the District XII Class 6A title with a 67-40 victory over Central (Philadelphia). The Cahillites open their PIAA Class 6A state title defense with a first round state tournament matchup against Perkiomen Valley (Collegeville) on Saturday.
Record: 22-3 | Last week: 21
Four-star Baylor commit
Robert Wright III set the school single-game scoring record with 43 points to surpass 1,000 for his career in an 84-55 win over Overbrook (Philadelphia) in the District XII Class 6A title game. The Saints begin their run toward back-to-back state titles with a first round state tournament contest against Middletown on Friday.
Record: 38-4 | Last week: 22
Captured the program's ninth Baltimore Catholic League tournament title with a 59-50 victory over Goretti (Hagerstown) in the championship game paced by 17 points and 21 rebounds from Illinois signee
Amani Hansberry.
Record: 31-0 | Last week: 23
Avenged their state tournament loss from last season with a 78-51 victory over West Charlotte (Charlotte) in the NCHSAA Class 3A state semifinals. The Vikings look to complete their unbeaten run to a state title on Saturday against Northwood (Pittsboro).
Record: 29-2 | Last week: 24
A balanced effort saw all five starters score double-figures in a 58-56 victory over Goose Creek in the Class 5A state title game. The Cavaliers claimed their first state championship since winning four straight from 2017 through 2020.
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 25
Top 75 Virginia signee
Blake Buchanan went off for 26 points and 11 rebounds in a 75-61 win over Meridian to guide the Timberwolves to their first state championship.
