Video: Farm Bureau Insurance Classic highlightsSee Zion Williamson and Alex Reese (among others) thrill the fans in South Carolina.After a wild high school basketball holiday tournament season, time to take a breather before the big Martin Luther King holiday weekend – right?
Not at all.
With showcase events like the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia and National Hoopfest in Tennessee on the slate, it's sure to be another pivotal weekend with respect to rankings and the battle for No. 1.
Between the High School Top 25 and Independent Top 10, 11 games involving ranked teams will take place at those events alone.
Read on for a breakdown of this weekend's biggest games.
Kentucky signee P.J. Washington is averaging 19.5 points, 9.8 rebounds and 2.3 blocked shots per game for unbeaten Findlay Prep.
Photo by Jim Redman
Couldn't be a better build-up to this one. La Lumiere (14-0) tore through the Chick-fil-A Classic in South Carolina before Christmas while Findlay Prep (17-0) did the same at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii – including a 16-point win over Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in the final. The winner here could have the inside track for the No. 1 seed at Dick's Nationals.
No. 10 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) vs. Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.)3 p.m. (EST) Saturday @ Boardwalk Classic (Long Branch, N.J.)Head coach Bob Hurley and St. Anthony (7-0) will have their hands full with upstart Ranney (5-1), which is led by the star sophomore trio of
Bryan Antoine,
Scottie Lewis and
Ahmadu Sarnor. The Panthers would love to officially put the Garden State on notice by springing an upset in this one.
No. 4 Simeon (Chicago) vs. Cordova (Tenn.)4:30 p.m. (CST) Saturday @ National Hoopfest (Arlington, Tenn.)Simeon (11-0) is stepping into the danger zone against Cordova (12-3) in what is essentially a road game. Cordova has had two stints in the High School Top 25 this season behind the high-scoring junior duo of
Tyler Harris (25.9 points per game) and
Rodgerick Brown (22.1).
No. 16 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) vs. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)4:40 p.m. (EST) Saturday @ Cancer Research ClassicMarkelle Fultz and DeMatha thumped Isaiah Briscoe and Roselle Catholic 69-45 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in 2015. The Lions (4-1), who also meet No. 22 Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.) in West Virginia, would love to avenge that loss an play their way back into the High School Top 25 with a weekend sweep.
* No. 3 Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 6 Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.)7:30 p.m. (CST) Saturday @ National HoopfestThese teams met just two weeks ago in the final of the City of Palms Classic with Montverde Academy (11-0) earning a 63-54 victory. However, Memphis East (10-2) led by as many as 13 back on Dec. 23 and will get the benefit of a partisan crowd this time around.
More Games of InterestSt. John's (Washington, D.C.) at No. 13
Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)7:30 p.m. (EST) FridayBen Davis (Indianapolis) at No. 11
North Central (Indianapolis)7:30 p.m. (EST) Friday* No. 5
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) vs. No. 22
Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.)1:30 p.m. (EST) Saturday @ Cancer Research ClassicBishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) at No. 3
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)6:30 p.m. (PST) Saturday @ Sierra Canyon Super Showcase* No. 4
Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.) vs. No. 25
Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.)7 p.m. (EST) Saturday @ Mustang Madness (West Paducah, Ky.)
* Independent Top 10 ranking
