The National Top 20 saw NIBC action take center stage over the weekend as top-ranked Sunrise Christian Academy captured the inaugural title with a win over No. 3 IMG Academy at the Metro Classic.
The Buffaloes face another test this weekend at the Heartland Hoops Classic against No. 2 Link Academy, the only remaining unbeaten team in the National Top 20.
And as Sunrise Christian and Link Academy battle for National Top 25 supremacy, Steve Smith, a pioneer of the sport announced his retirement at the end of the season. Oak Hill Academy's Smith, high school basketball's active coaching wins leader, announced he would be stepping down after the season, marking the end of a 38-year coaching career that has resulted in 1,225 wins and 98 losses.
"I still love the game and enjoy coaching, but I just
feel like its time to step away," Smith
told MaxPreps. "I'm excited to spend more time with my two grandkids, relax and play
some more golf."
According to the Oak Hill Academy website, at least one media outlet has
placed the
Warriors among the national top 25 in all but one season since Smith
took over in 1985. His teams have won eight national championships,
finished second eight times and piled up a 65-game win streak in the
early 2000s.
"I have been fortunate enough to have a
great career here at Oak Hill Academy and coach a lot of great players
and teams over the years."
Smith will finish up his illustrious career at the GEICO Nationals from March 31-April 2 in Fort
Myers, Fla., at GEICO Nationals.
No. 8 Oak Hill Academy head coach Steve Smith announced on Tuesday he will retire at the end of the 2021-22 season after a 38-year career.
Photo by Catalina Fragoso
Record: 21-1 | Last week: 1
Captured the inaugural NIBC title after defeating No. 3 IMG Academy 57-52 at the Metro Classic to finish the conference play 9-1. The Buffaloes were led by a game-high 16 points from Kansas signee
Gradey Dick.
Record: 26-0 | Last week: 3
Take on a pair of ranked opponents at the Heartland Hoops Classic, facing No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy on Friday and No. 11 Wasatch Academy on Saturday. The Lions look to close the season strong with four ranked opponents remaining in regular season play.
Record: 20-4 | Last week: 2
Struggled over the weekend at the Metro Classic without injured point guard
Jaden Bradley, going 1-2 with losses against No. 5 La Lumiere 93-91 in double-overtime and No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy 57-52. Baylor signee
Keyonte George exploded for 40 points and eight rebounds on 15-of-23 from the field in the Ascenders' loss to La Lumiere.
Record: 19-4 | Last week: 4
Closed out regular season play with three double digit victories at the Metro Classic, defeating Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 91-63, No. 5 La Lumiere 70-55 and Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) 65-44. The Eagles have the talent needed to make a run at their second consecutive GEICO Nationals title and sixth overall.
Record: 15-4 | Last week: 5
Went 2-1 over the weekend witha 93-91 double overtime win over No. 3 IMG Academy 93-91 and 77-60 victory over Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, N.J.). Notre Dame signee
J.J. Starling went off for 41 points and six assists on 14-of-19 from the field, 6-of-9 from 3-point range and 7-of-7 from the free-throw line in the Lakers' victory over Gill St. Bernard's
Record: 21-3 | Last week: 6
Following a three week layoff, the Crew return to the court Saturday to face No. 12 St. Benedict's Prep and No. 19 Patrick School on Sunday at the East vs. West Classic. A loss over the weekend would hurt this group's GEICO Nationals aspirations.
Record: 22-3 | Last week: 7
Secured wins over Vertical Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) 83-58, led by five-star junior
Kylan Boswell (16), and Moravian Prep (Hudson, N.C.) 70-53 behind Auburn signee
Chance Westry (15) at the Court XIV Classic.
Record: 26-7 | Last week: 8
The Warriors picked up a pair of wins over No. 11 Wasatch Academy 75-70 and MaxPreps Top 25 No. 10 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) 61-54 over the weekend at the Metro Classic. Kentucky signee
Chris Livingston finished with 22 points, seven rebounds and five assists in the Warriors' overtime win against Wasatch Academy.
Record: 19-3 | Last week: 9
Escaped with a 50-47 victory over National Christian Academy (Fort Washington, Md.) in the St. James Invitational championship game behind a team-high 16 points from unsigned senior
Amaree Abram. The Rams travel to the East vs. West Classic for matchups with No. 19 Patrick School on Saturday and No. 11 St. Benedict's Prep on Sunday.
Record: 16-4 | Last week: 10
Picked up wins over Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 73-56 and Vertical Academy (Charlotte, N.C.) 84-76 at the Court XIV Classic. Virginia Tech signee
Patrick Wessler averaged 19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds, while Illinois signee
Jayden Epps averaged 19 points, 7.5 assists and five rebounds in the Goats victories over the weekend.
Record: 13-9 | Last week: 11
The Tigers went 2-1 over the weekend at the Metro Classic, defeating MaxPreps Top 25 No. 20 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 73-66 in double overtime before falling to No. 8 Oak Hill Academy 75-70 in overtime. They travel to the Heartland Hoops Classic for a showdown Saturday against No. 2 Link Academy.
Record: 16-1 | Last week: 12
Showed the ability to fill up the scoreboard last week with wins over Lawrenceville School (Lawrenceville) 109-55 and Peddie (Hightstown) 108-54. The Gray Bees have a pair of crucial games this weekend, facing No. 6 Prolific Prep on Saturday and No. 9 Southern California Academy on Sunday at the East vs. West Classic.
Record: 15-3 | Last week: 14
Secured wins over DME Academy (Daytona Beach) 88-73 and Wade Christian Academy (Melbourne) 97-51. Unsigned senior
Maurice Odum continued his stellar play, averaging 22.5 points and seven rebounds per game in the Flames SIAA victories last week. Close out regular season play with a showdown against No. 17 The Rock on Tuesday.
Record: 22-3 | Last week: 16
The Bruins have a talent-laden roster, but an 0-3 record against ranked opponents stagnate their upward mobility in the National Top 20.
Record: 21-5 | Last week: 13
Recovered from a pair of losses with wins over Schoolhouse Prep (Miami) 82-49 and Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville) 63-54. The White Tigers close out regular season play this week against DME Academy on Tuesday and Victory Rock Prep (Sarasota) on Saturday.
Record: 20-6
| Last week: 15
Under-the-radar junior
Freddie Dilione went off for 33 points, nine rebounds, five assists and four steals in a 96-76 victory over Scotland Campus (Scotland, Pa.) at the St. James Invitational. The Holy Rams slipped up to Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.) 61-59 the following night at Coaches for a Cure.
Record: 20-7 | Last week: 17
Have a pair of SIAA contests against ranked opponents this week, taking on No. 15 West Oaks Academy on Tuesday and No. 20 Oldsmar Christian (Oldsmar) on Saturday.
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 18
Face Keystone Academy (Erie, Pa.) on Friday and Springfield Commonwealth Academy (Springfield, Mass.) on Saturday at the Royal Rumble. The Eagles moved into the national rankings for the first time in program history last week following their win over No. 19 Patrick School.
Record: 14-8 | Last week: 19
Split a pair of games at the Metro Classic, losing to No. 3 IMG Academy 77-42 before knocking off Manasquan 58-50. The Celtics take on No. 6 Prolific Prep on Saturday and No. 9 Southern California Academy on Sunday at the East vs. West Classic.
Record: 13-5 | Last week: NR
Replace DME Academy as the fourth team from the SIAA in the National Top 20. The Eagles take on No. 17 The Rock in a big-time conference showdown on Saturday.
