Welcome to the new world of high school basketball.
After much internal debate, we are instituting major changes to our high school basketball rankings.
Beginning Monday, MaxPreps will roll out separate rankings for traditional high school programs (those that operate under National Federation of State High School Association rules) and independent/academy programs each week.
The move isn't an indictment on programs like
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). They provide valuable tutelage and exposure to their student-athletes and many operate under home-state association rules.
But continuing to compare high schools and academies side-by-side is a bit like holding NCAA Division III schools – which don't offer scholarships – to the same standard as well-known NCAA Division I powers, who recruit and schedule nationally.
While coaches at NFHS-affiliated schools are prohibited from working with their student-athletes much of the year, academy programs are often basketball-focused throughout the academic calendar. Storied Oak Hill Academy opened its season Oct. 21 and played eight games before much of the country was sanctioned to even begin practicing.
Scheduling for traditional schools is tightly regulated by state associations, limiting out-of-state travel and the number of contests. Schools in some states are restricted from playing non-NFHS teams. Upstart academy program
Huntington Prep (W.Va.) will play seven games against college junior varsity squads and four against teams from Canada. The Express feature seven players from outside the United States.
Academy basketball is emerging as an entirely separate level of play somewhere between high school and college. It's time to recognize that.
MaxPreps will continue to devote coverage to these teams and we hope our rankings will become an important measuring stick.
The MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Boys Basketball Rankings will be released each Monday, while the Academy National Top 10 will be published Tuesdays.
