Chris Egi (center, in black jersey) and Montverde Academy knocked off White Station in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions final last month. Both teams still have eyes on a national title.
Photo by Mike Braca
The championship game of the Dick's Sporting Goods High School National Tournament — formerly the National High School Invitational — is scheduled for April 5 at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
Most state championships will be decided in the next month but high school basketball's (mythical) national title may not be decided until the final game of the year in the World's Most Famous Arena.
Inner-city public schools from Seattle, Chicago and Memphis as well as a pair of blue-blooded private schools from Orange County in California and Lake County in Florida all harbor legitimate title hopes.
Here's a breakdown of how the race shapes up as the regular season winds down:
LEADING THE PACK
Stanley Johnson has a chance to lead Mater Dei to its first national title ever.
Photo by Mike Braca
24-0
Current Xcellent 25 national ranking: 1
Wins vs. Computer Top 100: Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.),
Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia),
Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.),
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.),
Whitney Young (Chicago)Remainder of regular season: The Monarchs must survive a tough three-game stretch in Trinity League play that will include a rematch with St. John Bosco.
Looking ahead to postseason: Mater Dei will certainly have national title credentials if it can run the table in two loaded playoff tournaments. First up will be the Southern Section 1AA playoffs, which could include meetings with
Loyola (Los Angeles),
Centennial (Corona) and
Etiwanda — all Top 25 national teams in the MaxPreps computer rankings. If
Stanley Johnson and company advance, they will likely be placed in the Open Division state tournament, a bracket that will be loaded with more potential pitfalls.
Rainier Beach (Seattle)Record: 19-0
Current Xcellent 25 national ranking: 2
Wins vs. Computer Top 100: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Whitney Young
Remainder of regular season: Rainier Beach closes things out Friday at home against Metro League rival
Franklin (Seattle).
Looking ahead to postseason: The road to a championship in Washington is a bit convoluted as the Vikings will have to navigate through league, district and regional brackets before reaching the 3A state tournament at the Tacoma Dome. There aren't many nationally-recognized names standing in the way of a title for Beach, but
Lincoln (Tacoma) and
Wilson (Tacoma) are both in the Top 200 of the computer rankings and would savor the opportunity to knock off the Vikings. Even with a dominant run through the postseason, Beach will need things to break right in other parts of the country to finish No. 1.
This dunk by Joshua Stamps swung momentum Curie's way in a big win over Montverde Academy at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Photo by Mike Braca
20-1
Current Xcellent 25 national ranking: 3
Wins vs. Computer Top 100: Bishop Gorman,
Montverde Academy (Fla.)Remainder of regular season: The Chicago Public School playoffs — considered part of the regular season schedule — got underway Wednesday and run through Feb. 21. That tourney could produce matchups with other Windy City heavyweights like
Morgan Park,
Simeon and Whitney Young. Winning the CPS crown would be a major resume builder for the Condors.
Looking ahead to postseason: The Illinois 4A state tournament is a monster, with the winner having to win seven or eight games in a row to emerge as champ. In addition to aforementioned Simeon and Whitney Young, Marian Catholic and Stevenson are also threats to win it.
Montverde Academy (Fla.)Record: 22-1
Current Xcellent 25 national ranking: 4
Wins vs. Computer Top 100: Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.),
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.),
Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.),
St. James (Md.),
White Station (Tenn.)Remainder of regular season: The Eagles will make a trip north for the Metro Classic Feb. 14-15, facing a pair of tough New Jersey teams in
Roselle Catholic and
St. Joseph (Metuchen).
Looking ahead to postseason: Montverde doesn't compete for a state title in Florida but is expected to earn an invite to the Dick's Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
White Station (Memphis, Tenn.)Record: 24-1
Current Xcellent 25 national ranking: 5
Wins vs. Computer Top 100: DeSoto (Texas), Paul VI,
Westchester (Los Angeles)Remainder of regular season: The Spartans meet rival
Melrose (Memphis) in the finale Friday night.
Looking ahead to postseason: After meeting 20-2
Arlington for the Shelby County Interscholastic Athletic Association championship Sunday, White Station will dive into district and regional play beginning Feb. 17. Like Mater Dei and Curie, head coach Jesus Patino's squad won't be on easy street en route to a state title. Last year the Spartans were dropped in the first round of regional play.
LONG SHOTSNorthside Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.): The Knights are 23-1 with the lone loss coming against Montverde Academy. Barring a total meltdown by every other team in the Top 10, NCA is difficult to project as a No. 1 due to the lack of elite-level opposition on the schedule.
St. John's (Washington, D.C.): The 20-1 Cadets have plenty of opportunities to build their resume ahead, including regular season meetings with
Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) and
DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament and potentially the Alhambra Catholic Invitational.
Loyola (Los Angeles): There could be a meeting with No. 1 Mater Dei in Loyola's future. A win against the Monarchs combined with a state title would make the Cubs — No. 2 nationally in the computer rankings — a compelling possibility for the top spot.
