MaxPreps Independent Top 10 boys basketball national rankings

1. (1 last week) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 14-0
The Lakers nabbed the Chick-fil-A Classic National Division title before Christmas and have won their last five games by an average margin of 24.6 points. La Lumiere will face its toughest test of the season Saturday in a huge showdown with No. 2 Findlay Prep at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia.

2. (4) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 17-0
Kentucky commit P.J. Washington went off for 27 points and 12 rebounds in a 78-62 win over No. 7 Oak Hill Academy to capture the 'Iolani Classic championship in Hawaii. The Pilots battle No. 10 First Love Christian Academy on Friday at the Cancer Research Classic before the showdown with No. 1 La Lumiere.

3. (3) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 11-0
R.J. Barrett led the Eagles to a couple of big wins at the City of Palms Classic before Christmas, beating No. 5 IMG Academy and High School Top 25 No. 6 Memphis East. Montverde will face Memphis East again Saturday at the National Hoopfest.

4. (6) Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.), 12-0
Duke commit Gary Trent Jr. is averaging 28.9 points per game. Prolific Prep meets High School Top 25 No. 25 Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.) on Saturday at Mustang Madness in Kentucky.

5. (5) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 14-1
IMG Academy has five players averaging double figures heading into a matchup with High School Top 25 No. 22 Greenforest (Decatur, Ga) at the Cancer Research Classic this weekend. 6. (7) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 10-1
Shooting guard Matthue Cotton averaged 22.5 points at the Slam Dunk To The Beach tournament last week – his first two games of the season. "We are a totally different team with him back in the lineup," St. Benedict's Prep head coach Mark Taylor said. The surging Gray Bees have vanquished their last six opponents by an average margin of 32.8 points.

7. (2) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 17-2
The Warriors had two respectable losses to No. 2 Findlay Prep and High School Top 25 No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) in December. Oak Hill faces five star Michael Porter Jr. and High School Top 25 No. 1 Nathan Hale (Seattle) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Jan. 16.

8. (NR) Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 14-2
The Tigers went 10-0 in December, winning by an average margin of 26.5 points. Formidable opponents loom in January with big time battles against High School Top 25 No. 2 Chino Hills (Calif.) and No. 5 IMG Academy.

9. (10) West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.), 10-2
Sylvain Francisco dropped 28 points to help West Oaks pick up a big 76-74 victory over former Independent No. 9 Oldsmar Christian in December.

10. (NR) First Love Christian Academy (Washington, Pa.), 8-1
Guard David Collins is averaging 17 points, five rebounds and five assists per game to pace the Knights. First Love Christian Academy can rise in the rankings with a win over No. 2 Findlay Prep on Friday at the Cancer Research Classic.

Keep an eye on: Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.), Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.)