Video: Top 25 basketball rankings
Breaking down this week's elite high school basketball teams.
It was a somber week as the basketball world said goodbye to a pair of legends in longtime DeMatha head coach Morgan Wootten and all-time great Kobe Bryant.
Wootten won 1,274 games and his Stag teams were recognized as high school basketball's national champions five times (1962, 1965, 1968, 1978 and 1984).
Bryant, and his daughter Gianna, tragically lost their lives in a Sunday morning helicopter accident that also took the lives of seven others.
This week's rankings feature minimal shakeups as No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 25 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) jump back into the rankings after some time outside the Top 25.
Other major developments included previous No. 2 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and previous No. 8 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) falling in upset losses.
MaxPreps Top 25 national high school basketball rankings
1. (Last week 1) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 22-0
Captured the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament title, blowing past ranked opponents No. 16 Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.) 81-48 and No. 22 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) 83-47. The Eagles travel to the St. James Invitational this week.
2. (3) Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 23-1
Tigers look to bolster an impressive national resume this weekend with a trip to the Bob Kirk Invitational to play a showcase game against Rock Creek Christian on Jan. 30 before moving to tournament play on Jan. 31. The Tigers face St. Benedict's Prep and a win likely sets up a showdown with No. 14 La Lumiere.
After taking the week off, the Buffaloes travel to the Dr. Pepper Classic and play McCallie
(Chattanooga) and Memphis East (Memphis) on Jan. 31 and Feb. 1,
respectively.
Picked up an in-state victory at Shiloh (Snellville) 68-67 to solidify their standing as the top team from the Peach State. The Rams finish out the regular season this week with two in-state contests.
5. (2) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 30-2
Suffered first home loss since the 1996-97 season, falling to West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.) 86-81 despite 37 points from
Cam Thomas. The Warriors should be challenged again this weekend, facing Poly (Baltimore) on Feb. 8.
It was a difficult week for the DeMatha community, as legendary head coach Morgan Wootten passed away at 88. The Stags carry heavy hearts into their Tuesday conference showdown with No. 10 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.).
Winners of 17 straight after an early season loss to No. 5 Oak Hill Academy. Six regular season games remain before the Cavaliers begin the quest for a fourth consecutive state title.
This
talented group has been the surprise team out of the Golden State this
season, compiling an impressive resume that includes Tarkanian Classic and King Cotton Classic titles.
Donovan Dent, Centennial
Photo by Nicholas Koza
A tough week awaits the Red Hawks as four games culminate with matchups against unbeaten in-state foe Caledonia and previously ranked La Crosse Central (La Crosse, Wis.).
Panthers jump back into the Top 10 after racking up another quality victory at No. 21 St. John's 66-61. A DeMatha battle precedes a Jan. 30 rematch against No. 21 St. John's.
Ascenders notched a quality win over Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville, Tenn.) 71-53 and now travel to the St. James Invitational with a potential third meeting with No. 1 Montverde Academy on the horizon.
Rebounded from a pair of losses over Martin Luther King Jr. weekend at the Quincy Shootout, defeating Mehlville (St. Louis) 81-57 and St. Louis Christian Academy
(St. Louis) 69-62. The Hawks travel to the Dr. Pepper 10 Classic this weekend, taking on Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.) on Jan. 31 and McCallie (Chattanooga, Tenn.) on Feb. 1.
Have the week off after suffering their third loss of the year at the Crush in the Valley, falling to Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 69-65 despite 27 points from
Jalen Green.
The Lakers sit on the bubble of earning an invitation to their fifth consecutive GEICO Nationals. This week could bolster their resume as they travel to the Bob Kirk Invitational and face Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) before a potential title showdown with No. 2 Wasatch Academy.
15. (15) Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), 15-1
Tested over the weekend in a 74-70 triumph over Rainier Beach (Seattle), the Crusaders face another challenge against Garfield on Jan. 31.
Put together an impressive weekend at the Montverde Academy Invitational, knocking off Master's Academy (Oviedo, Fla.) 67-61 and La Crosse Central (La Crosse, Wisc.) 69-46. The Hornets kept things interesting with No. 1 Montverde Academy for the first half in an 81-48 loss.
Escaped with a 71-68 victory over Windward (Los Angeles), before breezing past Crossroads (Santa Monica) 87-61.
18. (18) Duncanville (Texas), 20-2The
defending UIL Class 6A champions continue its impressive in-state
winning streak, defeating 37 consecutive Lone Star State opponents
dating back to last season. Their losses came to No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 17 Sierra Canyon.
This week will challenge the Kahoks perfect record as showdowns with quality in-state opponents Triad (Troy), O'Fallon and Normal Community (Normal) loom.
Secured a quality 68-65 win over Immaculate Conception (Montclair) behind a strong performance from
Trey Patterson, who finished with 29 points and eight rebounds.
Lost to conference rival No. 10 Paul VI 66-61 over the weekend. The Cadets look to recover with a challenging week against conference foes Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Jan. 28 and No. 10 Paul VI on Jan. 30.
This group picked up a hard-fought 66-61 win over La Crosse Central (La Crosse, Wisc.) despite their star
Andre Curbelo being limited to just two minutes due to fighting the flu.
Secured a signature in-state 63-51 win over previously ranked Roselle Catholic (Roselle) behind 17 points and 10 rebounds from Kentucky pledge
Lance Ware.
Picked up a signature in-state victory 70-62 at Coronado (Henderson) in a nationally televised showdown over the weekend. The Gaels travel to the Nike Extravaganza to face off Feb. 1 against Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.).
Jump back into the rankings after a short hiatus. Beat previous No. 22 Poly (Baltimore) 57-53 over the weekend.
Dropped out: Lee (Montgomery, Ala.), Poly (Baltimore)
