High school basketball rankings: Newly-crowned Georgia state champion Alexander among four new teams in MaxPreps Top 25

Massive week of state tournament action resulted in major rankings shake-up.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens

By Jordan Divens

Mar 17, 2026, 11:30am

Calvary Christian Academy delivered a dominant performance in the FHSAA Class 3A state championship, defeating The Villages Charter 87–51 on Wednesday night.

Calvary Christian Academy Eagles rolls past The Villages Charter Buffalo to capture Florida Class 3A state title 98,212 views 5:09

A busy week of state tournament action saw 11 teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings capture championships while four teams dropped out of the rankings after postseason defeats.

No. 21 Alexander (Douglasville, Ga.), No. 22 St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.), No. 23 Southern School of Energy and Sustainability (Durham, N.C.) and No. 25 St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) join the rankings.

No. 9 Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), No. 14 Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), No. 16 DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.) and No. 25 Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) drop out after losses.

Five teams in the top 10 completed their quest for state championships as No. 2 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), No. 4 Principia (St. Louis, Mo.) and No. 10 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) won titles in their respective classifications.

No. 6 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), No. 7 Bartlett (Tenn.), No. 8 Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.) look to close out runs this week.

Colorado State commit Gregory "Pops" Dunson helped Alexander rattle off a 25-game win streak to end the season en route to Georgia's Class 5A state championship. (PHOTO: Jeff Klein)

MaxPreps Top 25 basketball rankings

1. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)

Record: 33-2 | Last week: 1

WCAC regular season and tournament champions, VISAA Division 1 state champions. Chipotle Nationals eligible.

2. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 24-1 | Last week: 2

Repeated as Class 3A state champions with an 87-51 victory over The Villages Charter (The Villages) led by 30 points, eight assists, four steals and four rebounds from top 20 junior Cayden Daughtry.

3. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 30-1 | Last week: 3

Captured the program's first Open Division state championship since 2020 with a 78-70 win over Salesian (Richmond) powered by 20 points, six rebounds, four blocks and three steals from five-star senior Brandon McCoy.

4. Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)

Record: 29-2 | Last week: 4

Top 40 senior Quentin Coleman poured in a career-high 50 points to go along with eight rebounds and seven steals in a 98-34 triumph over Miller Career Academy (St. Louis.) in the Class 3 title game.

5. Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Record: 28-2 | Last week: 5

Open Division state champions. Chipotle Nationals eligible.

6. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)

Record: 25-4 | Last week: 6

After claiming its fourth consecutive Class AA city championship, the Crusaders take on Eagle Academy (Bronx) on Sunday in the PSAL vs. CHSAA city title game.

7. Bartlett (Tenn.)

Record: 32-4 | Last week: 7

Begin Class 4A state tournament action Thursday with a first-round matchup against Brentwood. A win could set up a potential semifinal showdown with No. 18 Bearden on Friday.

8. Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Record: 28-0 | Last week: 8

Northern Iowa signee Zavier Zens piled up 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists in a 74-46 victory over Racine Case (Racine) to send the Vikings to the state semifinals where they take on Appleton North (Appleton) on Friday. Wisconsin Lutheran goes for its third consecutive state title this weekend.

9. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 36-2 | Last week: 10

NCISAA Class 3A state champions. Chipotle Nationals eligible.

10. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)

Record: 27-6 | Last week: 11

Won the program's 11th state title by repeating as Class 6A state champions with a 62-52 win versus Pebblebrook (Mableton) powered by 29 points and 12 rebounds from top 25 Connecticut signee Colben Landrew.

11. North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas)

Record: 35-3 | Last week: 13

Completed its run to the program's first state championship since 2008 by defeating Brennan (San Antonio) 65-52 in the Conference 6A Division 1 title game. Junior Isaak Hayes anchored the attack with 22 points and six assists in the win.

12. Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)

Record: 29-1 | Last week: 12

Class 3A state champions. Chipotle Nationals eligible.

13. Heritage (Frisco, Texas)

Record: 34-2 | Last week: 15

Five-star Duke signee Bryson Howard pumped in 28 points and 15 rebounds to lift Heritage to its first state title with a 60-47 victory over West Brook (Beaumont) in the Conference 5A Division 1 championship game.

14. Little Elm (Texas)

Record: 37-2 | Last week: 18

Took home the program's first state championship by blowing past Westlake (Austin) 57-35 in the Conference 6A Division 2 title game. Dallas Baptist signee Joshua Weems was the catalyst in the win with 16 points, eight assists, six rebounds and three steals.

15. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 28-4 | Last week: 20

Finished its run to back-to-back Class 6A state championships with a 67-51 win over Evans (Orlando) behind a game-high 21 points from junior guard Clarence Westbrook Jr. and 10 points and 17 rebounds from senior forward Zane Elliott.

16. Columbus (Miami, Fla.)

Record: 26-6 | Last week: 21

Became the first team in Florida history to capture five consecutive state championships in the highest classification of the state with a 53-50 victory over Sarasota in the Class 7A title game. Florida Atlantic signee Felipe Quinones led the way with a team-high 15 points in the win.

17. Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)

Record: 24-4 | Last week: 17

Season complete.

18. Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Record: 36-1 | Last week: 22

Begin Class 4A state tournament play with a showdown vs. Beech (Hendersonville) on Thursday.

19. Crown Point (Ind.)

Record: 23-1 | Last week: 23

In one of the most unique traditions in high school basketball, Crown Point faces Snider (Fort Wayne) in the state quarterfinals Saturday at noon before a potential semifinal showdown later in the day.

20. Richland (Wash.)

Record: 28-0 | Last week: 24

Class 4A state champions. Chipotle Nationals eligible.

21. Alexander (Douglasville, Ga.)

Record: 30-2 | Last week: NR

Ended the year on a 25-game win streak after knocking off Woodward Academy (College Park) 81-67 in the Class 5A state title game. Colorado State signee Pops Dunson led the way with a game-high 25 points, six rebounds and four rebounds.

22. St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.)

Record: 23-7 | Last week: NR

Season complete.

23. Southern School of Energy and Sustainability (Durham, N.C.)

Record: 28-3 | Last week: NR

Closed out the season on a 20-game win streak after knocking off Mooresville 54-47 in the Class 7A state championship game. Sophomore A.J. Morman led the way with 16 points, five rebounds and three assists in the win.

24. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)

Record: 27-7 | Last week: 19

Fell to No. 3 Sierra Canyon for the third time this season in the Open Division state semifinals.

25. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)

Record: 31-3 | Last week: NR

Season complete.

Next 25

26. Marist (Chicago, Ill.)

Record: 33-5

27. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)

Record: 36-2

28. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)