MaxPreps Academy Top 10 boys basketball rankings

Academy Top 10 presented by the Army National Guard

1. (No. 1 last week) Huntington Prep (W.Va.), 14-0
January will be an important and challenging month for the Express, beginning this weekend with games against No. 6 Prime Prep (Dallas) and Wesleyan Christian Academy.

2. (2) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 17-0
The Pilots are gearing up for a Monday showdown with local rival Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), which entered the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 national rankings this week.

3. (3) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 12-0
After a quick return to his old stomping grounds in New Jersey, head coach Kevin Boyle will take the Eagles to the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia to face Xcellent 25 No. 7 Simeon (Chicago) on Saturday.

4. (5) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 10-0
If the Gray Bees can survive Jan. 20 against No. 9 Montrose Christian, they have a great shot at running the table this month. St. Benedict's Prep will face Xcellent 25 No. 5 St. Anthony (Jersey City) on Feb. 1 as part of the Newark National Invitational.

5. (7) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 14-1
After coming up just short of knocking off No. 2 Findlay Prep for the 'Iolani Classic title, the Lakers will get a chance to shake things up this month against No. 1 Huntington Prep and potentially No. 3 Montverde Academy at the Montverde Academy Invitational.

6. (4) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 17-2
The Warriors don't return to the court until Jan. 11. The next big date on the schedule comes against aforementioned Simeon at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

7. (NR) Prime Prep (Dallas), 7-0
The Deion Sanders charter school began the school year as a UIL-sanctioned program but transfer disputes led to a split and Prime is now an independent. Big games ahead include tonight vs. Yates (Houston) and Saturday against No. 1 Huntington Prep.

8. (9) Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 15-0
The Buffaloes won their second straight title at the Neosho Holiday Classic after Christmas. Bahamas native Nathan Bain, a 6-foot-6 junior wing, earned MVP honors at the Missouri event.

9. (6) Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), 8-2
The Mustangs returned from the 'Iolani Classic in Hawai'i with losses to No. 2 Findlay Prep and No. 6 Oak Hill Academy on the event's final two days. They will look to get back on track Thursday against Chavez (Washington, D.C.).

10. (NR) Benedictine (Richmond, Va.), 14-0
Transfer Robert Johnson has been a huge addition for the Cadets. The 6-3 junior guard, who spent the last two seasons at L.C. Bird (Chesterfield, Va.), is posting a team-high 15.9 points points per game to go along with 5.4 rebounds and 3.1 assists.

Dropped out: No. 8 Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), No. 10 Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.)