While this week's MaxPreps Top 25 rankings remain relatively unchanged, a packed slate of upcoming games should shake up the field as the regular season enters the homestretch.
The game's star power looks to shine in a cross-country showdown Saturday between No. 10 Sierra Canyon and No. 11 Camden.
Amari Bailey and
Bronny James lead the Trailblazers to the PPL Center in Allentown, Pa. for a nationally televised showdown against
D.J. Wagner and the Panthers.
Elsewhere, the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament features a loaded field headlined by No. 3 Calvary Christian Academy, No. 13 Long Island Lutheran and No. 22 Dr. Phillips along with the host, National Top 20 No. 4 Montverde Academy.
Five unbeaten teams remain in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 rankings as No. 5 Bishop Gorman, No. 6 Cardinal Hayes, No. 7 Centerville, No. 11 Bishop McNamara and No. 14 Glenbard West have each established themselves as tough outs this season. Over the weekend, Cardinal Hayes and Centerville both rallied from five-point deficits entering the fourth quarter to remain unbeaten against quality opponents.
Nick Smith and North Little Rock come in at No. 9 in MaxPreps Top 25 rankings this week.
Photo by Pete Wright
Record: 23-1 | Last week: 1
Two players were named to the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch List as Alabama signee
Rylan Griffen (20.8 points, 4.8 rebounds) and Kentucky signee
Cason Wallace (19.5 points, 8.2 rebounds and 4.2 assists) each made the cut.
Record: 22-1 | Last week: 2
The Panthers have seen strong contributions from five-star prospects
Ronald Holland (15.6 points and 7.1 rebounds) and
Anthony Black (14.8 points, 5.8 rebounds and 3.2 assists) this season. They'll need more as they take on DeSoto on Tuesday and Midway (Waco) on Friday.
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 3
UCF-bound forward
Taylor Hendricks surpassed 1,000 career points in a 76-30 victory over Boca Raton. The Eagles compete in the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament from Thursday through Saturday, joined by National Top 20 No. 4 Montverde Academy, American Fork, Kimball, No. 13 Long Island Lutheran and No. 22 Dr. Phillips.
Record: 20-1 | Last week: 4
A busy week includes four games in six days, headlined by showdowns against Poly (Riverside) on Monday, Norco on Friday and Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) on Saturday. The defending Southern Section Open Division champions have reeled off 17 straight wins following a 75-70 loss against No. 2 Duncanville on Nov. 26.
Record: 18-0 | Last week: 5
A pair of stiff challenges loom as the Gaels face Liberty (Henderson) on Thursday in a rematch of a 97-95 double-overtime win in the Tarkanian Classic championship game. They also face Whitney Young (Chicago) on Saturday at the Nike Extravaganza.
Record: 13-0 | Last week: 6
Outscored Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 25-11 in the fourth quarter to secure a 75-66 victory at the NJ vs. NY Catholic Showcase. Senior forward
Tobe Awaka led the way with 23 points and 16 rebounds, while highly regarded sophomore prospect
Ian Jackson had 21 points.
Record: 14-0 | Last week: 7
Extended their win streak to 30 games in a 52-46 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron). After trailing 40-35 headed into the fourth quarter, Indiana pledge
Gabe Cupps and Florida State signee
Tom House combined to score all 17 of the Elks' fourth-quarter points.
Record: 13-1 | Last week: 8
A controversial finish resulted in an 83-82 victory over National Top 20 opponent Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) at the Big North Shootout. Nebraska signee
Jamarques Lawrence hit the game-winning, buzzer-beating 3-pointer to give the Lions the win, but upon further review it appeared the ball may have still been in his hands as time expired. North Carolina commit
Simeon Wilcher led the way with 24 points and five rebounds.
Record: 15-3 | Last week: 9
The Charging Wildcats were one of three teams to feature two players on MaxPreps National Player of the Year Watch list as Arkansas signee
Nick Smith (24.5 points, 6.3 assists and six rebounds) and Oregon signee
Kel'el Ware (20.3 points, 12 rebounds and 5.7 blocks) both made the cut behind stellar play during their senior campaigns.
Record: 19-2 | Last week: 10
Five-star UCLA signee
Amari Bailey did not play in the Trailblazers' 97-51 victory over Crossroads (Santa Monica) as part of a scheduled day off while he continues to work his way back from an ankle injury. Sophomore guard
Isaiah Elohim stepped up in his absence with 16 points. The Trailblazers travel to Allentown, Pa. for their most highly anticipated game of the season against Camden (N.J.) on Saturday.
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 11
Top-ranked junior prospect
D.J. Wagner recently surpassed 1,000 career points, joining his father DaJuan (3,451) and grandfather Milt (2,003) in an impressive family lineage of scoring. Wagner (18.3) is the Panthers' leading scorer this season.
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 12
The only remaining unbeaten team in the WCAC continues to rack up impressive victories, defeating Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) 62-55 over the weekend. Miami signee
Favour Aire has been the driving force, averaging 14.5 points and 10.8 rebounds with 10 double-doubles in 11 games. The Mustangs are in search of their first WCAC title since 1995.
Record: 11-2 | Last week: 13
A
tough stretch awaits the Crusaders at the Montverde Academy
Invitational Tournament from Thursday through Saturday before facing off
against National Top 20 No. 12 Wasatch Academy on Feb. 3 at the Metro Classic.
Record: 22-0 | Last week: 15
Blew
past Whitney Young (Chicago) 74-59 at the When Sides Collide Shootout
paced by 31 points and seven rebounds from Gonzaga signee
Braden Huff, while Princeton pledge
Caden Pierce chipped in 25 points.
Record: 21-2 | Last week: 14
The Bengals return to the court following a 10-day layoff for Tuesday's senior night against High Point Christian Academy (High Point). Both losses came against ranked opponents at the City of Palms Classic last month.
Record: 14-3 | Last week: 17
Rebounded from their loss to Bishop O'Connell (Arlington) with a 72-65 victory over Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.). Michigan signee
Knasir "Dug" McDaniel led the way with 23 points, five assists and four rebounds in the win. The Panthers take on No. 18 Gonzaga in a big-time WCAC tilt on Friday.
Record: 17-2 | Last week: 18
After reaching the GHSA Class AAAAAAA state semifinals last season, the Falcons look to get over the hump and capture their first state championship in program history. Four games remain in the regular season before postseason play begins in the Peach State.
Record: 10-3 | Last week: 16
After beginning the season unbeaten through 10 games, the Eagles have lost three straight, including an 85-83 overtime loss to Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Sunday. The talented group looks to get back on track Tuesday against Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) before a Friday showdown with No. 16 St. Paul VI.
Record: 21-4 | Last week: 19
Split a pair of games over the weekend, losing 59-53 to National Top 20 No. 3 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) before defeating Memphis East (Memphis) 79-54 at the Quincy Shootout. The Spartans face another challenging opponent on Tuesday traveling to Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.).
Record: 12-4 | Last week: 21
Went 1-1 against a pair of National Top 20 opponents over the weekend, falling 88-69 to No. 2 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) before knocking off No. 20 DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) 74-57 at the Ascender Classic.
Record: 21-3 | Last week: 22
Improved to 6-0 in Baltimore Catholic League play with a 75-73 victory over Archbishop Spalding (Severn). Senior guard
Bryce Lindsay knocked down a deep 3-pointer as time expired to give the Panthers the buzzer-beating win in a game they trailed by 11 with 6:22 remaining. Lindsay finished with a game-high 23 points.
Record: 17-3 | Last week: 23
A tough stretch of games awaits this group to end the season as they face Evans (Orlando) tonight before traveling to the Montverde Academy Invitational with a first-round showdown against No. 13 Long Island Lutheran. The Panthers end regular season play on Feb. 1 against Windermere (Fla.).
Record: 23-3 | Last week: 24
Underclassmen did the majority of the work in the Timberwolves' 71-26 shellacking of Port Arthur Memorial (Port Arthur) as
Trealyn Porchia (15),
Kayde Dotson (14) and
Weston Davis (13) led all scorers in the win.
Record: 24-3 | Last week: 25
The top challenger of defending UIL Class 5A state champion No. 23 Beaumont United, the Wolves have secured seven consecutive wins since their loss to No. 2 Duncanville in the Whataburger Tournament semifinals.
Record: 15-3 | Last week: NR
Re-enter the rankings prior to a challenging three-game stretch against South Gwinnett (Snellville, Ga.) on Tuesday, Grayson (Loganville) on Friday and Wheeler (Marietta) on Saturday. The Rams will prove if they have staying power in the rankings this week.
Prior to the 2021-22 season, MaxPreps adopted a split approach to
the rankings. The MaxPreps Top 25 is a measure of public and private
schools belonging to recognized governing bodies that compete for state
championships. The National Top 20 encompasses a broad spectrum of
sub-collegiate programs that in most cases are not full members of
state-level governing bodies and do not compete for state championships.
