Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) established itself as the best team in high school basketball for the second time in three years with big out-of-state victories and a fourth state championship in the past five years. The Panthers are the 2025-26 MaxPreps National Champions after finishing No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.
Under head coach Glenn Farello, Paul VI (33-3) built a strong resume with wins over No. 2
Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 4
Principia (St. Louis, Mo.), No. 6
Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) twice, No. 7
Bartlett (Tenn.), No. 17
Logan-Rogersville (Rogersville, Mo.) and No. 23
St. Mary's (Phoenix, Ariz.) in addition to academy powerhouses
Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) and
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.).
Paul VI outscored opponents by an average margin of 16.3 points per contest this season while averaging 73.3 points per game. The Panthers went 14-1 against opponents who ended the season ranked in the top 100 including a 7-1 record against teams in the MaxPreps Top 25.
Jordan Smith (26.6 points, 6.3 rebounds, 5.6 assists and 3.2 steals per game) was the catalyst for this season's top-ranked team. The Arkansas signee is the most decorated player in program history, leading Paul VI to a record of 126-16 with four top 10 national finishes during his four-year career.
Paul VI also got major contributions from Florida Gulf Coast signee
Lawrence Brown (first team All-WCAC), top 100 junior
Brian Mitchell Jr. (second team All-WCAC), sophomore
Ryan Bahr (All-WCAC honorable mention) and junior center
Matthew Mena (All-WCAC honorable mention).
Past MaxPreps National Champions
2009 —
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)2010 —
Yates (Houston, Texas)2011 —
St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)2012 — St. Anthony
2013 —
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)2014 —
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)2015 —
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)2016 —
Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.)2017 —
Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.)2018 — Montverde Academy
2019 —
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)2020 — Montverde Academy
2021 — Montverde Academy
2022 —
Duncanville (Texas)2023 —
John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)2024 —
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)
Final MaxPreps Top 25
Record: 33-3
VISAA Division 1 state champion.
Record: 24-1
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 30-1
Open Division state champion.
Record: 29-2
Class 3 state champion.
Record: 28-2
Open Division state champion.
Record: 26-5
CHSAA vs. PSAL champion.
Record: 35-4
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 30-0
Division 1 state champion.
Record: 36-2
NCISAA Class 3A state champion.
Record: 27-6
Class 6A state champion.
Record: 35-3
Conference 6A Division 1 state champion.
Record: 29-1
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 34-2
Conference 5A Division 1 state champion.
Record: 37-2
Conference 6A Division 2 state champion.
Record: 28-4
Class 6A state champion.
Record: 26-6
Class 7A state champion.
Record: 29-3
Class 4 state champion.
Record: 28-3
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 24-4
Record: 28-0
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 30-2
Class 5A state champion.
Record: 37-2
Record: 23-7
Open Division state runner-up.
Record: 28-3
Class 7A state champion.
Record: 27-7
Next 75
Record: 31-3
Record: 33-5
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 36-2
Class 4A state runner-up.
Record: 36-7
Record: 35-1
Record: 27-2
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 27-3
Class AAAAA Division I state champion.
Record: 25-3
Division 1 state champion.
Record: 24-2
Record: 27-8
Class AA champion.
Record: 29-4
Open Division state runner-up.
Record: 28-6
Record: 24-1
Record: 25-3
Division 1 state champion.
Record: 27-5
Record: 31-3
Division II Class AA state champion.
Record: 30-3
Record: 23-10
VISAA Division I state runner-up.
Record: 33-4
Record: 33-4
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 33-4
Conference 6A Division I state runner-up.
Record: 22-8
Record: 21-6
Record: 33-4
KHSAA state champion.
Record: 25-2
Class 4A state runner-up.
Record: 28-2
Record: 25-2
Class 5A state champion.
Record: 21-3
Record: 29-3
NCISAA Class 4A state champion.
Record: 28-5
NCISAA Class 2A state champion.
Record: 22-4
Class 3 state champion.
Record: 23-5
Record: 31-2
Division II Select state champion.
Record: 29-3
Class 2A state champion.
Record: 28-3
Non-Public A state champion.
Record: 26-2
Class 5A state champion.
Record: 27-2
Division 1 state runner-up.
Record: 30-7
Record: 30-1
Record: 32-7
Division 1 state champion.
Record: 24-8
Class 3A state runner-up.
Record: 27-7
Record: 24-10
Record: 30-4
Class 6A state champion.
Record: 30-1
Class 6 state champion.
Record: 25-5
Record: 36-4
Division I Non-Selection state champion.
Record: 28-4
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 31-5
Record: 29-2
Record: 27-2
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 20-8
Record: 29-3
NCISAA Class 3A state runner-up.
Record: 24-3
Class 6A state champion.
Record: 17-8
Class 5A state champion.
Record: 30-4
Record: 22-4
Record: 37-2
MAIS state champion.
Record: 35-6
Conference 5A Division 2 state champion.
Record: 25-7
Class 5A state runner-up.
Record: 36-4
Conference 5A Division 2 state runner-up.
Record: 25-3
Class AAAAA Division II state champion.
Record: 34-4
Conference 5A Division I state champion.
Record: 26-3
Record: 27-3
Class AAAA state champion.
Record: 27-5
Class 3A state champion.
Record: 27-3
Class 7A state runner-up.
Record: 30-4
Class 6A state champion.
Record: 27-2
Class 5A state champion.
Record: 29-2
Record: 22-4
Record: 25-0
Class 4A state champion.
Record: 30-3
Class 6A state champion.