Sunrise Christian Academy takes over the top spot in the National Top 20 basketball rankings after previously top-ranked IMG Academy lost to No. 7 Oak Hill Academy in the City of Palms Classic semifinals.
No. 3 Montverde Academy captured the City of Palms Classic title for the third time since 2016 and the fifth time since 2012. The Eagles were led by tournament MVP
Dillon Mitchell, who pumped in 16 points and nine rebounds in their championship game victory over Oak Hill Academy.
Montverde remains in the same spot as last week, thought it bolstered its resume and is in prime position to make a run at its third consecutive national championship.
No. 5 AZ Compass Prep also made a statement in the Sunshine State, capturing the City of Palms Signature Series title with an impressive championship game victory over No. 8 Combine Academy. The Dragons have clearly established themselves as one of the premiere programs in the National Top 20 this season.
Although Oak Hill Academy lost for the sixth time on the young season, the Warriors showed they're for real in their run to the City of Palms Classic championship game. The long-time perennial powerhouse clearly has the talent to beat any team in the nation when they play at their best.
Holiday tournaments continue after Christmas, with the Chick-fil-A Classic, Les Schwab Invitational, Slam Dunk to the Beach and John Wall Holiday Invitational each featuring teams from the National Top 20.
Montverde Academy celebrates its City of Palms Classic title.
Photo by Pete Wright
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 2
The Buffaloes have an opportunity to solidify their top spot with future matchups against No. 3 Montverde Academy in January and No. 2 IMG Academy in February. Sunrise Christian Academy defeated Kenwood (Chicago) at Hoophall Central 56-34 last week.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 1
Finished in third place in the City of Palms Classic after falling to No. 7 Oak Hill Academy 76-72 in a thrilling semifinal showdown. The Ascenders notched quality wins over MaxPreps Top 25 No. 13 North Little Rock 80-59, Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) 75-61 and Milton (Ga.) 76-73 in a tightly contested third-place contest.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 3
Captured the City of Palms Classic championship, but remain static due to their head-to-head loss against IMG Academy. The Eagles impressed in four wins at the City of Palms, blowing by Berkmar (Lilburn, Ga.) 76-51 and Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando) 75-34 before winning close contests against Milton (Ga.) 59-44 in the semifinals and No. 7 Oak Hill Academy 60-55 in the championship game.
Record: 17-0 | Last week: 4
Picked up three wins at the Tarkanian Classic, including a 62-54 victory over No. 16 Central Pointe Christian Academy.
Julian Phillips led the way with 18 points and five rebounds in the Lions win. Link Academy travels to Oregon for the Les Schwab Invitational after Christmas.
Record: 15-1 | Last week: 5
Won the City of Palms Classic Signature Series title beating No. 8 Combine Academy 58-43 in an impressive championship game performance. The Dragons saw a balanced scoring effort in both games at the City of Palms Classic, displaying excellent ball-movement and high intensity.
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 6
Lone loss came against top-ranked Sunrise Christian Academy. The Lakers have yet to face their toughest stretch of games, with a pair of games against No. 3 Montverde Academy and No. 7 Oak Hill Academy, plus contests against No. 2 IMG Academy and No. 5 AZ Compass Prep looming.
Record: 13-6 | Last week: 9
Fell shy of capturing their first City of Palms Classic title,
losing to No. 3 Montverde Academy 60-55 in a championship game that came
down to the final seconds. The Warriors knocked off previously top-ranked IMG Academy 76-72 in the semifinals.
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 7
Finished runner-up in the City of Palms Classic Signature Series after running out of gas late to the Dragons. The Goats defeated No. 9 Southern California Academy and No. 11 Hillcrest Prep prior to their Florida trip.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 8
Both Rams losses have come against teams ranked ahead of them — No. 4 Link Academy and No. 8 Combine Academy at the Battle in the Bluff. Signature wins include No. 10 Prolific Prep, No. 13 Huntington Prep and Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.).
Record: 13-2 | Last week: 10
Travel to South Carolina to take on a challenging field at the Chick-fil-A Classic, with their first game coming against Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) on Dec. 28. Assuming the Crew win their first game, they will take on the winner of No. 11 Hillcrest Prep and No. 13 Huntington Prep in the semifinals of the eight-team field.
Record: 14-1 | Last week: 11
After facing just one highly regarded opponent during the first half of their schedule, a 79-69 loss against No. 8 Combine Academy, the Bruins will be tested at the Chick-fil-A Classic, beginning with an opening round game against No. 12 Huntington Prep.
Record: 5-3 | Last week: 14
Registered a pair of lopsided wins over the weekend at the Queen City Holiday Classic, defeating Highlands (Fort Thomas, Ky.) 89-61 and Archbishop McNicholas (Cincinnati) 68-31.
Record: 9-4 | Last week: 16
Went 3-0 at the Tarkanian Classic, defeating No. 16 Central Pointe Christian Academy 63-58 before taking down a pair of Canadian high school programs.
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 12
First loss of the year came against Westtown (West Chester, Pa.) in a 53-41 contest that was decided by a 17-5 fourth quarter run for the opposition. Four-star junior guard
Ty-Laur Johnson had a game-high 22 points in the loss.
Record: 8-2 | Last week: 18
Have an extended layoff following their big 78-77 SIAA victory over The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) behind
Maurice Odum (25) and 21 points and 10 rebounds from
Deshawn Jean-Charles. They return to the court Jan. 7 to face Minnesota Prep Academy (Brooklyn, Minn.).
Record: 15-3 | Last week: 15
Despite going 1-2 at the Tarkanian Classic, both losses were tightly contested games against ranked opponents. The White Tigers took losses against No. 4 Link Academy 62-54 and No. 14 Wasatch Academy 63-58, but secured a 54-51 win against Denver Prep Academy (Denver).
Record: 11-2
| Last week: 13
Suffered a shocking 64-63 loss to a sub-.500 Gaston Christian (Gastonia, N.C.).The Holy Rams need to regroup quickly as they open John Wall Holiday Invitational play with a first-round contest against Chambers (Charlotte).
Record: 7-4 | Last week: NR
Three of the Falcons four setbacks have come against ranked opponents with losses to No. 9 Southern California Academy, No. 10 Prolific Prep, No. 16 Central Pointe Christian Academy and upstart Donda Academy (Simi Valley, Calif.).
Record: 12-4 | Last week: 17
Fell
to a pair of post-grad programs out of North Carolina earlier in the
week, falling to Moravian Prep (Hudson) and Liberty Heights (Charlotte).
The setbacks stretch DME Academy's losing streak to three consecutive
games.
Record: 5-4
| Last week: NR
Captured the Kruel Classic Coral Springs Challenge championship with wins over previous No. 19 The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 45-36, Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 55-49 and St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 56-42.
