Video: Top 25 high school basketball rankings
National basketball editor Jordan Divens breaks down this week's movement.
In a season where unexpected results have been the trend, there was finally some calm across the MaxPreps Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings prior to an action-packed week of hoops action.
No. 22 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) re-enters the rankings, while unbeatens Collinsville (Ill.) and Lee (Montgomery, Ala.) enter the Top 25 for the first time this season.
No. 12 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) dominated the competition at the Ascender Classic. The hosts knocked off previous No. 22 Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 89-77 before an 85-67 win over previous No. 22 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).
No. 14 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) avenged its only in-state loss of the season over the weekend, downing previous No. 11 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) 78-62 behind an impressive performance from Kentucky pledge Brandon Boston, who finished with 30 points in the signature victory.
It was a busy week in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference as No. 7 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) picked up a pair of quality conference wins over No. 17 St. John's (Washington, D.C.) 68-62 and previous No. 20 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 70-67.
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) also rebounded after a three-game losing streak, winning three conference games including a 72-64 victory over Gonzaga.
An exciting week of high school hoops action awaits as the Spalding Hoophall Classic, Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions and Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational headline events over a jam-packed Martin Luther King weekend.
The Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions features an eight-team field including No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), No. 11 Paul VI, Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.), Vashon (St. Louis), Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) and Washington (Tulsa, Okla.).
Top matchups at the Spalding Hoophall Classic include No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) vs. No. 12 IMG Academy, No. 10 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) vs. No. 15 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), No. 7 DeMatha vs. No. 16 Rancho Christian, No. 11 Paul VI vs. No. 14 Sierra Canyon, No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), No. 5 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) vs. Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) and No. 10 La Lumiere vs. Bishop Gorman among other contests with rankings implications.
Other games to watch over the weekend include No. 2 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) vs. No. 4 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) on Jan. 18 at the Kevin Durant MLK Classic and No. 15 Prolific Prep vs. No. 23 Huntington Prep on Friday night at the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational.
Bayron Matos, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy and Dillon Jones, Sunrise Christian Academy
Photo by Jim Redman
1. (Last week 1) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 17-0
Continued
dominant play at the Metro Classic with a 75-40 win over Gill St. Bernard's (Gladstone, N.J.) and a 99-47 victory over Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.). The Eagles have Spalding Hoophall Classic showdowns against No. 12 IMG Academy on Jan. 19 and McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) on Jan. 20.
A monster showdown awaits on Jan. 18 against No. 4 Wasatch Academy at the Kevin Durant MLK Classic.
3. (3) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 22-1
They head to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions on Jan. 16 to open up against Kickapoo (Springfield, Mo.). After three games at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, the Warriors travel to the Spalding Hoophall Classic to battle Bishop Gorman on Jan. 20.
4. (4) Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 19-1
The Tigers have an opportunity to bolster their resume taking on No. 2 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy at the Kevin Durant MLK Classic.
A daunting task awaits this group at the Spalding Hoophall Classic against a talented Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) squad that hasn't lost since gaining the services of fifth-year senior Makur Maker mid-season.
This group has an opportunity to avenge its only loss, taking on Newton (Covington, Ga.) in a rematch of an 84-80 mid-December loss. The Rams travel to the Flyin to the Hoop Classic to take on Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) on Jan. 18 before a showdown with Crestwood Prep (Canada) on Jan. 20 at the MLK Kevin Durant Classic.
Secured a pair of signature conference wins, knocking off No. 17 St. John's 68-62 and previous No. 20 Gonzaga 70-67.
The
Cavaliers own an impressive midseason resume, knocking off No. 23
Huntington Prep 70-54 and capturing titles at the Chick-fil-A Classic
and Beach Ball Classic. Their lone loss came against No. 3 Oak Hill
Academy.
After
two early season losses, the Huskies have reeled off 12 consecutive
wins, including titles at the Tarkanian Classic and King Cotton Classic.
10. (10) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 11-2
A pair of challenges await at the Spalding Hoophall Classic against Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Jan. 18 and No. 15 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) on Jan. 19.
The Panthers got back on track last week after losing three straight, knocking off previous No. 20 Gonzaga 62-54, St. Mary's Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.) 93-60 and Our Lady of Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) 81-73. They travel to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions before heading to the Spalding Hoopall Classic to face No. 14 Sierra Canyon on Jan. 20.
Notched a pair of wins over ranked opponents at the Ascender Classic, defeating previous No. 18 Huntington Prep 89-77 and No. 22 St. Frances Academy 85-67. The Ascenders face Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) on Jan. 18 and No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) on Jan. 19 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
This group has rebounded strong from a slow start, solidifying their national standing with a signature 20-point victory over No. 14 Sierra Canyon.
Avenged their only in-state loss this season, blowing past previous No. 11 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) 78-62 in an impressive victory over the weekend. The Trailblazers face Dominican (Whitefish Bay, Wisc.) on Jan. 18 and No. 11 Paul VI on Jan. 20 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
This week has huge rankings implications as the Crew takes on No. 23 Huntington Prep on Jan. 17 at the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational and No. 10 La Lumiere on Jan. 19 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic.
Had their 13-game win streak snapped over the weekend, losing to No. 14 Sierra Canyon 78-62 after winning their previous two meetings against the Trailblazers. The Eagles travel to the Spalding Hoophall Classic for showdowns with Camden (N.J.) on Jan. 18 and No. 7 DeMatha on Jan. 20.
The surprise team out of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference lost for the second time this season last week, narrowly falling 68-62 to No. 7 DeMatha.
18. (21) Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), 11-1
A big time in-state showdown against O'Dea (Seattle) awaits this group on Dec. 14. The contest will be a preview of a potential meeting in the Class 3A state tournament down the road.
Boast quality out-of-state wins over Vashon (St. Louis), Whitney Young (Chicago), Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), Male (Louisville, Ky.) and Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.).
A challenging stretch is coming up for this group as a trip to the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament precedes a Feb. 1 showdown against No. 13 Minnehaha Academy.
21. (25) Duncanville (Texas), 16-2Owns an impressive 35-game winning streak against in-state opponents dating back to last season. Only losses this season came against No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 14 Sierra Canyon.
22. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 15-3The Monarchs jump back into the rankings prior to their showdown at conference rival St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) on Jan. 17. Mater Dei also travels to the Spalding Hoophall Classic facing off against Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Jan. 20.
Although this group has two more losses than any other team in the rankings, a challenging national schedule keeps them just inside the Top 25. The Irish need to beat No. 15 Prolific Prep at the Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational to remain in the rankings.
Enter the rankings for the first time this season after escaping with a 50-47 victory in overtime against De Smet Jesuit (St. Louis) at the Highland Shootout.
After losing to Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.) 59-48 in the AHSAA Class 7A state title game last season, the Generals have been unbeatable, reeling off 19 straight.
Dropped Out: Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).
