It didn't take long for Kevin Boyle to deliver a national title at Montverde Academy.
Photo by Lonnie Webb
The combination of Montverde Academy and Kevin Boyle sounded like a winner from the moment it was announced in April of 2011.
One of the nation's top coaches was heading to an elite academic institution on a beautiful campus with the ability to attract talent from all over the country and even the world. And he wasn't starting from scratch, as Montverde Academy was ranked nationally several times times under Kevin Sutton from 2004 to 2011.
It didn't take long for Boyle to deliver the goods, as the Eagles used a dramatic three-day run over the weekend at the National High School Invitational to vault past three teams and earn the No. 1 ranking in the final MaxPreps Academy Top 10.
Seemingly a perennial national championship contender while at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), Boyle finally broke through to claim the crown with perhaps his deepest collection of talent ever.
The Eagles featured at least a handful players that will sign with high major college basketball programs. Seniors
Kasey Hill (Florida),
Dakari Johnson (Kentucky) and
Devin Williams (West Virginia) have made their respective decisions about the next level.
Two other seniors in
Miguel Cartagena and
Justin Bibbs along with juniors
Jordan Caroline,
Jalyn Patterson and
D'Angelo Russell – a potential five-star prospect – were regulars in the rotation.
Australian import
Ben Simmons, a 6-foot-8 sophomore, was activated in time for the National High School Invitational and had a huge impact in the event. Simmons made impressive stops on the summer circuit at the Pangos All-American Camp and adidas Nations last summer and is regarded by some as the potential No. 1 prospect in the Class of 2015.
Montverde Academy (25-2) beat eight teams ranked nationally at some point in the season, including an impressive 21-point victory over Xcellent 25 national champion Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) in the championship game of the prestigious City of Palms Classic.
There was also a 29-point win over eventual Illinois 4A champ Simeon (Chicago) and 26-point thrashing of New Jersey Tournament of Champions winner Roselle Catholic in January.
The two losses on Montverde's resume came on back-to-back nights in a scenario that few coaches in the country would attempt.
The Eagles were dropped by Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) on Jan. 19 in the final of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri. Two nights later, Boyle's bunch was in Springfield, Mass., to take on Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) and fell victim to a valiant comeback by the Pilots.
MaxPreps Academy Top 10 presented by the Army National Guard1. Montverde Academy (Fla.), 25-2National High School Invitational champions.
2. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), 32-23. Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 35-14. Prime Prep (Dallas), 37-25. Huntington Prep (W.Va.), 30-36. Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 29-17. La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), 26-68. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 32-69. Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), 23-5NCISAA Class 3A state champions.
T10. Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), 19-5T10. The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.), 31-4Sunshine Independent Athletic Association tournament champions.
