21. (NR) Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.) (4-0)The Roadrunners have already beat solid programs from Alabama, Georgia and Kentucky in addition to a 20-point win over perennial Memphis power White Station. Ridgeway knocked off Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.) 64-59 Saturday at the Memphis vs. Atlanta Roundball Classic behind 16 points from senior point guard
Cameron Golden.
22. (25) Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) (1-0)BYU commitment
Nick Emery opened his junior season by exploding for a school-record 39 points as Lone Peak smoked Cottonwood (Salt Lake City) 83-53. The Knights head to Orem to face a sneaky-tough field at the Great Western Shootout this week.
23. (NR) Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (5-0)The Kangaroos got some key off-season transfers and made a statement by beating then-No. 14 Christ the King (Middle Village) on its home court Saturday night, 64-59.
Leroy Fludd, a 6-foot-6 wing, out-dueled reigning NYC player of the year Omar Calhoun with 23 points.
Matt Jones, DeSoto
Photo by Jim Redman
For the sake of full disclosure, there are a handful of teams from the state of Texas in addition to No. 1 Marcus and No. 8 Grace Prep that could make a case for inclusion in the Xcellent 25 at this point. Making things messy, many of them have already met head-to-head and saddled each other with losses. Fort Bend Bush (Richmond) may have been on its way into this week's rankings, but got dropped by Fort Bend Travis (Richmond) in the final of a tournament Saturday. Clouding any judgment on that game was the fact that two of Bush's best players –
Cameron Ridley and
ShawnDre Jones – missed much of the contest while taking the ACTs (the best reason I've heard this year for a player missing action). Private school power Prestonwood Christian has also been impressive early but we'll get a better read on them this week after a Thursday meeting with Grace Prep, then a trip to the City of Palms Classic. DeSoto gets the nod for now, but the situation is fluid to say the least.
25. (NR) Sexton (Lansing, Mich.) (1-0)Michigan's top-ranked Class B team opened with an 89-47 win over Grand Ledge on Friday night, getting 19 points, nine rebounds and eight assists from Michigan State-bound
Denzel Valentine.
Dropped out: No. 14 last week
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), No. 17
North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.), No. 19
Milton (Ga.), No. 23
Romulus (Mich.)
