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The first regular season rankings are finally here with five new faces featured in the National Top 25.
Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.), Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), Vashon (St. Louis), Pinnacle (Ariz.) and Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.) all debut after each picking up signature wins in the first month of action.
Falling from the Preseason Top 25 were defending state champions No. 13 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) and No. 23 Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.) who each dropped their first game last week, while No. 12 Guyer (Denton, Texas), No. 14 Norcross (Ga.), and No. 22 South Garland (Garland, Texas) each fell twice through their difficult early season slate.
The only Top 10 change was other Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) jumping University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) for the No. 4 spot after a shaky preseason for the Sharks. Changes will be coming to the top next week with Top 10 showdowns between No. 1 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) and No. 3 IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.) vs. No. 6 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) set to shake up the rankings.
Look for the Top 25 picture to be a lot clearer in the next few weeks, with holiday tournaments quickly approaching for the top teams across high school basketball.
Pinnacle enters the Xcellent 25 at No. 22 after ending Shadow Mountain's 73-game Arizona win streak.
Photo by Darin Sicurello
MaxPreps Xcellent
25 High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National
Guard
The Eagles opened with two blowout wins at home, displaying their elite depth and athleticism in both. This week they face two challenging foes, No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy and No. 11 Paul VI, at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
Aside from an early season test from Moravian Prep, the Warriors have handled early competition easily behind their balanced attack of elite guards. Next up, Oak Hill Academy travels to the Bojangles Bash to take on a very talented Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.).
The Ascenders opened the season by outscoring their opponents by 33.5 points per game. This week IMG will be challenged with showdowns against Wilson (Washington, D.C.) and No. 6 DeMatha at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
The Trailblazers have started the season with no issues through five games, outscoring their opponents by 48.8 points per game and looking like the team to beat on the West Coast. They will take on four tough California foes this week before traveling to the 'Iolani Classic and a loaded field in Hawaii.
The Sharks slipped up in their first preseason game, but have started their regular season strong with wins over quality Sunshine State opponents, South Miami (Miami) and Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), last week. The Sharks will have a few tune up games before opening up the City of Palms Classic with No. 21 Vashon in two weeks.
The Stags opened their season with two dominant wins, taking down WCAC newcomer The Heights (Potomac, Md.) 131-40 and knocking off a quality Goretti (Hagerstown, Md.) squad by 21 points. The Stags host two of their toughest opponents of the season this week, taking on No. 3 IMG Academy and Roman Catholic in the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
The Buffaloes have excelled through their first five games, picking up signature wins against Lone Star State contenders Duncanville (Texas) and Guys (Denton, Texas) at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest. Sunrise takes on No. 1 Montverde Academy this weekend at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
Elite transfer Keion Brooks has led the way through the Lakers' first three contests, including a 40-point outing Friday night against Indianapolis Crispus Attucks (Ind.). La Lumiere travels to the Forum Tipoff Classic this weekend to face Center Grove (Greenwood, Ind.)
The Indians have three quality wins over in-state opponents to open up their 2018-19 campaign. A talented group in search of their first state championship will challenge the nation's best over the next two months beginning with a return trip to the City of Palms Classic.
The Panthers open their highly anticipated 2018-19 season with Philly's Constitution on Dec. 11.
The injury bug has devastated the Panthers again this season with Jeremy Roach out for the year with a torn ACL and Anthony Harris season in limbo pending MRI results. Paul VI picked up a quality win on Saturday against St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) and takes on No. 1 Montverde Academy and Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.) this weekend at the ARS/Rescue Rooter National Hoopfest.
The Eagles opened up their season with four hard fought wins in the Battlezone tournament. They showed grit in a pair quality wins over Chino Hills (Calif.), 72-67, and 56-54 over host Centennial (Corona, Calif.) for the event title. This week they travel to the Hoophall West where they will face Simeon (Chicago) and No. 22 Pinnacle.
The Mustangs have been one of the most impressive teams thus far, picking up statement wins over Olive Branch (Miss.) 69-50 and Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 69-52. Any questions about the post-Penny Hardaway era have been answered early for the Mustangs.
The Maroons have started off the season with a unique statistic in the high school realm — their first six wins have been against teams from six different states. Led by National Player of the Year candidate
EJ Liddell, the Maroons have picked up quality wins over Rayville (La.) and Callaway.
One of the most impressive teams in through the month of November, the Tigers picking up a pair of quality wins at the Holiday Hoopsgiving. The Tigers look to continue their early season success this weekend in the Vivint Great Western Shootout.
The Pilots have started the season scorching the nets, averaging 111.6 points per game through their first five outings and outscoring their opponents by an average of 38.8 points per contest.
Ranney School begins their 2018-19 journey next week when they take on Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) on Dec. 16.
This week will be crucial to the Bullpups success this season as they face Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) and No. 19 Bishop Gorman this weekend in the Hoophall West. Gonzaga Prep will face two of their more difficult tasks of the entire season in two games that will shape their position in the rankings.
The Gaels took down a tough in-state opponent for their first win of the campaign, defeating Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 88-75 in a high octane back-and-forth event on ESPNU. The Gaels have two major challenges this week with a chance to bolster their national resume facing Guyer and No. 19 Gonzaga Prep at the Hoophall West.
The Eagles opened their season with a 74-33 drubbing on the road at Jefferson (Auburn, Wash.). This weekend they travel to New York to compete in the Battle in the Apple where they will take on
Aidan Igiehon and Woodmere Academy (Woodmere, N.Y.).
Vashon picked up a pair of quality early season wins, knocking off South Garland 62-59 and Morgan Park (Chicago) 75-62 in impressive early season showings. The Wolverines have two weeks until their first round showdown at the City of Palms Classic against No. 5 University.
The defending Arizona 6A state champions have started the season on fire and made a huge statement last week with an 82-80 win over Shadow Mountain to snap the Matadors' 73 game in-state win streak. This weekend, Pinnacle gears up for two more massive tests against San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) and No. 12 Rancho Christian at the Hoophall West.
The Vikings began their season with a 72-61 win over Seattle Prep (Seattle) in their opening game. This week the Vikings will take on two Evergreen State opponents before their schedule begins to ramp up around the holidays.
The Cougars have been ultra-impressive through their first 10 games,
picking up a number of quality wins against in-state opponents and
capturing a big out of state win over Lakeside (Evans, Ga.) 86-72 in the Holiday Hoopsgiving. The Emerald Classic and Arby's Classic loom large later in the month for this talented group.
The Lions open their 2018-19 campaign with two stiff tests, facing Trenton Catholic Academy (Trenton, N.J.) on Dec. 14 and Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) on Dec. 16.
