While No. 1-ranked Oak Hill Academy survived a challenging weekend double-dip, three of the top 11 high school basketball teams in the country went down, causing another shake-up in the Xcellent 25 presented by the Army National Guard.
Read on to see how the upsets impacted this week's rankings;
Xcellent 25 High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard
Quinn Cook, Oak Hill Academy
Photo by Randy Sartin
The Warriors survived a tough weekend unscathed, beating
Melrose (Memphis, Tenn.) in Nashville (80-59) and
Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.) at the Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky (73-71). Oak Hill Academy's schedule looks a bit more forgiving until it heads to Honolulu, Hawaii, later this month for the Iolani Classic.
2. (3) St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 18 at State Farm City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.
3. (4) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 17 against Edison Job Corps Academy (Edison, N.J.).
4. (12) Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) (4-0)
The Wolverines picked up three wins last week, but it was Saturday's 71-61 win over then-No. 2 Milton (Ga.) that made waves nationally. Miller Grove built a 24-point lead in the second half and was led by 6-8, 260-pound junior Tony Parker's 20 points and 12 rebounds. Another tough opponent in Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.) awaits Tuesday.
5. (6) Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) (2-0)
The Wolverines clamped down on defense in a 57-29 win over Hillcrest (Country Club Hills, Ill.) on Saturday night, getting a team-high 14 points from sophomore Kendrick Nunn.
6. (7) Penn Wood (Lansdowne, Pa.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 15 against West Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.).
7. (8) Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 10 against Durango (Las Vegas, Nev.).
8. (9) North Central (Indianapolis, Ind.) (2-0)
Star junior guard D'Vauntes Smith-Rivera notched his second 30-point performance in as many games Saturday night, getting 34 in an 83-73 win over Lawrence Central (Indianapolis, Ind.). The Panthers, who scored 95 points in last season's Class 4A state championship game, are averaging 85 points per game early on this winter.
9. (10) Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) (1-0)
The Royals debuted Saturday with a 73-57 win over Lakeville North (Lakeville, Minn.). The two-time defending Class AAA state champions got 31 points from All-American candidate Joe Coleman, a University of Minnesota signee.
10. (13) Long Beach Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (4-0)
The Jackrabbits dominated an early-season tournament at Redondo en route to a 4-0 record, averaging 78.2 points per game while allowing just 36.2. Ryan Anderson, a 6-8 Boston College signee and tournament MVP, scored 23 points and snatched 14 rebounds in the final, a 63-47 win over Compton (Calif.).
11. (14) Lincoln (San Diego, Calif.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 8 against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.).
12. (15) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) (0-0)
Opens season Dec. 15 against Hun (Princeton, N.J.).
13. (16) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (2-0)
The Stags got their season underway with two wins last week, beating Coolidge (Washington, D.C.) 71-46 and Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 61-44. Six-foot-seven junior Jerami Grant led the way against Mount St. Joseph with 17 points.
14. (19) Yates (Houston, Texas) (6-0)
The Lions out-gunned rival Wheatley (Houston, Texas) 109-95 in their only game of the week, also their 64th win in a row. Junior Damyeon Dotson may be emerging as a star for head coach Greg Wise, scoring 31 points and grabbing 16 boards in the victory. Yates is averaging 112.3 points per game.
15. (20) Lincoln (Dallas, Texas) (9-0)
The Tigers continued their impressive early-season play by winning the McDonald's Fall Classic in El Paso. Tournament MVP LeBryan Nash scored 26 points in the final, a 68-52 win over Franklin (El Paso, Texas).
16. (22) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) (11-1)
Head coach Michael Peck and the Pilots swept their three-game set in Memphis, beating White Station (Memphis, Tenn.) 70-65 despite 46 points from Minnesota-bound Andre Hollins, Ridgeway (Memphis, Tenn.) 69-44 and La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) for the second time in a week, 58-40.
17. (23) Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) (6-0)
The Apaches have won each of their past two contests by the score of 74-60, including Friday's victory over Central Park Christian (Birmingham, Ala.) at the Battle of the Best in Nashville, Tenn. Michael Javes, a 6-10, 225-pound senior, scored 18 points and snared 18 rebounds against the Alabama school.
18. (17) Wichita Heights (Wichita, Kan.) (1-0)
Still putting things together with several football players transitioning to the hardwood, the Sunflower State's two-time defending 6A champions survived a scare in their opener, edging North (Wichita, Kan.) 62-56. Senior Dreamius Smith – a Kansas-bound running back who rushed for over 1,800 yards this fall – led Heights with 16 points.
19. (18) Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.) (1-0)
Decarlos Anderson scored 18 points to lead Virginia's defending Group AAA champions to a 60-37 win over Wilson (Portsmouth, Va.) in their season-opener Friday night. Virginia Tech signee Dorian Finney-Smith added 14.
20. (NR) Dr. Krop (Miami, Fla.) (7-0)
The Lightning embarrassed No. 23 Winter Park last week and spoiled things for another central Florida power in Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) over the weekend, winning 67-62 in double overtime.
21. (NR) Taft (Woodland Hills, Calif.) (4-0)
Head coach Derrick Taylor's Toreadors made a splash on the opening weekend in California, beating defending state champion Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) in the final of its own tournament 71-60. C.J. Blackwell scored 18 points and grabbed 12 boards in the championship game. Taft won the first three games of the event by an average margin of 41 points.
22. (NR) Winter Park (Fla.) (4-1)
It didn't take Austin Rivers and Winter Park long to re-emerge in the Xcellent 25 after dropping out last week. The Wildcats crushed defending Florida 1A champ Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.), 74-40, to win the Rotary Tip-Off Classic. Rivers poured in 28 points to go along with 10 rebounds and four assists against OCP.
23. (2) Milton (Ga.) (4-1)
The Eagles suffered a humbling loss to Miller Grove, but thanks to a grueling schedule have plenty of opportunities remaining to impress and climb the rankings ladder. Milton faces Northview (Duluth, Ga.) on Tuesday.
24. (NR) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (4-0)
Tougher tests are ahead for the Monarchs, but head coach Gary McKnight's new-look roster breezed through the Loara Tournament, beating Canyon (Anaheim, Calif.) 73-64 in the final behind 40 points from junior transfer Xavier Johnson.
25. (25) Butler (Huntsville, Ala.) (7-0)
Johnson (Huntsville, Ala.) finally slowed down scoring sensation Trevor Lacey despite a 57-54 loss Friday – sort of. Lacey, averaging 45.6 points per game entering the contest, was held to 26 as the Rebels remained undefeated.
