Columbus finishes No. 1, crowned MaxPreps National Champion

Explorers went 30-3, captured Chipotle Nationals title and fourth consecutive Class 7A state championship.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jordan Divens

By Jordan Divens

Apr 7, 2025, 10:00am

Explorers went 30-3, captured Chipotle Nationals championship and fourth consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state title.

Final MaxPreps Top 25 Basketball Rankings | 2024-2025 Season 331,110 views 0:56

Columbus (Miami, Fla.) established itself as the best team in high school basketball this season with big out-of-state victories and a fourth consecutive Class 7A state championship. The Explorers are the 2024-25 MaxPreps National Champions after finishing No. 1 in the final MaxPreps Top 25.

Under head coach Andrew Moran, Columbus (30-3) built a strong resume with wins over No. 4 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.), No. 7 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), No. 8 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), No. 11 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), No. 24 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and No. 25 Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) in addition to academy powerhouses Dynamic Prep (Irving, Texas), CIA-Bella Vista (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

Over the weekend, Columbus became the first team that competes for a state championship to win Chipotle Nationals, knocking off Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) 76-62 in the quarterfinals, Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 47-45 in the semifinals and Dynamic Prep 67-49 in the title game.

(Graphic: Ryan Escobar)

Columbus outscored opponents by an average margin of 23.3 points per contest and averaged 76.5 points per game this season. The Explorers went 16-3 against nationally-ranked opponents including 6-0 against teams in the MaxPreps Top 25.

The Catholic college prep school became just the second in Florida history to win four straight titles in the state's highest classification. The Explorers won by an average of 35.4 points per contest during five state tournament games and triggered a running clock before pulling their starters in each win.

Duke signee Cameron Boozer (22.6 points, 12.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists and 2.0 steals per game) led a balanced attack that included fellow Duke signee and twin brother Cayden Boozer (13.9 points, 7.5 assists, 3.7 rebounds), five-star junior Caleb Gaskins (14.5 points, 6.2 rebounds) and top 20 junior Jaxon Richardson (14.1 points, 4.9 rebounds).

The Boozer brothers, who combined for over 4,300 points and already have their jerseys retired at Columbus, complete their decorated high school basketball careers with an overall record of 114-14 and three national top 10 finishes across four seasons.

Past MaxPreps National Champions

2009 — Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)
2010 — Yates (Houston)
2011 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)
2012 — St. Anthony
2013 — Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
2014 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2016 — Chino Hills (Calif.)
2017 — Nathan Hale (Seattle)
2018 — Montverde Academy
2019 — IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
2020 — Montverde Academy
2021 — Montverde Academy

2022 — Duncanville (Texas)

2023 — John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)

2024 — Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)

Final MaxPreps Top 25

1. Columbus (Miami, Fla.)

Record: 30-3

Chipotle Nationals champions, Class 7A state champion.

2. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)

Record: 35-2

Open Division state champion.

3. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)

Record: 31-3

Open Division quarterfinalist.

4. Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)

Record: 27-2

Open Division state champion.

5. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 22-1

Class 3A state champion.

6. Hoover (Ala.)

Record: 35-0

Class 7A state champion.

7. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)

Record: 29-3

Class AAAAAA state champion.

8. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 29-5

DCSAA Class AA champion.

9. John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)

Record: 25-2

Class 2 state champion.

10. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)

Record: 27-6

WCAC regular season and tournament champion.

11. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)

Record: 28-8

Open Division semifinalist.

12. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)

Record: 31-2

Open Division quarterfinalist

13. Duncanville (Texas)

Record: 27-7

Class 6A Division 1 state champion.

14. Highland (Warrenton, Va.)

Record: 42-7

VISAA Division I state champion.

15. Brennan (San Antonio, Texas)

Record: 33-3

Class 6A Division 1 semifinalist.

16. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)

Record: 28-3

Class AAAAAA semifinalist.

17. Oak Park (Kansas City, Mo.)

Record: 31-1

Class 6 state champion.

18. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 30-2

Class 6A state champion.

19. Christ School (Arden, N.C.)

Record: 28-3

NCISAA Class 4A state champion.

20. Allen (Texas)

Record: 34-2

Class 6A Division 1 semifinalist.

21. Reidsville (N.C.)

Record: 31-0

Class 2A state champion.

22. East Lansing (Mich.)

Record: 28-1

Division 1 state champion.

23. Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.)

Record: 27-2

Class 4 state champion.

24. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)

Record: 26-4

CHSAA Class AA city champion, PSAL/CHSAA Class AA champion.

25. Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.)

Record: 35-4

State champion.

Next 75

26. Huntsville (Ala.)

Record: 32-2

27. Jeffersonville (Ind.)

Record: 24-5

Class 4A state champion.

28. Our Lady of Mount Carmel (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 34-4

MIAA regular season and tournament champion.

29. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)

Record: 27-7

Division I state champion.

30. North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.)

Record: 30-3

Class 4A state champion.

31. Fishers (Ind.)

Record: 30-1

Class 4A state finalist.

32. Olentangy (Lewis Center, Ohio)

Record: 26-2

Division I state champion.

33. St. Michael's (Austin, Texas)

Record: 32-4

TAPPS Class 6A state champion.

34. Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)

Record: 34-2

Division II Class AA state champion.

35. DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.)

Record: 33-4

Class 3A state champion.

36. Holy Innocents Episcopal (Atlanta, Ga.)

Record: 27-4

Private state champion.

37. Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.)

Record: 33-5

Class 4A state champion.

38. Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)

Record: 28-6

Division I semifinalist.

39. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)

Record: 26-7

40. Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.)

Record: 29-2
Class 5A state champion.

41. Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Record: 28-2

Division 1 state champion.

42. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.)

Record: 29-2

Open Division finalist.

43. Weatherford (Okla.)

Record: 32-1

Class 4A state champion.

44. Bullis (Potomac, Md.)

Record: 23-7

MDPSSBT state champion.

45. La Mirada (Calif.)

Record: 25-7

46. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

Record: 24-6

DCSAA Class AA finalist.

47. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)

Record: 23-7

MDPSSBT semifinalist.

48. Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.)

Record: 29-4

Class AAAA state champion.

49. De La Salle (Concord, Calif.)

Record: 28-5

Open Division state semifinalist.

50. Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas)

Record: 33-3 *

Forfeited third-round state tournament game.

51. Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.)

Record: 28-2 *

Forfeited third-round state tournament game.

52. Milwaukee Academy of Science (Milwaukee, Wis.)

Record: 24-1

Division 3 state champion.

53. Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.)

Record: 23-10

VISAA Division I finalist.

54. Reynoldsburg (Ohio)

Record: 26-2

Division I finalist.

55. West Brook (Beaumont, Texas)

Record: 38-2

Class 5A Division 1 state champion.

56. Windermere (Fla.)

Record: 26-6

Class 7A finalist.

57. Sagemont (Weston, Fla.)

Record: 22-8

Class 1A state champion.

58. Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)

Record: 30-1

Class 3 state champion.

59. Annie Wright (Tacoma, Wash.)

Record: 23-2

Class 1A state champion.

60. Rainier Beach (Seattle, Wash.)

Record: 28-3

Class 3A state champion.

61. Davis (Kaysville, Utah)

Record: 24-3

Class 6A state champion.

62. Olympus (Salt Lake City, Utah)

Record: 24-3

Class 5A state champion.

63. Stranahan (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

Record: 25-7

Class 4A state champion.

64. Gibbs (St. Petersburg, Fla.)

Record: 27-5

Class 4A finalist.

65. Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.)

Record: 27-2

Division I state champion.

66. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Record: 24-5

Class 5A state champion.

67. Thomas Jefferson Campus (Brooklyn, N.Y.)

Record: 31-2

PSAL Class AA champion.

68. Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.)

Record: 31-2

Class 4A quarterfinalist.

69. Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.)

Record: 29-2

Class AAAA finalist.

70. The Villages Charter (The Villages, Fla.)

Record: 26-6

Class 3A finalist.

71. Guyer (Denton, Texas)

Record: 34-7

Class 6A Division 2 state champion.

72. North Oconee (Bogart, Ga.)

Record: 30-2

Class AAAA state champion.

73. Papillion-LaVista South (Papillion, Neb.)

Record: 26-3

Class A state champion.

74. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)

Record: 31-5

NCISAA Class 3A state champion.

75. Deer Creek (Edmond, Okla.)

Record: 25-5

Class 6A state champion.

76. Owasso (Okla.)

Record: 25-5

Class 6A quarterfinalist.

77. Plainfield (N.J.)

Record: 29-3

Group 4 state champion.

78. St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows, N.Y.)

Record: 23-4

79. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.)

Record: 27-5

Non-Public A state champion.

80. Father Judge (Philadelphia, Pa.)

Record: 24-7

Class 6A state champion.

81. St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.)

Record: 31-3

82. Alexandria (Minn.)

Record: 31-3

Class AAAA state champion.

83. Westerville North (Westerville, Ohio)

Record: 25-2

Division II state champion.

84. Orem (Utah)

Record: 21-4

Class 5A quarterfinalist.

85. Shadow Creek (Pearland, Texas)

Record: 32-3

Class 6A Division 2 quarterfinalist.

86. Central (Phenix City, Ala.)

Record: 29-5

Class 7A semifinalist.

87. Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.)

Record: 27-5

NCISAA Class 4A semifinalist.

88. Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (Corpus Christi, Texas)

Record: 39-1

Class 5A Division 1 semifinalist.

89. Kimball (Dallas, Texas)

Record: 28-5

Class 4A Division 1 state champion.

90. Lancaster (S.C.)

Record: 27-1

Class AAAA state champion.

91. Jordan (Fulshear, Texas)

Record: 35-4

Class 6A Division 2 finalist.

92. Salesian College Preparatory (Richmond, Calif.)

Record: 27-4

Open Division quarterfinalist.

93. St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)

Record: 28-7

MIAA Class A finalist.

94. Evanston (Ill.)

Record: 31-6

Class 4A semifinalist.

95. New Hanover (Wilmington, N.C.)

Record: 30-3

Class 4A finalist.

96. Eaglecrest (Centennial, Colo.)

Record: 26-2

Class 6A state champion.

97. Glens Falls (N.Y.)

Record: 27-0

Class A state champion.

98. Wayne Memorial (Wayne, Mich.)

Record: 25-4

Division 1 finalist.

99. Barlow (Gresham, Ore.)

Record: 25-3

Class 6A state champion.

100. University of Detroit Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.)

Record: 26-3

Division 1 semifinalist.

Columbus finishes No. 1, crowned MaxPreps National Champion

Explorers went 30-3, captured Chipotle Nationals title and fourth consecutive Class 7A state championship.

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