As the calendar flips to 2024, the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings are experiencing a massive shake-up as holiday tournaments established a new pecking order.
Since last week's update, a dozen MaxPreps Top 25 teams have suffered defeats.
Plano East (Plano, Texas) was another big mover last week as the Panthers surged from 19 spots from No. 19 to No. 4 after capturing the Championship Basketball Tournament (formerly Whataburger Tournament) with a 55-50 victory over previous No. 8
Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) in the title game.
Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) ascended into the top 10 last week after claiming the Tulsa Tournament of Champions title. The defending Class 6A state champions jumped 12 spots from No. 18 to No. 6 this week.
D.J. Hall earned MVP honors at the Championship Basketball Tournament in Texas, helping Plano East improve to 21-0 and climb to No. 4 in this week's MaxPreps Top 25. (Photo: Michael Horbovetz)
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 1
The tough schedule continues this month as the Panthers travel to the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions next week prior to a showdown with No. 8 Columbus at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Jan. 15.
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 5
Captured the King Cotton Classic title with quality wins over St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.), Pine Bluff (Ark.) and Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) in the title game. First team all-tournament selection
Nykolas Lewis averaged 16.0 points, 7.3 rebounds and 6.0 assists per game to lead the charge.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 6
Secured the John Wall Holiday Invitational Day'ron Sharpe Bracket title with victories over Garner, Millbrook (Raleigh) and Christ School (Arden) in the championship game. Four-star junior
Sadiq White Jr. earned MVP honors, averaging 17.3 points per contest while shooting 79 percent from the field.
Record: 21-0 | Last week: 23
East is the team to beat at the moment in the Lone Star State after winning the Championship Basketball Tournament. The Panthers notched wins over Birdville, Rouse, Martin (Arlington) and previous No. 8 Stony Point 55-50 in the title game. Junior forward
D.J. Hall was named tournament MVP after producing a team-high 18 points in the title game triumph.
Record: 6-2 | Last week: 4
After an excellent start to his senior campaign, five-star Rutgers commit
Dylan Harper suffered an injury in a loss to Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) last week and his status is unknown moving forward. The Ironmen own wins over No. 8 Columbus, No. 13 McEachern and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 18
Surge 12 spots after claiming the Tulsa Tournament of Champions title with victories over Okay, Crossings Christian (Oklahoma City) and Owasso in the championship game. Three-star Wyoming signee
Dylan Warlick earned tournament MVP honors.
Record: 14-0 | Last week: NR
The Blazers make the biggest leap in the rankings this season, joining the top 10 after previously being outside the top 100. Ridge View took home the Chick-fil-A Classic American Division title by beating previous No. 7 John Marshall in the semifinals and previous No. 3 Grayson in the title game. Sophomore
Korie Corbett was named tournament MVP after averaging 17 points and 5.7 rebounds per contest.
Record: 10-4 | Last week: 13
Took home the Les Schwab Invitational title with a 55-54 victory over previous No. 2 Harvard-Westlake in the title game . Princeton commit
Malik Abdullahi put back a missed runner from
Cayden Boozer in the final seconds. Reigning MaxPreps National Player of the Year
Cameron Boozer earned tournament MVP honors after averaging 24.3 points and 12.8 rebounds per contest.
Record: 15-1 | Last week: 2
The Wolverines have four in-state contests before facing No. 13 McEachern at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Jan. 15.
Record: 12-1
| Last week: 3
Advanced to the Chick-fil-A Classic title game with wins over Imani Christian Academy (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and St. John's (Washington, D.C.) before losing to No. 7 Ridge View. Four-star Purdue signee
Gicarri Harris earned tournament MOP honors after averaging 20.3 points, 7.0 rebounds and 3.0 assists per game.
Record: 20-1
| Last week: 12
Claimed its first Huntsville City Classic championship since 1985 after a 61-60 victory over Austin (Decatur) in the title game. Junior guard
J.D. Gossett connected on a pair of free throws with under one second remaining to give the Panthers the win and finished with a game-high 21 points.
Record: 20-1 | Last week: 8
The Tigers remain a top contender for the Class 6A state title despite the loss to Plano East.
Record: 9-3
| Last week: 17
Five-star
Rutgers signee
Ace Bailey continued to build a case for MaxPreps
National Player of the Year honors after finishing with 40 points and
21 rebounds in a 77-52 victory over Camden (N.J.). The standout
performance marked the third time this season Bailey has contributed 40
or more points and 19 or more rebounds in the same game.
Record: 11-2
| Last week: NR
Rejoin
the rankings after claiming the Beach Ball Classic title with wins over North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas) and
Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.) in a double-overtime thriller in
the championship game. Four-star senior
Bryson Tucker earned tournament MVP honors after averaging 24.3 points per contest.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: 7
After falling to Ridge View, the Justices bounced back with a 72-70 victory over St. John's (Washington, D.C.) in the third-place game on a game-winning layup from four-star sophomore
Latrell Allmond.
Record: 7-3 | Last week: 11
Bounced back from a 55-50 loss to National Top 10 No. 4 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) with a 65-54 victory over College Achieve (Ashbury Park, N.J.) at the Jordan Holiday Classic. The Quakers have another big matchup this week against No. 18 Bullis on Saturday.
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 15
The Redbirds had an impressive week with wins over Marquette University (Milwaukee) 78-61 and Homestead (Mequon) 73-58 at the WBY Shootout.
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 9
Fell nine spots after suffering a 64-57 loss to Moravian Prep
(Hudson, N.C.) at the Slam Dunk to the Beach but the Bulldogs could bounce back this week with matchups against top 50 opponent Jackson-Reed
(Washington, D.C.) tomorrow and No. 16 Sidwell Friends on Saturday.
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 14
Winners of 43 in a row, Central Cabarrus is the favorite to win its second consecutive Class 3A state title but the lack of quality opponents on the schedule leaves the Vikings at the mercy of other results when it comes to the national rankings.
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 19
The Vikings face three in-state opponents before traveling to the Spalding Hoophall Classic for a showdown with Camden (N.J.) on Jan. 13.
Record: 12-2
| Last week: 24
Jamier Jones and
Jordan Tillery helped the Pioneers return home with the title at the Tournament of Champions Holiday Classic in Georgia.
Record: 16-1
| Last week: NR
Escaped with the Classic at Damien title after winning four games by a combined 13 points. The Mustangs knocked off Branson (Ross), Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho), host Damien (La Verne) in the semifinals and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the title game.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 22
Defending Class AAAA state champions face Lakeville North on Thursday in a rematch of last season's state championship game that Wayzata won 79-77. The Trojans have won 20 in a row.
Record: 6-1 | Last week: NR
After a run to the 'Iolani Classic title game,
Qin Pang and
Dwayne Pierce sparked double-digit wins over Friendship Tech Prep Academy (Washington, D.C.) and Nazareth (Brooklyn, N.Y.).
Record: 9-0 | Last week: NR
The Wildcats are the first team from the Hoosier State to break into the MaxPreps Top 25 this season after emerging as an early favorite to capture the Class 4A state title. Junior
Azavier Robinson (19.3 points, 5.5 rebounds, 2.8 assists, 2.5 steals per game) leads a balanced attack with five players averaging 11.1 points or more.
