The early season upsets continued as six teams in the MaxPreps Top 25 high school basketball rankings, including three in the top 10, lost last week. And while the stocks fall for those upset, it allows others to rise or enter the rankings.
St. Frances Academy
(Baltimore) went from unranked to No. 9 after
the Panthers downed previous No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 59-55 on their home
court. The Stags stumbled to No. 13 but remain in the rankings
behind an experienced, talent-laden unit.
Preseason No. 2 Milton (Ga.) has had a rough start to the season, with two key players arrested following their season-opening victory over Roswell (Ga.) on Nov. 17. The Eagles fell from the ranking this week after being dominated by No. 22 Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.) 64-47 in their first return to the court since their opener.
Previous No. 6 North Little Rock (Ark.) also lost for the first time this season, falling 62-48 in the Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic title game to host Jonesboro (Ark.). The Charging Wildcats look to redeem themselves at the Battle in the Bluff this weekend where a showdown with No. 2 Richardson (Texas) awaits.
Top-ranked Duncanville travels to the Hoophall West for a Thursday meeting against Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) the No. 1 team in National Top 20, a separate ranking for programs and basketball academies that don't compete for a state title. The showdown will be a major test for a Duncanville team that has already notched three wins over Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 opponents.
Another rankings-shaping clash is Friday's highly anticipated contest between No. 12 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) and No. 21 Reading (Pa.)
Alabama signee Rylan Griffen of Richardson takes his defender off the dribble.
File photo by Robbie Rakestraw
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 1
Picked up a pair of quality victories over Bayou State opponents, defeating Zachary 86-56 and Carver Collegiate Academy (New Orleans) 93-52 at the Red River Hoop Festival. Five-star guard
Anthony Black registered a career-high 31 points in the win over Carver Collegiate Academy.
Record: 9-0 | Last week: 2
The Eagles have three major challenges on the schedule this week, hosting Coppell (Texas) on Tuesday before traveling to the Battle in the Bluff for showdowns against Kenwood (Chicago) and North Little Rock (Ark.) on Friday and Saturday, respectively.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 4
Open the year Dec. 17 with a highly anticipated contest against No. 11 Roselle Catholic on ESPNU.
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 5
Bronny James led the way with 19 points in the Trailblazers 71-53 victory over St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) at the Staples Center. Five-star UCLA signee
Amari Bailey was seen on the sideline in a walking boot after spraining his ankle during his return to the floor earlier in the week.
Record: 1-0 | Last week: 8
Cruised to a 78-46 season-opening victory over St. Mary's (Manhasset, N.Y.) paced by 22 points from
Jayden Pierre and 21 points from
Louis Hutchinson.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 9
Won their first three contests by an average margin of victory 44.3 points. The Eagles take the court one time this week prior to a mega-showdown with No. 8 Greensboro Day in the opening round of the City of Palms Classic on Dec. 17.
Record: 5-1 | Last week: 10
Travel to the Hoophall West on Saturday to face unbeaten defending state champion Sunnyslope (Phoenix). The Huskies lone loss came against top-ranked Duncanville.
Record: 11-0
| Last week: 11
The Bengals program continues to impress under the lead of North Carolina's all-time wins leader, Freddy Johnson, who sits at 1,115 wins in season number 45.
Michael Zanoni leads the team in scoring with 11.4 points.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: Not ranked
Made a statement at the National High School Hoops Festival, defeating National Top 20 ranked program Huntington Prep (Huntington, W. Va.) 65-56 upsetting previous DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) 59-55.
Cortez Johnson led the way with 16 points and 20 rebounds against the Stags.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 13
Tip off the year with a trip to the City of Palms Classic against Whitney Young (Chicago) in a Dec. 17 first-round contest.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 14
Open the year with a highly anticipated in-state matchup against No. 3 Camden on Dec. 17 on ESPNU.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 15
Start the 2021-22 campaign on Friday with a tough in-state opponent in No. 21 Reading.
Record: 2-1
| Last week: 3
Split
a pair of challenging matchups at the National High School Hoops
Festival, defeating Westtown (West Chester, Pa.) 77-62 before falling to
No. 9 St. Frances Academy 59-55. The Stags play St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) and Pace Academy (Atlanta) at Hoophall West.
Record: 0-0 | Last week: 17
Take on Miamisburg (Ohio) Tuesday to tip off the season.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 18
Tournament MVP
Ryan Abelman led the Gaels to the Wild West Shootout championship to open the season. The Nevada powerhouse heads to the Hoophall West this weekend to battle St. Mary's (Phoenix) on Saturday.
Record: 5-0 | Last week: 19
After securing their biggest win of the young season over Bearden (Knoxville) 64-55 last week, the Fighting Irish travel to the Battle in the Bluff to face Memphis East (Memphis), Bartlett (Tenn.) and Memphis University (Memphis) on three consecutive nights.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 20
Led by seniors
Paxton Warden (18) and Gonzaga pledge
Braden Huff (16), the Hilltoppers escaped with a 57-54 victory over Glenbard South at the Ridgewood Shootout. Glenbard West had won their previous five contests by an average margin of victory of 37 points.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 23
Notched a signature early-season victory over Whitney Young (Chicago) 64-50 at the Chicago Elite Classic. Freshman guard
Nykolas Lewis scored a team-high 17 points, while George Mason commit
Devin Dinkins chipped in 16.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 21
Scored a pair of impressive wins at the National High School Hoops Festival, defeating Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) 65-60 and Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) 74-58. Sophomore guard
Darren Harris had a pair of breakout performances, highlighted by 21 points on 7-of-9 shooting and 5-of-5 from 3-point range against Archbishop Spalding.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 24
Escape with a 61-60 road victory against Archer (Lawrenceville, Ga.) behind
Marcus Whitlock (18) and
Stephon Castle (17). Head to the Naismith Shootout this weekend against Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.) and Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.).
Record: 0-0
| Last week: 22
Start the year Friday with a showdown against No. 12 Imhotep Charter at nearby Albright College.
Record: 5-1
| Last week: Not ranked
Knocked off previous No. 7 Milton (Ga.) 64-47 in a game they led by 20 points by halftime. A balanced scoring effort helped the Falcons to the win as
Kami Young (21),
Jaiun Simon (17) and
Jordan Brown (16) were the catalysts in the statement win.
Record: 4-0 | Last week: Not ranked
Ohio State signee
Brice Sensabaugh went off for 36 points and knocked down 8-of-12 3-points attempts to lead the Highlanders to a quality in-state victory over Windermere 67-60. Lake Highland Prep opened the season with a victory over preseason top 10 program Dr. Phillips (Orlando) last month.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: Not ranked
Defeated each their first six opponents by 26 points or more to accumulate an average margin of victory of 37.5. The Gaels first major test is expected to come Dec. 18 against No. 12 Imhotep Charter.
Record: 1-0 | Last week: Not ranked
Opened the season with an impressive 46-43 win over St. John's (Washington, D.C.) as senior
Samuel Gibbs finished with 21 points and five rebounds.
