Despite losing their second game since the start of the 2019-20 season, Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) remains atop the National Top 20 high school basketball rankings as each of the top three teams lost once last week. The Eagles, No. 2 IMG Academy (Brandenton, Fla.) and No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) all dropped one game as NIBC play began.
Montverde Academy, which is 55-2 over the last three seasons, dropped a 65-64 decision to IMG, but handled No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) 53-44 and beat No. 9 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 86-51.
The Ascenders would have moved up to the top spot with their win over Montverde Academy alone, but slipped up to Sunrise Christian Academy in their NIBC opener losing by six points before beating Oak Hill Academy 87-75 in a close game throughout.
La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) sits atop the NIBC standings after a perfect 3-0 weekend at the Bob Kirk Invitational and moves to No. 4 after three blowout wins over the weekend. The Lakers couldn't break up the top three teams in the rankings though, as they have yet to face a Top 10 opponent this season.
Looking ahead, the Norm Stewart Classic features a showdown between unbeaten teams: No. 5 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) taking on No. 6 Southern California Academy (Castaic, Calif.) in an ESPNU showdown.
Montverde Academy, No. 8 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), Oak Hill Academy, No. 10 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), No. 16 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) and No. 18 Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) are all competing in the Hoophall West event beginning tonight.
J.J. Starling had a strong start to NIBC play, leading La Lumiere to a 3-0 record.
File photo by Annette Wilkerson
Record: 4-1 | Last week: 1
Duke signee
Dariq Whitehead played at a high level over their three NIBC contests, averaging 20.6 points, 6.7 rebounds and 3.6 assists. The Eagles return to action for another major challenge this week, taking on Duncanville (Texas), No. 1 in MaxPreps Top 25 rankings, on Thursday.
Record: 4-1 | Last week: 2
Houston pledge
Jarace Walker led the way, averaging 18.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and three blocks and shooting 69 percent from the field. Walker had 20 points, seven rebounds and five blocks in the Ascenders win over Montverde.
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 3
Remain at No. 3 after splitting a pair of meetings with the top two teams in the rankings. The Buffaloes will have another shot at both teams later in the season.
Record: 8-0 | Last week: 7
Lakers outscored No. 16 Wasatch Academy, No. 17 Legacy Early College and Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) by an average of 27.3 points.
Record: 11-0 | Last week: 4
Notched a pair of statement wins over the weekend at the Battle at the Rock, defeating Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 81-64 before besting Denver Prep Academy (Denver, Colo.) 67-40.
Record: 6-0 | Last week: 5
Face a pair of ranked opponents this week, battling No. 15 Combine Academy at the Battle in the Bluff on Friday before taking on No. 5 Link Academy at the Norm Stewart Classic.
Record: 10-0 | Last week: 6
Face their biggest tests of the season so far at the Battle in the Bluff this weekend, taking on Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) and No. 15 Combine Academy.
Record: 10-1 | Last week: 9
Look to regain their footing at Hoophall West with clashes against Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), No. 16 Wasatch Academy and No. 9 Oak Hill Academy. A balanced Dragons attack sees six players averaging double-figures.
Record: 9-4 | Last week: 8
Drop one spot despite going 0-3 to begin NIBC after losing to No. 1 Montverde Academy, No. 2 IMG Academy and No. 3 Sunrise Christian Academy. The Warriors showed fight against IMG and Sunrise but were blown out by the Eagles in their conference opener.
Record: 10-2 | Last week: 12
UCLA pledge
Adem Bona had an impressive weekend at the Marshall County Hoopfest, averaging 17 points, 10 rebounds and 2.3 blocks through three games. The Crew defeated Ballard (Louisville, Ky.) 78-72, Our Saviour Lutheran Bronx, N.Y.) 69-53 and Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 53-50.
Record: 9-1 | Last week: 17
Notched a huge 82-76 victory over SIAA rival No. 14 West Oaks Academy behind a team-high 23 points from
Milan Skoric. DME Academy hosts the fourth annual Beach and Ball Classic this week.
Record: 3-0 | Last week: 14
The Gray Bees have defeated their last two opponents by an average of 62.5 points.
Everton Browne scored 31 points in their 116-35 win over Olympus Prep (West Berlin, N.J.).
Record: 8-1 | Last week: 16
Secured a 106-70 victory over Downey Christian (Orlando, Fla.) behind 26 points from junior guard
Moses Horne.
Record: 6-1
| Last week: 13
Following their first loss of the season, the Lions face Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) and Hamilton
Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) at the Battle in the
Bluff this weekend.
Record: 7-1 | Last week: 10
Split a pair of games at the Tyler Lewis Hoopfest, losing 68-60 to Moravian Prep (Hudson, N.C.) before rebounding with an 84-47 blowout of Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.).
Record: 4-2 | Last week: 11
Drop five spots after conceding Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) their first ever conference win after the Spartans finished without a victory in NIBC play last season. Despite going 1-2, the Tigers were able to notch their first win over a National Top 20 opponent led by an impressive weekend from Ohio State signee
Roddy Gayle who averaged 25 points, 5.7 rebounds and 4.7 assists.
Record: 3-3 | Last week: 15
Split
a pair of contests at the National High School Hoops Festival, falling 65-56 to St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), No. 9 in MaxPreps Top 25, before bouncing back with a 81-66 victory over Bishop O'Connell
(Arlington, Va.).
Record: 5-3 | Last week: 19
A grueling stretch of games has seen the Lions lose to three ranked opponents in their past four contests after going 1-2 to open NIBC play. The young group will be tested again tonight against No. 10 Prolific Prep in the Hoophall West.
Record: 9-2 | Last week: NR
Enter the ranking for the first time this year after going 1-1 over the weekend at the Marshall County Hoopfest, falling to Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.) 57-49 before defeating Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.) 86-68.
Record: 9-3 | Last week: NR
Re-enter the rankings after picking up a quality win over Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.) at the Tyler Lewis Hoopfest over the weekend.
