CHICAGO – The final three state championships were conducted in California, Indiana and Michigan. All three high seeds and Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball ranked teams won out.
No surprises. No. 2 Chino Hills (Calif.) won the CIF Open Division going unbeaten in the process; No. 6 U of D Jesuit (Detroit) took the Michigan Class A crown with a perfect ledger through 28 games; and regionally ranked New Albany (Ind.) captured the Indiana Class 4A title.
No. 21 Lancaster (Texas) is the lone addition to Elite 25 rankings. Earlier this month, the Tigers won their second straight Class 5A title, beating Fort Bend Elkins, 67-64, in the final.
The prep season winds down this week with a basketball extravaganza in New York with the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament. Montverde (Fla.) Academy goes for an unprecedented fourth straight championship but must fight off a star-studded field. The Elite 25 National Champion could come from this event but there’s a groundswell for No. 2 Chino Hills to take over the top spot. Expect tons of movement in the Elite 25 based on the results of the tournament when the final rankings are out next week.
So, here’s the Dick’s Nationals television schedule (all games will be televised on the ESPN family of networks):
The three-day, single-elimination tournament begins Thursday, at 12 p.m. ET (boys quarterfinals on ESPNU) and continues on Friday, at 11 a.m., all from Christ the King High School (girls semifinals on ESPNU and boys semifinals on ESPN2). On Saturday, competition shifts to Madison Square Garden, where a girls (ESPN2 at 10 a.m.) and boys champion (12 p.m. on ESPN) will be crowned.
The matchups are appetizing with La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) vs. St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) at noon; Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) vs. Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 2 p.m.; Montverde (Fla.) Academy vs. Providence Day School (Charlotte N.C.), 4 p.m.; and Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) vs. Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.), 6 p.m.
One of the most anticipated games of the year could occur in the semifinals provided both Oak Hill and Findlay Prep advance. There’s a plenty of quality basketball to be played in the Big Apple. It will be a smorgasbord for the hoop junkies.
In a notable coaching move, Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) must be thinking big-time because it hired Sam Duane, Jr. Basketball insiders realize this could be a game-changer for Perry, which went 14-10 this season. Duane’s Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.) teams were a regular in the Elite 25 rankings before he stepped down following the 2014-15 season. In his final four years, he guided the Aztecs to a 127-7 record, four consecutive state titles and won 70 straight games over instate competition. Duane, who said he missed coaching while pursuing an administrative certificate, will teach physical education and coach at Perry in the fall. Perry lost in the first round of the Arizona Division I playoffs in February.
The Elite 25 final rankings will appear April 3. Same goes for the girls’ rankings. Check back to www.bluestarmedia.org for the latest in basketball news and announcements. Many postseason bulletins will be released throughout the spring.
I’ll be at the Dick’s Nationals in New York. It should be a blast. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings, March 29, 2016
1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (42-1)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: Idle. The Warriors next assignment is regionally ranked Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) in the opening round of the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament Thursday at Christ the King High in Middle Village, N.Y.
2. Chino Hills, Calif. (35-0)*
Previous: 2.
Low-down: The Huskies completed the perfect season, defeating then-No. 22 De La Salle (Concord, Calif.), 70-50, in the final. Junior Li’Angelo Ball had 18 points and 7 rebounds, Lonzo Ball added 15 points and 10 boards. The third brother (all are committed to UCLA), freshman LaMelo, had 14 points. Lonzo is here in Chicago for the McDonald’s All American Game and looks great in practice. Season complete.
3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-1)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Idle. The Eagles face Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) Thursday in the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York. Coach Kevin Boyle’s crew has won the previous three tournament titles in the event.
4. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (28-1)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Idle. The Pilots play powerful Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.)in the Dick’s Nationals on Thursday, aiming for a fourth championship at the national championship event in New York.
5. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (32-0)*
Previous: 5.
Low-down: The Friars won the State Tournament of Champions for the 13th time and for the first time since 2012. Season complete.
6. U of D Jesuit, Detroit (28-0)*
Previous: 6.
Low-down: Cassius Winston capped a massive week with 31 points (16-of-16 shooting) and the Cubs routed North Farmington (Farmington Hills, Mich.), 69-49, in the Class A final. The Cubs moved onto their first state final, clipping Macomb Dakota, 7-2-51, in the semifinals. Winston put on a show with 27 points and 12 assists. In the quarterfinals, the Cubs stopped Ypsilanti, 62-47, as Winston (26 points) and Elijah Collins (18) teamed for 44 points. Earlier in the week, Winston added a punctuation to his personal accomplishments being named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball. The 6-foot guard was a landslide winner of the 36th Hal Schram Award, with four finalists Michigan State recruits. Winston helped the Cubs win a fourth straight Detroit Catholic League A-B tournament championship. Season complete.
7. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (35-1)*
Previous: 7.
Low-down: Idle. The Gray Bees play No. 8 La Lumiere School (La Port, Ind.) in the loaded Dick’s Nationals field on Thursday.
8. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (25-3)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: Idle. The Dick’s Nationals are next for the Lakers.
9. DeSoto, Texas (36-2)*
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship. Season complete.
10. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (32-5)*
Previous: 10.
Low-down: Won second straight Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament championship and 23rd overall. Also crowned the Maryland Private Schools Tournament champions. Season complete.
11. Stevens Point, Wis. (28-0)*
Previous: 11.
Low-down: Won second consecutive Division I state championship. Season complete.
12. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (30-5)*
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament championship. Placed third at Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Season complete.
13. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (28-3)
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Advanced to CIF Southern California Region Open Division final. Two of three losses were to No. 2 Chino Hills. Season complete.
14. Chaminade, St. Louis (27-5)*
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Won second Class 5 state championship and the first since 2009. Season complete.
15. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (29-4)*
Previous: 15.
Low-down: Won a second straight PIAA Class AAAA state and Philadelphia Catholic League Tournament titles. Season complete.
16. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (30-2)*
Previous: 16.
Low-down: Idle. The Wolverines, the Class AAAAA Georgia champions, play in the Dick’s Nationals on Thursday in New York.
17. Curie, Chicago (28-5)*
Previous: 17.
Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.
18. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (38-1)
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Finished Class 6A state runner-up. Season complete.
19. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (27-3)*
Previous: 19.
Low-down: Won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I championship. Up and coming program is coached by Zach Ferrell. Season complete.
20. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (31-1)*
Previous: 20.
Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. It was the Royals first state title in five years, seventh since 2002 and ninth overall. Season complete.
21. Lancaster, Texas (36-2)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: Won second straight Class 5A state championship. Season complete.
22. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-4)
Previous: 21.
Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern California Region Open Division first round. The Trailblazers are likely the preseason No. 1 in 2016-17. Season complete.
23. H.D Woodson, Washington, D.C. (32-0)*
Previous: 23.
Low-down: Won D.C. State Athletic Association Tournament, becoming the city’s first public school since 1985 to go undefeated. Also won the DCIAA Tournament. Season complete.
24. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (27-4)*
Previous: 24.
Low-down: The Saints closed out a spirited postseason winning their third-straight PIAA Class AAA state championship and sixth in seven years. Season complete.
25. Althoff Catholic, Belleville, Ill. (32-2)*
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Season complete.
Dropped out: No. 22 De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (31-3).
High-Fives by Region
East
- Sacred Heart, Waterbury, Conn. (26-2)*
- Linden, N.J. (25-6)*
- Patrick School, Elizabeth, N.J. (23-6)
- St. Augustine, Richland, N.J. (30-2)*
- Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Md. (24-3)*
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- New Albany, Ind. (27-1)*
- Simeon, Chicago (30-4)
- Apple Valley, Minn. (28-2)
- Omaha (Neb.) South (28-1)*
- Westerville (Ohio) South (26-4)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Greenforest Christian Academy, Decatur, Ga. (30-2)*
- Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C. (30-3)*
- Grandview Prep, Boca Raton, Fla. (34-0)*
- Dunbar, Lexington, Ky. (33-6)*
- Fort Bend Elkins, Missouri City, Texas (36-3)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (31-3)
- Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (29-3)
- Foothills Christian, El Cajon, Calif. (25-5)
- Crespi, Encino, Calif. (33-4)*
- West Linn, Ore. (27-3)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Won state, national or conference/league postseason tournament championship
About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November until the conclusion of the high school season in early April. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators, administrators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
