BENSALEM, Pa. – After a less than impressive December showing, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings shook out four more schools—three of whom hail from the great Golden State or California.

All three schools, most notably defending CIF Open Division and Blue Star Media National Champions Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), are history at least for now, though. Knowing all three programs, a quick win streak before the sectional playoffs in February and they’ll find themselves back in the Elite 25 mix.

So that means four schools are welcomed to the fold, including No. 18 St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) who re-enters after one week. The Gray Bees will play an adventuresome schedule warranting national attention. Meanwhile No. 17 Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland), No. 19 Fairfax (Los Angeles) and No. 20 Parkview (Little Rock, Ark.) are all in after capturing holiday tournament titles or impressive showings at national showcase events.

The key to staying in the Elite 25 rankings is strength of schedule. Surround yourself with quality competition and win. If you lose, make sure it’s to a team ranked ahead and don’t get hammered in the process. Too many teams attempt dodge the big-time games and wonder why no ranking. Or, those looking to make a splash with a larger-than-life schedules often times sink. Translation: Careful what you wish for.

There are plenty of tournaments and shootout events left. We are 12 days away from the Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend when these events are rolled out. Next week, Blue Star Media will highlight the top places to be nationally and how they will impact the Elite 25 rankings.

The biggest loser is …

No. 24 Plano (Texas) West, which absorbed the biggest hit, plummeting 15 spots. Conversely, No. 8 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) is the big winner zooming up nine spots. The Trailblazers should be a fixture in the Elite 25 for at least the next three years. They are must-see viewing!

The next rankings will appear on Jan. 13, 2015. Please support your local high school teams. There are plenty of great stories and players out there. Be sure to alert us if you have a story idea or special player in your community. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys Basketball Rankings, January 6, 2015

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low down: Idle. PG Terrence Phillips—brother of Brandon Jennings—verbally committed to Missouri over the weekend. The Warriors host the Australian Junior National Team on Wednesday before launching the second half of their slate.

2. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (15-0)

Previous: 3.

Low down: Won twice at the Hoophall West Classic in Phoenix, defeating then-No. 10 Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.), 81-68, and Pinnacle (Phoenix), 72-48. Arizona-bound Allonzo Trier and junior Derryck Thornton Jr. is the nation’s top backcourt. Trier scored 60 points in two games in Arizona.

3. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (16-0)

Previous: 4.

Low down: Demolished Whitney Young (Chicago), 100-79, at Cancer Research Classic.

4. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (7-0)

Previous: 5.

Low down: The Lions rallied in the second quarter to pull put a 51-48 win over No. 21 St. Anthony (Jersey City). Isaiah Briscoe, a Kentucky recruit, scored 10 straight points during a stretch of the second half.

5. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (13-1)

Previous: 2.

Low down: Went 3-1 at the Les Schwab Invitational, losing to West Linn (Ore.), 70-62. Next big challenge is ranked Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland, Calif.) at the Hoophall Classic on Jan. 19 in Springfield, Mass.

6. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (16-1)

Previous: 6.

Low down: Won Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon, beating West Linn (Ore.), 70-58, in final.  Also registered two quality wins at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia.

7. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (5-2)

Previous: 7.

Low down: The Dragons resume play after a long layoff on Wednesday at Arroyo (San Lorenzo).

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-1)

Previous: 17.

Low down: The Trailblazers have officially arrived, making a statement. Defeated then-No. 12 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 65-60, and No. 25 Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 65-64, at the Hoophall West. Also annexed the MaxPreps Holiday Classic Open Division title.

9. Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, Va. (7-1)

Previous: 18.

Low down: Knocked off then-No. 11 Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.), 70-61, at Chance Harman Classic.

10. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (12-1)

Previous: 8.

Low down: Villanova-bound PG Jalen Brunson totaled 72 points in two games at the Cancer Research Classic. Illinois’ top-ranked split two games at the event, losing to Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.), 88-81, as Brunson scored an event-record 48 points.

11. Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y. (10-3)

Previous: 10.

Low down: Lost to then-No. 3 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 81-68, at the Hoophall West Classic. Cheick Diallo scored 17 points. Two of the Pioneers’ losses are to the nation’s top two teams. Next up are two games in Paducah, Ky., at Mustang Madness against The Carlisle (Va.) School and Prime Prep (Dallas).

12. Wesleyan Christian School, High Point, N.C. (16-2)

Previous: 11.

Low down: Harry Giles had a double-double, 26 points and 14 boards, earning MVP honors in the final of the HighSchoolOT Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, N.C., beating Orangeville Prep (Ontario, Canada), 78-75. Also lost to then-No.18 Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.), 70-61.

13. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (8-0)

Previous: 19.

Low down: The Cahillites are tournament champions for the second time this season after annexing the Mirabito STOP-DWI Holiday Classic, beating St. Michael’s College (Toronto, Ontario), 92-75, in Binghamton, N.Y. Rider-recruit Gemil Holbrook earned MVP honors throwing in 24 points in the final. The focus returns to the unforgiving Philadelphia Catholic League.

14. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (12-1)

Previous: 12.

Low down: Went 1-1 at the Hoophall West. Now back to life in the rugged Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

15. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (10-2)

Previous: 14.

Low down: The Kansans split two games this week. This weekend they will travel to the Mustang Madness in Kentucky, where they play Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.) and Orangeville Prep (Ontario, Canada).

16. Hamilton, Memphis (9-0)

Previous: 22.

Low down: Idle. The Wildcats have a big matchup with No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) on Saturday at Penny Hardaway’s Hoop Fest.

17. Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Cleveland (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: Overcame a nine-point deficit in the opening half to edge Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), 69-67, at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va. Senior post Carlton Bragg, one of the nation’s top undecided players from the Class of 2015, announces his college decision Thursday choosing between Kansas, Illinois and Kentucky.

18. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (12-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: The Gray Bees return to the Elite 25 rankings after a one-week absence. The schedule intensifies this month with Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) and ranked teams Rainier Beach (Seattle) and Roselle (N.J.) Catholic, plus locals Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) and Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.).

19. Fairfax, Los Angeles (10-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: The Lions impressively won the Torrey Pines Holiday National Division, defeating then-No. 16 Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 56-51, in the title game. MVP Lorne Curry came off the bench to score 20 points in the final.

20. Parkview, Little Rock, Ark. (7-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: Won the Whataburger Orange Division Tournament title in Texas. The Patriots took down three of the Dallas Metroplex’s top teams, including then-No. 9 Plano West in the final.

21. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (5-1)

Previous: 21.

Low down: The Friars dropped a 51-48 decision to then-No. 5 Roselle Catholic. The two could meet again in the state tournament.

22. Muskegon, Mich. (4-1)

Previous: 15.

Low down: The Big Red had their dream of a second straight perfect season ruined and a win streak halted at 31 games by East Kentwood (Kentwood), 58-57. Because of tight travel restrictions for Michigan school, the Reds better run the table to remain nationally ranked.

23. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (11-2)

Previous: 13.

Low down: The Lakers were upended by an undermanned Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 72-64, at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va.

24. Plano West, Plano, Texas (15-2)

Previous: 9.

Low down: The Wolves lost in the final of the Whataburger Classic Orange Division.

25. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (12-1)

Previous: 25.

Low down: The Aztecs are still the Arizona’s top-ranked team despite a loss to nationally ranked Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Cal.) by a point.

Dropped out: No. 16 Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif.; No. 20 Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif.; No. 23 Corona (Calif.) Centennial; and No. 24 Trinity, Louisville, Ky.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. John Carroll School, Bel Air, Md. (15-1)

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (9-1)

3. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (9-2)

East

4. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (8-0)

5. Wings Academy, Bronx, N.Y. (8-1)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midlands

1. St. Joseph, Westchester, Ill. (11-2)

2. St. Rita, Chicago (8-2)

3. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (8-0)

4. Southport, Indianapolis (9-0)

5. Champlin Park, Champlin, Minn. (11-0)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

South

1. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (19-0)

2. Providence Christian, Jacksonville, Fla. (18-1)

3. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (19-1)

4. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (7-1)

5. Jonesboro, Ga. (13-1)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (13-1)

2. Rainier Beach, Seattle (10-1)

3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (11-3)

4. Desert Vista, Phoenix (13-1)

5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (13-4)

Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December until the conclusion of the high school season. 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 and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released April 6, 2015. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.