FOLLOW THE LEADER: Montverde (FL) Academy starts … where else but No. 1 in Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason boys’ basketball rankings; NIBC dominates the national landscape

BENSALEM, Pa. – It’s good to back on the hardwood.

Actually, in some states in the Deep South, the season has already begun. No. 16 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) opened last week and will crank up the schedule as the month of November progresses.

That brings us to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy is in a familiar place at the onset of the season. It’s a term that will last until mid-April when the GEICO High School Nationals are played and the prestigious event normally has the last say in who sits atop the Elite 25 in the end.

Let’s get straight to one matter that people may question and that is the status of No. 7 Duncanville (Texas). Earlier this week, the University Interscholastic League—the governing body of Texas—stripped the Panthers of last year’s Class 6A state championship and any games that transfer player, Anthony Black (now at the University of Arkansas), played in. Apparently, Black’s transfer from an Oklahoma school was not kosher, according to the UIL That totaled 22 games. Runner-up Coppell was granted the 6A state title and any state tournament records set in 2022 by the Panthers were vanquished.

Also, coach David Peavy was suspended for the 2022-23 season and the team won’t compete for a UIL state championship. In spite of these sanctions, the Panthers will stay in the Elite 25 and let the results fall where they may. Their schedule is tough and the road will be long but Duncanville’s present team should not be penalized.

We move on.

Seven of the 10 teams from the vaunted National Interscholastic Basketball Conference are in the Elite 25 preseason rankings. This season No. 5 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) and No. 20 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) were added to the confederacy. Trust me, it’s a powerhouse conference and all games can be view on ESPN networks or streaming services. Call it must-see TV!

The Elite 25 preseason broken down by region means: 9 from the East; 7 from the Far West; 5 in the Midwest; and 4 from the Southland.

California leads the way with 5 teams; New York checks in with 4 and Florida, Missouri, New Jersey and Virginia enter 2 apiece.

Throughout the team-by-team rundowns, the national events that top-notch teams are expected to populate are mentioned. We’ll make to remind you as they are on the near horizon and their significance. There are several this month that will expose teams or shine a light on an underserved team.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return in December with the initial update as the holiday tournament season is in full swing. We’ll let the season marinate and allow several states that get later starts in December get going.

Please enjoy the season and check here regularly and on Twitter @clawlor.

Have a Happy Thanksgiving and God’s Blessings to your family and friends. Don’t forget to move your clock back on Sunday morning for Standard Time. It’s spring ahead and fall back.

Okay, stay safe!

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Nov. 2, 2022

All players are from the Class of 2023 and statistics from the 2021-22 season unless denoted

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-4)

Low-down: It’s cliché for coach Kevin Boyle’s powerhouse program, it’s nothing personal but business as usual. The Eagles checked all the boxes last year, winning their unprecedented sixth GEICO High School Nationals while playing a national schedule with the NIBC emphasized. Future Naismith Hall of Fame coach Kevin Boyle is never fearful of leaning on players from all grades but there’s another special group of returnees led by 6-9 Kwame Evans Jr. (Oregon recruit), 6-1 Dra Gibbs-Lawhorn (Illinois) and juniors 6-9, 220-pound F Derik Queen and 6-8 F Amier Ali. If that’s not enough the additions are 6-4 Marvel Allen (Georgetown), 6-7 Sean Stewart (Duke) and 6-5 combo Chris Johnson (Kansas). Junior PF Liam McNeeley, 6-7, is another key piece. Junior Asa Newell, 6-9, and 6-7 Cooper Flagg (transfer from Maine), both played for the gold-medal winning USA U17 National Team. That role call just adds to the team’s tremendous depth. Montverde Academy is the clear number one team in the country as of today, the two-time defending national champions. The Eagles have reloaded their roster once again and this seasons squad is expected to be stacked from top to bottom. The only two things that remain are GEICO Nationals and NIBC titles.

Here’s a breakdown of the schedule. The Eagles will face four teams from the preseason Elite 25 before boarding a plane for the Iolani Classic in Honolulu (Dec. 17-21) for four more high-profile games. In January, they face Elite 25 teams La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) and Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. That’s followed by three in the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (MAIT) and the Metro Classic in New Jersey (namely La Lumiere and Link Academy). The regular-season finale is a Florida derby at No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton) on Feb. 25 in NIBC action. After a month-long respite, the Eagles will return to the GEICO Nationals, where the best of the best meet.

2. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (34-2)

Low-down: What a splash the Lions made in 2021-22. The school tucked away in the Ozarks was a virtual unknown on the national scene but that changed in a hurry. When the Lions advanced to the GEICO Nationals final, the program arrived. Now it’s time to stay relevant. That shouldn’t be an issue this year with newly appointed coach Bill Armstrong at the helm. He’s reloaded with a group of seniors that includes 5-9 Trey Green (Xavier), 6-5 Ja’Kobe Walter (Baylor), 6-9 F Cade Phillips (Tennessee), 6-4 combo Cameron Carr and 6-8 PF Corey Chest Jr. (LSU). PG Elliot Cadeau is a crafty transfer from Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) and thick 6-9 C Tyler McKinley (top-50 from 2024) are two exceptional juniors. At 6-5, B.J. Ray is already a top-15 sophomore. Essentially, it’s a roster of future Power-5 players. The Lions have few stand-along games but instead opting for transformative events such as the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Texas, Marshall County Hoopfest in Kentucky, City of Palms Class in Florida, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in nearby Springfield, Mo., Quincy (Ill.) Shootout, Metro Classic in New Jersey, Dr. Pepper Classic in Tennessee and Duel in the Desert in Arizona. That body of work will result in a return trip to the GEICO Nationals.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (23-5)

Low-down: The Ascenders have reloaded and that means trouble for the rest of the NIBC. There’s plenty to build up with a Division I-loaded roster and several key transfers. Two of the top seniors are 6-5 Jamie Kaiser (Maryland commit) and 6-4 G Blue Cain (Georgia Tech). Cain is versatile offensive threat, who can pass and knock down the 3-ball. Kaiser is a thick wing player with a quick release. Then mix in juniors 6-7 Bryson Tucker, 6-8 Amier Ali, 6-8 Khani Rooths; and sophomores 6-5 Jamier Jones and 6-6 Amari Allen and that’s a bona fide top-5 team with aspirations to win it all. Tucker is a top-20 player in his class and on target to be a McDonald’s All-American in 2024. First, the Ascenders must master the NIBC and then ride the momentum for the GEICO Nationals, which as most teams realize is a crap shoot. The national schedule will have coach Sean McAloon’s team ready.

4. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (31-5)

Low-down: The Panthers won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 championships. Now they want more. The go-to player is 6-5 F DeShawn Harris-Smith, who committed to Maryland but 6-6 junior Darren Harris (Duke pledge) is going to see plenty of looks and take the clutch shot when needed. That’s two big-time players. More the Class of 2024 include 6-10 stretch-4 Garrett Sundra, 5-10 Ben Hammond, 6-10 Patrick Ngongba II (mom played in WNBA) and 6-7 wing Isaiah Abraham. Underclassmen talents are sophomores 6-8 C Christian Gurdak and 6-7 Jaquan Womack and freshman Jordan Smith. Suffice it to say, the Panthers feature size and next-level talent. That talent will be globetrotting to London (vs. No. 12 Christ the King), traveling to the City of Palms Classic, Hoophall East (Delaware) and Hoophall Classic (Massachusetts) and two at the Nike Hoopfest in nearby Maryland. Then there’s the vaunted WCAC with DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), Gonzaga and St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), where everyone knows your business and running the table is nearly impossible. The Panthers are up for the task.

5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (25-5)

Low-down: The Dragons were a nobody about four years ago. Really. The times have changed with a magnificent run at national events and the 2021 GEICO Nationals cemented their status. Well, the Dragons were added the NIBC Rolodex and will compete regularly against the nation’s elite academy programs. F Mookie Cook, 6-7, is a multipositional player who loves the up-and-down game and will roll up his sleeves to defend. Cook is headed to his home state Oregon Ducks. His classmates include Cincinnati-bound 6-7 Rayvon Griffith, 6-8 F Trent Pierce (Missouri), 6-1 PG Jordan Ross, 6-3 G Tru Washington and 6-1 Vincent Delano. In the junior class is chock full of blue-chip prospects 6-5 G V.J. Miller and 6-6 PF Pharoah Compton. Sophomore PG Jermiah Green is a budding talent too. He holds offers from the Power-5 schools such as West Virginia, TCU, SMU, Oklahoma, Texas and Kansas State.

6. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (33-1)

Low-down: The nation’s top-ranked public high school is again destined for big things. Last season, the Huskies were CIF Open Division state champions while playing in a hotbed for prep hoops and taking home the hardware in the nation’s deepest talent pool. At 6-3, Jared McCain is bona fide McDonald’s All American and will sign with Duke, 6-6 F Aaron McBride with Loyola Marymount and 6-10 C Devin Williams with UCLA. Mike Price, 6-2, is one of the state’s top shooting guards and 6-2 junior Eric Freeny will contribute. After Christmas, coach Josh Giles will take the Huskies to the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, N.C.

7. Duncanville, Texas (13-23)*

Low-down: One of the nation’s premiere programs in the last few seasons is back for more after annexing a third consecutive UIL Class 6A crown but earlier this week the Panthers were stripped of the title for the use of an ineligible player and won’t play in the 2022-23 Class 6A playoffs, says the UIL. Coach David Peavy is suspended for the 2022-23 season and his team was stripped of 22 wins the Panthers picked up when the player, Anthony Black (now at Arkansas), participated in. So, back to this season. All you need to know All-American Ron Holland, K.J. Lewis (transfer from El Paso Chapin) and Cameron Barnes return for the Panthers. Holland, a 6-8 power forward, is athletic and possesses a polished skill set; the 6-4 wing Lewis is off to Arizona and is a power player in the open floor and the 6-10 Barnes brings long arms while plugging the middle as a rim-protector. Another loaded schedule sees the Panthers off to the Bahamas in December, the Thanksgiving Hoopfest vs. No. 6 Corona (Calif.) Centennial at home and a date with Texas preseason No. 2 6A team in Brennan (San Antonio) shows fearlessness and the big game. The Les Schwab Invitational (Dec. 26-30) poses another hurdle.

8. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (25-2)

Low-down: The Buffaloes held down the No. 1 spot in the Elite 25 for most of last season and captured the NIBC championship yet they bowed out of the GEICO Nationals in the first round. Go figure. F Scotty Middleton (Ohio State) and 6-2 PG Layden Blocker (Arkansas) are high-end prospects. Six-nine Matas Buzelis, 6-4 combo Miro Little (Baylor), 7-2 junior C John Bol (via South Sudan) and 6-4 junior T.J. Williams are prominently mentioned in the plans. The Bass Pro Tournament of Champions (in January), the NIBC and a trip to the Bahamas pre-Christmas will point the Buffaloes back to GEICO.

9. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (29-2)

Low-down: The sad news in New Jersey is the removal of the State Tournament of Champions, meaning if the Lions win the Non-Public B title again, there is no chance of meeting No. 10 Camden for a winner-take-all game. At 6-4, state player of year Simeon Wilcher is a North Carolina commit. He helped the program to its fourth TOC title since 2013, averaging 16.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 5.2 assists and 2.0 steals. Duke-bound 6-8 F Mackenzie Mgbako is a pivotal transfer and game-changer for coach Dave Boff. Six-seven F Akil Watson (Arizona State), 6-2 PG Christian Pierre-Louis, 6-8 junior Tarik Watson (Akil’s brother), 6-2 transfer Sebastian Robinson and 6-0 G Malachi Johnson will buoy the Lions, who are headed the Bahamas for a matchup with No. 7 Duncanville and No. 4 St. Paul VI at the Hoophall Classic.

10. Camden, N.J. (31-3)

Low-down: It will be an end of era for Panthers when All-American G and USA U17 gold medalist DaJuan Wagner graduates next spring. Wagner (19.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg, 3.1 apg, 3.2 spg) is a generational player and legacy (dad and grandpa played here too) and should surpass 2,000 career points for the defending Group 2 champions. At 7-1, Aaron Bradshaw (8.9 ppg, 7.4 rpg, 3.3 bpg) is a beast in the post and a future Kentucky Wildcat, 6-0 PG Cian Medley (Saint Louis recruit), 6-5 Cornelius Robinson and 6-6 F Desear Haskins rounds out the experience lineup. The Panthers won’t be challenged in the postseason regular season but the national schedule will be daunting.

11. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (25-5)

Low-down: A year ago, the Wildcats fell in Georgia’s Class AAAAAA quarterfinals to eventual champion Grovetown. Well, this year the Cats moved to Class AAAAAAA and have the talent to secure a state crown. Six-four PG Isaiah Collier directs the offense as Georgia’s top recruit with Michigan, Cincinnati, UCLA and USC on his radar. Up front, 6-9 Arrinten Page will sign with USC, 6-9 Josh Hill has Power-5 options and 6-5 Jelani Hamilton is off to Iowa State. Ricky McKenzie, a 6-4 junior, is a perimeter threat. The Cats amped up their schedule with a national presence, including the Hoophall Classic.

12. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (15-11)

Low-down: It’s been a few years since the New York Catholic League has featured so much and quality players but Royals are back atop the heap to start the season. UCLA-bound F Brandon Williams is New York’s top recruit and one of the nation’s top 4-men. At 6-7, Brandon Gardner is staying local for college at St. John’s and 6-9 junior Qing Pang is trending upward on the national recruiting radar. Athletic 6-3 G Dede Corley is another weapon for coach Joe Arbitello’s attack and so are sophomores G Kiyan Anthony (Carmelo’s son) and PG Markell Alston, and combo Devin Vanterpool, who has several offers. The Royals are the odds on favorite to win the New York State Federation Class AA and CHSAA titles and an event such as the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Missouri will prepare them for the postseason rigors.

13. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (30-1)

Low-down: After a nine-year dynasty, the Gaels were dethroned in the Nevada Class 5A final in overtime. That’s history. Time to move on and coach Grant Rice’s team will do so with two of the top players from the junior class in guards Jase Richardson and Juni Mobley (Ohio State commit). At 6-5, Keenan Bey will man the wing and the Nwuli brothers, 6-7 sophomore Chris and 6-5 junior Anthony, add to the frontline. Juniors Quentin Rhymes and Noah Westbrook are 6-6 athletes and will stretch the defense. The Gaels will play at the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon after Christmas with Elite 25 teams Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) and Duncanville (Texas) and two more national games at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

14. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (26-4)

Low-down: Coach Patrick Massaroni’s team captured the New York CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan championship but lost in the CHSAA AA Intersectional final but that meant experience was gained and the hunger for more lingers. The triumvirate that makes The Step tick is junior G Johnuel “Boogie” Fland (14.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), 6-0 sophomore Danny Carbuccia and 6-5 F Benjamin Lyttle. The size from the junior class is 6-6 Braylan Ritvo and 6-7 Jordan Gabriel. Fland was a gold medal winner last summer with the USA U17 National Team at the FIBA World Championship. Besides a brutal league schedule, the Crusaders are off to the City of Palms Classic, Hoophall Classics in Delaware and Massachusetts and a stand-alone game with St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

15. Southern California Academy, Northridge, Calif. (24-4)

Low-down: Seems like each year, there’s another team from nowhere to be added to the Elite 25 and the Rams from the City of Angels. The experience will be supplied Drew Fielder, Juslin Bodo, 7-0 Isaiah Miranda, 6-3 Braelon Green (Arizona State), 6-3 combo Darius Carr (New Mexico State) and a pair of Providence recruits in 6-9 Drew Fielder and 6-5 Garwey Dual. The ultimate goal for this team is to reach the GEICO Nationals. The Rams are on the cusp of it and when A.J. Johnson, 6-5 combo guard, transferred in from crumbling Donda Academy (Simi Valley) earlier this week (Nov. 3), it appears that goal is a reality. Johnson is a top-10 player and gives SoCal more offensive juice.

16. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-8)

Low-down: The Warriors moved onto the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals. Coach Steve Smith retired with a sparkling 1,231-99 record and nine national championships but fear not because former assistant Yerrick Stoneman returns to southwestern Virginia after highly successful stint in Ridge View High in South Carolina, where he won four state titles. He’ll have a talented roster to mold. The young roster includes 6-3 junior Dontae Russo-Nance (from New Zealand), 6-0 PG Josh Holloway, 6-1 junior Zion Pipkin, 6-5 junior A.J. Swinton, 6-7 junior Micah Robinson (from Texas), 6-7 Jeremiah Whitmore, 6-11 junior Bronson Schmidt-Uili, 6-9 Drayton Jones, 6-9 junior Jamie Vinson and 7-foot Dame Salane. There’s depth because the Warriors need it in the NIBC. Last week, Stoneman’s club christened his tenure with a 79-64 win over Experience Academy (Johnson City, Tenn.). We expect the Warriors won’t miss a beat this season.

17. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-5)

Low-down: The Trailblazers have their last go-around with an NBA legend on the roster. That’s because 6-4 Bronny James, the son of LeBron James, is a senior and that European trip to London, Paris and Rome (shown on ESPN) last summer is a distance memory. The Blazers are booked for multiple national events and hope to advance past the CIF-Southern Region Open Division final. With the additions of 6-8 Ashton Hardaway (Penny Hardaway’s son), 6-8 PF Jimmy Oladokun and 6-5 athletic sophomore F Bryce Cofield, the Blazers are contenders with quality up front.

18. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (28-4)

Low-down: The defending Class 5A champions are clearcut favorites to repeat and with Kentucky-bound 6-7 Justin Edwards, a surefire McDonald’s All-American, junior G Ahmad Nowell and PG Rahmir Burno (Florida Gulf Coast recruit) returning for savvy coach Andre Noble. The roster is bolstered by backcourt stalwarts 6-2 Yahmir Satterfield, combo Malcolm Muhammad and wing Isaiah Kennedy. The Panthers are back at the City of Palms Classic and will play Elite 25 teams Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

19. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (26-7)

Low-down: Coach Ryan Bernardi takes over the reins for the Crew. Bernardi was hired after winning two North Carolina Independent School state titles in 2021 and ’21 with Burlington School. The coach’s ultimate goal is a return visit to the GEICO Nationals. Three veterans return to the mix with 6-8 junior Zion Sensley, 6-7 N’Famara Dabo (from Guinea) and 6-0 PG Ben Jenkins. The top transfers include 6-2 PG Aden Holloway (Auburn recruit), 5-10 Trey Green (Xavier), 6-6 junior wing Paul McNeil, 6-9 C Mike Nwoko (Miami) and 6-10 junior Yves Missi, who is fielding several big-time offers. The Crew will participate in the Grind Sessions again along with stops dotting the nation.

20. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (19-8)

Low-down: Welcome to the NIBC, Crusaders. Last spring when it was announced coach John Buck’s team was headed to the national conference, it was called a “game changer.” Joining the roster are 6-6 Jayden Ross (UConn recruit), 6-6 Jadyn Harris, 6-4 junior V.J. Edgecombe and 6-2 Canadian Keenan Emmanuel. Returning are 5-10 PG Jayden Reid and 6-10 C Amdy Ndiaye. The Crusaders will be challenge in the NIBC at every turn but the GEICO Nationals in April could be payoff.

21. St. Rita, Chicago (23-12)

Low-down: The Mustangs reached the Class 4A sectionals before heading home but last year’s heartache won’t cut it this season. The frontline is fortified by 6-8 junior Morez Johnson (Illinois commit) and 6-9 junior Melvin Bell, who hold several Power-5 offers. Both are considered Illinois’ top recruits from the Class of 2024. At 6-4 Melvin Bell is a top sophomore wing guard. At 6-6, junior Nojus Indrusaitis is an addition and Lithuanian U16 National Team member. The Mustangs will play a national schedule, including the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions over the Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend in January.

22. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (22-7)

Low-down: The Giants advance to the Class 4A regional title game before bowing to Cathedral (Indianapolis). However, the experience returns with the top seven players from the rotation, including junior K.J. Windham (12.7 ppg) and Clay Butler (7.7 ppg), Zane Doughty (11.3 ppg), PG Sheridan Sharpe (9.9 ppg, 4.9 apg) and F Shaun Arnold (7.0 ppg, 5.9 rpg). Coach Don Carlisle’s club plays Cathedral on Dec. 10 in Southport for an early clash, two games at the Raymond James Hall of Fame Classic (Dec. 29-30) in New Castle and the Marion County Tournament in early January.

23. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (20-5)

Low-down: The Lakers are a mainstay in the Elite 25 and once again have restocked the cupboard with transfers with players looking to play in the NIBC. The most high-profile transfers are 6-7 F Louisville-bound Kaleb Glenn and 6-4 G Zaide Lowery, who will sign with Marquette. C Gus Yalden is headed to Wisconsin, 6-6 Hampton Dauparas is another frontline gem, 5-7 water bug Trenton Walters (Radford) can scoot and 6-9 junior PF Christian Humphrey-Rembert can crash the boards with a 7-1 wingspan.

24. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (25-4)

Low-down: At 6-7, Brady Dunlap is considered one of the top recruits in the CIF-Southern Section and committed to Notre Dame in September. Junior Trent Perry is a 6-4 combo guard who can facilitate and share the scoring load with Dunlap and F Jacob Huggins and 6-4 Robert Hinton (Harvard) rounds out the key returnees. This season’s schedule is loaded with several tournaments prior to the New Year, including two games in the Dallas area, the Hoophall West in Arizona, Hoophall South in Arkansas and the Damien Classic near home after Christmas. The Wolverines will be tested but advancing from the CIF-Southern Region Open Division will be an enormous task.

25. Vashon, St. Louis (27-4)

Low-down: One thing is for sure; the Wolverines and their coach Tony Irons won’t back down from a challenging national schedule. Same goes for this season when the three-time defending Missouri Class 4 state champions will head to the City of Palms in Florida before Christmas. The lineup is back nearly intact with 6-6 Kennard Davis Jr. (Southern Illinois recruit) and 6-4 Jayden Nicholson in the fold. Nicholson has offers from mid-majors. Six-six F Cameron Stovall, a dependable scorer, also returns.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-4)
2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (18-12)
3. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (25-1)
4. DeMatha Catholic, Hyattsville, Md. (21-7)
5. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (27-3)

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

Midwest

1. Cathedral, Indianapolis (26-6)
2. Simeon, Chicago (29-6)
3. Centerville, Ohio (29-1)
4. Kenwood, Chicago (26-9)
5. Zionsville, Ind. (14-8)

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

Southland

1. Newton, Covington, Ga. (26-6)
2. Columbus, Miami (29-2)
3. Brennan, San Antonio (31-9)
4. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (26-2)
5. George Rogers Clark, Winchester, Ky. (37-1)

Far West

1. Modesto (Calif.) Christian (30-6)
2. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (14-10)
3. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (21-8)
4. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (25-5)
5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (26-5)

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

* Stripped of 22 wins and UIL state title from 2021-22 season for use of ineligible player

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 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 and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.