BIRD LAND: No. 23 Curie (IL) Condors return to Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings after annexing Chicago Public League title

BENSALEM, Pa. – There are certain league or conference tournaments worth mentioning annually. They are tournaments normally held in cities oozing myriad talent and basketball tradition.

There are tournaments in cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Baltimore, Detroit, Miami and Washington, D.C., but you better make sure the Chicago Public League is mentioned loud and proud.

The CPL Tournament is second to none when it comes to longevity, prestige and the quality of players and coaches that have shaped the course of the annual event.

No. 23 Curie of Chicago re-enters the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings—the Condors were in previous seasons—after securing the CPL championship Saturday night after a 65-59 win over rivals Kenwood (Chicago). The Condors improved to 27-2 and won Chicago’s biggest prize for the third time in program history and the first since the 2018-19 season.

Curie already won the prestigious Pontiac Holiday Tournament and won’t have an easy road to the Class 4A state tournament because there’s likelihood it plays Homewood-Flossmoor in the SuperSectionals. Coach Michael Oliver’s squad is firing on all cylinders with the state playoffs less than a week out.

There isn’t much time to celebrate but the Condors will before tipping of the Illinois High School Association Class 4A regional playoffs with one goal: Win the 4A state championship on March 8 inside the State Farm Center at the University of Illinois in Champaign.

Well, that’s the news out of the Midwest and the Philadelphia Catholic League and New York Catholic High School Athletic Association playoffs are also ready to go this week. The Detroit Catholic League is already underway.

In Philadelphia, the boys championships start Wednesday with two first round games and the quarterfinals are Friday. The festive semifinal doubleheader will be played Feb. 21 at the iconic University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra or the “Cathedral of Basketball.” The final is Feb. 26 back at The Palestra at 8 p.m. ET. Th girls’ final precedes at 6 p.m. If you want tickets get them quickly because the semifinals and final will sell out.

Defending champions Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) and Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) are favorites but this field is wide open with Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia) and Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) legitimate contenders. We will have more on this one.

Ditto goes for  the NYCHSAA Class AA playoffs next week.

This weekend on Long Island there’s a power-packed event involving Nike EYBL Scholastic teams and three from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings.

The Bob McKillop Invitational is a first year event hosted by No. 4 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) on the campus of Hofstra University in Hempstead. McKillop, who is retired, rose to fame as the coach at Long Island Lutheran in the 1980s before heading to Davidson College, where he coached Steph Curry. McKillop also guided USA Basketball Men’s Teams.

Here’s the two-day schedule (All times are Eastern).

Friday

4 p.m.: Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.) vs. No. 19 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.).

6 p.m.: Holy Trinity (Hicksville) vs. Chaminade (Mineola)—very good local game.

8 p.m.: No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) vs. Long Island Lutheran—the Mack Sports & Exhibition Center will be jumping.

Saturday

6:30 p.m.: Montverde vs. Legacy.

8:30 p.m.: Long Island Lutheran vs. Brewster Academy.

This is another event that will sellout so buy tickets in advance.

The latest rankings feature one new team from Chicago. No. 11 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) zoomed up 14 spots and No. 12 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 17 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) both went down seven positions.

Mater Dei’s fall came after a crushing 22-point loss to Pius X-Matthias Academy (Downey) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool B playoffs. Though it was the first of three pool games, the Monarchs (26-3) aren’t used to a beating like this one on their home court. The Monarchs, the Trinity League champions, conclude pool play this week against No. 10 Roosevelt (Eastvale) and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano).

The Monarchs will be hampered with the loss of leading scorer, 6-foot-8 sophomore Brannon Martinsen, who suffered a broken tibia (or shin bone) and underwent season-ending surgery, according to published reports.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Feb. 20. Don’t forget it’s the start of Lent and it’s Ash Wednesday, a holy day for Christians. Ger your Ashes!

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 13, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (26-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Eagles went to Bartlett, Tennessee for the Winter Classic and crushed Whitehaven (Memphis), 96-52, and Bartlett, 80-55. In the latter game, all five starters hit for double figures led by Robert Wright III with 19 points and Liam McNeeley 16. The Eagles are on Long Island for two key games in the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Hempstead, N.Y.

2. Columbus, Miami (22-4)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won the District 16-7A championship, beating Miami Senior, 84-61, in the final and Coral Gables, 89-47, in the semifinals.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (25-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Defeated St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 101-58, Good Counsel (Wheaton, Md.), 86-61, and DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 66-54. The Panthers are unbeaten in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play. Two games are left before the WCAC playoffs which tip on Feb. 22 with the play-in round.

4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (16-3)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Crusaders had a nifty 2-0 weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Florida, beating then-No. 25 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 83-81, in overtime, and Veritas Prep (Ontario, Calif.), 73-46. In the former game, the Crusader were down eight points after three quarter but rallied late and won in the extra session. VJ Edgecombe scored 27 points and Kayden Mingo had 22 points and 10 rebounds.

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (17-4)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Defeated Centerville (Ohio), 74-54, and St. Francis (Wheaton, Ill.), 88-68.

6. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (26-5)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: At the Duel in the Desert in Glendale, Ariz., the Crew won two games, including a 76-58 victory over Accelerated Prep (Lakewood, Colo.).

7. Plano (Texas) East (32-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: The Panthers are 13-0 in District 6-6A after topping Hebron Carrollton, 63-55, as Jon Tran scored 20 points, DJ Hall 18 and Jordan Mizell 11. The regular season ends hosting Flower Mound Tuesday.

8. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Trent Perry and Nikolas Khamenia netted 15 points apiece staking the Wolverines to a 61-51 win over Corona Centennial in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool A opener.

9. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (20-3)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Crusaders are 14-0 in New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA play after a thrilling 68-67 victory over archrivals Iona Prep (New Rochelle). Boogie Fland (18 points) and Braylan Ritvo (17) combined to score 35 points. Also beat Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 93-65, as the Kentucky-bound Fland put up 25 points, 7 steals, 4 assists and 3 rebounds and Ritvo scored 21 points. The Crusaders are scheduled to close out the regular season Tuesday with St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows). The league playoffs open Sunday.

10. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Brayden Burries scored 17 points to lead four players in double figures when the Mustangs defeated JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 64-51, in the Mustangs in the CIF-Southern Section Pool B playoffs.

11. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-8)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: In the Nike EYBL Scholastic, Darius Acuff Jr. totaled 73 points over three games as the Ascenders went 2-1. They defeated then-No. 6 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 77-70, and Veritas Prep (Ontario, Calif.), 67-48 but fell in overtime to No. 4 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 83-81, in overtime.

12. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-3)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Lost to then-No. 25 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 77-70, and defeated Veritas Prep (Ontario, Calif.), 73-59. Micah Robinson recorded 24 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists versus Veritas.

13. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (25-2)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Noah Williams, a Cal State Northridge recruit, tossed in 23 points, and the Trailblazer never trailed in a 72-67 victory at St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool A playoffs.

14. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (19-1)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Defeated Douglass (Oklahoma City), 71-69.

15. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (23-2)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The Rams moved to 10-0 in Region 4-AAAAAAA with two wins. The regional tournament opened Monday night.

16. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (23-3)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won District 5-7A championship, beating Windermere, 74-73, in the final and Dr. Phillips (Orlando), 99-64, in the semifinals.

17. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Lost to Pius X-Matthias Academy (Downey), 76-54, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool B playoffs.

18. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Defeated Poly (Riverside), 65-53, in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 second round, and Crean Lutheran (Irvine), 74-64, in the first round. Up next is Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) Tuesday in the semifinals.

19. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (21-6)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: The Bobcats beat Northfield Mount Hermon (Gill, Mass.), 62-48, capping a 3-0 week. Up next is a big-time trip this weekend for the Bob McKillop Invitational on Long Island.

20. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (17-6)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Idle. The Lions will play again this weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Air Capital Hoopfest in Wichita, Kan.

21. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (23-4)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: With the WCAC winding down, the Purple Eagles had three contests, beating Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 80-64, Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 71-53, and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), 70-52. Junior Nyk Lewis went off for 27 points, 8 assists and

8 rebounds against McNamara. The regular season concludes Sunday with Takoma Academy (Takoma Park, Md.).

22. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (12-3)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Idle. The Tigers are in Wichita, Kan., for two games this weekend.

23. Curie, Chicago (27-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Condors re-enter the Elite 25 for the first time this term on a high note after winning their third overall Chicago Public School title, beating Kenwood (Chicago), 65-59, in the final. It was the first title since 2019. Senior G Carlos Harris, a UIC recruit and playing on his future home floor, fueled the championship run with 20 points, 7 rebounds and 5 assists. Will Gonzalez provided 15 points and 6 assists. Up next is the Class 4A regional playoffs.

24. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (19-4)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Defeated Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood), 73-57. The playoffs tip off Sunday.

25. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (23-5)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Lost to No. 13 Canyon School (Chatsworth), 72-67, CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs in Pool A play. The Braves play Corona Centennial Tuesday in the second of three pool games.

 Dropped: No. 20 Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. The Patrick School, Union, N.J. (21-3)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (18-3)
3. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (23-2)
4. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (21-3)
5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (20-2)

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

Midwest

1. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (17-1)
2. Fishers, Ind. (19-1)
3. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (26-3)
4. DePaul Prep, Chicago (26-2)
5. Kennedy, Cedar Rapids, Iowa (20-0)

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

Southland

1. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (20-5)
2. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (31-1)
3. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (20-2)
4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (29-3)
5. Huntsville, Ala. (30-2)

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (27-1)
2. Windward, Los Angeles (26-3)
3. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (24-5)
4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (20-11)
5. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (19-6)

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

Records through Sunday’s games.

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.