No. 17 AZ Compass Prep, No. 19 Homewood-Flossmoor (IL) slide into Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings; Chipotle Nationals field taking shape

BENSALEM, Pa. – If there’s a guarantee in March, it’s too much happens on and off the hardwood at a frenetic pace. The constant is the crowning of state champions but nowadays there are a few more wrinkles and they always impact the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

First, the Nike EYBL Scholastic concluded its five-month slate of high octane games nationwide in North Augusta, S.C. No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy clinched the title earlier this month with a perfect 12-0 mark.

The final table.

Nike EYBL Scholastic standings (league games only): 1-Montverde Academy, 12-0. 2-Long Island Lutheran, 10-2. 3-Link Academy, 8-4. 4-AZ Compass Prep, 8-4. 5-Brewster Academy, 7-5. 6-IMG Academy, 7-5. 7-La Lumiere School, 7-5. 8-Wasatch Academy, 7-5. 9-Oak Hill Academy, 6-6. 10-Veritas Academy, 4-8. 11-Sunrise Christian, 3-9. 11-Legacy Early College, 2-10. 12-Canyon International Academy, 1-11. 13-Orangeville Academy, 1-11.

Elsewhere, there’s great news out of New York.

The two most powerful basketball leagues in the state of New York—the Catholic High School Athletic Association and the Public School Athletic League—have agreed to stage a postseason championships event. The associations will partner to send their 2024 boys and girls champions to compete for the undisputed New York City titles.

The event pits the CHSAA Class AA, A and B champions versus PSAL 4A, 3A and 2A or 1A champions. The event is slated for March 24 and 25 inside Long Island University’s Steinberg Wellness Center in Brooklyn. It’s not a big space so tickets will be at a premium.

Game times, ticket information and other updates are forthcoming. No. 8 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) qualified for the historical event. Previously, winners from these associations met in the New York State Federation Tournament but the state scrapped the tournament of champions format of the four associations two years ago. This is a great remedy and will satisfy the Big Apple’s insatiable appetite for high school hoops and determine supremacy.

Speaking of supremacy, the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals (formerly GEICO Nationals) will announce an eight-team boys’ bracket and six for the girls on Wednesday. Based on the Elite 25 rankings, Montverde, Columbus, St. Paul VI Catholic, Prolific Prep, Link Academy and Long Island Lutheran are in and the final two could go to Brewster Academy, AZ Compass Prep or IMG Academy. Columbus would be making its initial appearance.

The CHIPOTLE Nationals will take place April 4-6 at Brownsburg High School near Indianapolis, Ind.

Now for the latest Elite 25 rankings.

The Elite 25 rankings feature two additions and the return of a Nike EYBL Scholastic team that found its way just in time for the CHIPOTLE Nationals. No. 17 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) has recovered from a slow start and finished 8-4 in the EYBL. Expect change in the next two weeks with a reshuffle in order. This weekend it will be a light load of Elite 25 team involved in the state finals. Still left are states such as Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee, Missouri, New York, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Michigan, Ohio and Pennsylvania.

No. 19 Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor is riding high because the Vikings captured the program’s first-ever state title, annexing the Class 4A chip with a 33-4 record. The Vikings were the No. 2 team in Illinois for most of the season until last week when it recorded a huge win over Elite 25 team and the top Illinois squad in the SuperSectionals. When the season began, the Vikings had a solid returning core but when three key players transferred in, it was no surprise they plowed through the playoffs.

Congratulations to the Vikings and all the newly minted state or conference champions.

 There are more state championships this weekend, including the Grind Session World Championships to be played Saturday (semifinals) and Sunday (final) at Malcolm X College in Chicago. No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) in the favorite to repeat.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return March 19. Thank you for your readership. Don’t forget to tune into CBS for Selection Sunday for the March Madness Men’s bracket reveal show at 6 p.m. It’s must-see TV and the greatest time of the year!

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 12, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (30-0) #

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Idle. Duke-bound F Cooper Flagg was tabbed the Naismith Player of the Year. He’ll suit again for the Eagles at the CHIPOTLE Nationals April 4-6 in Brownsburg, Ind.

2. Columbus, Miami (27-4)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won third straight Class 7A state championship, beating No. 15 Oak Ridge (Orlando), 72-67, in overtime in the final. Junior Cameron Boozer scored 24 points and his twin brother Cayden Boozer added 16. Also topped Evans (Orlando), 76-56, in the semifinals. The Explorers will have a few weeks off before playing in the CHIPOTLE Nationals in Indiana.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (33-2)**

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won a second straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and fourth consecutive Virginia Intendent Schools Athletic Association Division I titles. Regular season is complete and the Panthers are headed back to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: At the Nike EYBL Scholastic in North Augusta, S.C., the Crusaders defeated

Canyon International Academy (Glendale, Ariz.), 83-55. Baylor-bound VJ Edgecombe put up 23 points, 5 rebounds, 5 assists and 6 steals. Also stopped No. 25 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 66-52, as Ross Jacob flipped in 14 points. The regular season is complete for the Crusaders but they are bound for the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-5)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: In the Grind Session World Championship in Las Vegas, the Crew hammered Pace Academy (Texas), 90-57, in the first round. Tyran Stokes was the Player of the Game finishing with 13 points, 15 rebounds and 11 assists for a rare triple-double. In the second round, the Crew beat Fort Erie International (Ontario, Canada), 74-50. A.J. Dybantsa was the Player of the Game with 17 points and 8 rebounds. The semifinals shift to Chicago this weekend. The final is Sunday and regardless of the result, the Crew are headed to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in Indiana. Additionally, coach Ryan Bernardi was named the Grind Session Coach of the Year.

6. Plano (Texas) East (40-0)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship, defeating Stony Point (Round Rock), 50-41, in the final. The Panthers are state champions for the first time and join Lincoln (Dallas) and Duncanville as the only Dallas area unbeaten state winners. D.J. Hall led the way with 18 points and 6 rebounds and Rachard Angton hit for 13 points. In the semifinals, the Panthers stopped Mansfield Lakeridge, 61-45. Hall contributed 15 points and 10 rebounds. Season complete.

7. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (33-3)*

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won a second straight CIF Open Division state championship, defeating Salesian College Prep (Richmond), 50-45, in the final. USC recruit Trent Perry rallied the Wolverines in the final two minutes with two baskets and a pair of free throws after trailing 45-44. Perry ended up with 17 points. In the Southern Region final, the Wolverines beat then-No. 9 Roosevelt (Eastvale), 63-59. Perry tossed in 28 points, sinking 11 of 11 free throws. Season complete.

8. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (25-4)*

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Won second consecutive New York CHSAA AA Intersectional championship, defeating Nazareth (Brooklyn), 66-51, in the final. Boogie Fland had 18 points, 6 rebounds and 2 steals and Jasiah Jervis and Hassan Koureissi tossed in 15 points apiece. Also beat St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows), 73-52, in the semifinals with Fland scoring 21. The Crusaders, who went 19-1 in CHSAA play, won’t play until the PSAL vs. CHSAA City Championships on March 24 or 25 in Brooklyn.

9. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (20-8)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Idle. The Ascenders are headed to the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

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

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Season complete.

11. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (30-2)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship, defeating No. 18 McEachern (Powder Springs), 51-41, in the final. Season complete.

12. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (33-4)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Lost to No. 7 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 63-59, in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division final. Brayden Burries threw in a team-high 24 points. Season complete.

13. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (28-7)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won CIF Division 1 state championship, defeating San Ramon Valley (Danville), 78-62, in the final and the program’s first title since 2014. Jack Turner scored 20 points, draining 7 of 10 shots. Brandon McCoy had 18 and Elzie Harrington chipped in with 12 points and 7 assists. In the Southern Region final, the Braves needed overtime but knocked off archrivals Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 71-68. Harrington scored 24 points. Season complete.

14. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Lost in Class 7A state championship to No. 2 Columbus (Miami), 72-67, and beat Winter Haven, 85-74, in the semifinals. Season complete.

15. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (27-7)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Bobcats are awaiting an invitation to the Chipotle Nationals.

16. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (23-6)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: At the Nike EYBL Scholastic in North Augusta, S.C., the Lions defeated No. 25 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 74-30. The Lions used a 22-0 run in the first half to put away the Tigers and Jalen Shelley provided 11 points and 10 rebounds. Also defeated No. 22 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 63-61, with Tre Johnson leading the way with 23 points. The CHIPOTLE Nationals are next.

17. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (27-5)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Dragons return to the Elite 25 after going 2-0 last weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in North Augusta, S.C. They went 8-4 in the EYBL Scholastic. Season complete.

18. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (26-6)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Lost in Class AAAAAAA final to No. 11 Grayson (Loganville), 51-41, in the final. Season complete.

19. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (33-4)*

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship, defeating Normal, 60-48, in the final. Bryce Heard led the Vikings to their first-ever state crown scoring 21 points and clearing 10 rebounds; junior Jayden Tyler scored 15 and Cason Brownfield threw in 12. In the semifinals, the Vikings knocked off New Trier (Winnetka), 40-35. However, it was a 60-58 upset of then-No. 18 Curie (Chicago) in the SuperSectional final earlier last week that opened the door for the Vikings to occupy a slot in the Elite 25 rankings. Season complete.

20. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (27-4)**

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA and Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference championships. Season complete.

21. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Season complete.

22. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (25-6)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Disappointing end to the season with two losses at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in North Augusta, S.C. Season complete.

23. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (28-6)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Season complete.

24. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (23-1)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Idle.

25. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (17-7)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Went 0-2 last weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in South Carolina. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 18 Curie (Chicago) and No. 20 St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (25-2)*
2. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (29-2)*
3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (29-3)*
4. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (25-3)*
5. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (36-5)*

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

Midwest

1. Curie, Chicago (31-3)*
2. DePaul Prep, Chicago (35-2)*
3. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (28-0)
4. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (24-1)
5. Fishers, Ind. (26-1)

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

Southland

1. Great Crossing, Georgetown, Ky. (33-1)
2. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (38-2)
3. Bartlett, Tenn. (31-4)
4. Central Cabarrus, Concord, N.C. (31-0)
5. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (28-3)*

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (31-2)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-6)
3. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)*
4. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (24-6))*
5. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (27-3)*

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

Records through Sunday’s games.

 # Nike EYBL Scholastic champions

* Won state, national or conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

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.