No. 18 Calvary Christian Eagles (FL) enter Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings after impressive showing at the MAIT; No. 1 Columbus (FL) tightens grip heading into state playoffs

BENSALEM, Pa. – About the only consistent thing about the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings is No. 1 Columbus of Miami, Fla. The Explorers concluded the regular season with a 20-3 record with the Florida High School Athletic Association playoffs tipping off this week.

Recently, the Explorers have consistently hammered nationally ranked teams and have held tightly onto the top spot in the Elite 25. In an 11-day stretch of January, they toppled three ranked teams and now need a handful of wins in the Class 7A playoffs to claim a fourth straight state championship. After that the Explorers would be a shoo-in for an invitation to the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals in Fishers, Indiana in April.

But would the Explorers opt in after a six-week layover from the end of the state tournament? After all, national championships are hard to earn and ending their season on top might be the answer. Coach Andrew Moran and the Explorers have decisions but the task at hand is the District 15-7A playoffs less than a week after drubbing then-No. 7 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) by 23 points.

Last week, we previewed the Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament (MAIT) and it did not disappoint. The No. 4 Eagles and host school won the eight-team tournament with two other Elite 25 teams in the house.

Actually, the MAIT helped jostle the Elite 25 as one newbie and 21 teams shifted positions in the latest rankings. No. 18 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), which suffered their first loss of the season and took second, enters the Elite 25 after an impressive showing that included a 2-1 record against elite competition. The Eagles already won The Classic at Tennessee High School in Bristol, Tennessee over the holidays. Now the focus is on the Florida Class 3A state championship.

The last week of January saw the one addition to the Elite 25 with 13 teams trending upward and eight dropping. No. 17 Fishers (Ind.) saw the biggest spike, moving up six spots. No. 19 Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) cratered 11 slots and No. 20 AZ Compass (Chandler, Ariz.) slipped 10—both after tough outings at the MAIT.

In case you missed it, the 48^th McDonald’s All American Games boys rosters were revealed last week. Several of the 2025 selections represent teams from the Elite 25 rankings. The games will be played at Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York on Tuesday, April 1. The girls game tips at 6:30 p.m. ET. The boys tip at 9 p.m. To purchase tickets, click here.

Rosters

East: 6-7 Shon Abaev; 6-2 Darius Acuff Jr.; 6-5 Darius Adams; 6-9 Nate Ament; 6-9 Cameron Boozer; 6-4 Cayden Boozer; 6-7 Jalen Haralson; 6-6 Isiah Harwell; 6-4 Trey McKenney; 6-10 Malachi Moreno; 6-4 Braylon Mullins; 7-0 Eric Reibe. Coach: Herman Harried, Lake Clifton (Baltimore).

West: 6-6 Alijah Arenas; 6-3 Mikel Brown, Jr.; 6-10 Niko Bundalo; 6-4 Brayden Burries; 6-10 Chris Cernac, Jr.; 6-9 A.J. Dybantsa; 6-8 Nikolas Khamenia; 6-7 Koa Peat; 6-6 Darryn Peterson; 6-4 Meleek Thomas; 6-9 Caleb Wilson; 6-5 Tounde Yessoufou. Coach: Danny Broussard, St. Thomas More (Covington, La.).

Places to go

Moving to this week, there’s a league cranking up their annual tournament and three events involving Elite 25 teams in Georgia, New Jersey and Kansas. There’s also one in a pivotal city.

The Chicago Public League playoffs, one of the nation’s biggest chips, gets going this week with a new format and 24 teams vying for the fame title. The Top-8 received byes to the second round host games on Thursday, Feb. 6. The top-four seeds are (in order) Kenwood, Simeon, Lincoln Park and Whitney Young are all household names in Chicagoland.

The quarterfinals are Saturday, Feb. 8. The final two rounds will be held at the UIC’s Credit Union 1 Arena with the semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 13 and the final on Saturday, Feb. 15. Kenwood spent time this season in the Elite 25 rankings and will be the favorite but upsets do occur in this event.

In New Jersey, Montverde Academy coach Kevin Boyle makes his annual pilgrimage north to his home state for two games at the Metro Classic that starts for three days on Thursday, Feb. 6 at Franklin High School Arena in Somerset.

The schedule is New Jersey heavy but oozes quality. Purchase tickets here.

In the Midwest, the Nike EYBL Scholastic pulls into Wichita, Kansas for the third annual Air Capital Hoopfest for two days (Feb. 7-8) on the campus of Newman University at Fugate Gymnasium.

The lineup and tickets:

Day 1

Link Academy (Mo.) vs. AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.)

Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) vs. Veritas Academy (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.)

Day 2

AZ Compass Prep vs. Veritas Academy

Sunrise Christian Academy vs. Link Academy

To purchase a two-day combo ticket, click here.

In Georgia, the Grind Session has a three day run, tipping on Friday, Feb. 7. The event features No. 24 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) vs. No. 19 Utah Prep on Saturday, Feb. 8 at 8 p.m. ET. at Meadowcreek High School in Norcross. That’s 17 games over the weekend.

Okay, that’s it for the month of January. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, Feb. 11.

 Our prayers and heartfelt feelings go out to the families and friends of those lost on Wednesday, Jan. 30 in the deadly midair collision in Washington, D.C. What started as a mission to find the survivors became a recovery. Bless the 67 souls of American Eagle Flight 5432 from Wichita, Kansas and from the U.S. Army Black Hawk helicopter. Also, in Philadelphia, an air ambulance carrying six crashed killing the passengers and one on the street on Friday, Jan. 31. The debris was scattered over four streets in the Northeast section of the city.

In Southern California, people are in need after the wildfires continue to ravage the surrounding Los Angeles area. After four weeks, people are starting to pick up the pieces of their lives.

Consider donating here to the Red Cross to assist the relief efforts or to The Salvation Army. No dollar amount is too small and prayers are always welcome. Here’s another one called Fire Aid.

Be safe California.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 4, 2025

1. Columbus, Miami (20-3)

Previous rank: 1.

The Lowdown: The Explorers put an exclamation point on a wonderful regular season, crushing then-No. 7 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 70-47. Up next is the District 15-7A tournament this week. The Explorers are six wins from winning a fourth straight FHSAA Class 7A state championship.

2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (21-2)

Previous: 2.

The Lowdown: The Purple Eagles defeated No. 22 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 61-58, in a key Washington Catholic Athletic Conference game. Also, beat Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 79-63, at the Very Melo Classic in Bel Aire, Md. Five WCAC games are left in the regular season.

3. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (25-1)

Previous: 3.

Lowdown: In Mission League, the Wolverines swept three opponents, including St. Francis (La Canada), 59-52. Isaiah Carroll scored 22 points and Duke-bound Nikolas Khamenia had 18 for their team’s 16^th straight win. The Mission League Tournament semifinals are Tuesday, Feb. 4, and final is the next night at the highest remaining seed.

4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (16-4)

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Won their own Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament championship, going 3-0 and defeating CIA Bella Vista (Scottsdale, Ariz.), 51-48, in the final. Creighton-recruit Hudson Greer scored 16 points in the final with four 3-pointers and Dante Allen had 10. C.J. Ingram was named all-tournament and the Villanova-bound Allen was tournament Most Valuable Player.

5. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (26-2)

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Defeated Norco, 96-55. The Mustangs close the regular season with Corona Centennial on Tuesday, Feb. 4 for the Big VIII title. Brayden Burries was selected to play in the McDonald’s All American Game.

6. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (15-5)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: Defeated then-No. 14 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 60-49, at the Very Melo Classic in Bel Aire, Md.

7. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (20-3)

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: The Bobcats defeated then-No. 21 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 69-50, and were upset by Veritas Academy (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.), 42-38, at the Western Maryland Classic.

8. The Patrick School, Hackettstown, N.J. (21-3)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Illinois-bound guard Brandon Lee pumped in a season-high 36 points and Jaysean Williams added 14 in a 77-57 victory over Broome Street Academy (Manhattan, N.Y.).

Also beat Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), 77-73, at the Hoop Group Lehigh Valley Showcase in Allentown, Pa. Williams earned the game MVP with 21 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists.

9. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (24-4)

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: Defeated iSchool of Lewisville (Texas), 61-55. The Bearcats are scheduled twice this week.

10. San Antonio (Texas) Brennan (26-2)

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: Defeated San Antonio Marshall, 123-39, and San Antonio Holmes, 109-20. The Bears averaged 116 points in two lopsided district victories.

11. Hoover, Ala. (29-0)

Previous: 15.

The Lowdown: The Bucs record their first ever undefeated regular season. The Class 7A Area Tournament opens this week.

12. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (20-3)

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: Defeated Walton (Marietta), 67-44, and Cherokee (Canton), 95-42, improving to 10-0 in Region 5-AAAAAA.

13. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (19-2)

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Defeated Basha (Chandler), 73-62, and Chandler, 73-46. The Pumas are 5-0 in Premier Region play.

14. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (22-2)

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: The Rams are 10-0 in Region 4-AAAAAA with two games left in the regular season.

15. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (18-4)

Previous: 19.

The Lowdown: Idle.

16. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (14-6)

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: Lost at No. 1 Columbus (Miami), 70-47. The Lions had a rough night in south Florida.

17. Fishers, Ind. (18-0)

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Defeated Franklin Central (Indianapolis) 77-53, and Carmel, 80-39.

18. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Lowdown: Placed third at the Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament. Shon Abaev, a 6-7 forward and Cincinnati recruit, was named to the all-tournament team. The District 12-3A is played this week with the Eagles a heavy favorite.

19. Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah (18-7)

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Finished fourth at the Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament. A.J., a BYU recruit and McDonald’s All-American Game selection, was named to the all-tournament team.

20. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (15-7)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: Placed fifth at the Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament with a 2-1 record.

21. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (16-4)

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: The Ascenders hosted No. 16 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) on Monday, Feb. 3.

22. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (17-5)

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: It was a tough start to the week for the Panthers but a solid finish, beating Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 74-67. Jordan Smith tossed in 30 points, Turk Brown had 14 and Jaquan Womack 12. Lost to No. 6 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 60-49, and No. 2 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 61-58.

23. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (23-4)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: Brandon McCoy Jr. scored 20 points and Chris Komin added 15 when the Braves knocked off Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 66-57, in a Trinity League showdown with one game left in the regular season. The Braves are in first place with one more on Tuesday, Feb. 4. Also beat Servite (Anaheim), 76-50, and were upended by Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 67-66.

24. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (22-4)

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Won twice at the Duel in the Desert Grind Session in Phoenix. The Crew travel to Atlanta this weekend for two games in the Grind Session.

25. Owasso, Okla. (17-3)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Defeated Bixby, 71-34, and Muskogee, 87-44.

Dropped out: No. 21 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (18-3)
2. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (16-1)
3. Thomas Jefferson, Brooklyn, N.Y. (23-1)
4. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (15-3)
5. St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (18-3)

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

Midwest

1. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (13-4)
2. Kenwood, Chicago (23-1)
3. Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul, Minn. (18-0)
4. Oak Park, Kansas City, Mo. (17-1)
5. U of D Jesuit, Detroit (16-1)

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

Southland

1. Reidsville, N.C. (19-0)
2. Allen, Texas (27-1)
3. Huntsville, Ala. (29-1)
4. Catholic, Baton Rouge, La. (26-1)
5. Lake Ridge, Mansfield, Texas (29-2)

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

Far West

1. CIA Bella Vista, Phoenix (17-3)
2. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (25-1)
3. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (23-2)
4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (20-4)
5. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (20-5)

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

Records through Sunday

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 at @clawlor.