No. 1 Link Academy (MO) scales Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys basketball rankings; No. 7 St. Paul VI Catholic (VA) secures City of Palms Classic chip

BENSALEM, Pa. – Once again, the GEICO City of Palms Classic, the nation’s premier boys basketball tournament, is worth the wait. The Fort Myers, Florida based event did not finish until Tuesday, so the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings were put on hold to accommodate the final results.

Instead of posting the weekly boys rankings on Monday morning, the Elite 25 did not go live until Christmas Eve. Blame it on the City of Palms Classic.

And it proved to be another classic championship game with No. 7 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.) finally bagging the elusive chip in a 57-53 win over No. 11 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.). It was the second victory for the Panthers over Stepinac inside of the last two weeks.

Jordan Smith Jr. was the star of stars at the COPC. In the final, the nation’s top uncommitted senior poured in 31 points and knocked two free throws with 3.1 seconds left to extend a 55-53 lead. Smith tallied 30 or more points in three of four games at the COPC. Recently, Smith said his final six schools are Georgetown, Kentucky, Arkansas, Duke, Syracuse and Indiana but won’t make a choice until after the season.

Jasiah Jervis, a Michigan State signee, topped Stepinac with 21 points.

In the third place game, No. 16 Principia School (St. Louis) edged No. 19 Bartlett (Tenn.), 53-52. Wake Forest-bound guard Quentin Coleman was brilliant with 12 points and 5 assists. In four games, Coleman totaled 91 points, 20 rebounds, 16 assists and 13 steals against four Elite 25 teams. Principia’s performance earned it a bump of nine spots.

COPC tournament director Donnie Wilkie did it again, assembling a quality field to the Florida SouthWestern State’s Suncoast Credit Union Arena for a six-day run. We’ll wait to find out who’s scheduled for 2026.

With the City of Palms the gold standard, Iolani Classic in Honolulu and the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas also helped reshape the latest Elite 25 rankings with meaningful games.

This week, four remained the same; 10 teams ascended the rankings, including a plus-12 for No. 6 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.); and seven dropped, with No. 23 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) cratering 20 positions. Normally, the Elite 25 rankings feature change pre-Christmas and this year there are four newcomers, with three from the Southland.

Four teams join the Elite 25 this week: No. 14 Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas); No. 15 Millenium (Goodyear, Ariz.); No. 19 Bartlett (Tenn.) and No. 20 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).

Seven Lakes is undefeated and Texas’ top-ranked Class 6A club. Millenium went to Honolulu last week and came away with the Iolani Classic championship, winning all four games. Bartlett split four games at the City of Palms Classic and will be a team to be reckoned with. The Panthers placed fourth at the event but have a strong core or juniors and sophomores that will keep them nationally ranked for the foreseeable future. Calvary Christian is one of Florida’s top teams and placed fifth at the City of Palms.

The post-Christmas blitz of tournaments or events stretch coast to coast with Oregon, Tennessee, New York City, Illinois, California, South Carolina, Maryland, Texas and Florida hosting key events that will impact the next set of the Elite 25.

No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) slides into the top spot in the Elite 25 after previous-No. 1 Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) lost twice.

So, that’s it for the third week of December. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, Dec. 30.

If you celebrate Christmas, a very Merry Christmas! If you celebrated Hanukkah, we hope your eight days went well. If you recognize Kwanzaa, then have a Happy Kwanzaa filled with family and community!

Happy holidays to all.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Dec. 24, 2025

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (13-0)

Previous rank: 4.

Lowdown: The Lions are 3-0 in the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference and will play twice next weekend at the Jordan Holiday Classic in Brooklyn, New York.

2. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (10-0)

Previous: 12.

Lowdown: The Dragons are idle until Jan. 2.

3. Prolific Prep, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-2)

Previous: 1.

Lowdown: The Crew split two games at the GEICO City of Palms Signature Series, losing to then-No. 6 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 78-73. They also beat then-No. 2 CIA Bella Vista Prep (Phoenix), 80-58. Caleb Holt scored 27 points (four 3-pointers) and hauled down 6 rebounds versus CIA. Up next is a game at the Governor’s Challenge in Maryland on Dec. 30.

4. Spire Academy, Geneva, Ohio (8-1)

Previous: 5.

Lowdown: Aiden Derkack, a Providence signee, return to New Jersey, pumping in a game-high 24 points in an 85-62 win over Roselle (N.J.) Park at the Tom Lewis Memorial Classic in Union.

5. CIA Bella Vista Prep, Phoenix (9-1)

Previous: 2.

Lowdown: Lost to No. 1 Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 80-58, at the City of Palms Classic Signature Series.

6. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (11-0)

Previous: 18.

Lowdown: The Lakers roll into the holidays with a perfect record after defeating DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 74-63. Jon Sanderson, a Notre Dame signee, scored 21 points. Up next is an EYBL Scholastic encounter with No. 23 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) on Jan. 9 at the La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

7. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (9-1)

Previous: 16.

Lowdown: Won the GEICO City of Palms Classic championship, defeating No. 11 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), 57-53, in the final. Jordan Smith Jr. flipped in 31 points.

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

Previous: 8.

Lowdown: The Trailblazers play at the Les Schwab Invitational in Portland, Oregon starting on Friday.

9. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (13-1)

Previous: 9.

Lowdown: The Bobcats had their win streak halted at 12 games and won’t play again until the EYBL Scholastic La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

10. Southeastern Prep Academy, Orlando, Fla. (14-4)

Previous: 10.

Lowdown: The Eagles went 2-0 last weekend at the Dallas Grind Session with two lopsided wins.

11. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (6-3)

Previous: 11.

Lowdown: Finished second at the GEICO City of Palms Classic, losing to No. 7 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 57-53, in the final. The Crusaders went 3-1 against the national competition and will have more top-notch opponents later this week in Brooklyn, N.Y.

12. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (11-1)

Previous: 13.

Lowdown: Dynamic’s national schedule keeps them on their toes and next week it’s date with Montverde (Fla.) Academy in New York.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-2)

Previous: 14.

Lowdown: The Ascenders play one of the nation’s top schedules with several Division I signees.

14. Seven Lakes, Katy, Texas (17-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Spartans moved to 4-0 in District 19-6A after pounding Paetow (Katy), 88-41.

15. Millenium, Goodyear, Ariz. (12-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Iolani Classic in Honolulu, going 4-0.

16. Principia School, St. Louis (6-1)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Panthers went 3-1 for third place at the City of Palms Classic, beating No. 19 Bartlett (Tenn.), 53-52. All three wins were against nationally ranked teams. Quentin Coleman, a Wake Forest signee, 22.8 points in four games.

17. Duncanville, Texas (10-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Panthers are the No. 2 team in the Texas Class 6A rankings.

18. DePaul Prep, Chicago (10-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Coach Tom Kleinschmidt takes the Rams to the prestigious Pontiac (Ill.) Holiday Tournament tipping on Friday.

19. Bartlett, Tenn. (8-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Went 2-2 at the City of Palms Classic, finishing in fourth place.

20. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (10-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Placed fifth at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

21. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (9-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Lost to No. 20 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 69-60, in the fifth place game at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.

22. Columbus, Miami (9-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated No. 23 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 75-58, in the consolation bracket final. Caleb and Cayden Gaskins each scored 19 points. The Explorers went 3-1 at the event.

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

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Lost in City of Palms Classic consolation bracket final to No. 22 Columbus (Miami), 75-58. Cincinnati-bound Kayden Allen scored a game-high 24 points.

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

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Warriors aren’t scheduled to play until Jan. 16 and are 3-2 in the Nike EYBL Scholastic.

25. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (4-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: After starting the season losing three straight games under first-year coach Steve Turner, the Eagles stunned then-No. 1 Prolific Prep (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 78-73, at the City of Palms Classic Signature Series and remained in the Elite 25 rankings. Kent State-bound Dhani Miller scored 21 points and Javion Tyndale added 16. The Eagles will be tested this weekend in Brooklyn, New York in the Jordan Holiday Classic against Elite 25 teams Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) on Saturday and Dynamic Prep (Dallas) on Sunday.

Dropped: No. 7 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah); No. 15 Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.); No. 17 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and No. 24 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Notre Dame, West Haven, Conn. (4-0)
2. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (5-0)
3. Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Va. (8-1)
4. Mount Carmel, Baltimore (13-1)
5. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (14-3)

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 School, Bel Aire, Kan. (8-2)
2. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (6-0)
3. Curie, Chicago (7-0)
4. Fishers, Ind. (7-0)
5. East Lansing, Mich. (7-0)

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

Southland

1. Oak Cliff Faith Family, Dallas (12-3)
2. Forsyth Country Day, Lewisville, N.C. (13-0)
3. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (18-1)
4. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (9-0)
5. St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (9-1)

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

Far West

1. Rainier Beach, Seattle (5-0)
2. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (14-2)
3. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (11-2)
4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (7-4)
5. Timpview, Provo, Utah (11-1)

Geography: Alaska, 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 October 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 in April of the 2025-26 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.