No. 16 La Lumiere (IN) moves up two slots in latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings; No. 6 St. Paul VI Catholic (VA) wins WCAC title behind Smith’s 39

BENSALEM, Pa. – Time flies.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings enter the final six weeks of the high school season. It will culminate on Saturday, April 4 in Indiana when the CHIPOTLE Nationals are staged.

That national event’s winner usually crowns the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions but not always. This year there’s a strong chance the winner will stand alone on the podium.

And the Nike EYBL Scholastic plays a ginormous role in crowning champions. The national loop will conclude the regular season with all 20 teams playing 10 games on their campus sites. A nice touch for teams that were on the go each weekend for the last two months.

After one weekend off in early March, the teams convene for the conference tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina from March 11-14. Ten teams are invited to CHIPOTLE Nationals and at least half the field will be from the EYBL Scholastic.

Four teams from the EYBL that helped themselves last weekend were Elite 25 teams No. 2 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio), No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), No. 14 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix) and No. 16 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.).

Elsewhere, there was action aplenty on the East Coast. Great tournament games, tons of snow and postponements.

One such tournament affected by the blizzard in the Northeast was the Maryland Interscholastic Athletic Association A and B  Conferences on Sunday.

The MIAA released a prepared statement regarding three title games:

“Due to the forecasted winter weather expected in our area later today, we have made the decision to postpone the “A” & “B” Basketball Championship games. While we were hopeful conditions would allow us to proceed as planned, the safety of our participants, staff, and spectators remains our top priority.”

Both contests have been moved to Tuesday, again back at CEI Arena on the campus of UMBC.

The B Conference final is Severn School (Severn Park) vs. St. Paul’s (Brooklandville), 5 p.m., followed by the A Conference final between Baltimore schools Mount Carmel and St. Frances Academy, 7 p.m.

Staying local, the 55th Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group is set for March 1-2-4 at Reitz Arena on the campus of Loyola University in Baltimore.

The first round begins Sunday with No. 8 seed Loyola Blakefield vs. 1-St. Frances at 1 p.m.; 7-St. Mary’s vs. 2-Mount Carmel at 2:45 p.m.; 6-Calvert Hall vs. 3-Mount St. Joseph (10-4 BCL) at 4:30 p.m.; and 5-Archbishop Spalding vs. 4-John Carroll at 6:15 p.m.

The semifinals are Monday and the title game is Wednesday, March 4 at 8 p.m.

Tickets for each day of the tournament ($15 for adults, 19 and over; $5 for children age 6 through high school; free for children 5 and under) are on sale.

For the second straight year, Father Judge (Philadelphia) captured the Philadelphia Catholic League championship after beating Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 55-52, Sunday afternoon in the final at the sold out Palestra on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania.

Senior Derrick Morton-Rivera scored 14 points and guard Rocco Westfield hit three critical free throws in the waning seconds as the sixth-seeded Crusaders defended their crown.

 Trailing by nine entering the fourth quarter, the Saints pulled within one (53-52) with 13.9 seconds remaining. Westfield then sank a pair of free throws before Deshawn Yates’ game-tying attempt glanced off the rim to end it. Senior forward Max Moshinski amassed 10 points, 10 rebounds and five assists, junior Nazir Tyler added 10 points and Westfield eight points for the Crusaders. Junior Marquis Newson tossed in 19 points, Allassane N’Diaye doubled up with 17 points and 13 rebounds and Yates added 11 points.

Finally, the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association AA Intersectional City Finals will be played over the next two weeks with six play-in games that will lead to the quarterfinals on Sunday at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx. The semifinals are Wednesday, March 4 and the final on Sunday, March 8 both rounds back at Rose Hill. No. 7 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) the New York Archdiocese champion; and Christ the King (Middle Village), the Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan winner, have earned byes to Sunday’s quarterfinals with six more qualifiers going this week. If Stepinac wins out, they should be seriously considered for CHIPOTLE Nationals.

Okay, that’s it.

Can’t believe we are nearly done with the month of February.

There were no additions to the Elite 25 and 13 teams remained in the same position, including the top-five. Three dropped with two going down seven slots and nine more ascended with three teams moving up three. Thirteen teams, excluding the EYBL Scholastic teams, are already in the postseason. Last weekend, state champions were crowned in Nevada.

That’s it for the third week of February. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, March 3.

Bye for now. For those affected by the blizzard, go easy shoveling. This is heavy stuff. Also, check in on your elderly neighbors to make sure they are warm, fed and safe. It’s the right thing to do.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 24, 2026

1. Prolific Prep, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (26-3)

Previous rank: 1.

Lowdown: Idle.

2. Spire Academy, Geneva, Ohio (26-2)

Previous: 2.

Lowdown: Playing on its home court, Spire defeated CATS Academy (Braintree, Mass.), 79-47, and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 76-57. Darrell Davis tossed in 18 points and had 5 rebounds and 3 steals vs. LuHi. The regular season concludes Friday at No. 16 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.).

3. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (25-1)

Previous: 3.

Lowdown: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 70-47, in CIF-Southern Section Open Division quarterfinals. Also beat Corona del Mar (Newport Beach), 95-65, in pool play. The Trailblazers play Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) Tuesday in the Open Division semifinals. The final is Saturday in Ontario.

4. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (21-1)

Previous: 4.

Lowdown: Went 2-0 at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Urbandale, Iowa. The Dragons are 12-1 in EYBL play.

5. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (20-5)

Previous: 5.

Lowdown: At the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Arden, N.C., the Eagles defeated Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 61-49, as Joe Philon III had 18 points, 5 rebounds, 5 steals and 2 blocked shots. Also stopped St. James Performance Center Academy (Springfield, Va.), 63-54. Dhani Miller doubled up with 18 points and 11 rebounds. The win streak is 12 games with one remaining in the regular season.

6. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (30-2)*

Previous: 7.

Lowdown: Won third straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, outlasting second-seeded St. John’s College Washington, D.C.), 82-76, in double overtime. Arkansas recruit Jordan Smith Jr. had 39 points, 7 assists and 7 steals. The Panthers play in the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals and final are this weekend in Richmond.

7. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (22-4)

Previous: 8.

Lowdown: Won the New York Archdiocesan AA, defeating Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), 67-51, in the final. USC-bound Adonis Ratliff put up 21 points, 12 rebounds, 3 blocks and 2 steals. Jasiah Jervis produced 23 points, 6 assists and 4 rebounds when the Crusaders thumped Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 91-62, in the semifinals. Up next is CHSAA Intersectional AA Tournament quarterfinals at Fordham University in the Bronx.

8. Seven Lakes, Katy, Texas (33-0)

Previous: 9.

Lowdown: Idle. The Spartans play Alief Taylor on Tuesday in the Class 6A, Division 1 bi-district playoff game.

9. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (22-3)

Previous: 6.

Lowdown: Split two games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Hurricane, Utah.

10. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (16-1)

Previous: 10.

Lowdown: Idle.

11. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (21-1)

Previous: 11.

Lowdown: Defeated Cardinal Newman (West Palm Beach), 76-36, in the Class 3A, Region 3 semifinals. Up next is the region final against Saint Andrew’s (Boca Raton) on Saturday.

12. CIA Bella Vista Prep, Phoenix (18-4)

Previous: 14.

Lowdown: The Bears swept two games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Hurricane, Utah.

13. Principia School, St. Louis (22-2)

Previous: 16.

Lowdown: Defeated John Burroughs (St. Louis), 78-32, in the regular season finale. Up next is the Class 3, District 5 semifinals Thursday against Elsberry or Bowling Green. The final is Saturday.

14. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (23-0)

Previous: 17.

Lowdown: Defeated New Berlin Eisenhower, 81-37, as Northern Iowa-bound Zavier Zens and Kager Knueppel scored 20 points apiece. Also beat Pius XI Catholic (Milwaukee), 71-48.

15. Rainier Beach, Seattle (25-1)

Previous: 15.

Lowdown: Won the Class 3A, District 2 championship, defeating O’Dea (Seattle), 56-47, in the final. Also beat Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, Wash.), 80-68, in the semifinals and Garfield (Seattle), 98-44, in the quarterfinals.

16. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (20-4)

Previous: 18.

Lowdown: The Lakers captured two games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Arden, N.C.

17. Sunnyslope, Phoenix (25-2)

Previous: 19.

Lowdown: Defeated Mountain Pointe (Phoenix), 5843, in the Arizona Open Division second round and Centennial (Peoria), 78-37 in the first round. Up next is Brophy Prep (Phoenix) Friday  in the quarterfinals.

18. Millennium, Goodyear, Ariz. (23-3)

Previous: 20.

Lowdown: Defeated Chandler, 81-54, in the second round of the Arizona Open Division playoffs and Canyon View (Waddell), 101-53, in the first round. Up next is Higley (Gilbert) Friday in the quarterfinals.

19. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (24-5)

Previous: 12.

Lowdown: Split a pair of games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in Urbandale, Iowa.

20. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (27-5)

Previous: 13.

Lowdown: Defeated Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 61-42, but lost to No. 5 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 66-58, at the Christ School Nike EYBL Scholastic Invitational in Arden, N.C.

21. Southeastern Prep Academy, Orlando, Fla. (38-8)

Previous: 21.

Lowdown: Went 2-0 Grind Session in Orlando, Fla.

22. Fishers, Ind. (22-0)

Previous: 22.

Lowdown: Defeated Zionsville, 66-42. Won the Hoosier Crossroads Conference title with 7-0 record.

23. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (30-1)

Previous: 23.

Lowdown: Won the East Suburban Catholic Conference title, beating Marist (Chicago), 77-68. Jayden Wright, an Eastern Illinois commit, scored 17 points and center Colin Strick added 23 points and 7 rebounds. The Redwings went 8-0 in league play. Up next is Class 4A Bolingbrook Sectional on Tuesday.

24. Webb School, Knoxville, Tenn. (30-2)

Previous: 24.

Lowdown: Defeated Knoxville Catholic, 86-52, in the Division II, Class 2A East Region final and McCallie School (Chattanooga), 65-42, in the semifinals. The state quarterfinals are Saturday.

25. Bartlett, Tenn. (25-4)

Previous: 25.

Lowdown: Defeated Collierville, 68-32. The state playoffs are beckoning.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (31-6)
2. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (25-3)
3. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (11-11)
4. Notre Dame, West Haven, Conn. (17-3)
5. Father Judge, Philadelphia (15-10*

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

Midwest

1. DePaul Prep, Chicago (27-3)
2. Curie, Chicago (26-1)*
3. Lakota West, West Chester, Ohio (21-1)
4. Kankakee, Ill. (26-1)
5. East St. Louis, Ill. (26-4)

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

Southland

1. Columbus, Miami (23-6)
2. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (34-2)
3. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (23-5)
4. Oak Cliff Faith Family, Dallas (25-9)
5. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (21-8)

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

Far West

1. La Mirada, Calif. (24-7)
2. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (26-4)
3. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (23-6)
4. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (27-4)
5. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (29-2)

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

Records through Sunday

 * 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 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.