Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Preseason Boys Basketball rankings; Montverde (Fla.) Academy opens on top

BENSALEM, Pa. – Well, it’s finally here, the preseason Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys basketball rankings.

Top-ranked Montverde (Fla.) Academy has the proverbial bull’s-eye on its back as several teams chase the central Florida boarding school. The coming weeks the schedule will intensify as more and more schools have decided to attend showcase events and tournaments to prove they belong on the national scene. In the coming week, Blue Star Media will preview the five places you need to be in the month of December. We’ll be doing the same for January and February as the postseason nears.

The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings will return in the first week of January after all the holiday tournaments are settled. There should be plenty of change but we’re confident the top teams will remain static despite the upgrade in competition.

Next up keep your eyes peeled for the preseason Blue Star Media Go-To 25 girls rankings. We’ll continue not affixing a number for the Top 25 teams, instead listing them alphabetically.

We look forward to seeing you at a game soon. A very Happy Thanksgiving to all. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

(Records from 2012-13 season)

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-2)

The Rub: Crowned co-national champions with preseason No. 2 Findlay Prep by Blue Star Media in 2013, the Eagles are ready to soar. The roster is a who’s who of high-major players, including 6-4 D’Angelo Russell (signed with Ohio State), 6-1 Jalyn Patterson (LSU), 6-5 Justin Bibbs (Virginia Tech), 6-0 Ahmad Rorie (California), 6-9 Makinde London (Xavier) and 6-6 Jordan Caroline (Southern Illinois). Then there are elite juniors, 6-9 Australian Ben Simmons and 6-9 Canadian Chris Egi (verbal to Harvard). Defending their National High School Invitational is paramount for coach Kevin Boyle.

2. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (35-1)

The Rub: The Pilots feature international flavor, with five of the 11 players from foreign countries. First-year head coach Jerome Williams’ team are long (average height 6-6) and have only five Division I-bound seniors (six will return). Four players have been nominated for the McDonald’s All-American Game—6-9 Australian Jonah Bolden; 6-6 Rashad Vaughn; 6-8 Craig Victor II (signed with Arizona) and 6-7 Texan Kelly Oubre (Kansas). The Pilots are already 7-0 heading into this weekend’s games. Another national schedule will culminate playing for the NHSI crown in April.

3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (34-2)

The Rub: The Monarchs have won three-straight state champions and 100 games in the last three years. Coach Gary McKnight will hit 1,000 wins (he has 960 entering his 31^st year with 10 state titles) and there’s no reason why his team won’t be adding a fourth title in as many years in March. At 6-7, Stanley Johnson is a McDonald’s All-American candidate and will team with junior transfer swingman Rex Pflueger as the go-to players. In the post, there’s 6-10 M.J. Cage (his father Michael Cage played in the NBA). Once again the Monarchs will play a rugged schedule to justify their national ranking.

4. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-4)

The Rub: After reaching the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament final, the Apaches won’t settle anything less than championship hardware. Florida-bound Brandone Francis and PF Dante Buford make coach Rex Morgan’s go.

5. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-6)

The Rub: Expect improvements this season as the Warriors have upgraded at all positions. Twins Caleb and Cody Martin are bound for North Carolina State and 6-5 B.J. Stith is the top outside threat. PGs Terrence Phillips and Shelton Mitchell are the main distributors. Three long post players add an inside presence. The Warriors have opened the season 7-1 with a rare loss but last Friday coach Steve Smith won his 900^th game.

6. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (29-3)

The Rub: The Las Vegas skyline has a pair of additions with 7-0 junior Stephen Zimmerman and 6-10 Chase Jeter. PG Noah Robotham will deliver the ball to the bigs but the Gaels need an outside game to compete against national opponents such as Curie (Chicago), No. 5 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 2 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.).

7. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (24-7)

The Rub: The Braves advanced to the CIF Southern Division quarterfinals and will ride the scoring antics of Connecticut-bound 6-7 F Daniel Hamilton and 6-4 junior Tyler Dorsey. A pair of juniors, 6-7 Bennie Boatwright and 6-2 Lorne Currie, are dependable. At 6-8, Billy Preston is only a freshman and expected to contribute immediately.

8. Whitney Young, Chicago (27-4)

The Rub: The nation’s top senior, 6-10 C Jahlil Okafor, signed with Duke but will need to step up his game to advance past the Class 4A sectionals. Okafor’s flanked by Georgetown-bound 6-8 Paul White. The backcourt is in good hands with 6-2 Miles Reynolds and junior Ant Mosley running the show. The Dolphins’ mantra is simple: Win the 4A state championship in March!

9. White Station, Memphis, Tenn. (22-6)

The Rub: One of the nation’s most animated coaches, Jesus Patino, will put on a sideline, but this season all eyes will be on the court where his Spartans are favored to bag the Class AAA championship. And, what not when 6-7 Leron Black (Illinois recruit), G Davell Roby (Saint Louis) and PG Chris Chiozza (Florida) will plunder opponents will their guile. That goes double for talented G Nych Smith.

10. St. Rita, Chicago (19-8)

The Rub: All signs point Downstate for the Mustangs and their brash coach Gary DeCesare. Northwestern-bound 6-6 Victor Law is one of the top players in a recruiting hotbed. Charles Matthews has emerged as Illinois’ top junior and his brother, 6-2 senior Dominique Matthews is another game changer. Add Myles Carter into the mix and a national schedule should prep South Siders for a postseason run in Class 4A.

11. Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y. (21-8)

The Rub: The Pioneers, coached by Rev. Ronald Stelzer, play a loaded national-caliber schedule. The Long Island squad features 6-9 junior Cheick Diallo (17 ppg, 9 rpg), Pittsburgh-bound PG Damon Wilson, sophomore PF Kassoum Yakwe, 6-7 Kobie Eubanks, 6-7 Mike Nzei (13 ppg) and junior G Djibril Diallo (mid-major recruit).

12. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (23-8)

The Rub: The Panthers are a deep team and will need it playing the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the nation’s top league. Junior F Marcus Derrickson (14 ppg), a Georgetown recruit, and burly 6-7, 270 pounder Quadree Smith (UNC Greensboro signee) bolster the frontline. Junior PG Kevin Dorsey is a jet but 6-5 junior Franklin Howard (ACL injury) won’t be back until January. Coach Glenn Farello’s team will play the a challenging schedule which includes the City of Palms Classic, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions and the Hoophall Classic (vs. St. Anthony of Jersey City, N.J.).

13. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (29-3)

The Rub: The Express welcome 6-10 junior Thomas Bryant (transfer from Bishop Kearney in Rochester, N.Y.) and 6-4 G JaQuan Lyle (from Evansville, Ind.), who will chose from Memphis, Arizona, Connecticut and Kansas. PG Josh Perkins (from Denver, Colo.) is headed to Gonzaga and 6-8 Angel Delgado to Seton Hall. Wiry F Jalen Lindsey and SG Coleman Spann transferred from the Nashville (Tenn.) area. The Express is 5-0 heading into Saturday’s game vs. The Miller School (Charlottesville, Va.).

14. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (26-6)

The Rub: The Railsplitters are the favorites to win the New York PSAL and State Federation AA titles. That’s because the 6-4 Isaiah Whitehead (Seton Hall commit) is the leading candidate for New York State’s Mr. Basketball and for a spot in the McDonald’s All-American Game. He’s flanked by Elisha Boone and Desi Rodriguez.

15. St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark, N.J. (30-2)

The Rub: PG Jonathan Williams, a VCU recruit, orchestrates an up-tempo offense and 6-5 junior has plenty offers. The New Jersey Prep state champions have a schedule littered with the likes of Simeon (Chicago), White Station (Memphis) and a pre-Christmas tournament in Puerto Rico.

16. St. John’s, Washington, D.C. (20-10)

The Rub: The guard-oriented Cadets are for real. Darian Anderson (Fairleigh Dickinson), Darian Bryant (George Washington), Tre Campbell (Georgetown), Mike Morsell (Towson) and James Palmer (Miami) all inked letters earlier this month. The WCAC entrant will battle Paul VI, DeMatha, Bishop O’Connell and Gonzaga for league supremacy and a bid to the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in March.

17. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (27-2)

The Rub: The Buffaloes, new on the national scene, have four high-major seniors, including 5-10 PG Lourawls Nairn (Michigan State), Zachary Brown (Wichita State), 6-10 Rauno Nurger (Mississippi) and 6-5 Nathan Bain (Colorado State). A berth in the NHSI is a must to advance the program forward.

18. Prime Prep, Fort Worth, Texas (37-2)

The Rub: The Fort Forth charter school advanced to the semifinals of the National High School Invitational and will lean on all-everything PG Emmanuel Mudiay, who’s headed to SMU to play for Hall of Fame coach Larry Brown. At 6-6, sophomore Terrance Ferguson is the next great player in the program for coach Ray Forsett.

19. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (26-6)

The Rub: Coach Alan Huss will feature the inside-outside combo of 6-7 F Sam Logwood, an Auburn signee, and 6-4 G Jalen Coleman. At 6-1, PG Munis Tutu will direct the offense. Another NHSI invite is in the cards.

20. Plano West, Plano, Texas (19-14)

The Rub: Coach Anthony Morgan’s club welcomes three transfers, including post Mickey Mitchell from Prestonwood Christian and Avery Johnson Jr. (from John Cooper). WF D.J. Hogg is one of the most promising players in the Metroplex.

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

The Rub: At 6-10, C Daniel Giddens is one of the nation’s top posts. After reaching the Class AAAAAA semifinals, the Wildcats are in line to win it all with a veteran cast returning.

22. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-6)

The Rub: After winning the Class AAA title for three years, the Saints were pinched in the quarterfinals. Miami-bound G Ja’Quan Newton and junior Lamarr Kimble form the city’s top backcourt. The biggest off-season loss was assistant coach John Mosco taking over at Philadelphia Catholic League rivals Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.).

23. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (25-5)

The Rub: the transfer of 6-3 junior Isaiah Briscoe and maturation of sophomore Asante Gist at the point buoy the New Jersey Tournament of Champions.

24. Rainier Beach, Seattle (25-4)

The Rub: The defending Class 3A champions return four starters led by Louisville-bound F Shaqquan Aaron. Coach Mike Bethea’s team will be tested in December at the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon, which has a star-studded field.

25. Miller Grove, Lithonia, (30-3)

The Rub: The backcourt of Keith Pinckney and Alterique Gilbert fuel the Wolverines, who aim for a fifth-straight state title.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (28-3)

2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (27-5)

3. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (21-8)

4. Archbishop Carroll, Radnor, Pa. (23-7)

5. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (21-8)

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

Midlands

1. Simeon, Chicago (30-3)

2. Moeller, Cincinnati (23-3)

3. Curie, Chicago (19-8)

4. De La Salle, Minneapolis (30-1)

5. Northland, Columbus, Ohio (28-1)

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

South

1. DeSoto, Texas (33-3)

2. Providence School, Jacksonville, Fla. (35-1)

3. Norcross, Ga. (27-6)

4. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (27-7)

5. Norland, Miami (26-5)

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

Far West

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-4)

2. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (26-1)

3. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland (26-4)

4. Westchester, Los Angeles (29-7)

5. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (29-5)

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

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys High School Rankings are released weekly from November 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 Senior Writer and National Analyst Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released April 7, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.