CHECKERED FLAG: It’s a sprint to finish for Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ teams competing in Indy at Chipotle Nationals; Fishers (IN) wins first title

BENSALEM, Pa. – One of the most important basketball weeks has arrived and it will be an impactful one.

One: The Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals is here. The games (outlined below) start Thursday from Brownsburg High School or around 10 miles from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. That’s why for three days, the eight boys’ basketball teams from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings, will be fighting to the finish line. The winner gets a major national chip and the title Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys Basketball National Champions. Pretty neat.

Two: The McDonald’s All-American Games were played this week in Houston with some of the players hopping a plane to Indianapolis for the CHIPOTLE Nationals. No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy has three players heading north and that total should have been more.

Three: The Final Four will crown a men’s national champion in Arizona. That’s assignment TV after watching the CHIPOTLE Nationals earlier Saturday afternoon on ESPN2 and ESPN.

Chipotle Nationals

The CHIPOTLE Nationals tip-off Thursday at Brownsburg High School in Brownsburg, Ind. The semifinals are Friday and the finals are Saturday. Defending champions are Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) boys and Montverde (Fla.) Academy girls.

All eight boys teams are ranked in the Elite 25. Likewise for the girls.

All games will be broadcast on the ESPN platforms (ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU).

The updated schedules.

Boys

Thursday

(All times are Eastern; seed number precedes each team)

2 p.m.: 2-St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.) vs. 7-IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)

4 p.m.: 4-Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) vs. 5-Columbus (Miami)

6 p.m.: 3-Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) vs. 6-Link Academy

8 p.m.: 1-Montverde Academy vs. 8-AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.).

All quarterfinal games will be shown on ESPNU.

The semifinals are Friday at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m. on ESPN2. The final is Saturday at 12 p.m. on ESPN2.

Girls

Thursday

10 a.m.: 3-IMG Academy vs. 6-Grace Christian (Sanford, N.C.)

12 p.m.: 4-Montverde Academy vs. 5-Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.)

Friday

Semifinals on ESPNU

10:30 a.m.: 1-Long Island Lutheran vs. Montverde or Sidwell

12:30 p.m.: 2-Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) vs. IMG or Grace Christian

The final is Saturday at 10 a.m. on ESPN.

The final set of state championships are in.

Last weekend, the Indiana High School Athletic Association crowned four state champions at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

The results:

Class 1A
Canterbury School (Fort Wayne) won its first-ever boys basketball state title beating Bethesda Christian (Brownsburg), 48-41. Senior John Parent put up 22 points and 10 rebounds. The Cavaliers went 19-9 and welcomed four transfers last year before each gained eligibility this past January and rattled off nine straight wins to end the term

 Class 2A

In the second game of the afternoon session, Brownstown topped Wapahani, 55-36, for the school’s first hoop title. Jack Benter flipped in a game-high 25 points, lifting his team to a 28-4 record.

 Class 3A

The theme of the day continued in the third game as Scottsburg bagged the program’s first-ever title over St. Joseph (South Bend), 67-57. Trailing 50-49 after three quarters, Scottsburg closed on an 18-7 run. Jack Miller (32 points, three 3s) and Kody Clancy (20 points, two 3s) teamed for 52 points and five 3-pointers for Scottsburg (25-5).
Class 4A

JonAnthony Hall’s 23 points led three scorers in double digits as Fishers completed a mission for its first state crown in a 65-56 win over defending Class 4A champion Ben Davis (Indianapolis). Fishers, regionally ranked in the Elite 25, went 29-1. The Tigers were down one point heading into the fourth quarter but rallied with an 18-8 spurt.

Congratulations to the four Indiana first-time state titlists. Tremendous accomplishment! That goes for all the state champions from coast to coast, including the District of Columbia. Think of it. Preparations are already underway for most programs to win it all next winter. The basketball season is 24/7/365 these days.

Okay, that’s a wrap.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return April 8 for final time this season. Thank you for your readership.

Enjoy the Final Four tipping  Saturday in Glendale, Ariz. Should be entertaining and with a new location near Phoenix, it will add more layers of enjoyment. We’ll have the report from the CHIPOTLE Nationals and the impact they will have on the final set of boys’ rankings.

Expect a major reshuffling. All 25 teams plus 20 more from the regional rankings are eligible and on alert.

Hope your Easter was joyous.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, April 1, 2024

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

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Idle. Duke-bound F Cooper Flagg was tabbed the Gatorade Player of the Year. The Eagles are back at it this week at the CHIPOTLE Nationals in Brownsburg, Ind.

2. Columbus, Miami (27-4)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won third straight Class 7A state championship. The CHIPOTLE Nationals are this week.

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.

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

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The CHIPOTLE Nationals are this week in Indiana.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (33-5)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: The Crew will be playing this week at the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

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

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won a second straight CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

8. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (26-4)**

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Won the inaugural PSAL vs. CHSAA 4A Champions Challenge and second straight CHSAA AA Intersectional championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 10.

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

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

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Region Open Division final and captured the Baseline League championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won CIF Division 1 state championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Advanced to the FHSAA Class 7A state final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Up next are the CHIPOTLE Nationals as defending champion tipping Thursday.

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

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Up next is the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

18. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (29-3)**

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won the PIAA Class 5A state championship for the fourth straight year and captured the Philadelphia Public League City title. Season complete.

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

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class 7A final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. It is the program’s first-ever state chip. Season complete.

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

Previous: 21.

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

22. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (31-4)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (29-2)*
2. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (29-3)*
3. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (36-5)*
4. Lincoln Park, Midland, Pa. (28-3)*
5. Jackson-Reed, Washington, D.C. (33-3)*

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. Fishers, Ind. (29-1)*
3. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (30-0)*
4. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (27-1)*
5. DePaul Prep, Chicago (35-2)*

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

Southland

1. Central Cabarrus, Concord, N.C. (33-0)*
2. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (28-3)*
3. Lyon County, Eddyville, Ky. (34-3)*
4. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (38-2)
5. Independence, Thompson’s Station, Tenn. (33-6)*

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.