FLYIN’ HIGH: No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (NY) zooms up Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings; No. 24 Wheeler (GA) re-enters on cusp of Class 7A title

BENSALEM, Pa. – There is just over a month remaining in the season and the Blue Star Media 25 boys’ basketball rankings have a fresh look.

Last week, we promised a reshuffling of the Elite 25 and 18 teams shifted positions. That includes 11 that moved up and seven that dipped. The biggest riser was No. 14 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), the Washington Catholic Athletic Association champions, who went up 11 slots.  No. 4 Corona (Calif.) Centennial and No. 18 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic ascended five apiece. No. 25 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) cratered 13 positions but not out of the Elite 25.

Within the Top 10, eight teams were reassigned. No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) leaped three spots and No. 4 Corona Centennial is within striking distance of the top spot, which of course is secured by Montverde (Fla.) Academy.

LuHi is a dangerous team and went 3-0 last weekend in the final event of the National Invitational Basketball Conference. The Crusader concluded their inaugural season with a 10-2 mark only bettered by first place and No. 1 Montverde Academy. If LuHi and Montverde meet in the postseason, consider it manna from heaven. These are the top two teams in the land.

Six Elite 25 teams have been crowned state or major conference champions and this eight more have a shot at glory, with the big one, California Interscholastic Federation Open Division state final, Saturday in Sacramento. Titles will be handed out in New York, Illinois, Oregon, Texas, Virginia and Georgia.

There also one of the most prestigious postseason tournaments, Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament, which tips for three days starting on Thursday afternoon at Frostburg State University in western Maryland. Four teams from the WCAC, including No. 14 St. John’s College, compose the eight-team field. All ticket sales will be at the door. It’s truly one of the best postseason events.

No. 20 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) enters the Elite 25 and No. 24 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) return. Roman captured the Philadelphia Catholic League championship in thrilling fashion and Wheeler needs one win to annex the Georgia Class 7A state title.

As for the GEICO High School Nationals it’s beginning to look like Elite 25 teams are slated to gain invites. Based on history, Montverde Academy, Long Island Lutheran, AZ Compass Prep, Sunrise Christian, Prolific Prep, IMG Academy, Link Academy and a team from the WCAC are headed to Fort Meyers, Fla., for the event that commences on March 30. There are two teams from WCAC in the Elite 25 and one captured the regular season title with an unbeaten ledger and the other won the postseason tournament. Five NIBC teams figure into the plans.

The official announcement by Paragon Marketing can’t come soon enough.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on March 14.

Stay safe and get out to a state playoff or championship game. Don’t forget to change your clocks ahead Sunday morning for Daylight Savings Time and later that day it’s NCAA Men’s Selection Show (6 p.m. EDT, CBS). Once the field of 68 is revealed, let the games begin.

For the next five weeks it’s wall to wall hoops on the high school and college levels.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 7, 2023

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the GEICO High School Nationals.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Crusaders were red hot going 3-0 in the AXE NIBC Series Pete Hollis Showcase in Greenville, S.C. Coach John Buck’s team went 10-2 in the NIBC.

3. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (24-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Idle.

4. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (30-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: In the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals, the Huskies defeated St. Augustine (San Diego), 89-67, as Mike Price flipped in 24 points and Duke-bound Jared McCain added 23. Up next is No. 12 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) in the final with the victor heading to the CIF State Open Division final on Saturday in Sacramento.

5. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (29-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A Perry Meridian Sectional Pike (Indianapolis), 80-59, in the final. The Giants also stopped Franklin Central (Indianapolis), 76-46, in the semifinals and Southport, 62-46, in the first round. Up next is Cathedral (Indianapolis) Saturday in the Southport Regional.

6. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (31-3)*

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I St. Anne’s-Belfield (Charlottesville), 69-56, in the final. The Panther also stopped Blue Ridge (St. George), 77-57, in the semifinals and St. Stephen’s and St. Agnes School (Alexandria), 96-52, in the quarterfinals. Regular season complete.

7. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (23-4)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Went 1-1 at the AXE NIBC Series Pete Hollis Showcase in South Carolina.

8. Duncanville, Texas (28-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Season complete.

9. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Idle.

10. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (19-8)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Spilt two games at the NIBC Series in South Carolina.

11. Simeon, Chicago (30-3)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the Class 3A Glen Ellyn Sectional, defeating Mount Carmel (Chicago), 70-47, in the final and St. Laurence (Burbank), 50-42, in the semifinals. In the former game, Miles Rubin, a Loyola (Ill.) commit, scored 19 points and Same Lewis added 16. The Wolverines played Hillcrest (Country Club Hills) in the Class 3A SuperSectional on Monday. The winner goes to Class 3A states this weekend in Champaign.

12. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (31-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Wolverines knocked off then-No. 12 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 69-64, in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Up next is No. 4 Corona (Calif.) Centennial in the final. The winner advances to the state final Saturday night in Sacramento.

13. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (25-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: In the Class 2 quarterfinals, the Justices defeated Strasburg, 98-27. The Justices have not or will they be challenged in the playoffs. Two games remain with the Class 2 final on Saturday night.

14. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (30-3)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament title but lost to Jackson-Reed (Washington), 66-6-3, in the District of Columbia State Athletic Association AA semifinals. The Cadets will play this weekend in the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md.

15. Camden, N.J. (23-2)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Season complete.

16. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (25-3)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Defeated Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia), 69-58, in the PIAA Class 5A, District 12 final. The Panthers face Holy Ghost Prep (Bensalem) Friday in the PIAA Class 5A first round in Philadelphia.

17. Columbus, Miami (26-4)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won second straight FHSAA Class 7A state championship, beating Winter Haven, 50-48, in the final and Colonial (Orlando), 71-28, in the semifinals. Sophomore forward Cameron Boozer doubled up with 22 points and 11 rebounds in the semifinals. Regular season complete.

18. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (22-5)*

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won the Non-Public B state championship, beating St. Rose (Belmar), 68-59, in the final. It was the Lions’ sixth state title since 2013. Arizona State-bound forward Akil Watson scored 23 points and Mackenzie Mgbako, a Duke recruit and McDonald’s All American, had 13 points and nine rebounds and Sebastian Robinson netted 13 points. In the North Section final, the Lions defeated Montclair Immaculate, 71-61, and St. Thomas Aquinas (Edison), 90-72, in the semifinals. Regular season complete.

19. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (23-4)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Defeated Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 76-55, in the CHSAA Intersectional AA quarterfinals. The Royals play Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) Wednesday in the semifinals at Carnesecca Arena on the St. John’s University campus in Flushing.

20. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (23-3)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: It was quite a week for the Cahillites, which captured two major chips. First, they won the Philadelphia Catholic League championship, defeating longtime rival and No. 21 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 57-52, in overtime in the title game. It was the program’s 33rd PCL title. They also defeated Central (Philadelphia), 67-40, in the PIAA District 12 final. Up next is Perkiomen Valley (Collegeville) Saturday in Class 6A state first round.

21. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (22-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Defeated Overbrook (Philadelphia), 84-55, in the PIAA Class 4A District 12 playoff game. Lost to No. 20 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 57-52, in overtime in the Philadelphia Catholic League final. The Saints play Middletown Area Friday in the PIAA Class 4A first round in Warminster, Pa.

22. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (16-7)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Idle.

23. West Linn, Ore. (26-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Defeated Jesuit (Portland), 89-64, in the Class 6A second round and Century (Hillsboro), 92-60, in the first round. The Lions meet Central Catholic (Portland) Thursday in the 6A quarterfinals. The semifinals are Friday and final on Saturday at the University of Portland’s Chiles Center.

24. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (26-6)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Wildcats return to the Elite 25 and will play in the GHSA Class 7A final this weekend against Cherokee (Canton) Saturday in Macon. In the 7A state finals, they defeated Grayson (Loganville), 67-55.

25. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (26-7)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 13 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 69-64 in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 17 West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) and No. 24 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (38-4)*
2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (23-3)*
3. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (18-9)
4. Reading, Pa. (27-1)
5. Lincoln Park, Midland, Pa. (25-1)

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

Midwest

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (33-1)
2. De Pere, Wis. (26-0)
3. Brother Rice, Bloomfield Hills, Mich. (21-1)*
4. Moline, Ill. (32-3)
5. Kenwood, Chicago (28-6)

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

Southland

1. Lake Highlands, Dallas (32-3)
2. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (27-4)
3. Beaumont (Texas) United (35-1)
4. Warren Central, Bowling Green, Ky. (30-1)
5. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (30-5)*

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

Far West

1. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (30-1)*
2. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (25-10)
3. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (23-10)
4. Garfield, Seattle (25-2)*
5. Durango, Las Vegas (21-6)*

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

Records through Sunday’s games

 * Won state, national or major conference postseason tournament championship

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.