FLYING HIGH: No. 1 Montverde (FL) Academy Eagles clinch Nike EYBL Scholastic title; No. 22 Sidwell Friends (DC) return to Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – The coronation is just taking shape for No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy. The Eagles completed a perfect 30-0 regular season and with it the nation’s most valuable chip.

Anytime a team goes undefeated (12-0) in the Nike EYBL Scholastic that’s an achievement that no one can match and that goes for any league in the nation. The grind of travel, the bull’s-eye on the back of an entire team and coaching staff can weigh teams down but not the Eagles. They peeled off a pair lopsided wins last weekend at the Pete Hollis Showcase in Greenville, S.C.

The scheduling attitude is never back down and play games anywhere, anytime, anyplace. This version of the Eagles is special. The national experts concur with our assessment that the 2023-24 team is the best team ever assembled and better than the 2019-20 team that saw their season cut short by the pandemic.

However, the Eagles have a month off before the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals  (formerly named GEICO Nationals) will be take place April 4-6 at Brownsburg High School near Indianapolis, Ind. They need three more wins to complete the task and earn that lofty tag as “best ever.”

We wouldn’t put it past the Eagles, who are laser-focused and locked in.

Meanwhile on a personal note, coach Kevin Boyle won his 850^th game of his career that included a lengthy stopped earlier this century at St. Patrick High School in Elizabeth, N.J. Congratulations to a future Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame inductee. That might be a few years out, but the savvy Boyle will be enshrined one day in Springfield, Mass. Hey, just sayin’!

Jordan Brand Classic

Elsewhere, the Chipotle Nationals will feature an eight-team bracket with Elite 25 teams such as Montverde Academy, Long Island Lutheran, Prolific Prep, St. Paul VI Catholic, La Lumiere School, Columbus (Miami) and Brewster Academy almost all assured invitations. The Georgia Class 7A state champion and another EYBL Scholastic team could round out the field that will announced in the coming weeks.

Lastly, the Jordan Brand Classic released the rosters for the annual senior All-American Game that will be played in New York on April 21. Boyle is one of the boys’ coaches but nothing has been officially released by the Jordan Brand.

Several of the players are rostered on teams from the current Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ rankings. The rosters are composed of 26 players that will split into teams for the game. All players are listed alphabetically.

Here’s the boys players:

Airious “Ace” Bailey, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.); Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.); Carter Bryant, Corona (Calif.) Centennial; VJ Edgecombe, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.); Cooper Flagg, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.); Donnie Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); Darren Harris, St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.); Morez Johnson, Thornton (Harvey, Ill.); Tre Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.); Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee); Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy; Asa Newell, Montverde Academy; Patrick Ngongba, St. Paul VI Catholic; Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep (Philadelphia); Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); Labaron Philon, Link Academy; Drake Powell, Northwood (Pittsboro, N.C.); Jayden Quaintance, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.); Derrion Reid, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.); Jase Richardson, Columbus (Miami); Billy Richmond, Camden, N.J.; Aiden Sherrell, Prolific; and Rob Wright III, Montverde Academy.

The latest Elite 25 rankings feature one addition and a return of a championship team from our nation’s capital. No. 22 Sidwell Friends (Washington) is back after completing a 27-4 season and securing a third consecutive District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA title and previously took home the Middle-Atlantic Athletic Conference crown.

This weekend state champions will be crowned in power states such as California, Texas, Florida, Georgia, New York, New Jersey and Illinois. The season is ending as the rest of the states will roll out champions over the next three weekends. The Chipotle Nationals will cap the season in the Hoosier State.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return March 12. Thank you for your readership.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 5, 2024

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

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Eagles closed out the regular season over the weekend, winning the Nike EYBL Scholastic championship with two more wins. The Eagles beat Orangeville Prep (Ontario), 77-51, and Veritas Academy (Calif.), 83-58. Indiana-bound popped in 21 points and had four steals and Derik Queen added 19 points and rejected 5 shots versus Veritas. Coach Kevin Boyle won his 850^th game of his illustrious career. Up next is the Chipotle Nationals from April 4-6 in Brownsburg, Ind.

2. Columbus, Miami (25-4)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Idle. The Explorers play Evans (Orlando) Friday in the FHSAA Class 7A semifinals in Lakeland. The final is Saturday.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (33-2)**

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won a second Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship in the last three years, defeating then-No. 19 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 63-51, in the final. It’s 19-0 in the WCAC this season. Tremendous accomplishment because the WCAC is one of the best league, if not the best in the nation. Elsewhere, the Panthers secured the Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I title for the fourth straight year, beating St. Anne’s Belfield (Charlottesville), 72-62, in the final, Blue Ridge School (St. George), 91-63, in the semifinals and Benedictine (Richmond), 90-56, in the quarterfinals. Regular season is complete. Expect the Panthers to get an invite to the Chipotle Nationals in April.

4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (19-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Idle. The Crusaders conclude the regular season with two games this weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic series in North Augusta, S.C.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (29-5)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Idle.

6. Plano (Texas) East (38-0)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won Class 6A, Region I championship, defeating Keller, 76-60, in the final and Eaton (Fort Worth), 57-30, in the semifinals. Up next is Mansfield Lakeridge Friday in the 6A semifinals in San Antonio.

7. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (31-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Defeated Carlsbad, 73-72, in the CIF Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Trent Perry scored 42 points. The Wolverines face No. 9 Roosevelt (Eastvale) Tuesday in the region final with the winner advancing to the state title game Saturday in Sacramento.

8. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (23-4)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Boogie Fland put on a show in one of his biggest, most important games of the season. The Kentucky recruit and McDonald’s All-American scored a season-high 43 points and cleared 11 rebounds and made 2 steals when the Crusaders topped Christ the King (Middle Village), 60-53, in the New York AA Intersectional quarterfinals. Up next is St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows) Wednesday in the semifinals with the winner off to the final on Sunday. Both games are slated for Fordham University’s historic Rose Hill Gymnasium.

9. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (33-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Brayden Burries popped in 28 points in a 58-41 victory over St. Joseph (Santa Maria), in the CIF-Southern Region Open Division semifinals. Up next is No. 7 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) in the region final.

10. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-8)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Ascenders went 2-0 at Nike EYBL Scholastic Pete Hollis Showcase in South Carolina. They defeated then-No. 5 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 72-63. Syracuse recruit Donnie Freeman had a monster game with 35 points and 16 rebounds. Also defeated Orangeville Prep (Ontario), 67-53, as Darius Acuff Jr. scored 17 points and handed out 9 assists.

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

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: At the Nike EYBL Scholastic Peter Hollis Showcase, the Lakers rallied in the second half to take down Veritas Academy (Calif.), 66-54. Junior Darius Adams went off for 30 points, drilling 10 of 15 shots, and Jalen Haralson added 15 points, 7 caroms and 4 steals. In a 72-63 loss to No. 10 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Jerry Easter II dropped 28 points, canning 13 of 26 shots.

12. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (25-4)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Warriors have two games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic this weekend in North Augusta, S.C.

13. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (23-1)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Idle.

14. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (29-2)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: The Rams are headed to the Class AAAAAAA final Saturday in Macon after defeating Milton (Alpharetta), 57-40, in the semifinals and Peachtree Ridge (Suwanee), 87-59, in the quarterfinals. They play No. 19 McEachern (Powder Springs) for the title.

15. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (26-3)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Idle. The Pioneers face Winter Haven Friday in the Class 7A semifinals in Lakeland. The winner gets Evans (Orlando) or No. 2 Columbus (Miami) in Saturday’s final.

16. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (21-6)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: The Lions conclude the regular season with two Elite 25 teams at the Nike EYBL Scholastic in North Augusta, S.C.

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

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: The Wolverines went 2-0 at the Pete Hollis Showcase in Greenville, S.C., defeating Canyon International Academy (Phoenix), 73-67, as Stanford-bound Elijah Crawford scored 18 points and hauled down 8 rebounds. Also defeated No. 23 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 77-69. Iowa State signee Nojus Indrusaitis flipped in a game-high 25 points, burying 6 of 9 three-point field goals.

18. Curie, Chicago (31-2)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won Class 4A Riverside Sectional, beating Simeon (Chicago), 66-59, in the final and Whitney Young (Chicago), 61-49, in the semifinals. The Condors played Homewood-Flossmoor in the Chicago Super-Sectional on Monday with that winner heading Downstate for the 4A state tournament this weekend.

19. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (26-5)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: In the Class AAAAAAA state tournament, the Indians defeated Wheeler (Marietta), 63-56, in the semifinals and Norcross, 72-57, in the quarterfinals. Up next is No. 14 Grayson (Loganville) Saturday for the championship.

20. St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (23-5)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: The Ravens defeated Iona Prep (New Rochelle), 70-58, in the CHSAA Class AA Intersectional quarterfinals and play Nazareth (Brooklyn) Wednesday in the semifinals. The final is Sunday at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium. In recruiting news last week, junior Brandon Stores, Jr. verbally committed to Georgia Tech.

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

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: In the CIF-Southern Region Division 1 tournament, the Braves knocked off Damien (La Verne), 63-59, in the semifinals and Windward (Los Angeles), 65-63, in the quarterfinals. The Braves host Trinity League rivals Mater Dei (Santa Ana) in the regional final Tuesday. Mater Dei won the two regular season meetings.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA championship, defeating St. John’s College (Washington), 47-37, in the final and returned to the Elite 25 with a great late run of results. Jalen Rougier-Roane was the Most Valuable Player tallying 15 points in the final. The Quakers also won the Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference title, topping Maret School (Washington), 61-49, in the final. Season complete.

23. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (17-5)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: The Tigers split two games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Pete Hollis Showcase in South Carolina.

24. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Knights lost in the CIF-Southern Region Division 1 semifinals to Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 79-71, in the semifinals and beat Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro), 58-49, in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

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

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Upset by No. 22 Sidwell Friends (Washington), 53-52, in District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA semifinals. The Purple Eagles were runners-up in the prestigious WCAC Tournament. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 14 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (27-2)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (22-3)*
3. 3. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (21-3)*
4. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (26-3)
5. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (36-5)*

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

Midwest

1. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (26-0)
2. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (30-4)
3. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (22-1)
4. Fishers, Ind. (25-1)
5. DePaul Prep, Chicago (32-2)

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

Southland

1. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (26-2)
2. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (37-1)
3. Beaumont (Texas) United (34-3)
4. Great Crossing, Georgetown, Ky. (31-1)
5. Bartlett, Tenn. (30-4)

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (30-1)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-5)
3. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)*
4. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (24-6))*
5. Central Catholic, Portland, Ore. (24-3)

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.