BENSALEM, Pa. – After careful thought the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings went through a bit of reconstruction. We’re thinking ahead to the GEICO High School Nationals and the Elite 25 needs to reflect the power and respect the event conjures.

Since the two latest additions to the Elite 25 have no bearing on the GEICO Nationals, here’s the latest look at the 12^thannual event that tips off on April 2 in New York.

Definitely in: Montverde Academy, Wasatch Academy, Oak Hill Academy Sunrise Christian and Dorman. In case you are unaware, the South Carolina High School League has granted Dorman a chance to accept an invitation. From what we gather, it’s a done deal regardless of what the Cavaliers do this postseason.

Under consideration: Since states such as Maryland, Georgia, Nevada, Washington, Florida, Arizona and Utah are in play, at least two state champions will get the invitation. That means Grayson (Ga.) and Bishop Gorman (Nev.) remain frontrunners. We’re still waiting on the WCAC to make a decision if their champion would go and DeMatha is the chosen one through mid-February. IMG Academy, La Lumiere School, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, St. Frances Academy and Prolific Prep are all on the bubble.

We believe up to six independent schools will get invites and two or three National Federation sanctioned state/conference winners will round out the field.

My latest ballot (no particular order) has Montverde, Grayson, Dorman, Wasatch Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Prolific, DeMatha (if permitted to attend) and IMG. St. Frances, La Lumiere and Hamilton Heights are on the bubble. Montverde is the undisputed top seed.

We’ll update the GEICO Nationals each week and shed light on the eight teams that will make it to Father John Savage Gymnasium on the campus of Christ the King High School in the Queens neighborhood of Middle Village.

No. 23 Lancaster (Texas) and No. 25 St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.) join the rankings with state playoffs looming in their respective states. No. 24 Curie (Chicago) drops 13 spots after losing in the Chicago Public League semifinals.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Feb. 25.

Hope to see you at game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Feb. 18, 2020

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Eagles posted a perfect campaign and won’t play again for two months when the GEICO High School Nationals tip off on April 2 in New York.

2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (27-3)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Stags went 3-1 last week, losing to No. 17 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 74-65, to finish with a stellar 19-1 record in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. This weekend coach Mike Jones’ team is top seed in the WCAC Tournament and play Saturday in the quarterfinals.

3. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (35-3)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: LSU-bound Cam Thomas, the program’s all-time leading scorer, netted 35 points and KK Robinson added 21 points and 11 assists during a 112-74 blowout of Bristol (Tenn.) Prep. Thomas, who was named to the Jordan Brand Classic, totaled 75 points last week. Next is New Faith Christian Academy (Riverdale, Ga.) Friday.

4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (27-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Tigers await an invite to the GEICO Nationals.

5. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (27-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Region 8-AAAAAAA champions opened the Class AAAAAAA state tournament, defeating Discovery (Lawrenceville), 76-41. The second round game is Wednesday and the quarterfinal Feb. 25.

6. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (20-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Ohio State-bound Zed Key had a monster 37-point, 16-rebound effort in a narrow 68-63 win over then-No. 21 The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.). Andre Curbelo stuffed the stat sheet with 10 points, 10 assists, 8 boards and 5 steals. The Illini sure signed a gem and tremendous floor leader. The Crusaders close out the regular season this weekend hosting the LuHi Invitational Friday and Saturday.

7. Dorman, Roebuck, S.C. (25-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: It was a huge win off the court for South Carolina’s top-ranked team as they will have a chance to participate at the GEICO Nationals in April. That’s exactly what the committee wants and so is a perfect 14-0 mark in Region II-AAAAA after a 95-45 blowout of Riverside (Greer) with Myles Tate throwing in a game-high 22 points. The Cavaliers have won 54 straight games against South Carolina competition.

8. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (20-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Overwhelmed Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.),78-37, at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Grand Island, Neb. Also beat Phoenix (Ariz.) Prep, 82-63, as five players hit for double figures. The Buffaloes are another Elite 25 team in line for an invite to the GEICO Nationals.

9. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (20-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Lakers beat Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 55-48, and Roosevelt (Gary, Ind.), 98-28. The push for the GEICO Nationals is in full swing.

10. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (24-3)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Nimari Burnett and Jalen Green were selected to play in the Jordan Brand Classic in Chicago on March 27.

11. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (19-2)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Gonzaga-bound Jalen Suggs flipped in 25 points during a 69-52 victory over St. Louis Park. That was followed up by the Redwings’ 101-82 triumph over Hibbing. The triumvirate of Suggs (23 points), Chet Holmgren (18) and Prince Aligbe (16) combined for 57 points and five 3-pointers. This is a huge week for the Redhawks with home games against Eden Prairie Tuesday and De La Salle (Minnesota) Saturday. Eden Prairie is unbeaten and No. 1 in Minnesota’s Class 4A rankings.

12. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (25-4)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: TCU-bound Terren Frank bucketed 19 points in a 67-37 throttling of St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play. The Trailblazers close out Pool A with St. Anthony (Long Beach) Tuesday and No. 13 Etiwanda Friday. The winners of the two pools play for the title on Feb. 28.

13. Etiwanda, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Eagles won for the 16^th straight time in a 71-55 decision over St. Anthony (Long Beach) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play opener. Tyree Campbell supplied 14 points, 6 boards and 3 blocks off the bench. Next is St. John Bosco (Bellflower) Tuesday in Pool B.

14. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (22-5)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Beat Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 67-63, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division round-robin pool game. The action finishes up in Pool B with Mater Dei (Santa Ana) Tuesday and Corona Centennial Friday.

15. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (23-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated Beckley (W.Va.) Prep, 78-64, at the Virginia High Showcase in Bristol, Va., and Lighthouse Christian (Antioch, Tenn.), 101-69.

16. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (19-6)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated Millard North (Omaha, Neb.), 74-69, at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Grand Island, Neb. The Ascenders recorded an eye-opening 21 dunks for the folks in Nebraska.

17. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (22-7)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Panthers are the second seed for this weekend’s WCAC playoffs. The quarterfinals are Saturday, semifinals Sunday and the final is Monday night.

18. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (33-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Closed out the regular season, defeating rivals Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 73-69. The Panthers had lost to MSJ last month but went 18-1 in MIAA A Conference and secured the top seed in the upcoming conference tournament.

19. Camden, N.J. (21-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The win streak reached 17 games in a 63-54 overtime-win over Wildwood Catholic (North Wildwood). Freshman guard DJ Wagner scored a game-high 18 points.

The Panthers face Paul VI (Haddonfield) Tuesday and Woodrow Wilson (Camden) Thursday.

20. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (29-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Waxed Central (Baton Rouge), 88-40, and Zachary, 70-48. The Hornets close out the regular season Friday with Denham Springs.

21. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (26-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Upended by Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 66-59, in overtime in CIF-Southern Section Open Division pool play. The Huskies are back at it Tuesday hosting Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) in Pool B. They conclude the round-robin format with No. 14 Rancho Christian (Temecula) Friday.

22. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (23-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Zaon Collins posted 11 points and 10 assists and Mwani Wilkinson scored 25 points in an 81-48 victory over Basic (Las Vegas) in the Class 4A Desert Region quarterfinals. Next is Liberty (Henderson) in the semifinals. The title game is Thursday.

23. Lancaster, Texas (29-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Tigers enter the Elite 25 on a 28-game win streak. They close out the regular season with Forney Tuesday, looking to earn a perfect 12-0 record in District 13-5A. TCU-bound Mike Myles and Wade Taylor is the best backcourt in Texas.

24. Curie, Chicago (24-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Upset by Simeon, 79-69, in the Chicago Public League semifinals and topped Orr, 67-66, in the quarterfinals. Next stop is the Class 4A state playoffs.

25. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (26-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Gray Bees return to the Elite 25 and have won at least 25 games for the eighth time in nine years under coach Mark Taylor. They played Peddie School (Hightstown) in the New Jersey State Prep Tournament Monday night. The final is Thursday.

Dropped: No. 21 The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) and No. 23 Duncanville (Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (19-4)
2. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (16-7)
3. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (19-4)
4. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (21-9)
5. Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore (20-2)

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

Midwest

1. Eden Prairie, Minn. (23-0)
2. Moeller, Cincinnati (21-1)
3. Bloomington (Ind.) South (20-0)
4. River Rouge, Mich. (16-1)
5. Vashon, St. Louis (16-5)

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

Southland

1. Westlake, Austin, Texas (31-1)
2. Ashland (Ky.) Blazer (26-0)
3. West Oaks Academy, Orlando, Fla. (25-6)
4. North Mecklenburg, Huntersville, N.C. (23-1)
5. St. Augustine, New Orleans (27-1)

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (23-6)
2. Garfield, Seattle (19-3)
3. St. Anthony, Long Beach, Calif. (26-3)
4. Davis, Kaysville, Utah (20-1)
5. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (23-5)

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

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. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.