Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 26, 2013

BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest edition of the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings have no additions but two teams are trending in dangerous waters.

No. 21 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) dropped 13 spots after being upset in the sectional playoffs. The Knights are expected to receive to next week’s Southern California Region playoffs, but they won’t get a favorable seed. No. 22 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) fell in the quarterfinals of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament to unheralded Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.). The Purple Eagles aren’t done but must regroup for next weekend’s Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md.

This week No. 4 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) is a heavy favorite to capture Utah’s Class 5A state championship in Ogden. This final is Saturday. No. 12 Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) competes in Florida’s Class 7A Tournament in Lakeland. The Tigers play Bartow in the semifinals on Friday. The championship game is Saturday, with the winner playing Martin County (Stuart) or Evans (Orlando).

Should be another exciting week of basketball as the season draws to a close. That’s means more state champions and plenty of games which will impact the Go-To 25 rankings. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Varsity Letters

Player of the Week

Conner Frankamp, senior, Wichita (Kan.) North: One of the nation’s top scorers—he’s averaging nearly 34 points per game—Frankamp helped North (18-2) capture Wichita City League title for the first time since 1974. Last Friday he tossed in a game-high 37 points in a 52-40 victory over crosstown rivals Bishop Carroll. He also netted 18 points in a regular-season ending win over Wichita West. The Kansas-bound Frankamp finished the game with 2,251 points, adding to his City League scoring record. This week Frankamp was selected to participate in the Kentucky Derby Classic Basketball Festival—a senior all-star game—on April 19 in Louisville, Ky. Frankamp’s success on the court has aided to area basketball, where he’s packed the gymnasiums all season. Frankamp is considered a true scorer and solid ball handler, distributor and makes good decisions. He’ll be an instant fan favorite next year when he checks into Lawrence, Kan., adding to the mystique of Phog Allen Fieldhouse.

Game of the Week

Finally a true city champion will be crowned Friday in Philadelphia. That’s because for the first time since 1980, Philadelphia’s Catholic and Public leagues, will play for a championship at Saint Joseph’s University’s Hagan Fieldhouse at 8:30 p.m. The matchup pits regionally ranked Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti against Imhotep Prep Charter. The game was disbanded over 30 years ago but this one will also give the winner the top seed from District 12 in the upcoming PIAA Class AAA Tournament. This is for local bragging rights but the two could hook up at the state tournament next month in Hershey.

Honored

The 40^th annual Kentucky Derby Festival Basketball Classic, a springtime staple in the commonwealth, announced rosters and coaching staffs for the upcoming, which will be played on April 19 at venerable Freedom Hall in Louisville.

Traditionally, the senior all-star game features Louisville recruits and this year is no different—see 6-9 Akoy Agau of Omaha (Neb.) Central and 6-3 Anton Gill of Hargrave Military Academy (Va.), who is a native of Raleigh, N.C. For the first time in four years, a Kentucky-bound player, 6-9 Derek Willis of nearby Bullitt East High in Mount Washington will play for the Black Team.

The rosters (player, college choice):

White Team:
Akoy Agau, Louisville;
Conner Frankamp, Kansas;
Keith Frazier,  undecided;
Anton Gill, Louisville;
Jarell Martin, LSU;
Jordan Mickey, LSU;
Robert Hubbs, Tennessee;
JaJuan Johnson, Marquette;
Rysheed Jordan,  undecided; and
Austin Nichols, Memphis. Coaches: Jeff Jones, Madison Prep Academy (Baton Rouge, La.) and A,W. Hamilton, Hargrave Military Academy (Chatham, Va.).

Black Team: Jabari Bird, California;
Stevie Clark, Oklahoma State;
Devin Davis,  Indiana;
Tyler Ennis, Syracuse;
Luke Fischer, Indiana;
Zak Irvin, Michigan;
Sindarius Thornwell, South Carolina;
Stanford Robinson,  Indiana;
Troy Williams, Indiana; and
Derek Willis, Kentucky. Coaches: Paul Melnik – Father Henry Carr Catholic Secondary School (Toronto, Ontario) and Troy Barr, Bullitt East (Mount Washington, Ky.).

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Feb. 26, 2013

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (31-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Coach Todd Simon’s club won four games, including an 84-68 triumph over Future College Prep (Los Angeles). Nigel Williams-Goss posted a triple-double, with 25 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.

2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (27-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Gray Bees captured the State Prep A Tournament championship, crushing Blair Academy (Blairstown), 93-47. Syracuse-bound G Tyler Ennis flipped in 26 points as coach Mark Taylor’s club used a 31-5 second-quarter showing to seal the title. The victory avenged their lone loss this season.

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

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Regular season complete.

4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (22-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: BYU-bound G Nick Emery pumped in 30 points during a 98-57 rout of Bingham (South Jordan) in the regular season finale. The Knights went 10-0 in Region 4 and now open their title defense in the Class 5A state tournament first game on Monday vs. West Jordan at Weber State in Ogden. The final is Saturday.

5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Stanley Johnson fired in 22 points as the Monarchs defeated Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 56-40, in the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinals. Also defeated Warren (Downey), 74-47, in second round. Up next is Inglewood Tuesday in the semifinals. The final is Saturday.

6. Whitney Young, Chicago (24-3)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Leveled Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 61-46, at the 16^th McDonald’s City-Suburban Showdown. Junior C Jahlil Okafor provided 21 points and seven rebounds and junior PG Miles Reynolds netted 13 points. Up next are the Class 4A King Region semifinals against King (Chicago) or Reavis (Burbank) Tuesday. The final is Friday.

7. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (24-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Friars closed out the regular season beating Bishop Eustace (Pennsauken), 57-20. Up next are the quarterfinals of the Non-Public B North Tournament against Morristown-Beard or Saddle River Day.

8. Morgan Park, Chicago (26-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Idle. Opens the Class 3A Julian Regional Tournament with Julian (Chicago) or Bowen (Chicago) in semifinals. The final is Friday.

9. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (27-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: PG Trae Jefferson was the catalyst, scoring 22 points and energizing the offense in a 73-44 win over Oldsmar Christian. Dante Buford threw in 17 points as the Apaches clipped Faith Baptist Christian (Brandon), 87-19. Coach Rex Morgan’s crew heads into the final week of the regular season, finishing with West Oaks (Orlando) Thursday.

10. Simeon, Chicago (23-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Crushed Marist (Chicago), 69-43, at the 16^th McDonald’s City-Suburban Showdown. Jabari Parker and Kendrick Nunn scored 21 points apiece. Jaylon Tate had 10 points and 11 assists. Up next plays Mount Carmel (Chicago) or South Shore (Chicago) in the Class 4A Mount Carmel Regional semifinals. The final is Friday.

11. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (28-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Express surprisingly split two games at the Beat Athletics Shootout in Pinellas Park, Fla. Andrew Wiggins scored 17 points but it wasn’t enough in a 54-44 loss to The Rock School (Gainesville, Fla.). Up next is a road game at Teays Valley Christian on Thursday.

12. Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (25-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Held off Palm Beach Lakes (West Palm Beach), 85-79, in double overtime in Class 7A Region 4 final. Richard Lee (22 points) and Dallas Cameron (20) combined for 42 points. In the semifinals, the Tigers ousted rivals Northeast (Oakland Park), 70-43, as Lance Tejada and Darrion Allen teamed for 14 of their 26 points in the opening quarter when the lead swelled to 24-10.

13. Prime Prep Academy, Dallas (27-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Coach Ray Fossett’s squad captured two games at the OKC Storm Festival in Moore, Okla.

14. Lake Oswego, Ore. (24-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Senior Colin Caslick dropped in 21 points as the Lakers ended a perfect regular season, downing Lakeridge (Lake Oswego), 69-26. Calvin Hermanson had 14 points and six boards as the Lakers went 10-0 in the Three River League. The Class 6A playoffs open Tuesday.

15. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Stopped Loyola (Los Angeles), 75-69, in the CIF-Southern Section Division I-AA quarterfinals. USC-bound Roschon Prince tossed in 27 points and snared 13 rebounds. In the second round, the Jackrabbits hammered Mayfair (Lakewood), 73-28. Up next is a semifinal matchup with Etiwanda Tuesday.

16. Pershing, Detroit (19-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Idle. The Detroit Public School League champions open the Class A Detroit Western International District Tournament on March 4 against Martin Luther King (Detroit). They also play U of D Jesuit (Detroit) Thursday in the Operation Friendship Game.

17. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (24-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Trounced Traders Point Christian (Whitestown), 88-58. Up next is the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md., from March 14-16.

18. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (27-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won second straight Hudson County Tournament, beating St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey City), 56-49. Jared Hall paced the offense with 13 points and Reggie Cameron added 12. In the semifinals, Kyle McLeggan and Cameron scored 17 points apiece in a 69-47 win over Bayonne. Up next are the quarterfinals of the Non-Public B North Tournament Friday vs. Newark Academy (Livingston) or Christ the King (Newark).

19. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Jabari Bird’s 25 points were too much in a 75-42 thumping of Moreau Catholic (Hayward) in the CIF-North Coast Section Division IV quarterfinals. Also defeated Golden Gate (San Francisco), 65-33, in first round.

20. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (31-5)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Warriors cruised to three victories, capped by an 81-54 lopsided win over Covenant Christian Academy (Marietta, Ga.).

21. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (29-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Shocked by La Verne Lutheran, 63-59, in CIF-Southern Section Division IV-AA semifinals. Now the Knights must sweat it out for an invitation to the Southern California Division IV Regional Tournament.

22. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-4)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: In one of the biggest upsets in the history of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament, lowly Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.) toppled the Purple Eagles, 67-58, in quarterfinals. Up next is the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in two weeks.

23. DeSoto, Texas (33-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Eagles clipped Coppell, 69-41, in Class 5A Area playoffs. Now it’s a showdown with regionally ranked Lewisville Hebron Tuesday in the Region 1 quarterfinals.

24. Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (31-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Topped White House, 81-56, in Region 5-AA quarterfinals as 6-6 junior Jalen Lindsey popped in 27 points. Up next is Pearl Cohn (Nashville) in semifinals. Won the District 10-AA championship for the fifth time in seven years in a 51-40 win over East Nashville. Tournament MVP Lindsey topped the Lions with 16 points for their 18^th consecutive triumph.

25. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (34-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Crushed Colleyville Heritage, 64-43, in the Class 5A Area playoffs.

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (24-2)

2. Chester, Pa. (22-3)

3. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (23-3)

4. Wings Academy, Bronx, N.Y. (25-3)

5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (19-5)

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

Midlands

1. Proviso East, Maywood, Ill. (24-3)

2. Germantown, Wis. (23-0)

3. Omaha (Neb.) Central (22-4)

4. West, Iowa City, Iowa (22-0)

5. Munster, Ind. (22-0)

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

South

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (30-2)

2. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (27-3)

3. Carver, Montgomery, Ala. (26-1)

4. Lewisville (Texas) Hebron (34-2)

5. Olympic, Charlotte, N.C. (24-0)

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

Far West

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (29-3)**

2. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (21-2)

3. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (23-5)

4. Garfield, Seattle (23-1)

5. El Camino Real, Woodland Hills, Calif. (28-2)

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

Records are through Sunday.

** Won state championship 

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly 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 league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s senior writer/evaluator Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, evaluators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter @clawlor or BlueStarMedia1, or www.bluestarmedia.org.