Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Jan. 1, 2013

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Jan. 1, 2013

 1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (17-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Won the Iolani Classic, defeating No. 5 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 61-53. Washington-bound Nigel Williams-Goss pumped in 23 of his game-high 28 points in the second half for the Pilots.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (13-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won City of Palms Classic, beating No. 9 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), 68-45, in final. Coach Kevin Boyle previously won the event when he was boss at St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.). 

3. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (14-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Express captured the City of Palms Signature Series, beating Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), 74-57, in final. This weekend coach Rob Fulford’s club has back-to-back games against Dallas Prime Prep and Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.) Academy.

4. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (10-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Grays Bees have recorded several lopsided victories, with closest margin of victory at 18 points. Division I signees 6-2 Tyler Ennis (Syracuse), 6-3 Jahmal Lane (LIU), 6-7 Kevin Mickle (Central Connecticut State), 6-8 A.J. Sombry (Quinnipiac), 6-7 Denzel Taylor (Old Dominion), 6-8 Isaiah Watkins (Duquesne) and 6-8 Michael Young (Pittsburgh) will be a tough out at the National High School Invitational in April. 

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (14-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Lakers lost to No. 1 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 61-53, in Iolani Classic final. Also swept a pair of games in South Dakota. Coach Alan Huss’ squad heads off to Michigan Saturday for a matchup with Detroit Country Day (Beverly Hills, Mich.).

6. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (14-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Las Vegas Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, beating Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 70-62, in final. Also won the Orange County Classic, stopping Tustin, 77-55, in final.

7. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (17-2)…drop

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Finished third at Iolani Classic, going 3-1. Uncharacteristically the Warriors lost two games before the holidays. Coach Steve Smith’s team has nearly three weeks off until returning to the hardwood on Jan. 11 against Toronto Academy of Canada.

8. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (6-0)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: A pair of wins over Boston area teams punctuated a weak December schedule. The Friars carry a modern New Jersey state record win streak of 71 games into the New Year. Up next is Trenton Catholic Academy on Sunday.

9. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (10-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Finished second in the City of Palms Class in Fort Myers, Fla., falling to No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 68-45, in final. The Utahans earned a ton street credibility at the event, combining team play and exciting contributions from Nick Emery, T.J. Haws and Eric Mika, who pocketed the COP Slam Dunk competition. The Knights are off until Jan. 9.

10. Whitney Young, Chicago (10-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beating ranked Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), 58-37. Paul White netted 14 points, leading four double-digit scorers. Also participated in the City of Palms Classic, finishing fifth.

11. Simeon, Chicago (9-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Wolverines three-peated at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament, beating West Aurora (Aurora, Ill.), 60-47, in final. Duke-bound 6-7 forward Jabari Parker bagged MVP honors with 14 points and 13 rebounds in the championship. He also totaled 36 points in the first two games.

12. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia, S.C., defeating ranked Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), 72-62. Isaac Taylor popped in 24 points and was named the Most Outstanding Player. The Braves have a showdown with No. 6 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) on Jan. 9.

13. Montrose Christian, Rockville, Md. (8-2)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Mustangs took fourth at the Iolani Classic, splitting four games. Coach Stu Vetter’s club has donnybrooks with ranked opponents Oak Hill Academy and St. Benedict’s in January.

14. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (8-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Went 3-1 at the City of Palms Classic, beating Southwind (Memphis), 64-57, in third-place consolation game.

15. DeSoto, Texas (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Eagles have a rematch with Duncanville on Jan. 11 and look to avenge their lone loss last month.

16. Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Va. (11-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Finished second at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.,

17. Chester, Pa. (6-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Clippers had their win streak halted after 61 games getting hammered at the City of Palms Classic. After losing twice in Florida, they rebounded to top Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia), 63-61, at the Jameer Nelson Classic for their 57^th straight win over Pennsylvania foes.

18. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (10-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Finished third in the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic. The Pride looks to rebound against No. 20 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) at Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va., on Saturday (ESPNU). Also beat ranked Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 72-51 at the Catholic Schools Winter Classic as California-recruit Jabari Bird contributed 19 points and nine boards.

19. Lake Oswego, Ore. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore. Saint Mary’s-bound Calvin Hermanson pumped in 17 of his 20 points after the break during a 62-43 win over Jesuit (Portland) in the final.

20. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (8-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Took third-place at the Les Schwab Invitational, upending No. 25 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 82-71. In the next month, the Purple Eagles play No. 19 Salesian (Richmond, Calif.), DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), No. 24 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) and No. 14 Poly (Long Beach, Calif.).

21. Blanch Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (12-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Finished second at the Chick-fil-A Classic, losing to No. 12 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.), 72-62, in final. Dallas Cameron and Darrion Allen each scored 16 points. Also won the D-Hop Classic, defeating Summit Christian (West Palm Beach, Fla.), 54-37. The Tigers play rivals Boyd Anderson (Lauderdale Lakes) on Jan. 8.

22. White Station, Memphis (11-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Spartans have participated in five events, most recently sweeping two games at the Lausanne Lynx, including a 67-56 triumph over Corinth (Miss.). Coach Jesus Patino’s squad plays ranked Whitney Young (Chicago) at the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest on Jan. 12 in Memphis.

23. Omaha (Neb.) Central (5-2)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Nebraskans played well at the City of Palms, going 1-2. After winning their opener, a heartbreaking 3-pointer at the buzzer meant a 52-49 loss to No. 14 Poly (Long Beach, Calif.). Up next is crosstown rivals Omaha North Saturday.

24. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (7-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Panthers took the City of Palms consolation bracket championship, topping Callaway (Jackson, Miss.), 50-34, finishing the event with a 3-1 record. Up next is a pair of Washington Catholic Athletic Conference games against Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Friday and Sunday, respectively.

25. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (7-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Saints went a disappointing 2-2, taking fourth at the Les Schwab Classic in Oregon. Now it’s No. 10 Whitney Young (Chicago) at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va., on Saturday.

Dropped out: No. 12 Duncanville (Texas); No. 16 Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); No. 18 Lake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.); No. 23 Southwind (Memphis) and No. 25 St. Rita (Chicago).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (6-1)

2. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (7-1)

3. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (8-1)

4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (13-1)

5. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (10-1)

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

Midlands

1. Morgan Park, Chicago (14-1)

2. Proviso East, Maywood, Ill. (10-3)

3. Germantown, Wis. (11-0)

4. Pershing, Detroit (6-0)

5. Pike, Indianapolis (8-0)

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

South

1. Brother Martin, New Orleans (18-1)

2. Southwind, Memphis (11-3)

3. Tift County, Tifton, Ga. (8-2)

4. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (15-2)

5. Christ Presbyterian, Nashville, Tenn. (12-2)

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

Far West

1. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (9-0)

2. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (10-1)

3. Westchester, Los Angeles (12-4)

4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-2)

5. Bothell, Wash. (9-0)

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

About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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 Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers.