Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 12, 2013

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hard to believe that 250 fans showed up for a state championship final. Doubly hard to believe they could make so much noise in a sloppily played contest between a pair of national independent programs.

The fledgling Sunshine Independent Athletic Association or Florida independent tournament was staged last weekend at the Arlington Family YMCA in Jacksonville before a small but standing room only crowd. After ringing up 100 points in the semifinals on Friday, No. 25 Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville), the host school, looked out of sorts in a 65-56 loss to No. 24 The Rock School (Gainesville)in the final on Saturday. TRS won the game with a 9-0 micro-burst during a 40-second span late in the third quarter, erasing a 39-36 deficit. In the fourth, ACD could have won, but misfired on 9 of 13 free throws. In the pregame shoot-around coach Rex Morgan warned his side about free throws. The former NBA and Final Four player with Jacksonville University (and Artis Gilmore) was prophetic and crestfallen at the final buzzer, but gracious.

“The 2013-14 season starts now,” he said afterwards.

The loss dropped the Apaches 17 spots—but not out of the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 high school boys’ basketball rankings. It also opened the door for Rock School, which beat their rivals twice in the last three weeks. Because Blue Star Media admires ACD and the national scheduling practices—a key prerequisite, the Apaches stay put but there’s also room for the Gainesville school, which features 7-foot center Joel Embild, a raw Kansas recruit and Jordan Brand Game participant.

Watch out for No. 6 Simeon (Chicago), which is on a roll and primed to win a fourth straight Illinois Class 4A title.

After a few weeks of relative stability, the Go-To 25 added three schools to the fold: No. 20 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), No. 21 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 23 The Rock School. CTK won its third New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA—essentially the state’s large-school Catholic title—in four years in a 15-point win over Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn). The Royals won’t play for a fortnight before the New York State Federation tournament in Albany. Gorman won Nevada’s large-school state title two weeks ago. With several state championships this weekend, more shakeup is possible. In fact this is elimination weekend as several schools are going home. That happened for No. 22 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) last weekend in the Non-Public B final, where it fell to Roselle Catholic. We’re still waiting for the State Tournament of Champions final on March 19 in Trenton to see if another New Jersey can supplant or join the Friars in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 rankings. We have two weekends remaining in the season and then the National High School Invitational from April 4 to 6 in Maryland. Expect Findlay Prep, Montverde Academy, Prime Prep, St. Benedict’s, La Lumiere School, Blanche Ely, Huntington Prep and Oak Hill Academy to receive invites. That’s just an educated guess but pretty spot on. That’s must-see TV! 

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

Varsity Letters

Player of the Week

Andrew Harrison, senior, Travis, Richmond, Texas: Harrison—he has an equally talented twin, Aaron—earned Class 5A Championship Game Most Valuable Player honors Saturday in a 46-38 win over previously ranked South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie) with 16 points. In the semifinals, Andrew shoot off a frigid first half, finishing with 18 points, seven assists and five boards in a 60-52 triumph over Richardson Berkner. A week earlier in the region final, the 6-foot-5 senior guard pumped in 17 of his 32 points (21 of 23 free throws) as the Tigers rallied to defeat archrivals Fort Bend Bush, 61-53. The Harrisons, selected for the McDonald’s All American Game on April 3 in Chicago, will play at Kentucky.

Places To Be

For several Catholic Schools in the Baltimore-Washington Beltway, a state championship isn’t on the agenda. Instead the elite schools in this region attend the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament at Frostburg (Md.) State. The 53^rd annual boys’ event, held in western Maryland (about 3 hours from Washington, D.C.) is the more competitive than any state championship this and most years. Teams are stocked with future pros and at any given time there are 10 Division I-bound players on the court. The three-day, eight-team tournament opens Thursday afternoon with four games:

4 p.m.: Benedictine (Richmond, Va.) vs. St. Frances (Baltimore); 5:45: Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.); 7: No. 18 Gonzaga (Washington) vs. Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.); 9:15, No. 13 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) vs. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.). Friday’s times are the same with the first two games in the loser’s bracket and final two in the semifinals. Saturday’s first game for seventh place tips at 3 p.m. DeMatha is two-time defending champion.

Milestone

In Colorado, one of the state’s finest earned his 700^th victory last week in the Class 5A playoffs. Rudy Carey of regionally ranked Denver East improved to 700-164 following a 60-55 win over Arapahoe. Carey has won eight Colorado state titles, including three with Manual (Denver). The milestone was a big deal in state. That’s because Dick Katte, recently retired from Denver Christian with 876 wins in 48 years, attended the game to witness history. Don’t expect Carey to step down soon, East returns all five starters and will be one of the nation’s top teams in 2014. The Angels need two more wins this week for Carey’s ninth crown.

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 12, 2013

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (34-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The regular season is complete. The Pilots will play again on April 4 in the National High School Invitational in North Bethesda, Md.

2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (28-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Syracuse-bound G Tyler Ennis and sophomore Isaiah Briscoe did not play but the Gray Bees stung Rise Academy (Philadelphia), 96-61, following a 13-day layoff. C Michael Young, a Pittsburgh recruit, had 22 points, 18 rebounds and 10 assists.

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

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Up next is the National High School Invitational.

4. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (26-1)**

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won sixth state championship in eight years, in annexing the Class 5A crown. Turned down a bid to play in the NHSI. Season complete.

5. Simeon, Chicago (27-3)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Duke-bound F Jabari Parker flipped in a game-high 29 points in a 69-51 triumph over then No. 5 Whitney Young (Chicago), 69-51, in in Class 4A Argo Sectional final.

6. Morgan Park, Chicago (30-3)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won Class 3A St. Laurence Sectional, beating Perspectives-Leadership (Chicago), 67-31.

7. Blanche Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (27-1)**

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 7A championship. The Tigers are expected to receive a bid to National High School Invitational in April. Regular season complete.

8. Prime Prep Academy, Dallas (31-0)**

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Regular season complete.

9. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (29-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Up next is the National High School Invitational on April 4 in Maryland.

10. Etiwanda, Calif. (27-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Idle. Played Tuesday against City Section champion Westchester (Los Angeles) in the Southern California Region Open Division semifinal. The final is Saturday, with the state championship March 23 in Sacramento.

11. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (31-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Whipped El Camino Real (Woodland Hills), 79-54, in Southern California Open Division regional first round. Played ranked Poly (Long Beach) Tuesday in semifinals in a titanic matchup

12. Pershing, Detroit (22-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Martez Walker’s 15-foot jumper at the horn lifted the City champions over rivals Cass Tech (Detroit), 78-76, in Class A district final. Also defeated King (Detroit), 90-71, in the semifinals as Justin Tillman fired in 22 points. Played Monday against Redford Thurston in regional semifinal.

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

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Lakers will play this weekend at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md. After that it’s a crack at the National High School Invitational title against the nation’s elite programs.

14. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (30-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle. The Pride was back on the court Tuesday in Northern California Open Division semifinals against regionally ranked Sheldon (Sacramento). The winner plays Modesto Christian or Archbishop Mitty (San Jose) in Saturday’s final.

15. Whitney Young, Chicago (27-4)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Chicago Public League champions lost in Class 4A Argo Sectional final to then-No. 9 Simeon (Chicago), 69-51. Season complete.

16. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-5)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Regular season complete. The Warriors will await an invitation to the NHSI in April.

17. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (31-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Recorded two wins, advancing to Southern California Division IV semifinals Tuesday against Army-Navy (San Diego).

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

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Up next is the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament starting Thursday in Frostburg, Md.

19. Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (34-2)Previous: 23.

Low-down: Junior Jalen Lindsey’s 18 points helped the defending Class AA champions punch a ticket back to this week’s state tournament, beating Spring Hill, 58-46, in the sectional final. Freshman Braxton Blackwell tossed in nine of his 16 points in the final quarter. The Class AA state tournament tips with week with the quarterfinals.

20. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (26-3)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Coach Joe Arbitello’s squad won a third New York City Catholic Athletic Association Class AA intersectional championship, downing Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 78-63. Unsigned G Jon Severe was named the city player of the year. The State Federation AA Tournament tips March 23 in Albany.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship. The Gaels will be the favorites again in 2013-14 with the return of all-staters, 7-foot sophomore C Stephen Zimmerman (13.3 ppg, 11.5 rpg, 4.6 bpg) and 6-0 junior PG Noh Robotham (13.2 ppg, 7 apg). Season complete.

22. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (28-2)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Friars fell to Roselle Catholic, 48-44, in Non-Public B final. Coach Bob Hurley’s team had won 93 of their previous 94 games. Eliminated then-No. 18 Hudson Catholic (Jersey City), 57-42, in North B final. In the semifinals, Tim Coleman popped in 14 points in a 68-24 thrashing of Hawthorne Christian Academy. Season complete.

23. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The jackrabbits eliminated St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 61-59, in Southern California Open Division region first round. Played No. 11 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) Tuesday in semifinals.

24. The Rock School, Gainesville, Fla. (33-4)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the third Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament crown, defeating then-No. 8 Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville), 65-56. Kansas-bound C Joel Embild scored 10 points but sank all six free throws in the fourth quarter when The Rock pulled away, beating ACD for the second time this season. Season complete.

25. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-4)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Apaches were upended in the third Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament, falling to The Rock School (Gainesville), 65-56, in final. Coach Rex Morgan’s squad returns all five starters but will search for a proven point guard. Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 15 Lake Oswego (Ore. ); No. 18 Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); and No. 24 South Grand Prairie (Grand Prairie, Texas).

High-Fives by Region

East

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

2. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (29-2)*

3. Chester, Pa. (25-3)

4. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (22-5)

5. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (26-5)

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. (28-3)

2. Omaha (Neb.) Central (26-4)**

3. Germantown, Wis. (28-0)**

4. West, Iowa City, Iowa (26-0)**

5. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati (25-1)

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

South

1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (33-2)**

2. Olympic, Charlotte, N.C. (29-0)

3. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (30-3)

4. Travis, Fort Bend, Texas (33-5)**

5. Southwind Prep, Memphis (30-6)

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

Far West

1. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (27-5)

2. Westchester, Los Angeles (29-6)

3. Curtis, University Place, Wash. (27-2)**

4. Lake Oswego, Ore. (26-1)*

5. East, Denver (24-2)

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

** Denotes won state, conference, or national title; * Season complete

Records are through Sunday.

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.