Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 19, 2013

BENSALEM, Pa. – So, it comes down to the penultimate weekend for boys’ high school basketball and the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 are far from minted. Three schools in the Go-To 25 will play for state championships—No. 11 Mater Dei, No. 11 Pershing and No.16 Christ the King—in three of the hotbeds for schoolboy hoops.

Nine schools in the Go-To 25 rankings have won state, conference or national tournament championships. Last weekend No. 5 Simeon won its fourth straight Illinois Class 4A title; No. 6 Morgan Park bagged the Illinois 3A chip; No. 12 Christ Presbyterian Academy took the Tennessee Class AA title; No. 15 Bishop O’Connell re-entered the rankings annexing the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament—top event of the postseason; and No. 24 Olympic triumphed in North Carolina Class 4A with an undefeated mark. Kudos to all the champions!

Other states that will impact the Go-To 25 rankings are Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Seven teams are finished with their seasons, but have no championships to their credit, only No. 9 Huntington (W.Va.) Prep is immune to the dreaded late season shakedown.

Seven schools from the Go-To 25 rankings—including the top-3—have been invited to the National High School Invitational from April 4 to 6 at Georgetown Prep’s spacious Hanley Center in North Bethesda, Md. The lone invitee not in the Go-To 25 rankings, Montrose Christian (Bethesda, Md.), backed into the fifth annual event after Huntington Prep declined the invitation from Paragon Marketing—the brains of the operation. Montrose won the event in 2011 but traditionally plays a feeble schedule. This year is no different but coach Stu Vetter’s team is loaded with talent and must overachieve to reach the semifinals.

Well, hope to see you at a game this weekend. It’s down to madness of the last weekend of state championships. After shutting down for the Easter Weekend, the NHSI will crown a true national champion, provided there aren’t any crazy losses that elevate lower ranked sides. At that point, we’ll walk you through the final rankings, which will be released on Tuesday, April 9—same for the girls. We’ll also take off the Easter Week, but will head to the McDonald’s All American Games on April 3 in Chicago before jetting off to the NHSI—where we’ll posting game stories and providing up-to-minute updates via social mediums from courtside. – Christopher Lawlor, Senior Writer/Lead Men’s National Analyst

Varsity Letters

Player of the Week

Melo Trimble, junior, No.  15 Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.): The outstanding guard was just that in earning the coveted Most Valuable Player Award at the prestigious Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. In the final, Trimble collected 34 points, seven assists and seven rebounds as the Knights defeated regionally ranked Benedictine (Richmond, Va.) in the final for the program fourth ACIT crown under head coach Joe Wootten. He clicked for 17 points in the first quarter and concluded canning 11 of 16 shots, 6 of 9 three-pointers and 7 of 9 from the foul line. The Maryland recruit averaged 20.3 points for the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament champions and is considered a serious candidate for the 2014 McDonald’s All American Game in Chicago. Trimble was joined on the all-tournament team by
6-0 guard Nick Coppola of Benedictine (Most Outstanding Player), a Louisiana-Monroe recruit; Oklahoma State-bound Detrick Mostella of ranked La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), uncommitted forward Junior Etou of O’Connell and Ohio State-bound guard Kamerin Williams of Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore).

Places To Be

Go West …. go Far West! There’s only one place to be this weekend as the California Interscholastic Federation state tournaments pull into Sacramento’s Sleep Car Arena on Friday and Saturday. The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 will have a large presence at the event with several boys and girls’ team competing for hardware.

Girls schedule: Open Division, No. 14 Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) vs. No. 5 Windward (Los Angeles), 6 p.m. PDT, Saturday; Division I, Poly (Long Beach) vs. Berkeley, 6 p.m., Friday; Division II, Lynwood vs. St. Francis (Mountain View), 2 p.m., Saturday; Division III, Alemany (Mission Hills) vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 2 p.m., Friday; Division IV, Serra (Gardena) vs. Salesian (Richmond), 10 a.m., Saturday; Division V, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth) vs. Pinewood School (Los Altos Hills), 10 a.m., Friday.

Boys schedule: Open Division, No. 10 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) vs. Archbishop Mitty (San Jose), 8 p.m. PDT, Saturday; Division I, Santa Monica vs. Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove), 8 p.m., Friday; Division II, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) vs. College Hill (Pleasant Hill), 4 p.m., Saturday; Division III, St. Augustine (San Diego) vs. Sacred Heart Cathedral (San Francisco), 4 p.m., Friday; Division IV, Pacific Hills (Los Angeles) vs. Cardinal Newman (Santa Rosa), noon, Saturday; Division V, Horizon (San Diego) vs. St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda), noon, Friday.

Additionally, the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association Tournament of Champions is Tuesday night in Trenton at the Sun National Bank Center. The girls’ tip at 6 p.m., Rancocas Valley (Mount Holly), the Group 4 champion, plays No. 12 Shabazz (Newark), the boys follow at 8 p.m., when it’s Roselle Catholic tangling with St. Joseph’s (Metuchen).

In Albany, N.Y., the State Federation Tournament tips Friday at the Times Union Arena, with the Class AA semifinals. The feature matchups are ranked Christ the King (Middle Village) vs. Bishop Kearney (Rochester) at 6:45 p.m.; Lincoln (Brooklyn) vs. Long Island Lutheran at 8:30. The winners play Saturday at 8:30 p.m. for the title. Also the Bishop Ford (Brooklyn) girls play 15-time PSAL champion Murry Bergtraum (Manhattan) in the semis on Friday at 5:30; the winner meets Ossining on Saturday for the championship.

Also, the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association will crown eight champions this weekend at the Giant Center in Hershey. The action tips Friday and continues Saturday, returning to the state capital area after a joke-of-a-ride in State College. The matchups will be determined this week with the semifinals. In Class AAAA boys, Chester is the clear-cut favorite and should play Lower Merion (Ardmore). Chester would be in the final for a record 18th time; Lower Merion is aiming for its 12th appearance. Otherwise it’s tough to make the call in the seven other brackets, including the four girls.

In the Midwest, check out state championships in Indiana (Saturday in Indianapolis), Michigan (Friday and Saturday in East Lansing) and Ohio (Friday and Saturday in Columbus).

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 19, 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: Idle. Up next are the National High School Invitational quarterfinals on April 4.

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 (30-3)**

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Won a fourth consecutive Class 4A championship, knocking off Stevenson (Lincolnshire), 58-40, in final. Duke-bound F Jabari Parker closed out a brilliant prep career with 20 points and eight rebounds and F Russell Wood collected 14 points and 10 boards. Also brushed aside Proviso East (Maywood), 68-56, in semifinals as Duke-bound Parker totaled 20 points and 15 rebounds. Season complete.

6. Morgan Park, Chicago (33-3)**

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class 3A championship, using  14-0 tear in the third quarter during a 63-48 triumph over Cahokia, in final. DePaul-bound G Billy Garrett Jr. had 14 points and five assists and Xzavier Taylor recorded a double-double, with 11 points and 12 rebounds. In the semifinals, defeated Limestone (Bartonville), 70-49 as Kyle Davis scored 15 points. It’s first state title since 1976 when the Mustangs won Class AA. Season complete.

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

Previous: 7.

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: 8.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Will play in the NHSI.

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

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Turned down an NHSI invite over a player’s eligibility. Season complete.

10. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (33-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Blasted then-No. 10 Etiwanda, 60-37, in Southern California Region Open Division final. Trounced Poly (Long Beach), 83-63, in semifinals.

11. Pershing, Detroit (25-0)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Khalil Fielder nailed a jumper as time expired propelling the Doughboys over U-D Jesuit (Detroit), 62-60, in the Class A regional final. Justin Walker scored 19, Martez Walker 17 and Fielder 14. Up next are the state quarterfinals Tuesday against Romulus at University of Detroit-Mercy’s Calihan Hall.

12. Christ Presbyterian Academy, Nashville, Tenn. (37-2)**

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Ripped South Side (Jackson), 63-42, to annex a second straight Class AA championship. Also beat Livingston Academy, 63-48, in semifinals and Mitchell (Memphis), 71-47, in quarterfinals. Junior F Jalen Lindsey was named Tournament MVP and Mr. Class AA Basketball. The Lions return an entire squad and will be considered one of the nation’s top teams in 2013-14. Season complete.

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

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Season complete.

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

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Regular season complete. The Warriors will play in the NHSI in April.

15. Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Va. (30-7)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament, beating Benedictine (Richmond, Va.), 85-75, in final. Maryland-bound junior Melo Trimble was named MVP. Season complete.

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

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Idle. The Royals play Bishop Kearney (Rochester) in New York State Federation Class AA semifinals on Friday in Albany. G Jon Severe was recently named the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association AA player of the year. Severe is an unsigned senior.

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

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship.

18. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (27-5)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Went 2-1 at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in  Frostburg, Md., finishing in third place. Season complete.

19. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (25-5)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Finished fourth at the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament in Frostburg, Md. Now it’s the National High School Invitational in North Bethesda, Md.

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

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Season complete.

21. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (30-4)*

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Lost to ranked Sheldon (Sacramento), 63-59, in Northern California Region Open Division semifinals. California-bound Jabari Bird, a McDonald’s All American, threw in 23 points. Season complete.

22. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (32-2)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Upset by Pacific Hills (Los Angeles), 73-69, in Southern California Region Division IV final. Season complete.

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

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won Sunshine Independent Athletic Association Tournament championship. Season complete.

24. Olympic, Charlotte, N.C. (30-0)**

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Class 4A championship. Season complete.

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

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped out: No. 10 Etiwanda (Calif.) and No. 23 Poly (Long Beach, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Chester, Pa. (27-3)

2. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (27-5)**

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

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

5. Benedictine, Richmond, Va. (33-5)**

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

Midlands

1. Walnut Hills, Cincinnati (27-1)

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

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

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

5. Carmel, Ind. (24-2)

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

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

4. Southwind Prep, Memphis (34-6)**

5. Madison Central, Richmond, Ky. (32-5)**

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

Far West

1. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose (28-5)

2. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (28-4)*

3. Pacific Hills, Los Angeles (28-4)

4. Etiwanda, Calif. (28-3)*

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

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

Records are through Sunday.

** Denotes state, conference or national tournament champion

* Season complete

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.