Go-To 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – The shakeup continued this week in the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ high school basketball rankings. Here at the Spalding Hoophall Classic, the action was fast and furious at Springfield College’s Blake Arena.

Though there were several lopsided scores, it was easy to see the contenders and pretenders. A first or second look will determine the positioning of teams as the final two months of the season approach.

Three schools from Texas, Virginia and Michigan join the Go-To 25 rankings. No. 25 Paul VI (Fairfax) rejoins the rankings after beating then-No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy in the championship game of the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. MVA slips five spots after the shocking, buzzer-beating loss in which they led by 10 points in the second half. MVA can redeem itself winning their tournament this weekend.

There were five Hoophall games with national impact on Monday, which will be reflected in next week’s Go-To 25 rankings on Jan. 29. Some of the results might be eye-opening:

No. 6 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) 60, Tift County (Tifton, Ga.) 54: The Friars rallied to win their 78^th straight game. Tim Coleman accounted for 15 points and seven rebounds. Tifton took a four-point late in the third quarter and held a 54-53 lead late in the fourth when Kody Jenkins nailed a 3-pointer.

No. 8 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) 81, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) 46: Eric Mika had 10 points and 12 rebounds, Nick Emery hit for 20 points on 8-of-14 shooting and T.J. Toolson had 18 points and nine rebounds. Mitty was simply run into the floor by Utahans with depth and long-range shooting.

No. 14 Simeon (Chicago) 81, No. 5 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 68: OHA missed North Carolina-bound PG Nate Britt, showing a lack of chemistry. Duke-bound Jabari Parker tossed in 11 of his game-high 28 points and cleared five rebounds.

No. 1 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) 62, No. 7 Montverde (Fla.) Academy 59: Seems everyone had MVA as their No. 1 team. Not in these rankings, folks. Washington-bound G Nigel Williams-Goss drilled a 3-pointer from the top of the key at the horn, breaking MVA’s hearts for the second time in two days. Williams-Goss scored 26 points (9-of-10 free throws) as the Pilot won for the 42^nd straight time and erased a 12-point deficit. MVA was hampered midway through the final quarter when star PG Kasey Hill fouled out. MVA played lockdown defense through three quarters (leading 47-38), suffocating the Pilots, who came in averaging nearly 90 points.

Looking forward to the SNY Invitational this weekend in New York this weekend. It should be another quality event in the Big Apple. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Varsity Letters

Player of the Week

Kevin Dorsey, 6-0, sophomore, No. 25 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.): On weekend when there was quality games nationwide, Dorsey simply stood out at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. Dorsey, on back-to-back nights, propelled the Panthers, including a 17-foot, turnaround jumper with 2 seconds left to upend then-No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 69-67, in overtime. He finished with five points, sinking only 2 of 5 shots. In the semifinals, Dorsey (10 points) was at it again. Last Friday he nailed a 17-footer from the left wing at the buzzer for a 52-50 win over previously ranked St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Dorsey was on the all-tournament team but his classmate Marcus Derrickson snagged MVP honors. The three-day event drew over 22,000 fans to Missouri State’s JQH Arena.

Places To Be

There are two quality events this weekend in New York and Florida.

SNY Invitational, Friday and Saturday, Manhattan, N.Y.: The four-team traditional tournament, involving New York City area teams, opens Friday at City College of New York’s Nat Holman Gymnasium at 6 o’clock with Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), followed by No. 6 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) and Boys & Girls (Brooklyn) at 8 p.m. The third-place consolation is Saturday at 2 p.m.; the final is at 4. All games will be televised by SNY.

The SNY Invitational was established in January 2008 with the goal of creating an annual event that would be both a pillar of SNY’s involvement in the community as well as New York’s elite high school basketball tournament. Since the tournament’s inception, SNY has made donations totaling more than $300,000 in scholarships and funds to participating schools as well as Tri-State Area students. Well worth attending.

Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament, Thursday-Saturday: The 10^th annual tournament, simply known as the MAIT, is a highlight for central Florida hoop junkies. The opening round matchups are: Inglewood (Calif.)-No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 3 p.m. ET; St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)-Oldsmar (Fla.) Christian, 4:40; Shiloh (Snellville, Ga.)-Orlando Christian Prep, 6:20; No. 7 Montverde Academy-Edgewater, 8. The semifinals are Friday and the championship is Saturday at 7:30 p.m. There are four games each day.

Free Throws

PORTLAND, Ore. — USA Basketball named the roster for its 2013 USA Junior National Select Team that will take on the World Select Team in the 2013 Nike Hoop Summit in April, and the USA will be led by four players with prior international basketball experience, including USA medalists and prep standouts Aaron Gordon of Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.), Rondaé Hollis-Jefferson of Chester (Pa.), Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago) and Julius Randle of Prestonwood Christian Academy (Plano, Texas).

The U.S. roster also features 2012 USA Basketball Men’s U18 National Team Training Camp participants Aaron and Andrew Harrison of Travis (Fort Bend, Texas), as well as newcomers Kasey Hill of Montverde (Fla.) Academy, Demetrius Jackson of Marian (Mishawaka, Ind.), Bobby Portis of Hall (Little Rock, Ark.) and Noah Vonleh of New Hampton School (N.H.).

The 2013 Nike Hoop Summit is April 20, 7 p.m. ET, at the Rose Garden.

The Nike Hoop Summit, the country’s premier annual basketball game for high-school boys, features America’s top seniors playing against a World Team comprised of elite, international players who are 19-years-old or younger.

“I think first and foremost, looking at so much international basketball experience on this team, with the guys having played on the last U16, U17 and U18 teams, their familiarity with the international game is really going to be a benefit to us, and then so many of the guys actually having played with each other will be a benefit to us as well,” said USA head coach Mike Jones of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

Parker is the only two-time USA gold medalist on the roster, and he was named the 2011 USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year. He earned a gold medal at the 2012 FIBA U17 World Championship after averaging 12.6 points and 4.8 rebounds per game despite a foot injury that limited him to just five of eight games, and he earned tournament MVP at the 2011 FIBA Americas U16 Championship after averaging 15.4 points and 6.4 rebounds per game to help the USA to a gold medal.

The third member of the 2011-12 USA Men’s Developmental National Team along with Gordon and Parker is Hollis-Jefferson, who twice has represented the USA in 3×3 competition. This past September, Hollis-Jefferson collected silver at the 2012 FIBA 3×3 U18 World Championship after the USA fell to Serbia in overtime of the gold medal game, and he earned an individual bronze medal at the dunk competition. In 2011, he helped the USA finish in eighth place at inaugural 2011 FIBA 3×3 Youth World Championship.

Representing the USA at the 2012 FIBA Americas U18 Championship this past summer, Randle won a gold-medal after averaging team highs of 14.2 points and 6.6 rebounds per game. He has missed most of the high school with an injury but is expected to play here.

Seven U.S. team members have signed a National Letter of Intent for the 2013-14 NCAA season. Aaron and Andrew Harrison will play at Kentucky, Hill will attend Florida, Hollis-Jefferson is headed to Arizona, Jackson signed with Notre Dame, Portis committed to Arkansas and Vonleh will go to Indiana. Parker verbally committed to attend Duke in the fall, and two players—Gordon and Randle—remain undecided.

The World Select Team, announced at a later date, will consist of 10 or 11 players age 19-years-old or younger from FIBA’s five geographic zones: Africa, Americas, Asia, Europe and Oceania, with the approved sanctioning of the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), the world governing body of international basketball.

Expect 6-7 Andrew Wiggins, a Canadian who is the nation’s No. 1 senior from Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, to play for the World Select.

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Tuesday, Jan. 22, 2013

1. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (22-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: Crushed Thurgood Marshall (Dayton), 71-47, at Flyin’ to the Hoop in Kettering, Ohio. Played No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy on Monday.

2. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (16-0)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Crushed regionally-ranked Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.), 63-51, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Pittsburgh-bound Mike Young had 16 points and seven rebounds and Tyler Ennis scored 16 points. 

3. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (19-1)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: The Lakers knocked off then-No. 6 Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, 46-35, at Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational in Kettering, Ohio. Also beat Trotwood (Ohio) Madison, 62-58. This weekend coach Alan Huss, a former standout at Creighton, takes his team to Florida for the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament. 

4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (20-0)
Previous: 5.
Low-down: The Monarchs registered two Trinity League wins, but needed to hold off JSerra (San Juan Capistrano), 82-80. Played Monday against St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio).

5. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (19-2)
Previous: 7.
Low-down: The Warriors had a pair of games cancelled due to heavy snowfall. Played Monday at the Hoophall Classic vs. No. 14 Simeon (Chicago).

6. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (12-0)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: The Friars played lockdown defense in a 45-31 win over Atlantic City at the Dan Finn Classic in Jersey City for its modern-day state record 77 straight wins. It was the seventh time this season the Friars have limited a foe 31 points or less. This weekend the Friars play in the SNY Invitational, opening Friday against Boys & Girls (Brooklyn) at City College of New York’s Nat Holman Gymnasium.

7. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (20-1)
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Lost to previously unranked Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 69-67, OT, in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions final in Springfield, Mo. West Virginia-bound F Devin Williams scored 20 points and snagged eight rebounds. Kentucky-bound 6-11 C Dakari Johnson contributed a double-double, with 12 points and 10 rebounds. 

8. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (14-1)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: After an exhaustive national schedule, the Knights returned to Utah for two easy wins. BYU-bound G Nick Emery netted 13 points against American Fork to become Lone Peak’s all-time leading scorer. Monday the Utahans played Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.) at Hoophall Classic.

9. Whitney Young, Chicago (17-1)
Previous: 10.
Low-down: The Dolphins smashed then-No. 11 Poly (Long Beach, Calif.), 85-52, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Jahlil Okafor, a 6-11 junior, played like the nation’s top player in the Class of 2014, contributing 22 points, seven rebounds and blocked three shots. The Dolphins play No. 13 Simeon (Chicago) Saturday at Loyola University’s 4,500-seat Gentile Arena at 8 p.m. CT, on ESPNU.

10. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (19-2)
Previous: 6.
Low-down: The Express dropped a sluggish 46-35 decision to No. 4 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.). Andrew Wiggins, a 6-7 McDonald’s All-American Game shoo-in, scored only 11 points. Also topped New Hampton Prep (N.H.), 56-47, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Wiggins posted a double-double, with 19 points and 10 rebounds, earning game MVP honors.

11. Prime Prep Academy, Dallas (18-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Truth thrashed Springboro (Ohio), 82-47, at the Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational in Kettering, Ohio. Emmanuel Mudlay, Damon Collins and Jordan Mickey netted 14 points apiece. Also trounced St. Louis (Mo.) Christian, 71-47, as the LSU-bound Mickey flipped in 18 points. 

12. DeSoto, Texas (26-1)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Terry Maston’s 22 points were more than enough for the Eagles in a 65-45 win over District 7-5A rivals Mansfield. 

13. Simeon, Chicago (14-2)
Previous: 15.
Low-down: Knocked off then-No. 14 Morgan Park (Chicago), 53-51, as Duke-recruit Jabari Parker had 13 points and seven boards and senior Russell Woods chipped in with 13 points and eight rebounds. Parker followed up that effort with 27 points and nine rebounds in a 64-36 win over Julian (Chicago). Saturday night city supremacy is on the line in a matchup with rivals No. 9 Whitney Young. Catch it on ESPNU at 8 p.m. CT.

14. Morgan Park, Chicago (17-2)
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Lost to then-No. 15 Simeon (Chicago), 53-51. DePaul-bound G Billy Garrett struck for 24 points. 

15. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (20-0)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: The Knights beat La Salle (Pasadena), 84-42. They have three games this week, including Lincoln (San Diego) Saturday at the Fairfax State Review in Los Angeles. 

16. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (19-3)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: The Apaches had a game at Fort Walton Beach cancelled. Coach Rex Morgan said, 5-8 junior PG Damontrae Jefferson enrolled at the school last week after transferring from Hamilton (Milwaukee). Jefferson is a floor leader with blazing end-to-end speed. 

17. Lake Oswego, Ore. (17-0)
Previous: 17.
Low-down: The Lakers are rolling with two league wins. Up next is Oregon City on Friday. Calvin Hermanson, who is headed to Saint Mary’s and is the reigning Class 6A player of the year, re-aggravated an ankle injury in a blowout win over West Linn. His status is day to day.

18. Blanch Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (16-1)
Previous: 20.
Low-down: The Tigers hammered Coconut Creek, 85-27. 

19. Poly, Long Beach, Calif. (17-2)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: The Jackrabbits were whipped by then-No. 10 Whitney Young (Chicago), 85-52, at the Hoophall Classic. 

20. Omaha (Neb.) Central (14-2)
Previous: 21.
Low-down: Crushed crosstown rivals Creighton Prep, 51-33. Deandre Hollins-Jefferson scored a game-high 15 points. 

21. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (12-3)
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Upset by regionally-ranked Chester (Pa.), 63-55, at the Hoophall Classic. The Purple Eagles should regain their heralded play against two overmatched WCAC opponents. 

22. Pershing, Detroit (12-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: Kahlil Felder struck for 32 points and cleared 11 rebounds in an 81-74 win over Beecher (Flint) at the Horatio Williams Freedom Classic in Warren, Mich. Pershing is Michigan’s overall top-ranked team and the favorite in Class A. 

23. Salesian, Richmond, Calif. (14-3)
Previous: 23.
Low-down: The Pride won two league games by 13 and 16 points. They played Monday against De La Salle (Concord) in a key Bay Area matchup. 

24. Theodore Roosevelt, Washington, D.C. (13-0)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: The Rough Riders edged Coolidge (Washington), 60-57. Jibreel Faulkner threw in 20 points. Up next is Washington Metropolitan on Tuesday. 

25. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (13-4)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: There is no quit in the Panthers. Kevin Dorsey (10 points) nailed the game-winning bucket with 3 seconds left in overtime during an upset win over then-No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy in the championship game of the 29^th Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions before 8,744 in Springfield, Mo. Franklin Howard pumped in a game-high 24 points. This was the second win this season vs. a top-10 team for coach Glenn Farello’s club. 

Dropped out: No. 13 Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.); No. 22. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.); and No. 24 Christ the King, (Middle Village, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Hudson Catholic, Jersey City, N.J. (14-1)
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (11-2)
3. Chester, Pa. (12-3)
4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (21-2)
5. Imhotep Prep, Philadelphia (14-2)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midlands

1. Germantown, Wis. (14-0)
2. Proviso East, Maywood, Ill. (14-3)
3. Marian Catholic, Chicago Heights, Ill. (18-2)
4. West, Iowa City, Iowa (13-0)
5. Munster, Ind. (15-0)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin. 

South

1. Brother Martin, New Orleans (23-2)
2. South Grand Prairie, Grand Prairie, Texas (26-2)
3. Christ Presbyterian, Nashville, Tenn. (18-2)
4. Brandeis, San Antonio (25-2)
5. North Cobb, Kennesaw, Ga. (15-3)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas. 

Far West

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (17-3)
2. Bothell, Wash. (15-0)
3. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (15-4)
4. Etiwanda, Calif. (15-2)
5. Jesuit, Portland, Ore. (13-2)
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

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.