BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.
Seven newcomers are featured in the Elite 25.
The Elite 25 boys’ rankings return January 1, 2019. Don’t forget to check out the final Elite 25 football rankings on December 24.
Have a Merry Christmas and a healthy, prosperous New Year. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Dec. 18, 2018
1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (13-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: The Warriors have won every national tournament and competed internationally but will break new ground this week at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. This will be their first trip to the prestigious tournament and will face a talented field.
2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (6-0)
Previous: 2.
Low-down: The Eagles are back in the South Pacific, five time zones away, to defend their title at the Iolani Classic in Honolulu, Hawaii.
3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-0)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Coach Sean McAloon’s club takes an unbeaten mark into the City of Palms Classic. The dream matchup with No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) could occur in the championship game on Saturday night in Suncoast Credit Union Arena at Florida SouthWestern State College.
4. University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (6-0)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: The Sharks opening assignment in the City of Palms Classic is No. 7 Vashon (St. Louis) on Tuesday.
5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (5-0)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: The Lakers should be rested and ready after a 10-day layoff in anticipation for the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. A potential meeting with No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy is bracket for the semifinals on Friday.
6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (9-0)
Previous: 6.
Low-down: The Trailblazers are all set for the Iolani Classic in Honolulu and a potential championship game matchup with No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy.
7. Vashon, St. Louis (6-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Wolverines will be a handful when they play this week in the City of Palms Classic in Florida.
8. Ranney School, Tinton Falls, N.J. (2-0)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Defeated West Nottingham Academy (Colora, Md.), 84-72, and Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey), 63-51, last weekend.
9. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (12-0)
Previous: 13.
Low-down: First-year coach David Evans has the Tigers humming with 12 straight wins and now a trip to Niceville, Fla., for the Emerald Coast 16 that tips off Thursday afternoon.
Low-down: Since Wasatch does not compete for a Utah state championship, the ultimate goal is the GEICO Nationals and first-year coach David Evans is now in charge and took nationally ranked Lon Peak (Highland, Utah) to the tournament in New York. Evans is one of the hot coaches in the business and will work with 6-9 junior Maddy Sissoko, 6-8 Bernardo Da Silva and 6-5 Tre Williams. The nationally tinged schedule brings the Tigers to Nebraska, Florida, California, Nevada and Maryland for high-powered games.
10. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (6-1)
Previous: 5.
Low-down: After dropping a 73-67 decision to No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), the Stags have bounced back to post four wins and will host the DeMatha Christmas Tournament starting on Dec. 27.
11. Sunrise Christian, Bel Aire, Kan. (7-1)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: After dropping a 68-41 decision to No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy at the ARS/Rescue National Hoopfest earlier this month, the Buffaloes are off until Dec. 27 when they tip off in the Chick-fil-A Classic in South Carolina.
12. Carmel Christian School, Matthews, N.C. (14-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Cougars are the top-ranked team from North Carolina and are making noise on the national scene for the first time. They play in The Emerald 16 this week in the Florida Panhandle and after Christmas it’s off to Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn.
13. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (8-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: Recently the Pilots were the standard in schoolboy basketball but this year they needed to earn a spot in the Elite 25. The schedule picks up after Christmas with three games in South Dakota, including one against Elite 25 team La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) and then it’s a trip to Wheeling, W.V., for the Cancer Research Classic for showdowns with No. 15 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) and No. 11 Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) on Jan. 4 and 5, respectively.
14. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (6-1)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: In spite of losing two blue-chip starters to season-ending knee injuries, the Panthers are off to the City of Palms Classic this week in Florida and boasting a deep, talented roster.
15. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (4-0)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: The schedule picks up this week at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla.
16. Belleville (Ill.) West (10-0)
Previous: 18.
Low-down: The defending Illinois Class 4A state champions hosting O’Fallon on Tuesday before resuming action after Christmas in the Centralia Holiday Tournament for four games.
17. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (7-0)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: The month of December has been kind with at least three quality wins. That run of challenges continues this week at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas. After Christmas there are four tournament games at The Classic, hosted by Damien High School, in nearby La Verne.
18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (5-1)
Previous: 15.
Low-down: The Gaels open the Tarkanian Classic on Wednesday in Las Vegas for four games.
19. Warren Central, Indianapolis (4-0)
Previous: 20.
Low-down: Stopped Ben Davis (Indianapolis), 66-49, in a battle between two of Indiana’s top Class 4A teams. The Warriors’ schedule picks up with game against East St. Louis (Ill.) on Dec. 22 and Valparaiso (Ind.) on Dec. 29.
20. Timberview, Mansfield, Texas (15-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Wolves are Texas’ top-ranked Class 5A team and won two early season tournament titles.
21. Bloom, Chicago Heights, Ill. (11-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: This team needs to be taken serious and that chance will come after Christmas at the 88thPontiac Holiday Tournament, where the Blazing Trojans are the top seed in an eight-team bracket rife with Chicago powerhouse programs.
22. Rainier Beach, Seattle (5-0)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Vikings have two games left this month and will travel in January, starting with the Sacramento vs. Seattle Challenge at Sheldon (Sacramento) and then it’s three games in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. (Jan. 17-19).
23. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (11-1)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Since a rare loss in November, the Bengals have won eight straight and will look to defend their HAECO Invitational at the Greensboro Coliseum Special Events Center starting on Dec. 26.
24. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (11-1)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Panthers won the Gonzaga D.C. Classic earlier this month and will play in the Chick-fil-A Classic after Christmas in South Carolina.
25. Shadow Mountain, Phoenix (5-1)
Previous: 24.
Low-down: Coach Mike Bibby takes his team to the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic near San Diego after Christmas.
Dropped: No. 6 Norcross (Ga.); No. 7 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia); No. 10 Guyer (Denton, Texas); No. 17 Olive Branch (Miss.); No. 21 Whitney Young (Chicago); No. 22 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.); and No. 23 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.).
High-Fives by Region
East
1. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (7-0)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (4-1)
3. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (3-0)
4. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (7-0)
5. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (3-1)
Geography:Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
1. Curie, Chicago (10-0)
2. Bogan, Chicago (8-1)
3. Whitney Young, Chicago (7-2)
4. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (4-0)
5. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (5-0)
Geography:Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
1. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (9-0)
2. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (7-0)
3. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (13-0)
4. Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Ala. (11-1)
5. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (14-1)
Geography:Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Federal Way, Wash. (6-0)
2. Fairfax, Los Angeles (10-0)
3. Westchester, Los Angeles (6-0)
4. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (14-2)
5. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (11-1)
Geography:Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
About:The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November 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 the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Senior Writer Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
