LONDON – In one of the more telling weekends of the season, the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball were shaken up and two new teams climb aboard.

The Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts and Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri (which drew over 10,000 fans for the championship game) had direct impact on the jostling of the Elite 25. Head to head matchups ruled the weekend and teams added to their strength of schedule with most building equity. In all, 20 Elite 25 teams shifted spots in the rankings. That’s the most this season.

No. 16 Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.) and No. 19 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) are newcomers to the Elite 25. LuHi is headed to Florida for a major tournament while Cox Mill is North Carolina’s top-ranked 3A team.

No. 7 Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.) made the biggest leap, moving up seven spots and No. 23 Carmel Christian School (Matthews, N.C.) slipped 11 after a home shock loss.

Once again the events on Martin Luther King Weekend set the tone for January as we move ahead to the postseason.

I had work in England this weekend but still monitored the proceedings over the Internet and social media. Actually attended the English Premiership match between Chelsea and Arsenal in a true London derby at the Emirates Stadium. If you’ve never been to a Premiership match, put it on your sports bucket list. It’s that intense!

Back in the states this weekend’s most appetizing event is the MAIT or Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament. Half of the eight-team field, including the Montverde Eagles, appears in the Elite 25 rankings. The tournament begins Thursday afternoon at Montverde Academy Center for Sportsmanship and Wellness or what the students refer to as “The Nest.” The final is Saturday at 8 p.m. EST. Here’s more information on the MAIT.

The Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on January 29. The season is running up-tempo and we’re nearly into February, where the postseason rolls out weekly. Florida schools start their district tournaments on February 11. 

There are plenty of weekend events left and we’ll sort through them to tell you which ones are most relevant to the Elite 25 rankings. We cannot thank you the loyal reader for checking here regularly. Your interest keeps the Elite 25 in the national forefront.

If you live in near Orlando, Florida, go watch the MAIT. This is schoolboy basketball in another stratosphere. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor 

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, January 22, 2019

1. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (17-0)

Previous ranked: 1.

Low-down: Won the prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, defeating No. 11 Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.), 50-46, in overtime. Junior PG Sharife Cooper was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. Copper scored 20 points and Auburn-bound F Isaac Okoro added 13 in the final. The Indians played Monday at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

2. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (20-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Coach Patrick Holmes’ team played No. 3 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) at the Hoophall Classic on Monday in Springfield, Mass. Highly touted F Isaiah Stewart shocked many verbally committing to Washington over the likes of Syracuse, Duke, Michigan State and Kentucky. Stewart is a slam-dunk for the McDonald’s All American Game in Atlanta and the Lakers will be one of the eight selected for GEICO Nationals in March.

3. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (16-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated The Heights School (Potomac, Md.), 77-28, and St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 76-40, before heading off to play No. 2 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) at the Hoophall Classic on Monday afternoon.

4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (20-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Defeated Santa Monica (Calif.), 75-69, Rolling Hills Prep State Preview Classic in California. Tre Williams netted a game-high 26 points. This week the Tigers are off to the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament in Florida. 

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

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The loaded Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament tips for three days starting on Thursday in central Florida. Last week, the Eagles blasted then-No. 24 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), 69-46, at the Hoophall Classic and played No. 8 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) on Monday.

6. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (22-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Jeremiah Earl-Robinson (18 points, 15 rebounds) hit a 17-footer with 17.8 seconds left and junior Noah Farrakhan’s traditional three-point play second later helped subdue then-No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 72-67, at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Josh Green topped the Ascenders with 19 points. That victory likely cinches an invitation to the GEICO Nationals in New York in March.

7. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (20-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Four games this week is capped by a matchup with Nevada powerhouse Clark (Las Vegas) Saturday at Crush in the Valley in Fairfield, Calif.

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: If the Trailblazers are a Top 10 team, Monday’s game with No. 5 Montverde (Fla.) Academy at the Hoophall Classic will tell the story.

9. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (16-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 8 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 72-67, at the Hoophall Classic. Christian Brown pumped in 22 points, making 9 of 14 shots, and snatched 6 rebounds. C Kofi Cockburn had 17 points and 8 rebounds. The Warriors head cross-country this weekend for two games at the Nike Extravaganza in California. 

10. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Eagles play one of the most aggressive schedules in the nation. Earlier this week they played at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts and then have three games at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament in Florida starting Thursday.

11. Sunrise Christian, Bel Aire, Kan. (14-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Finished second at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., dropping the final to No. 1 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 50-46, in overtime.

12. Ranney School, Tinton Falls, N.J. (12-1) 

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Phillip Wheeler flipped in 19 points to pace four players in double figures during a 78-25 thrashing of Keyport at the Coaches vs. Cancer Showcase in Bayville, N.J. Played No. 13 Federal Way (Wash.) on Monday at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts. 

13. Federal Way, Wash. (16-1)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Tari Eason had a double-double, 26 points and 17 boards, in a 76-56 blowout of Auburn and Jefferson (Auburn), 89-45. After two wins last week, the schedule intensified with No. 12 Ranney School (Tinton Falls, N.J.) on Monday at the Hoophall Classic.

14. Curie, Chicago (21-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Condors cruised to three wins. The Public League super conference format should finish up this week and the city tournament won’t tip off until the first week of February.

15. Westchester, Los Angeles (18-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Coach Ed Azzam’s team is preparing for a Western League rivalry game with Fairfax (Los Angeles) on Friday.

16. Cox Mill, Concord, N.C. (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Chargers enter the Elite 25 after a solid start and one loss at the Beach Ball Classic last month. They play twice in the South Piedmont 3A against rivals Northwest Cabarrus (Concord) Wednesday and Central Cabarrus (Concord) Friday.

17. Belleville (Ill.) West (19-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Went 2-1 to take fifth place at the prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. The Maroons were beaten by then-No. 17 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), 74-57, in the first round but recovered to win the consolation bracket.

18. Allen, Texas (27-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Eagles are flying high in District 9-6A and sit in first place. Next is a rematch with Jesuit (Dallas) Friday, a team they lost to earlier this month.

Two easy district wins over Prosper, 90-74, and Plano West, 71-42. Nine games left in the regular season none more important that a rematch with Jesuit (Dallas) on Jan. 25.

19. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (13-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: It is statement week for the Crusaders, who can move in the Top 10 by winning the highly competitive Montverde (Fla.) Academy Invitational Tournament. The week started with a 60-52 win over Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta) at the Hoophall Classic.

20. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Gaels won the annual Big City Showdown, stopping rivals Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 59-55, in overtime. C Isaiah Cottrell posted 17 points and 9 rebounds while Noah Taitz’s 3-pointer with 95 seconds remaining broke a 55-all tie.

21. Warren Central, Indianapolis (14-0)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won Marion County Tournament, beating Lawrence Central (Indianapolis), 60-56, in the postponed final. Two days later the team met again in league play with Lawrence Central (Indianapolis) winning 54-44. The Warriors dipped to 2-1 in the Metropolitan Conference with the title coming down to a game with Carmel on Feb. 19.

22. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (14-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Kahlil Whitney popped in a game-high 25 points and cleared 10 rebounds leading his team to the 26^thstraight win dating back to last season during a 62-61 decision over The Patrick School (Elizabeth). However that win streak was crushed over the weekend in a 75-55 thumping to Norcross (Ga.) at the Hoophall Classic. Three games are scheduled this week, most notably Camden Sunday.

23. Carmel Christian School, Matthews, N.C. (24-2)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Upset in overtime by Independence (Charlotte), 58-57, at the Carmel Christian MLK Showcase. Donovan Gregory topped the Cougars with 17 points. The Cougars remain in the Elite 25 with a strong scheduling resume. 

24. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (15-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Lost to city powerhouse Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), 61-56. The two could meet again in the Class AA City playoffs. This week’s slate is packed with three CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens AA contests. The rematch at rivals Christ the King (Middle Village) looms on Feb. 1.

Defeated Christ the King (Middle Village), 78-67, in a CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens Class AA showdown. The Lions have another key matchup with Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) on Friday night.

25. University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14-3)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Sharks host No. 11 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) Friday on ESPN2 in a game that could propel them back up the Elite 25 rankings.

Dropped: No. 17 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) and No. 24 Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (17-2)

2. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (14-3)

3. St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (14-4)

4. Bonner-Prendergast, Drexel Hill, Pa. (12-1)

5. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (12-3)

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

Midwest

1. Bogan, Chicago (19-2)

2. Moeller, Cincinnati (13-0)

3. Bloom, Chicago Heights, Ill. (18-1)

4. Nicolet, Glendale, Wis. (13-1)

5. Benton Harbor, Mich. (14-0)

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

Southland

1. Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Ala. (21-3)

2. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (21-1)

3. Guyer, Denton, Texas (22-4)

4. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (25-1)

5. Timberview, Mansfield, Texas (24-2)

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

Far West

1. Shadow Mountain, Phoenix (17-3)

2. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (20-3)

3. Fairfax, Los Angeles (17-1)

4. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (23-3)

5. Gonzaga Prep, Spokane, Wash. (14-2)

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.