NEW YORK – When Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) won the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament on Saturday, it just solidified what was obvious: the Warriors are the nation’s best schoolboy basketball team.

So with the high school officially in the books, the Warriors are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. Oak Hill went 45-1 and won three high-end tournaments—Chick-fil-A, Bass Pro Invitational and Le Schwab Invitational—during the regular season coupled with all the road games and one day shootouts. Yes, the “Road Warriors” were tested and do not back down from a challenge.

Yes, they did lose a game in November but that won’t take away from their collective accomplishment.

No. 8 Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) is that good and deserve a top-10 rankings. Coach Sharman White is an elite coach and the Wolverines are permanently on the national rankings radar. Also, kudos to coach Shane Heirman and No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) for a tough, nail-biting runner-up finish at the DICK’S Nationals.

The DICK’S Nationals are for real and only getting better. There are five or six key states needed to stamp this event a true national championship. The state associations have taken notice and the higher minds at Paragon Marketing are working to make it happen. The DICK’S Nationals are clearly the best event on the schedule. Hey, save the best for last!

When we total it there were 18 state or national postseason national tournament champions in the final Elite 25. And how did we do? The Elite 25 final rankings have 17 teams (up one from last year) from the preseason rankings—that’s a .680 accuracy percentage–in the final ones. Anything approaching 70% is considered very good. The ultimate is always to be perfect, but realistically an 80% accuracy in this business is superior yet tough to attain. In 2017, that remains our elusive goal.

Should be another exciting spring with the NCAA open period kicking in later this month and the national travel circuit and camp scene following. We’ll be at the Jordan Brand Game on April 15 at the Barclay’s Center in Brooklyn, N.Y., along with Under Armour and Nike (EYBL) events in New York on the same weekend. Check back at www.bluestarmedia.org for summertime updates.

We’ll return with the Blue Star Media Elite 25 preseason football rankings in mid-August. The boys’ basketball rankings will hit the Internet in early November and the girls follow.

Thanks again for visiting our site. We taken your comments to heart and working harder than ever to make the Elite 25 rankings the national standards. Having spoke with several national coaches and media types, they feel we already are. We hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 final boys’ rankings, April 3, 2016

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (45-1)** ***

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Warriors punctuated a wonderful regular season, winning DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament. In the final, Virginia Tech-bound Khadim Sy tipped in a missed shot at the buzzer to edge No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 62-60, in overtime at Madison Square Garden. Alabama-bound Braxton Key was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and junior G Lindell Wigginton earned all-tournament status. In the semifinals, they beat No. 8 Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.), 47-46, and Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 81-64.1.

2. Chino Hills, Calif. (35-0)*

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won CIF Open Division state tournament championship. Also won the Southern Section and Region titles and City of Palms Classic (in December). Lonzo Ball, a UCLA recruit, was a McDonald’s All American.

3. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (27-4)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Lakers were within a whisker of winning the DICK’S Nationals, losing on a buzzer beating tip-in during a 62-60 overtime loss to top-ranked Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). They beat No. 3 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 55-47, in the semifinals, and No. 7 St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.), 60-59, in the quarterfinals. Junior G Brian Bowen was added to the all-tournament team. Freshman PG Tyger Campbell is one of the nation’s top players in the Class of 2019.

4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (26-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Advanced to the semifinals of the DICK’S Nationals, losing to No. 3 La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 55-47. Sophomore F Silvio DeSousa was named to the all-tournament team. The Eagles also won three tournament titles in the regular season—most notably the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C.

5. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (32-0)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Friars won the State Tournament of Champions for the 13th time and for the first time since 2012.

6. U of D Jesuit, Detroit (28-0)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Class A state championship. Michigan State-bound Cassius Winston was named Michigan’s Mr. Basketball.

7. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (35-2)*

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Gray Bees won the New Jersey State Prep A and National Independent Christian Schools Conference tournament along with the St. James Invitational titles in the postseason. They also played in the DICK’S Nationals, falling in the quarterfinals.

8. Miller Grove, Lithonia, Ga. (31-3)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Wolverines won the Class AAAAA state championship and advanced to the DICK’S Nationals semifinals. Connecticut-bound Alterique Gilbert was named all tournament and proved why he is a McDonald’s All American.

9. DeSoto, Texas (36-2)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won Class 6A state championship.

10. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (28-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Lost to No. 7 Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.), 67-65, in DICK’S Nationals quarterfinals. The Pilots return plenty of talent.

11. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (32-5)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won second straight Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament championship and 23rd overall. Also crowned the Maryland Private Schools Tournament champions. Markelle Fultz was named a McDonald’s and Jordan Brand All American.

12. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (30-5)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament championship. Placed third at Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament. Season complete.

13. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Advanced to CIF Southern California Region Open Division final. Two of three losses were to No. 2 Chino Hills.

14. Chaminade, St. Louis (27-5)*

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won second Class 5 state championship and the first since 2009.

15. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (29-4)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won a second straight PIAA Class AAAA state and Philadelphia Catholic League Tournament titles. A trio of players from Chris McNesby’s club are headed to Penn State.

16. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy, Chattanooga, Tenn. (27-3)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I championship. Up and coming program is coached by Zach Ferrell and returns oodles of talent.

17. Stevens Point, Wis. (28-0)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won second consecutive Division I state championship.

18. Hopkins, Minnetonka, Minn. (31-1)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. It was the Royals first state title in five years, seventh since 2002 and ninth overall.

19. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (27-4)*

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Saints won their third-straight PIAA Class AAA state championship and sixth in seven years.

20. Althoff Catholic, Belleville, Ill. (32-2)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Next year the Crusaders will build around talented junior Jordan Goodwin.

21. Curie, Chicago (28-5)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Devin Gage is headed to DePaul, looking to become a hometown collegiate hero.

22. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (38-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Eagles were Class 6A state runner-up.

23. Lancaster, Texas (36-2)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 5A state championship.

24. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-4)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern California Region Open Division first round. The Trailblazers are likely the preseason No. 1 in 2016-17.

25. H.D Woodson, Washington, D.C. (32-0)*

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won D.C. State Athletic Association Tournament, becoming the city’s first public school since 1985 to go undefeated. Also won the DCIAA Tournament.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Sacred Heart, Waterbury, Conn. (26-2)*
2. Linden, N.J. (25-6)*
3. Patrick School, Elizabeth, N.J. (23-6)
4. St. Augustine, Richland, N.J. (30-2)*
5. Eleanor Roosevelt, Greenbelt, Md. (24-3)*

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

Midwest

1. New Albany, Ind. (27-1)*
2. Simeon, Chicago (30-4)
3. Apple Valley, Minn. (28-2)
4. Westerville (Ohio) South (26-4)*
5. Omaha (Neb.) South (28-1)*

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

Southland

1. Greenforest Christian Academy, Decatur, Ga. (30-2)*
2. Providence Day School, Charlotte, N.C. (30-4)*
3. Grandview Prep, Boca Raton, Fla. (34-0)*
4. Dunbar, Lexington, Ky. (33-6)*
5. Fort Bend Elkins, Missouri City, Texas (36-3)

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

Far West

1. De La Salle, Concord, Calif. (31-3)
2. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (29-4)
3. Foothills Christian, El Cajon, Calif. (25-5)
4. West Linn, Ore. (27-3)*
5. Crespi, Encino, Calif. (33-4)*

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

* Won state, national or conference/league postseason tournament championship

** DICK’S Sporting Goods High School Tournament champions

*** Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

 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 in April. 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 Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators, administrators and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.