LIONIZED: No. 1 Link Academy (MO) starts season atop Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings; eight teams from Nike Scholastic EYBL check in

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Link Academy Lions of Branson, Missouri start the season as the No. 1 team in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason boys’ basketball rankings.

A year ago, the No. 10 Lions were 26-7 and went 1-1 at the CHIPOTLE Nationals, losing in the semifinals to then-No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 58-44. Montverde went on to win the CHIPTLE Nationals and Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Championship. The Lions finished No. 1 in 2022-23 season.

Once again, the Nike EYBL Scholastic is a key players as eight teams from the national league of powerhouse programs are in the Elite 25 preseason rankings.

The breakdown of the Elite 25 by region: West 8; East and Southland 7 apiece and 3 from the  Midwest.

Some teams and state have already started their seasons. It’s long way until the CHIPOTLE Nationals the first weekend in April and the event will head back to Brownsburg, Ind. Another new wrinkle that will aid the Elite 25 is the inaugural Nike Scholastic EYBL Tournament in March in North Augusta, S.C. or the site of the Nike Peach Jam which is conducted in July.

It’s a long season, so catch your breath and get ready for the marathon. The season in some cases goes for five months.

That’s all for now.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings will return in December with the initial update as the holiday tournament schedule kicks in. Obviously, if there are happenings that affect the Elite 25 or newsworthy stories beforehand, we’ll have it.

Although we’re a few weeks out, have a Happy Thanksgiving and God’s Blessings to your family and friends. Don’t forget to move your clock back on Sunday morning to Standard Time.

Bye for now.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

2024-25 Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Oct 31, 2024

Statistics are from the 2023-24 season unless denoted

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (26-7)

The Lowdown: The Lions have a total makeover with at least 11 transfers heading to southwest Missouri. Since the 2021-22 season, the Lions are 88-10 with a national championship following the 2022-23 season. With the overhaul, coach Chad Myers has options aplenty and depth is always welcome in the Nike Scholastic EYBL and last April they went 1-1 at the CHIPOTLE Nationals, losing in the semifinals to No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy. The frontline features 6-10 Chris Cernac and 6-9 John Clark with the backcourt of 6-3 CG Jerry Easter and 6-5 Davion Hannah put up the points from the perimeter. Six-eight F A’mare Bynum is headed to Ohio State. Add Cy Merrit, Nasir Price, 6-5 sophomore Malachi Jordan and juniors, 6-4 Trent Perry and 6-1 Keonte Greybear (both Texans), and it’s why the Lions start atop the Elite 25. The dockets include Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas, Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, Jumpman Holiday Classic in New York, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. Hoophall in Springfield, Mass., and Air Capital Hoopfest in Wichita. In March, the newly formed EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament will be held in North Augusta, S.C. (site of the Peach Jam) and the CHIPOTLE Nationals are back in Brownsburg, Ind.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (33-0)

The Lowdown: The reigning Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions are buzzing around the summit of all national rankings. The Eagles aren’t blessed with size and the talent of national player of the year Cooper Flagg (now at Duke and likely NBA lottery pick in 2025) but the talent is palpable. Coach Kevin Boyle, 854-158 overall, welcomes back of trio of juniors, 6-8 Caleb Gaskins, 6-5 Kayden Allen and 6-2 Dhani Miller. The newcomers are 6-6 marksman Hudson Greer (Creighton recruit), 6-3 Dante Allen (Villanova), 6-5 SR  Mazi Mosley (LSU) and 6-7 Trent Sisley (Indiana) plus juniors,  6-5 Kayden Allen and 6-6 Gabe Weis. December brings four EYBL games and the City of Palms Classic. The Eagles have three preseason Elite 25 teams at the Hoophall Classic and three more in their own MAIT. There are trips to California and New Jersey before the EYBL conference tournament and the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

3. Columbus, Miami (28-5)

The Lowdown: The three-time FHSAA Class 7A state champions will go as far as the Boozer twins, 6-9 Cameron (22.3 ppg, 11.2 rpg, 2.7 apg, 2.1 blocks) and 6-4 Cayden (12.0 ppg, 7.6 apg), who are both going to Duke (just like their dad Carlos) can take them. The Explorers should make it four state chips which is quite a legacy for the all-boys Catholic school and coach Andrew Moran. The Boozers—both shoo-ins for the McDonald’s All American Game—have help with 6-5 junior Jaxon Richardson, 6-4 junior Marcellous “Cello” Jackson, 6-6 Keeper Jackson, 6-8 Caleb Gaskins and 6-10 C Eric Dibami Tomou from Cameroon. The Explorers will be everywhere this season, including New York for a date with No. 1 Link Academy. A return trip to the CHIPOTLE Nationals would be a nice capper to this four-year journey.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (20-9)

The Lowdown: One of the nation’s premier programs oozes talents from every crevice. You want athleticism? Check? Future stars? Check. Schoolboy prodigies? Check. The Ascenders are aptly named because they rise annually to the top of the Elite 25. Coach Sean McAloon is fortunate to have 6-2 Darius Acuff (Arkansas), 6-8 transfer Sadiq White (Syracuse, 19.5 ppg as a junior), 6-8 Kareem Stagg (Georgia) and 6-2 Cam Miles as seniors. The Class of 2025 is fueled by 6-4 Felipe Quinones-Garcia, 6-7 Chase Foster, 6-4 Jermal Jones, Jr., 6-8 junior Chase Foster, 6-9 post Cody Peck and 6-3 Trey Beamer. Cam Miles and Jordan Tillery also transferred in . The Ascenders are good enough to win the Nike EYBL Scholastic and then earn an invitation to the CHIPOTLE Nationals in Indiana.

5. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (28-6)

The Lowdown: This might be the year the Purple Eagles reel off a slew of tournament titles. First, coach Steve Turner’s club must catch Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rivals and No. 6 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.). They’ll have at least two regular matchups and perhaps a third in the WCAC Tournament. Turner enters his 26^th year with the Zags, including five as an assistant—he is less than two seasons from reaching 500 wins. The senior class of 6-1 Nykolas Lewis (Xavier recruit) ad 6-4 Derek Dixon (North Carolina) in the backcourt. Virginia Tech-bound 6-9 C Christian Gurdak mans the post and 6-5 Will Harper is on the wing and 6-7 PF Alex Touomou (Harvard) is inside muscle. The Eagles will host the Gonzaga D.C. Classic, travel to the Les Schwab Invitational in Portland, Ore., after Christmas and Hoophall Classic over the MLK Weekend in January. The ultimate is reaching the CHIPOTLE Nationals in April but that means winning the WCAC and District of Columbia state titles.

6. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-5)

The Lowdown: Coach John Buck’s team came off a season when they were 10-2 in the Nike EYBL Scholastic League season and advanced to the CHIPOTLE Nationals quarterfinals. The roster includes 6-5 senor Kiyan Anthony (Carmelo’s son), 6-2 senior Kaden Mingo, 6-5 junior Moussa Kamissoko, Marquette-commit 6-0 senior Nigel James, 7-1 senior Nico Onyekwere, 6-9 junior M.J. Madison and 6-11 junior Omar Essam. That’s a good mixture of players on the perimeter and in the post. A trip to the City of Palms Classic highlights the early slate but the EYBL will keep the Crusaders on their toes all season.

7. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (27-6)

The Lowdown: The big offseason news was 6-3 junior twins Kaden and Kalek House (their dad Eddie played in the NBA) transferred in after leading nearby Desert Mountain (Scottsdale) to the Arizona Open Division semifinals and quarterfinals the past two seasons. Both are prolific scorers and welcome additions to coach Pete Caffey’s squad. At 6-10, junior C Mikka Murrinen is already on the NBA scouts radar. The tall Finn is a stretch-4 with a good release from the perimeter and is a rim-protector. There’s more transfer with 6-7 G Davis Fogle (Gonzaga recruit), 6-4 junior Quincy Wadley, Maryland-bound 6-9 C Marcus Jackson, 6-6 F Robert Moore and 6-8 Nicholas Randall, who is a Missouri pledge and last year’s Missouri Class 4 player of the year from Vashon (St. Louis). There’s a reason why the Dragons have trended upward since bursting onto the national scene in 2000 and play in the Nike EYBL Scholastic.

 8. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (23-1)

The Lowdown: The two-time Texas T-CAL made a splash last year winning a bracket at the Chick-fil-A Classic in South Carolina. There’s no denying that coach Jermaine O’Neal (former NBA player) and his team are ready for the national scene. At 6-9, Jaden Toombs and 6-4 Jermaine O’Neal Jr. are both headed to SMU while 6-3 Leroy Kelly IV will sign with Oral Roberts and 6-8 Amari Reed with UT-Arlington. Marcus Spears Jr., a 6-7 sophomore, has good bloodlines with his father playing for the Cowboys in the NFL. Dynamic will make their initial appearance at the City of Palms Classic Signature Series along with Bullis School (Potomac, Md.), DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.) and Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.).

9. The Patrick School, Hackettstown, N.J. (27-4)

The Lowdown: As one of the top teams in New Jersey, the Celtics have been on the move recently. First, they left the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association for an independent status. Second, school is now located on the campus of Centenary University (about 20 miles from the previous location). Players can live in dormitories and have the use of the school’s gymnasium. Finally, coach Chris Chavannes decided his team would play in the National Grind Session Basketball League with opportunities to have a competitive schedule. The goal would be to qualify for the CHIPOTLE Nationals. The main five are 6-4 Illinois-bound Brandon Lee, 6-10 Ukrainian Luka Lokhmanchuk, 5-9 junior Santonio Waide, 6-10 Kuai Deng (offered by Illinois), 6-0 Jaysean Williams. The Celtics start the season as New Jersey’s top team and a challenging schedule will provide them the necessary competition.

10. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (33-4)

The Lowdown: The Inland Empire squad was the shock team of the year in the Elite 25 after advancing to the CIF-Southern Region Open Division final and capturing the Baseline League championship. All along they were led by Brayden Burries, who by the holiday tournament season emerged as one of California’s top junior prospects. Other returnees are G Issac Williamson, Dominic Copenhagen, G Myles Walker and Jackson Haggins. The guard triumvirate of Burries, Walker and Williamson form the backbone of the team. Burries, a shoo-in for the McDonald’s All American Game, has a slew of offers from Big-12, ACC, Big Ten West Coast, Mountain West and SEC schools.

11. Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah (19-10)

The Lowdown: A.J. Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 rated senior, and J.J. Mandaquit is a heckuva way to roll out a program on the national level. Both were teammates on the gold-medal winning USA U17 National Team last summer at the FIBA World Cup in Turkey; they transferred to the rural Utah school and both are from opposite ends of the United States (J.J. from Massachusetts and A.J. from Hawaii). Last year, the 6-9 F Dybantsa prepped at Prolific Prep (Calif.) and 6-1 PG Mandaquit led UP and is considering USC, Louisville, California, Hawaii, Tennessee, Creighton, Washington, and BYU. Dybantsa is also high on BYU. The inside-outside duo will be joined by 6-6 F Jaden Vance, 6-3 John Southwick (Utah Valley commit), 6-6 junior Anthony Felesi and Blake Maxwell. The schedule is rugged with games in Georgia, Hawaii, New Jersey, Nevada, Florida and Arizona. Coach Justin Yazmon’s team will play on the Grind Session circuit this season and won the Shanghai Future Star Basketball Championship in China over the summer, beating the China U18 National Team for the title.

12. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (33-6)

The Lowdown: The Crew won the Grind Session World Championship for a second straight year but lost in the quarterfinals of the CHIPOTLE Nationals to Link Academy Mo.) in double overtime. Well, the go-to player AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s top player from the Class of 2025 transferred and that sent coach Ryan Bernardi scurrying to fill out the roster. He succeeded. The Crew added talent from locations such as Chicago, Texas, Ohio, Florida and West Virginia. The biggest addition is 6-5 G Darryn Peterson of Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, who averaged 24.0 ppg, 6.0 rpg and 4.0 apg. Kansas in in the lead but Kentucky, USC, Kansas State and Ohio State are closing in too. At 6-11, Niko Bundalo is a stretch-4 and one of the top recruits in the nation. Junior PG Rajan Roberts commands the ball and can score in transition. There’s 6-6 F Seven Spurlock, Canadian PG Zion Unarse and 6-6 sophomore F Gabe Nesmith has been offered by USC and Arizona State. The Boys from the Napa Valley will play in the Grind Sessions but ultimately, they want the CHIPOTLE Nationals chip … but doesn’t everyone on the national prep circuit.

13. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-5)

The Lowdown: The Lakers are a serious contender for the Nike EYBL Scholastic League title. And they are senior-laden with 6-6 Jalen Haralson (Notre Dame), 6-8 Anton Strelnikov (Dartmouth), 6-2 Jack Smiley (Belmont), 6-8 Grayson Bennett, 6-4 Melvin Bell (San Jose State), 6-5 Darius Adams (Connecticut) and 6-7 Chuck Love III (Loyola, Ill.). Besides the EYBL and its new postseason tournament, the Lakers are off to the City of Palms Classic for a first-ever appearance and then the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon but the winning CHIPOTLE Nationals is the ultimate goal.

14. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (33-3)

The Lowdown: The CIF Open Division state champions roll out another quality team. It starts with 6-5 Nikolas Khamenia, who is headed to Duke. Six-two PG Amir Jones orchestrates the offense. At 6-8, C Dominique Bentho is only junior and plays next to 6-7 Isaiah Carroll and 6-4 Joe Sterling, who can drain it from deep. Sterling is a transfer from Crespi (Encino).The Wolverines will play at the Salt Lake Hoopfest and the Desert Holiday Classic after Christmas. They also will be featured at the Nike Tournament of Champions in Arizona (Jan. 2-4).

15. San Antonio (Texas) Brennan (31-5)

The Lowdown: The Bears blasted through the regular season and went 16-0 in District 29-6A before getting derailed in the Class 6A, Region 4 final. At 6-2, PG Kingston Flemings is the top prospect from the senior class in Texas and surely is one of the top distributors of the ball and averaged 17.1 ppg. SG Camden Cowgill (13.5 ppg), 6-5 F Donovan Criss, 6-6 junior F Isaiah Ward and 6-0 junior Talon Todd, who clicked for 14.5 ppg and is a lock-down defender, is part of a rotation that is in the all-in, win-now mode.

16. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (35-3)

The Lowdown: Coach Glenn Farello brought the Panthers to the precipice of a national championship but a game short. They won a second straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and fourth consecutive Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I titles. The Panthers went to the CHIPOTLE Nationals final, falling to then-No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy. PVI graduated several key pieces are back and ready to get after it. They will lean on 6-1 Lawerence “Turk” Brown, Utah State-bound 6-9 Adlan Elamin, 6-7 Jaquan Womack (Towson), 6-8 junior Cooper Sundra, 6-3 junior Jordan Smith, 6-2 junior Jordan Hunter and 6-3 sophomore Troy Tomlin. The schedule is highlighted by a trip to Hawaii for the Iolani Classic prior to Christmas and the numerous battles in the talent-laden WCAC.

17. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (27-7)

The Lowdown: For a first-year entrant to the Nike EYBL Scholastic, the Bobcats fared well. They went 7-5 along with IMG Academy (Fla.), La Lumiere School (Ind.) and Wasatch Academy (Utah)—all established programs. Well, in Year 2 the idea is to improve through the transfer portal, pretty much the way it’s done on the collegiate level. Traditionally, Brewster was always one of the top NEPSAC teams, sending several players to the NBA and high-major program. Again, coach Jason Smith had work over the summer and landed three from the East Coast. At 6-6, Elijah Flowers has offers from Towson, George Mason and Old Dominion and possesses NBA range and is a lockdown defender. Sophomore Antonio Pemberton, a 6-1 point guard, has a high IQ and can pass it and score it. The 12^th-rated floor general can score in bunches and set up teammates with great court vision. Six-two Ebuka Okorie is headed to Harvard while 6-4 Charlie Pugh, 6-6 Jadon Holmes, 6-7 Preston Fowler (James Madison) and 6-7 Dwayne Aristode (Arizona) are prospects. The Bobcats have the talent to match the competitive schedule.

18. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (28-7)

The Lowdown: The CIF Division 1 state champions return two top scorers in 6-4 junior Brandon McCoy (18.6 ppg) and 6-5 Harvard-commit Elzie Harrington (14.1 ppg). At 6-8 Dominic Perfetti is a Division I lacrosse recruit. So is 6-8 F Christian Collins, who transferred in from nearby St. Bernard (Playa del Rey). The Braves are headed to tournaments or events in California, Illinois, Massachusetts and Arizona. When they are home it’s 10 games in the Trinity League with the likes of Mater Dei, JSerra Catholic and Santa Margarita. That’s enough to prepare them for the CIF Open Division state crown.

19. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (30-2)

The Lowdown: There are plenty of holdovers from the Georgia Class 7A state champions—the first-ever in program history. Coach Geoffrey Pierce features a loaded lineup with 6-7 Georgia-bound Jacob Wilkins (16.8 ppg, 9.6 rpg), considered a serious candidate for the McDonald’s All-American Game. Wilkins is joined by classmates 6-4 Kiwane Garris (Cal State-Fullerton), 5-9 Chris McLavish and 6-8 Amir Taylor. At 6-5, Caleb Holt (20.2 ppg, 9.5 rpg, 3.0 spg, 2.4 apg) is one of the top players from the Class of 2026 ajd 6-8 Jayvon Rampersant adds interior size as a transfer from Hudson Catholic in Jersey City, N.J. Six-six sophomore Janon Singh brings more size and depth to the wing. The Rams have another loaded schedule and will attend the City of Palms Classic in December.

20. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (26-4)

The Lowdown: The Crusaders return nine players after winning back-to-back CHSAA AA City and State championships. Additionally, they captured the NYC Mayor’s Cup defeating the PSAL Champion. The leader is 6-0 PG Danny Carbuccia, who is the lone senior and will sign with UMass. The juniors include 6-9 PF Adonis Ratliff, 6-11 Darius Ratliff, 6-5 SG Jasiah Jervis 6-4 Hassan Kouressi, 6-4 Dylan Perry, 6-1 Jack Coco and 5-8 Ameer Smith. Six-six Josh Rivera is a combo guard and 6-11 C Patrice Piquanit is a transfer who can bolster the frontline. The schedule has two games in the Bahamas at the Hoopfest in Paradise, No. 3 Columbus (Miami), Hoophall Classic, Jordan Brand Holiday Classic and a home date with St. Frances Academy (Baltimore). Don’t forget 15 grueling league games with the likes of Christ the King, St. Raymond and Cardinal Hayes.

21. Owasso, Okla. (26-4)

The Lowdown: The Rams will challenge for the Class 6A with four key returnees it’s easy to see why. At 6-11 Jax Kerry (12.0 ppg, 8.0 rpg) is a handful in the post and is headed to Saint Louis. Junior Jalen Montonati, 6-6, is sharpshooter who averaged 23.6 ppg, 5.0 rpg and 2.5 assists is the coach’s son and high profile recruit. Additionally, 6-1 junior Boden Williams (12.0 ppg) and 6-4 Julius Wilson bolster the lineup but 5-11 senior transfer G Kobe Freeman averaged 25.0 points per game last season at Purcell (Okla.). The Rams will compete at the City of Palms Classic in Florida giving them a taste of big-time hoops.

22. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (11-12)

The Lowdown: It was an uncharacteristically down year for the Buffaloes. In 2022, they were champions of the Nike EYBL Scholastic but exited the CHIPOTLE Nationals in the first round. The EYBL schedule is tougher than ever and coach Kyle Linsted is hell-bent on righting the ship. If height counts, the Buffaloes have cornered the market with 7-0 Ivan Juric (from Croatia), 6-11 Mekhi Ragland (Oklahoma State), 7-1 junior Paulino Mayok (South Sudan), and 6-10 junior twins Gallagher and Gavin Placide from Centennial, Colo. Talk about stalking in rarified air. The juniors include 6-4 Alex Barther, 6-7 Aidan Chronister, 6-7 wing Chidi Nwigwe, 6-7 Noah Hill, 6-7 Anton Blizniuk (Belarus). The senior backcourt of 6-1 Jacob Walker (Sam Houston State) and 6-2 Luke Moore are solid.

23. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (24-6))

The Lowdown: The Arizona Open Division state champions are back for a three-peat performance. The Pumas feature 6-7 Koa Peat, a likely McDonald’s All American and 6-6 PF D’Andrew Harrison (UMKC). The Pumas have several national games, including Harvard-Westlake and Columbus (Miami) but to win the chip they must beat Millennium (Goodyear) for the Open Division title.

24. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (31-4)

The Lowdown: The nation’s top-rated junior, 6-7, 225-pound Tyran Stokes, officially transferred in from powerhouse Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). Stokes averaged 13.1 points, 5.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per game and was a member of the USA Basketball U17 National Team over the summer. PG Lino Mark, (Rutgers recruit), 6-5 sophomore transfer Joshua Nance and 6-7 junior Zach White are all high-end prospects. The schedule is daunting with the Providence Tournament, St. Pius X-St. Matthias Showcase, Ryse Williams Showcase in Redondo Beach, Tarkanian Classic (Dec. 18-21) on Las Vegas, Nike Tournament of Champions (Jan. 2-4) in Gilbert, Ariz., Mission-Trinity League Showcase (Jan. 10) and a date with No. 3 Columbus (Miami) at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. The Knights also have games in the Mission League with Sierra Canyon School and No. 14 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City).

25. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (27-3)

The Lowdown: The defending Philadelphia Catholic League champions just seem to reload. The core of the team are seniors 6-5 CJ Miller and 6-3 wing Sebastian Edwards; 6-8 junior Sammy Jackson; 6-1 Tyler Sutton and promising freshman PG Wayne Ruffin. Coach Chris McNesby knows what it takes to win the PCL but he’ll have plenty of company at the top with Father Judge (Philadelphia), Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) and Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia). The Cahillites will attend the Gonzaga D.C. Classic (Dec. 13-15) and Junior Orange Bowl (Dec. 26-30) in Miami.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (27-4)
2. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N. J. (22-8)
3. Imhotep Charter Prep, Philadelphia (29-3)
4. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (25-6)
5. St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (20-9)

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

Midwest

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (26-6)
2. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich. (27-1)
3. Cathedral, Indianapolis (18-6)
4. Fishers, Ind. (29-1)
5. DePaul Prep, Chicago (32-5)

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

Southland

1. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)
2. Hoover, Ala. (30-3)
3. Great Crossing, Georgetown, Ky. (32-5)
4. Duncanville, Texas (19-10)
5. Reidsville, N.C. (29-0)

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

Far West

1. Millennium, Goodyear, Ariz. (25-5)
2. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (17-7)
3. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (31-4)
4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-6)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)

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

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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 and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.