Montverde (FL) Academy … who else … sits atop Blue Star Media Elite 25 Preseason boys’ basketball rankings; Prodigy Emoni Bates-led No. 10 Ypsi Prep Academy (MI) is budding juggernaut

BENSALEM, Pa. – This will be unlike any boys’ basketball season that we’ve ever experienced. Consider it the intersection of COVID-19 novel coronavirus and sports.

These are strange times.

For the second straight year, Montverde (Fla.) Academy starts atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. The Eagles were the Elite 25 National Champions a year ago and will commence their season later this month.

Here’s what we know about the start dates in each state:

Nov. 5, Alabama and Mississippi; Nov. 9, Arkansas; Nov 13, Georgia and Texas; Nov. 16, Louisiana and South Carolina;  Nov. 17, Utah; Nov. 19, Oklahoma; Nov. 20, Indiana; Nov. 23, North Dakota, Florida, Tennessee and Kentucky; – Nov. 25, Ohio; Nov. 28, Pennsylvania and Idaho; Nov. 30, Arizona, Iowa, Massachusetts and Missouri.

Dec. 1, Wisconsin; Dec. 3, Kansas, Minnesota  and Nebraska; Dec. 4, Delaware, Montana and Maryland; Dec. 7, Michigan; Dec. 8 West Virginia; Dec. 10 Wyoming and South Dakota; Dec. 11, New Hampshire and Maine; Dec. 17, Alaska, New Jersey and Connecticut; Dec. 28, Virginia.

Jan. 4, North Carolina, New Mexico, New York and District of Columbia/Washington Catholic Athletic Conference; Jan. 7, Colorado; Jan. 10, Washington – Jan. 11, Oregon – Jan. 15, Nevada

California won’t tip off until March 12 and Rhode Island, Hawaii and Vermont are undecided on starting dates. Last week, the Illinois governor said basketball would be played in the spring. Everything is fluid.

And without the usual holiday tournaments being played this December, a confederation of elite private school programs has popped up and will play a series of national games.

One way to combat the coronavirus and add spice to the schedule is a newly formed eight-team independent school national series that will include the usual suspects such as Oak Hill Academy, La Lumiere School (Ind.), Bishop Walsh (Md.), Wasatch Academy (Utah), Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas), Montverde Academy, Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Tenn.) and Legacy Early College (S.C.). The National Interscholastic Basketball League will include 12-14 games in January and February at various events nationwide.

The league will implement COVID-19 testing weekly starting in late December. So far, the NIBL will conduct games at events scheduled for New Jersey, Virginia, Ohio, Massachusetts and Arizona.

If you want an early look at two teams from the Elite 25, check out No. 20 Lake Norman Christian (Huntersville, N.C.) at No. 7 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) on Nov. 12, 7 p.m. ET, on ESPN2. This is the first game of a tripleheader that tips off the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase from historic Turner Gymnasium.

OK, that’s a summary and the games will take care of the rest. In some states, the games are days away and others won’t begin  until January 2021 and beyond.

The Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return in at a later announced date in December.

It’s still a few weeks away but enjoy Thanksgiving and spending time with your family. Stay safe, mask up, practice social distancing and support your local businesses that have taken major hits since the pandemic sprouted in March.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Preseason Rankings, Nov. 2, 2020

 (All records and statistics are from the 2019-20 season. Players are seniors unless denoted)

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)

The Low-down: The Eagles were crowned Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions with a team that might have rivaled for greatest and deepest of all-time. They blew out the competition and were rarely challenged. Then the COVID-19 coronavirus shut down the season robbing schoolboy hoop fanatics of MVA’s coronation at the GEICO Nationals. That’s a mouthful but coach Kevin Boyle has taken the Eagles to heights that few have achieved while breathing the rarified air. Four of five starters graduated with 6-8 PF Caleb Houstan the lone returnee. Houstan is a combo forward with shooting range and has a mean streak on the glass. At 6-1, Ryan Nembhard is a consummate point guard and will sign with Creighton and 6-4 Langston Love is off to Baylor. Dayton-bound F DaRon Holmes is a 6-8 versatile post and tremendous face-up scorer with a muscular frame. The junior class is stoked by G Jalen Hood-Schifino, 6-5 Dariq Whitehead, 6-9 post Jalen Duren (a transfer from Roman Catholic in Philadelphia) and 6-3 Justice Williams, who also transfer from Roman Catholic. Ultimately, Boyle’s squad is measured by winning the GEICO High School Nationals and this year isn’t any different and neither the challenging schedule.

2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (19-6)

The Low-down: There isn’t a doubt the Sunshine State has become a basketball destination for blue-chip players in the last decade with Montverde Academy and IMG emerging and both claiming GEICO Nationals titles. The Ascenders won the prestigious event in 2019 (the last time it was played) and the stakes have ratcheted up with several national programs committing to excellence. Having said that IMG added junior transfers, G Jett Howard (his dad Juwan is the head coach at Michigan), PG Jaden Bradley, wing Eric Dailey Jr., and G Louis Hutchinson (from Maryland). So, the backcourt is deep but the front court features 6-10 PF Moussa Diabate and 6-6 F Jarace Walker, an elite junior with at least 20 high-level offers. Combo guard Tamar Bates has committed to Texas. That gives coach Sean McAloon plenty to work with and to earn a date with Montverde at the GEICO Nationals.

3. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (27-2)

The Low-down: One of the most consistent programs over the last five years, the Tigers also introduced a new coach Paul Peterson, who was the associate head coach under Dave Evans (53-6 in two seasons), in June. Peterson is a savvy trainer and a whiz with the X’s and O’s. Peterson’s coach on the floor is five-star PG Richard “Pop Pop” Issacs Jr. The Tigers also feature 6-7 Fousseyni Traore (from Mali), 6-11 Camryn Waites, 6-8 Slovakian Matus Hronsky, 6-3 Nolan Hickman (undecided Top 100 senior) and 6-5, 210-pound Houston-bound Robbie Armbrester.

4. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (22-3)

The Low-down: Tennessee-bound PG Kennedy Chandler, a high scoring playmaker from Memphis, Tenn., might have been the missing part that will keep the Buffaloes at the top of the Elite 25 rankings. Yet, 6-8 Kendall Brown (Baylor recruit), 6-9 Zach Clemence (Kansas), junior G Willie Lighfoot and 6-6 junior SF Gradey Dick can make this a special team. Dick is a transfer from nearby Wichita Collegiate. Coach Luke Barnwell has at least eight Division I players on the roster and will need that depth. The Buffaloes will participate in the 37^th Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri along with Elite 25 teams Bishop Gorman and IMG Academy from Jan. 14-16. Another favorable showing during the national portion of the slate will validate the Buffs’ ticket to the GEICO Nationals.

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-3)

The Low-down: At 6-11, Treyton Thompson is a versatile inside-outside big that will dominate the pivot and step to stroke a smooth jumper, while adding a healthy dose of high basketball IQ. Thompson is from Alexandria, Minn., so it was no surprise when pledged to be a future Minnesota Gopher. Coach Patrick Holmes has an injection of newcomers, that’s an annual process, so he also has a trio of juniors, 6-8 PF Kebba Njie, 7-foot Vince Iwuchukwu and 6-3 PG J.J. Starling, to build a foundation.

6. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (29-8)

The Low-down: The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference isn’t scheduled to open until early January but coach Glenn Farello has a team that could unseat DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) as the top dog. PVI also moved into a brand new school with a state-of-the-art gymnasium and practice facility. That should attract blue-chip talent from the DMV and is a game changer. At 6-5, Trevor Keels is a do-everything guard who will chose between Villanova, Virginia and Duke, while his running mate, 5-11 junior PG Dug McDaniel is one of the great passers of the ball. Towson-bound 6-8 F Tyler Coleman is an anchor in the middle and 6-5 sophomore DeShawn Harris-Smith is a hard-nosed, throwback who is the program’s next signature player. Jack Jensen, 6-8, is considered a low Division I talent while 6-4 junior transfer Kris Micken is learning the PVI system and 6-5 freshman wing Darren Harris already has an offer from Georgetown. The Panthers normally play a busy national schedule in December and would have traveled to the Iolani Classic in Hawaii but Farello is “holding out hope that we can play some national games in January,” the coach says.

7. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (37-3)

The Low-down: This young group will continue search for an identity as the chemistry develops throughout the early portion of the season. There’s reason why coach Steve Smith, 1,178-80 record, is a candidate for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame and this year he and his staff must assemble the pieces to the puzzle. F Jalen Ricks, 6-6, is the veteran and has Arkansas, Oklahoma State, TCU, Auburn and Texas A&M expressing the most interest. A pair of juniors, 6-6 M.J. Rice and 6-8 Jalen Reed are both high Division I prospects, while 6-3 Caleb Foster is an elite sophomore looking at Texas A&M, Wake Forest and Virginia Tech. Junior G Xavier Brown recently transferred in. The Warriors have another challenging schedule but won’t play in December as the campus is closed and the bulk of the events are backloaded. The Warriors host No. 20 Lake Norman Christian (Huntersville, N.C.) on Nov. 12 in an early season test that will be broadcast on ESPN2, 7 p.m. ET.

8. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (29-3)

The Low-down: It’s difficult to image the Elite 25 ranking sans the Stags, but there’s always room for the reigning Washington Catholic Athletic Conference title holders. Coach Mike Jones plugged a big hole when junior G Rodney Rice (22.9 ppg last year at Bullis Prep, Md.) transferred in and will be paired with G Jordan Hawkins, a future Connecticut Husky and No.. 1 senior from Maryland. Six-five junior Tyrell Ward is an elite prospect with offers from Atlantic 10, SEC and Big East programs. At 6-2, super soph Jacoi Hutchinson is worth keeping an eye on as ACC and Big East are offering. DeMatha along with WCAC rivals Paul VI, Gonzaga, Bishop McNamara, Bishop O’Connell and Good Counsel comprise a deep league with no nights off.

9. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-3)

The Low-down: The Crew was on the verge of challenging for the GEICO Nationals last April when the national tournament was canceled by COVID-19. Would have been interesting to see the Crew go against the likes of former winners Montverde Academy, IMG Academy and Oak Hill Academy. Moving ahead the biggest offseason addition is 6-11, 200-pound Nate Bittle, an Oregon pledge from Crater (Central Point, Ore.). As a junior, he averaged 25.6 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.5 blocks and 2.4 assists and was Oregon’s Class 5A player of the year. Bittle, who has a feathery touch from 3-point land, will team with juniors, comb-guard 6-3 Arterio Morris (Memphis commit) and 6-8 Kamari Lands, a top-40 prospect in his class.

10. Ypsi Prep Academy, Ypsilanti, Mich. (NR)

The Low-down: Here is a school created as an all-star team with 6-8 junior Eboni Bates, a Michigan State recruit and high-profile talent as the main component. Ypsi Prep, which will play a national schedule with TV appearances, is partnered with Arbor Valley Academy (think Huntington Prep, W.Va., or Findlay Prep, Nev.). Bates is a generational player but he needs help as juniors, C Shawn Phillips, G Dillon Hunter, G Javaughn Hanna and wing G Orlando Lovejoy. This team should be around for at least two year, but after that?

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (28-3)

The Low-down: So, the Gaels will go for a decade of dominance provided they win a 10^th straight Nevada state championship this campaign. It won’t come easy with Coronado and Desert Pines applying pressure. Coach Grant Rice, who chalked up his 500^th win in the Class 4A Desert Region final, rolls out another powerhouse club. Two top players from the Far West Region, 6-1 PG Zaon Collins (UNLV recruit) and UCLA-bound 6-4 G Will McClendon are the main parts. Junior F Darrion Williams 6-3 Jonathan Braggs are regulars that can fill it up. Nevada doesn’t open until January so the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri is a go over the Martin Luther King Weekend is still a go.

12. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (22-5)

The Low-down: Coach John Mosco will lean on four Division I -bound players led by 6-1 PG Rahsool Diggins (20.3 ppg, 4.8 apg), who is the reigning Philadelphia Catholic League player of the year and headed to Connecticut. Diggins can score at all levels with his deep perimeter game improving. Diggins and classmates 6-5 Marcus Randolph (Richmond recruit), 6-6 Daeshon Shepard (La Salle) and 5-11 PG Jaylen Stinson (James Madison). Last year, the Vikings were steaming toward the Class AAAAA state final before the pandemic curtailed those plans. This group reached the state final in 2018-19 and are ready to cement their legacy. However, Bishop McDevitt, Neumann-Goretti and Roman Catholic will be the main competition in the PCL.

13. Legacy Early College, Greenville, S.C. (23-9)

The Low-down: In the last three years, no team has done more heavy lifting to move up the national radar than coach B.J. Jackson’s team. This year it’s a serious to consider the Lions for the GEICO Nationals in April. And why not, because the backcourt of 6-5 Bryce McGowens (Florida State recruit), 6-1 PG Jacobi Wright (South Carolina) and 6-6 Ike Cornish (Maryland). There’s more with 6-9 junior Perry Smith Jr., who is considering LSU, Texas A&M and South Carolina, 6-6 wing Kam Little and 6-8 PF Tyrek Preistley and 6-1 junior Randy “Deuce” Caldwell, considered a Power-5 football recruit. Jackson, 278-83 at Legacy, has the horses to take the next step and with the aggressive scheduling that dream of playing at GEICO this spring is a strong possibility.

14. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (25-3)

The Low-down: The “big” question is where will 7-1 C Chet Holmgren attend college? The consensus No. 1 senior is considering Georgetown, North Carolina, Gonzaga, Memphis, Ohio State, Minnesota and Michigan. The big man on campus is comfortable in the post, protecting the rim and can knock down the 3-pointer at will. He’s joined in the rotation by 6-6 athletic junior Prince Aligbe and 6-3 PG Hercy Miller (dad is rapper Master P), who has schools from the SEC, C-USA, MEAC and Pac-012 in pursuit. Isaiah Davis, a 6-6 junior, will figure into the Red Hawks’ plans.

15. West Oaks Academy, Orlando, Fla. (28-7)

The Low-down: Last January, the Flame defeated Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) in a shock road win. That opened the door for a national ranking and much needed respect. The Flame is stocked with Division I talent, including 6-4 Wesley Cardet and 6-0 PG A.J. Neal. Six-nine twins Matt and Ryan are key transfers from Broward County. Matt Bewley is the ninth-rated sophomore in the nation by ESPN. He’s being heavily courted by the Miami Hurricanes. This season the Flame must close out the Sunshine Independent Athletic Association state championship after falling in last year’s final and coach Kenny Gillion knows it.

16. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (22-3)

The Low-down: For the Crusaders, winning the New York State Class AA Federation championship is the goal every season and with 6-5 Rafael Pinzon and 6-7 Drissa Traore, both headed to St. John’s, in the lineup that is a reality. At 6-9, F Kacper Klazek (from Poland) is one of Europe’s top players in his age group and has mid major offers. If Feds are played, expect LuHi to be in the semifinals as the state’s independent school representative.

17. Duncanville, Texas (29-5)

The Low-down: Last month, the Panthers were dubbed the Texas’ preseason top-ranked Class 6A team. With expectations on the raise and a state championship within touching distance, a pair of talented sophomores, 6-10 Cameron Barnes and 6-7 Ronald Holland, are around for two more seasons. At 6-3, PG Zhuric Phelps is committed to SMU and the team’s leader. Swingman Damon Nicholas recently verballed to Sam Houston State, a solid mid-major power. The Panthers were two games from capturing a second straight 6A state title but the pandemic canceled states.

18. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (38-4)

The Low-down: The Baltimore Catholic League champions are fearless schedulers and boast some of the top talent on the East Coast. It starts with 6-9 F Julian Reese, who will sign with Maryland. Coach Nick Myles will also lean on 6-1 G Kyrie Staten and 6-4 sophomore Jonathan Lamothe.

19. Moeller, Cincinnati (26-1)

The Low-down: The Crusaders had a third straight Ohio Division I state championship in the crosshairs but the coronavirus interrupted that quest. The Greater Catholic League South Division champions welcome back three key starters with size—Indian-bound 6-9 post Logan Duncomb, 6-5 F Alex Williams (Furman) and 6-5 G Evan Mahaffey, a junior wing.

20. Lake Norman Christian, Huntersville, N.C. (31-2)

The Low-down: The North Carolina Independent Class 1A state champions did just fine a year ago but this year is a whole new ball game and team talent. The most notable addition is 6-2 sophomore Mike Williams, a prolific scorer and transfer from San Ysidro (Calif.), who is one of the top players from the Class of 2023. He’s joined in the backcourt by 5-10 classmate Trey Green, a point guard who will dictate the pace. At 6-8 Joyful Hawkins and 7-foot Jonathan Kurtas add height up front.

21. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (26-5)

The Low-down: Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA state tournament is one of the nation’s top chips but with five starters returning, the Eagles are the early favorite. At 6-8 Kendall Campbell is the inside muscle that is a double-double man while the backcourt of junior Bruce Thornton and 6-3 sophomore Kanaan Carlyle is tops in the Peach State. Thornton has programs the ACC, SEC and American seeking his pledge.

22. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (18-9)

The Low-down: The New York City Catholic powerhouse is one of five teams—St. Raymond, Christ the King, Cardinal Hayes and Monsignor Scanlan—that could win the city championship. Coach Patrick Massaroni’s team is guided by 6-7 A.J. Griffin, a Duke recruit and McDonald’s All-American shoo-in, 6-9 Malcolm Chimeze (Boston University) and 6-2 junior Samuel Gibbs, who orchestrates the tempo. The Crusaders welcome a raft of talented players in their Class of 2024, according to the coach.

23. Simeon, Chicago (24-9)

The Low-down: Coach Robert Smith is the best team from the Chicagoland area. The Wolverines advanced to the Class 4A sectional semifinals before getting bounced by city rivals Whitney Young. The Wolverines received a boost when Michigan-bound Isaiah Barnes transferred in from Oak Park (Ill.). The backcourt is strong with diminutive junior Avyion Morris and DePaul-commit 6-2 Ahamad Bynum. An eighth state championship isn’t out of the question for the Wolverines for the defending Chicago Public School champions. However, last week it appears the season Illinois season will be played in the spring or summer but we’ll update when more information is passed along.

24. Camden, N.J.. (29-1)

The Low-down: The Panthers are New Jersey’s preseason top-ranked team but won’t have a chance for a State or State Tournament of Champions title this year because the state will play regional tournaments. That’s too bad because sophomore PG D.J. Wagner is one of the top players in the nation, while Penn State-bound F Taquan Woodley and 6-7 Jerome Brewer Jr. would have a handful to defend. At 5-11 Cian Medley is a sophomore with tremendous upside.

25. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (20-8)

The Low-down: The Celtics were a big disappointment last season but did annex the Union County Tournament crown in spite a bevy of injuries that would cost them several high profile games. SF Jonathan Kuminga left school a year early, bolting for the G-League Select Team and a pro contract. That leaves a few holdovers and handful of transfers to push the program ahead. The most notable transfer is 6-3 junior Zion Cruz, who attended Hudson Catholic (Jersey City) and has offers from Indiana, Syracuse, Connecticut, St. John’s and Oregon. C Mouhamed Sow, 6-10, 6-0 junior PG Dionte Johnson and 6-11 Samson Johnson (UConn commit) are penciled in the lineup. Six-foot G Lorenzo Washington is back after spending two years at Sacred Heart (Waterbury, Conn.), where he lit up the scoreboard. Roselle Catholic and Gill St. Bernard are Celtics’ main instate Non-Public B competition.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-10)
2. St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (22-5)
3. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (22-7)
4. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (24-2)
5. Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore (25-2)

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

Midwest

1. Waukee, Iowa (23-3)
2. Notre Dame, Niles, Ill. (29-5)
3. Evanston, Ill. (29-4)
4. Brookfield (Wis.) Central (24-1)
5. St. Vincent-St.. Mary, Akron, Ohio (21-4)

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

Southland

1. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (29-3)
2. Pace Academy, Atlanta (28-4)
3. Richardson, Texas (34-4)
4. Combine Academy, Lincolnton, N.C. (26-7)
5. Houston, Germantown, Tenn. (29-4)

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

Far West

1. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-4)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
3. Coronado, Henderson, Nev. (20-9)
4. O’Dea, Seattle (23-6)
5. Desert Vista, Phoenix (28-3)

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