NEW ADDITIONS: No. 16 Sierra Canyon (CA) returns to Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings while making waves in Mission League; No. 17 Plano East (TX) is another newcomer

BENSALEM, Pa. – Two strongest basketball states on the grassroots level provide the latest additions to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

California and Texas might be the two of the top-3 football states (along with Florida) but the hardwood is a priority in both too.

Let’s start on the left coast where No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) is making things very, very interesting in the Mission League. If you think the Trinity League with Elite 25 teams Mater Dei (Santa Ana) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) is the bell cow this year, perhaps there needs to be a redirect.

Sierra is 21-1 and joins No. 6 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) and No. 22 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) as Mission members in the Elite 25. Talk about a super league! The Trailblazers were a constant in the Elite 25 when Bronny James (now at USC) and many others were leading the Valley school to California Interscholastic Federation glory. Well, HW lost twice last week and plummeted 17 spots, including a 74-68 setback to the Blazers, who ticked off 18 straight points in the fourth quarter to erase an eight-point hole. Justin Pippen—Scottie’s son—netted 21 of his 24 points in the second half.

Now the Game of the Week on Friday is at Sierra Canyon with unbeaten Notre Dame visiting at 8 p.m. PT. The result will help reshape the Elite 25 and set up the Mission League Tournament seeds for the following week.

In the Dallas Metroplex, No. 17 Plano (Texas) East is aboard after winning its 26 initial games and cruising to the District 6-6A title as Texas’s No. 1 team in Class 6A.

There are two storylines unfolding in the East. No. 19 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and No. 20 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) are the state’s top two teams and will play on Feb. 2 at Stepinac in a potential preview of the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA championship in March. Stepinac leads the Archdiocese of New York AA and CK is at the top of the Brooklyn-Queens Diocese AA.

In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, the showdown between No. 3 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.) and No. 11 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) is slated for Tuesday at PVI, 7:30 p.m. ET.

In Philadelphia, first place in the Philadelphia Catholic League is for real on Sunday at Holy Family University when regional and currently unbeatens Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) and Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) tangle. Again, the two might meet in the Catholic League playoffs in February at the University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra (Feb. 21 in semifinals or Feb. 26 in final).

With January nearing its end, two events stand out this weekend in Florida and California.

The “MAIT”

The Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, just outside of Orlando, Fla., tips off for three days on Thursday at the nation’s top-ranked team. In fact, four teams from the Elite 25 compose the powerhouse field.

Thursday’s schedule (All times Eastern)

1 p.m.: No. 9 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) vs. Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)

3 p.m.: No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) vs. Riviera Prep (Miami)

5 p.m.: No. 14 Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) vs. The Rock School (Gainesville, Fla.)

7 p.m.: No. 1 Montverde Academy vs. Imani Christian Academy (Pittsburgh)

The remainder of the schedule is Friday at 1, 3, 5 and 7 p.m. The latter two dates are the semifinals. Saturday the same times with the final at 7 p.m.

If you are headed to one of the top tournaments in the Southeast, buy your tickets ahead of time.

Nike Extravanganza

In California, the Nike Extravaganza XXIX is Friday and Saturday at Mater Dei High School’s state-of-the-art Meruelo Athletic Center. It’s 15 games (nine on Saturday) with four Elite 25 teams, including the hosts. There are two girls’ games on Friday all teams are from California unless denoted.

Friday’s schedule (All times are Pacific)

1:30 p.m.: Crean Lutheran (Irvine) vs. St. Mary’s (Phoenix, Ariz.)

3 p.m.: San Juan Hills (San Juan Capistrano) vs. Dos Pueblos (Goleta)

4:30 p.m. Calvary Chapel (girls) vs. St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano)

6 p.m.: Rolling Hills Prep (San Pedro) vs. Don Boco Tech (Rosemead)

7:30 p.m.: Mater Dei (girls) vs. Esperanza (Anaheim)

9 p.m.: No. 7 Mater Dei vs. Servite (Anaheim)

Saturday

9 a.m.: Campbell Hall (Studio) vs. Canyon (Anaheim)

10:30 a.m.: Aliso Niguel (Aliso Viejo) vs. St. Margaret’s (San Juan Capistrano)

12 p.m.: Orange Lutheran vs. Mira Costa (Manhattan Beach)

1:30 p.m.: Modesto Christian vs. Lynwood

3 p.m.: JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano) vs. St. Augustine (San Diego)

4:30 p.m.: No. 22 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) vs. Foothill

6 p.m.: No. 6 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) vs. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.)

7:30 p.m.: No. 7 Mater Dei vs. Los Alamitos

9 p.m.: No. 23 Roosevelt (Eastvale) vs. Coronado (Las Vegas, Nev.)

Tickets are available here.

That’ll do it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Jan. 30. At that point, we’ll be a day from the month of February and that means state tournaments. We’ll keep you abreast once the key brackets are released.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 23, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (19-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: After three intense games the previous weekend, the Eagles play once and defeated DME Academy (Daytona Beach), 76-31. Caleb Gaskins netted 15 points and Derik Queen had a double-double with 15 points and season-high 14 rebounds. Duke-bound F Copper Flagg added 14 points and 9 boards. This week they host the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, tipping Thursday with Imani Christian Academy (Pittsburgh) in the first round. The MAIT semifinals are Friday and final on Saturday.

2. Columbus, Miami (16-4)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Idle. This week the Explorers play in the Great Miami Athletic Conference Tournament.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (15-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Washington Catholic Athletic Conference race is heating up as the Panthers defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 90-61.

4. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (17-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: At the Quincy (Ill.) Shootout, the Lions defeated Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Dallas), 69-59, and The Burlington (N.C.) School, 80-52. Jasper Johnson scored 24 points versus Burlington. The Lions are off until the Metro Classic in New Jersey on Feb. 1.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: At the Crush in the Valley, the Crew defeated Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 83-79, and Bella Vista College Prep (Phoenix), 71-60, in San Pablo, Calif. Aiden Sherrell registered a double-double, 14 points and 12 rebounds and Zoom Diallo triggered the rally with 20 points after the break in the former game. The Crew sit atop the Grind Session standings.

6. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (23-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: G Mercy Miller put up a double-double of 29 points and 11 rebounds when the Knights took over sole possession of first place in the Mission League with a 59-54 victory over then-No. 5 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City). Two days later, they beat Chaminade (West Hills), 94-80. At the Rolling Hills Prep State Preview, Miller flipped in 24 points when the Knights beat Crean Lutheran (Irvine), 63-51. In the game of the week, the Knights face Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) Friday at 11 p.m. ET on ESPNU.

7. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (22-1)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 57-52, and Orange Lutheran, 82-39, in the Trinity League. Brannon Martinsen totaled 33 points in those two games. In Ontario, the Monarchs defeated Campbell Hall (Studio City), 91-80, at the Rolling Hills Prep State Preview. Martinsen capped a brilliant week with 25 points.

8. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (11-3)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Idle.

9. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (16-3)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: It was three-win week for coach Jason Smith’s club—Vermont Academy (Saxtons River, Vt.), 64-45; Bradford Christian Academy (Lawrence, Mass.), 69-66; and Central Catholic (Lawrence, Mass.), 75-44.

10. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (16-3)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Defeated Elevation Prep (Charlotte, N.C.), 95-58.

11. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (15-2)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: In the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 80-47. The Purple Eagles have a WCAC showdown with No. 3 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.) Tuesday.

12. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (12-3)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Defeated Wilson Academy (Lithonia, Ga.), 72-67. The Lakers have two games this week, including Saturday’s affair at Maumee Valley Country Day (Toledo, Ohio).

13. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (15-1)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Idle.

14. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (19-2)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Defeated Osceola (Kissimmee), 113-89, and Olympia (Orlando), 87-73. The offense averaged 100 points last week.

15. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (15-0)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 62-60, improving to 3-0 in the Metropolitan Conference.

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

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Don’t look now, the Trailblazers are back in the Elite 25 and the hottest team in California. They entertain No. 6 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) for supremacy in the Mission League and the nation’s game of the week.

17. Plano (Texas) East (26-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Texas’ top-ranked Class 6A team is 6-0 in District 6-6A after two wins. This week they face Flower Mound Marcus Tuesday and Lewisville Friday.

18. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (12-3)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: It was a clean sweep of two games at the Quincy (Ill.) Shootout. Chris Nwuli was the game MVP, scoring 18 points and snaring 8 rebounds when the Tigers defeated iSchool of Lewisville (Texas), 63-54. John Mobley Jr. (32 points, 11 rebounds, 9 assists) and Fischer Brown (28 points, six 3-pointers) teamed for 60 points in an 87-80 win over Huntington (W.Va.) Prep. The Tigers are off until Feb. 2.

19. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (12-3)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Defeated St. Raymond (Bronx), 100-71, and St. Peter’s (Staten Island), 78-65, moving to 7-0 in the New York CHSAA Class AA. In the latter game, Braylan Ritvo had 20 points and 7 rebounds, Danny Carbuccia scored 15 points and Kentucky-bound Boogie Fland tossed 12 points with 5 rebounds and 4 steals. The Crusaders play at Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx) Tuesday.

20. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (13-2)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: The New York CHSAA AA is a brutal league. The Royals stopped St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows), 53-51, and Xaverian (Brooklyn), 62-52, but they were upset by Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), 75-74. The schedule continues to pick up with three more games this week.

21. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (17-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Defeated South Gwinnett (Snellville), 58-42.

22. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (20-3)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: In the Mission League, the Wolverines lost twice to then-No. 8 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 59-54, as Trent Perry scored 22 points, and They also fell to Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 74-68. An 18-0 run in the fourth quarter by Sierra erased a 58-50 deficit.

23. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (22-2)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Brayden Burries scored 18 points in a 59-54 victory over St. Pius X-St. Matthias Academy (Downey) at the Rolling Hills Prep State Preview. Also defeated Santiago (Corona), 74-40, gaining a foothold on the Big VIII League crown.

24. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (20-4)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Defeated Orange Lutheran, 66-41, and JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 65-58, in Trinity League action

25. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (17-5)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Idle.

Dropped: No. 15 Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) and No. 19 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. The Patrick School, Union, N.J. (17-1)
2. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (12-3)
3. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (14-0)
4. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (13-0)
5. 5. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (14-3)

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 (21-1)
2. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (19-1)
3. Thornton, Harvey, Ill. (18-2)
4. Fishers, Ind. (15-0)
5. Wayzata, Plymouth, Minn. (14-0)

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

Southland

1. Ridge View, Columbia, S.C. (17-1)
2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (10-8)
3. Huntsville, Ala. (23-1)
4. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (15-5)
5. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (25-1)

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (21-1)
2. Windward, Los Angeles (21-3)
3. Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (14-1)
4. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (14-2)
5. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (17-9)

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

Records through Sunday’s games.

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 (formerly Twitter) at @clawlor.