NEW No. 1: Duncanville ascends to top of Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings; No. 5 Imhotep (PA) wins City of Palms Classic in grand style

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – If it’s Christmastime, that means presents or in the case of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings newbie teams.

When the season began in November and really kicked into high gear for the rest of the nation in December, the Elite 25 was raw. Still needed shaping and molding before a finished product bore the scares of at least five or six weeks.

The National Interscholastic Basketball Conference is the new norm for wannabe national academy-like programs. This week, there are six of the 10 NIBC teams in the Elite 25, including four in the top-10. Talk about a uber powerful conference.

Five teams debut in the Elite 25 rankings after a busy pre-Christmas event calendar. The handful dozen squads are from Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, California, Illinois and Florida. One is from  the powerhouse Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, bringing the total of two in the Elite 25 from one of the nation’s elite leagues.

 Joining the Elite 25 are No. 11 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), No. 12 Columbus (Miami), No. 14 Simeon (Chicago), No. 15 West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) and No. 19 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.). Neumann (Iolani Classic, Hawaii), West Ranch (Tarkanian Classic Platinum, Nevada) and Gonzaga (D.C. Classic) all won high-end tournaments while Columbus and Simeon have slayed national schedules in December.

No. 1 Duncanville (Texas) takes over the lofty spot in the Elite 25 rankings after an impressive start but there plenty of trappings ahead ahead for the Panthers, who will play an ambitious regular season schedule and sit out the Texas University Interscholastic League postseason after being slapped with recruiting violations. Too bad because this might’ve been labeled a special team but the stigma remains.

Among the biggest jumps saw No. 5 Imhotep Prep Charter of Philadelphia capture the prestigious Culligan City of Palms Classic earlier this week in Fort Myers, Fla. The Panthers, who earned a 13-spot bump, are rolling but have a few games to be aware starting after Christmas. Kudos to coach Andre Noble and his men, you earned that chip and cherish it.

No. 10 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) leaps 14 after going 13-0 to open the term. No. 18 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) and No. 21 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic cratered 12 positions but remain in the Elite 25. So, does No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.), which dipped 11, after two losses at the City of Palms Classic.

That’s a wrap for this week. Time to go Christmas shopping in the Florida sun this afternoon and do some wrapping of my own (sorry for the pun, couldn’t resist).

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Jan. 3, 2023, and will go nonstop weekly until the end of the season in April. That’s a long haul ahead for the boys’ and girls’ rankings but check in regularly at the website and on Twitter at @clawlor.

Finally, it is our sincere wishes that you and your family have a prosperous Happy New Year and pray your Christmas or Hannukah is full of joy. Please stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Dec. 23, 2022

1. Duncanville, Texas (12-0)

Previous rank: 7.

Low-down: The Panthers are clearly the nation’s top ranked team and will have another tough assignment at the Les Schwab Invitational starting on Dec. 27 in Hillsboro, Ore. They possess five wins against nationally ranked opponents leading up to Christmas.

2. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (13-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won the City of Palms Classic Signature Series championship in Fort Myers, Florida, disposing of The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.), 80-54, in the final and St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 68-64, in the semifinals. Tennessee-bound combo-guard Cameron Carr totaled 26 points in two games to pace a balanced scoring attack.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (9-2)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: Here the Eagles check in first place with a 5-1 record in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference against some of the nation’s top team but they stumbled in Hawaii earlier this week. The Eagles placed third at the Iolani Classic, crushing Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.), 79-46, in the consolation game. They lost to Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 56-55, in the semifinals. The action picks up with No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) on Jan. 5 in the NIBC La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (5-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Ascenders are 3-1 in the NIBC with two impressive wins over Elite 25 teams La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) and AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.). They were thumped by No. 3 Monteverde (Fl.) Academy, 80-55.

5. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (8-0)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., beating Columbus (Miami), 61-44, in the final. The Panthers beat three Elite 25 teams en route to the title. In the final, the big three of Justin Edwards (16 points), Rahmir Barno (21) and junior Ahmad Nowell (12) combined to score 49 points, a18 rebounds and 7 steals. Barno, a Florida Gulf Coast signee, was named the tournament’s MVP and Nowell was on the all-tournament squad.

6. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (10-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Dragons are 4-2 in the NIBC and poised to make a serious run at the championship with a loaded schedule on tap.

7. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (9-2)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Buffaloes are 4-1 in the NIBC, good for second place. Last week, they won twice in the Bahamas before the holiday break. Coach Luke Barnwell’s club is off to Indiana the first week of January for two NIBC games with Elite 25 teams Montverde (Fla.) Academy and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) in the way.

8. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The Crew has a big-time test at the John Wall Holiday Invitational T.J. Warren Bracket, starting Tuesday in Raleigh, N.C. It’ll be a homecoming for first-year head coach Ryan Bernardi, who won two North Carolina independent state titles with Burlington (N.C.) School.

9. Camden, N.J. (5-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Panthers’ late start by choice of the New Jersey state association included only one quality win over The Patrick School (Hillsdale), 67-52. Kentucky-bound 6-4 guard D.J. Wagner, who is a shoo-in for the McDonald’s All American and serious player of the year honors, is averaging nearly 20 points heading into Christmas.

10. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (13-0)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Coach Dave Rebibo’s team looked impressive winning twice at the Hoophall South in Bentonville, Ark. They beat the host school and then Illinois powerhouse Whitney Young (Chicago), 64-52. In the latter game, Notre Dame-bound Brady Dunlap tossed in 15 points and Robert Hinton (Harvard recruit) added 14. Next is four games at the always competitive The Classic at Damien (Calif.) from Dec. 27-30.

11. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (6-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Iolani Classic in Honolulu, beating Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 76-72, in the final. Quality tournament victory, maybe the best regular season chip in program history, for the boys from South Philadelphia.

12. Columbus, Miami (8-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Explorers zoom up the Elite 25 rankings after taking second at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. Super sophomore forwards Cameron and Cayden Boozer were named all-tournament after going 2-1 at the event. The Boozers’ father, Carlos, played in the NBA and at Duke.

13. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (8-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Placed third at the City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla. The Panthers went 3-1 at the event and Maryland-bound DeShawn Harris-Smith was named all-tournament—a prestigious honor. Coach Glenn Farello will take his squad to Delaware for a game with No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) on Dec. 28. Then it’s running the gauntlet starting in January with the usual suspects in the unforgiving Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

14. Simeon, Chicago (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Wolverines are the top-ranked team from Illinois. Their game with rival Whitney Young (Chicago) on Friday was postponed by the frigid weather that enveloped the Midwest. Coach Robert Smith takes his team to the Pontiac (Ill.) Holiday Tournament, tipping on Dec. 28 against St. Charles (Ill.) North in the first round.

15. West Ranch, Valencia, Calif. (12-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division, taking down No. 16 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 67-62, in the final in Las Vegas, Nev. Tournament Most Valuable Player and Boise State recruit netted 14 of his 18 points in the second half to make the difference. Isaiah Fields came off the bench to score 17 points. Up next is the The Classic at Damien (Calif.) tipping on Dec. 27.

16. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (6-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Took second place in the Tarkanian Classic Platinum Division in Las Vegas. The Gaels lost to No. 15 West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.), 67-62, in the title game as junior Juni Mobley, an Ohio State recruit, pumped in a game-high 24 points and Keenan Bey added 13. Ryder Elisaldez and Mobley were named all-tournament. The Gaels will participate at the Les Schwab Invitational starting Dec. 27 in Hillsboro, Ore.

17. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (6-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Split four games with national opponents at the City of Palms Classic Florida, finishing fourth. USC-bound Isaiah Collier was on the all-tournament team.

18. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (9-2)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Finished fifth at the City of Palms Classic in Florida with a 3-1 record. Duke-bound guard Jared McCain was added to the prestigious all-tournament team. Only two losses are to Elite 25 teams by a total of six points, including a 59-57 setback at No. 1 Duncanville (Texas).

19. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (8-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Eagles already won the Gonzaga D.C. Classic, beating Jackson-Reed (Washington), 64-58, in the final. They also won two impressive games in Georgia over locals Etowah (Woodstock) and Pebblebrook (Mableton). The schedule is ratcheted up with three games at the Jordan Holiday Classic inside Gauchos Gym in the Bronx (Dec. 27-29) against Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) No. 20 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and Reading (Pa.) in succession. Coach Steve Turner knows how to prep the Boys from the DMV for the rigors of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

20. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (10-0)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Giants are aptly named and Indiana’s top ranked team regardless of class. They’ve beaten Cathedral (Indianapolis) by 12 points earlier this month and play the state’s No. 2 team in Penn (Mishawaka) at the Raymond James Hall of Fame Tournament on Dec. 30. The semifinals and final are both on the same day.

21. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (0-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Lions dropped two games in the Bahamas to Elite 25 teams Duncanville (Texas) and Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) by an average margin of loss at 13 points. They had a game with Manasquan (N.J.) postponed on Friday which now will be played on Jan. 2. Up next is No. 19 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Dec. 28 at the Jordan Holiday Classic inside Gauchos Gym in the Bronx.

22. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (5-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Crusaders are solid in the NIBC and have a scheduled showdown with No. 5 Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia) on Dec. 27 and Kell (Marietta, Ga.) on Dec. 29 at the Jordan Holiday Classic inside the iconic Gauchos Gym in the Bronx.

23. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (10-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Lots of preseason hype and the Trail Blazers have fared well. They head north from Los Angeles to Oregon for four games in the Les Schwab Invitational. This will be a true test.

24. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (7-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Lakers have held their own in the NIBC and will host a mega event in the national loop the first week of January.

25. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (5-3)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The Crusaders split two games at the City of Palms Classic in Florida. Junior guard Boogie Fland was named all-tournament. The Crusaders remain in the Elite 25 because of scheduling and they face Elite 25 team St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) on Dec. 28 at the Hoophall East Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del. After that it’s deep dive into CHSAA Class AA fixtures.

Dropped: No. 12 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.); No. 15 Southern California Academy (Northridge, Calif.); No. 16 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.); No. 21. St. Rita (Chicago) and No. 25 Vashon (St. Louis).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (4-2)
2. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (10-2)
3. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (8-1)
4. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (7-0)
5. Jackson-Reed, Washington, D.C. (10-1)

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

Midwest

1. Kenwood, Chicago (9-1)
2. Joliet (Ill.) West (10-2)
3. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (5-0)
4. Centerville, Ohio (6-1)
5. Waukee (Iowa) Northwest (7-0)

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

Southland

1. Combine Academy, Lincolnton, N.C. (12-1)
2. Norcross, Ga. (10-0)
3. Lake Highlands, Dallas (10-3)
4. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (11-1)
5. Faith Family Academy, Dallas (15-2)

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

Far West

1. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (8-4)
2. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (12-0)
3. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (12-0)
4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (8-2)
5. American Fork, Utah (7-1)

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

Records through Friday

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 and prep sports writers. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.