NEW YORK’S FINEST: No. 13 Archbishop Stepinac, No. 14 Christ the King square off in duel of Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ teams; Metro Classic (NJ) features Nike EYBL Scholastic matchups

BENSALEM, Pa. – If you are a hoophead living in the New York Metropolitan area, this weekend promises to be special. There two major events and a stand alone game that undoubtedly will impact the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings.

It starts on Thursday at Franklin High School in Somerset, N.J. (about an hour south from the New York City) for a three-day run in the Metro Classic with five Elite 25 teams in the house.

The action picks up again Friday in in Westchester County in New York, or just outside the Bronx borough with a showdown in the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA between Elite 25 teams, No. 13 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) and No. 14 Christ the King (Middle Village), and then it’s the Public vs. Catholic Hoops Showdown at the Westchester County Center in White Plains.

First, the Metro Classic. It’s 16 games, including eight on Saturday from the Franklin Arena, with five teams from the Nike EYBL Scholastic series going head to head. That means No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy and the nation’s top-ranked senior, Duke-bound Cooper Flagg, make an appearance in the Garden State. Here’s the most updated schedule.

The marquee game could be No. 7 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) vs. No. 4 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) Friday at 7 p.m. ET. Can’t make it, check out the games streaming on ESPN+.

For tickets click here, this event will sell out.

Elsewhere, the Stepinac-Christ the King game will also sell out and tips Friday at 7 p.m. Stepinac is 9-0 in league play while CTK has one loss in 11 games. This could determine the top seed for the upcoming city playoffs.

Staying in White Plains, the Public vs. Catholic Showdown features four games Saturday. All teams are from New York and the times are Eastern.

1 p.m.: Scarsdale vs. Xaverian (Brooklyn)

3 p.m.: James Monroe (Bronx) vs. Christ the King

5 p.m.: John Bowne (Flushing) vs. Iona Prep (New Rochelle)

7 p.m.: Archbishop Stepinac vs. Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn).

Tickets are available at the Westchester County Center box office or by contacting Stepinac. The facility is located at 198 Central Avenue, White Plains, 10606.

McDonald’s All Americans

 If you missed it, here’s the 2024 McDonald’s All-American Game boys and girls teams that were announced last week.

 The future of basketball was revealed today when the McDonald’s All American Games rosters were officially announced on NBA TV with hundreds of prep stars awaiting their selection with baited breath.

Call them “Super-Size” players but they are simply the best and earning the right to be called a McDonald’s All American brings big-time street cred.

The 48 players, 24 boys and 24 girls, will participate in the games to played at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 2. The Jam Fest is April 1  at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The McDonald’s All American Girls Game will air on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the boys will immediately follow on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

Several of the players from both games represent Blue Star Media Elite 25 teams, including three from No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy boys and the No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) girls.

Boys rosters

East
Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.); John Bol, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.); Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Derik Queen, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.); Ian Jackson, Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.); Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); Drake Powell, Northwood High School (N.C.); Jayden Quaintance, Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.); Bryson Tucker, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.).

Coach:Sharman White, Pace Academy (Atlanta).

West

Ace Bailey, McEachern a.); Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.); Carter Bryant, Corona (Calif.); Zoom Diallo, Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.); VJ Edgecombe, Jr., Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Donavan Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); Richard Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.); Karter Knox, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.).

Coach: Tommy Brakel, North Crowley, (Fort Worth, Texas).

Girls rosters

East

Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.); Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka-Ngueman, Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.); Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.); Kayleigh Heckel, Syla Swords and Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (N.C.); Madisen McDaniel, Bishop McNamara, (Forestville, Md.); Olivia Olson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.); Sarah Strong, Grace Christian School (Sanford, N.C.); Berry Wallace, Pickerington (Ohio) Central.

Coach: Fran Burbidge, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.)

West

Imari Berry, Clarksville (Tenn.); Jaloni Cambridge (G): Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Houston); Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); Avery Howell, Boise (Idaho); Jordan Lee, Saint Mary’s, (Stockton, Calif.); Alivia McGill, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.); Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Houston); MacKenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Arianna Roberson, San Antonio (Texas) Clark; Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Calif.); Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wis.).

Coach: Ann Fritz, Blue Valley (Kan.) North.

This year’s nominees span far and wide with 43 states plus the District of Columbia. Players were nominated by a high school coach, athletic director, principal or member of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee based upon these criteria.

Tickets to the 2024 McDonald’s All American Games and the Jam Fest can be found here.

This week the Elite 25 rankings were rife with change as three California teams were on the move. The biggest riser was No. 6 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) shooting up 10 slots. No. 20 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) cratered 14 spots and No. 18 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) 11. No. 21 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) dipped 12 positions. There are no additions this week but with state tournaments ready on standby that should change.

Well, the calendar is about to hit February. January flew by and so will February when dreams are squashed or realized.

That’ll do it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Feb. 6.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 30, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Eagles won their own Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, beating No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), 78-72, in the final. Cooper Flagg, who signed with Duke, was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player and put up 17 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks and 3 steals in the final. Indiana-bound F Liam McNeeley tossed in a team-high 19 points. The Eagles head north this weekend for two games at the Metro Classic in Somerset, N.J.

2. Columbus, Miami (19-4)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won the Greater Miami Athletic Conference Tournament for the third straight year, topping Miami High, 81-51, in the final. The Explorers have won 13 straight games after opening the season with a 6-4 mark against a national schedule. The Boozer twins, Cameron and Cayden, and Jaxson Richardson scored 15 points apiece while Jase Richardson added 14. Coach Andrew Moran’s club tips off the postseason aiming for a third consecutive FHSAA Class 7A state championship.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (19-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Panthers sit atop the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference with a key win over then-No. 11 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 73-58, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), 68-52 and Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 80-58. The schedule continues with St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.) Tuesday.

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

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Idle.

5. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (23-4)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Finished in second place at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, losing to the host school, 78-72, in the final. The Crew led 39-35 at halftime but could not hold off the nation’s No. 1 team in the second half.

 6. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (24-1)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: The Trailblazers earned the top seed in this week’s Mission League Tournament when it rallied to beat then-No. 6 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 81-75. Down 17 points in the fourth quarter with six minutes to go, the Eagles turned up the defense and unleashed a 32-9 finishing spurt. Justin Pippen scored 19 points and Isaiah Elohim added 18.

7. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (12-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Defeated Eagle Academy II (Brooklyn), 74-58. The Crusaders will participate in the Metro Classic in New Jersey.

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

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Defeated Blue Ridge School (St. George, Va.), 83-58, at the Lexington (Va.) Showcase. The Warriors have three schedule games this week.

9. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (14-3)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: The Lakers went to Ohio and came away with a lopsided win over Maumee Valley Country Day (Toledo), 81-39. This weekend it’s two games at the Metro Classic in Somerset, N.J.

10. Plano (Texas) East (28-0)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Defeated Flower Mound Marcus, 77-47, and Lewisville, 62-59. The Panthers hit the road for two games this week at Plano and Coppell.

11. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (16-1)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Texans win streak is nine games.

12. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (17-0)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Defeated New Palestine, 57-48, and Morton (Hammond), 86-48.

13. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (14-3)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Braylan Ritvo collected 16 points, 11 rebounds and 2 steals and Boogie Fland had 12 points and 14 rebounds when the Crusaders stopped Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), 79-61, moving 9-0 in league play. Up next is No. 14 Christ the King (Middle Village) Friday in one of the nation’s top games this week.

14. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (16-2)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Defeated Mount St. Michael (Bronx), 58-44, Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn), 72-60, and Iona Prep (New Rochelle), 73-70. The Royals have a league showdown Friday at No. 13 Archbishop Stepinac.

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

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: The Rams improved to 6-0 in Region 4-AAAAAAA with two wins. Regular season is down to four games.

16. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (18-3)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Coach Steve Turner’s team lost to No. 3 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 73-58, but the Purple Eagles regrouped to beat WCAC brethren The Heights School (Potomac, Md.), 84-51 and Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 81-71. They also topped Dunbar (Washington, D.C.), 87-45, in a makeup game.

17. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (23-3)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Defeated Foothill (Santa Ana), 74-54, at the Nike Extravaganza. Senior PG Trent Perry had 17 points and 5 assists and junior F Nikolas Khamenia added 16 points. The Wolverines will participate in the Mission League Tournament starting Tuesday. The semifinals are Wednesday and final is Friday.

18. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (24-2)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Luke Barnett scored 10 points but beat the buzzer with a 3-pointer and Los Alamitos, 66-65, at the Nike Extravaganza on his home floor. The Monarchs dropped a shock 68-62 decision to JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano). It was the first time they lost to their league rivals.

19. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (21-3)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: The Pioneers placed third at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament with a 2-1 mark.

20. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (24-2)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Lost to then-No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 81-75. The Knights were up 17 points in the fourth but choked away the lead. Houston-bound G Mercy Miller tallied 13 of his game-high 28 in the first quarter. Also dropped a 64-53 decision to Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) at the Nike Extravaganza in Santa Ana. Up next is the Mission League Tournament with the final on Friday.

21. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (17-5)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Placed fourth at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament in Florida, going 1-2. The Bobcats defeated Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 86-65, in the quarterfinals as Dwayne Aristode threw in 21 points.

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

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Idle.

23. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (25-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Junior Brayden Burries finished with a double-double of 28 points and 11 rebounds and senior PG Darnez Slater added 26 points when the Mustangs overwhelmed Coronado (Las Vegas), 75-51, at the Nike Extravaganza.

24. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (22-4)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: The Braves defeated Servite (Anaheim), 90-40, and Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 64-55, in Trinity League play. They face No. 8 Mater Dei (Santa Ana) for the league title. Both teams are 7-1 in the league.

25. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (19-5)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Vyctorius Miller scored 20 points and the Dragons defeated Trinity International Prep (Las Vegas, Nev.), 65-37.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. The Patrick School, Union, N.J. (19-1)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (16-1)
3. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (18-1)
4. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (16-3)
5. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (16-1)

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 (22-2)
2. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (22-2)
3. Thornton, Harvey, Ill. (20-3)
4. Park Center, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (18-1)
5. Waubonsie Valley, Aurora, Ill. (22-0)

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. (19-1)
2. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (12-7)
3. Huntsville, Ala. (26-1)
4. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (17-5)
5. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (27-1)

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (23-1)
2. Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (15-1)
3. Windward, Los Angeles (23-3)
4. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (19-9)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (18-4)

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.