No. 1 Link Academy Lions (MO) top Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings; No. 8 West Linn (OR) skyrockets after bagging Les Schwab Invitational title in impressive fashion

BENSALEM, Pa. – For the third week, there’s a new No. 1 in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

Another topsy-turvy week saw 19 teams shift positions in the Elite 25 and three enter the rankings for the first time in their programs’ history.

First, the newbies. Entering are No. 8 West Linn (Ore.), No. 16 John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) and No. 22 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.). All three won major tournament chips before New Year’s Day and deserved recognition from Blue Star Media.

West Linn did not have to travel very far to win the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore. West Linn knocked off previous No. 1 Duncanville (Texas) in the championship game.

In Columbia, S.C., John Marshall captured the Chick-fil-A Classic American Bracket, stopping then-No. 17 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 68-55. Don Bosco, known for its exceptional football program, is pretty darn good on the hardwood too. The Ironmen remained perfect through seven games after taking the Devonte Graham Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Classic in Raleigh, N.C. In the final they beat Farmville (N.C.) Central, 79-74.

Kudos, to all three!

No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) hops up one spot after Duncanville’s shock loss in Oregon. No. 2 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) checks in right after the Lions after winning the National Bracket at the Chick-fil-A Classic. No. 10 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)  moves up nine slots as did No. 13 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.).

The biggest drop was No. 23 Columbus (Miami) down 11. No. 11 Duncanville declined 10 and No. 25 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 14 Imhotep (Philadelphia) both dipped nine.

This week’s top event is the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference La Port (Ind.) Invitational. Two games will be shown on ESPNU tipping Thursday at 3 p.m. ET. The action continues on Friday with games streamed on ESPN+ and four more on Saturday from the La Porte Civic Auditorium. Here’s the entire three-day lineup from Indiana that features six teams from the Elite 25.

Okay, that’s it for another week of schoolboy hoops.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Jan. 10 in advance of the busy Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend events spread out all over the nation. It’s one of the final big-time weekends remaining on the docket for the 2022-23 season. Expect more movement with key events in Massachusetts, Virginia, Ohio and Missouri.

Finally, Happy New Year. Hopefully, it’s a good one for all. Above all stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 3, 2023

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (15-0)

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: Won two games at the Jumpman Classic in the Bronx, N.Y. Junior guard Elliot Cadeau announced last week he’ll be attending North Carolina. Cadeau indicated he may classify to the Class of 2023 and check into the ACC power in the fall.

2. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (17-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won the T.J. Warren Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh, N.C., defeating Word of God Academy (Raleigh), 81-74, in the final. Xavier-bound guard Trey Green popped in 26 points, sinking six 3-pointers, Aden Holloway contributed 20 points, 6 rebounds and 4 assists and Michael Nwoko had 12 points and 6 boards.

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

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle.

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

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Idle.

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

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Idle.

6. Camden, N.J. (7-0)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won the Coby White Bracket of the John Wall Invitational in Raleigh, N.C., beating Northwood (Pittsboro, N.C.), 60-35, in the final. Kentucky-bound guard D.J. Wagner flipped in 22 points and cleared 5 rebounds in the title game to earn Most Valuable Player honors. Teammates Aaron Bradshaw and Billy Richmond were named all-tournament.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (7-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Lost in championship game of the Chick-fil-A Classic National Bracket.

8. West Linn, Ore. (11-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Les Schwab Invitational, upending then-No. 1 Duncanville (Texas), 62-50, in the final. Tournament Most Valuable Player and Oregon recruit Jackson Shelstad bucketed a game-high 30 points, including 12 of 13 from the foul line, and hauled down 8 rebounds. Adrian Mosley added 14 points and 6 rebounds. Also beat No. 21 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.), 86-69, in the semifinals. Oregon’s top-ranked Class 6A team will be hard to beat the rest of the way.

9. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (9-1)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Defeated then-No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (Chantilly, Va.), 84-53, at the Hoophall East Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del.

10. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (11-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Swept three quality opponents at the Jumpman Classic in the Bronx, N.Y.

11. Duncanville, Texas (15-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: The Panthers were shocked in the championship game of the Les Schwab Invitational, falling to undefeated West Linn (Ore.), 62-50. Ron Holland posted a double-double in the final with 24 points (10 of 14 shooting) and 12 rebounds but it wasn’t enough.

12. Simeon, Chicago (12-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won the Pontiac (Ill.) Holiday Tournament for the second straight year, defeating Benet Academy (Lisle, Ill.), 52-49, in the final. Senior Jalen Griffith had 17 points and 6 rebounds for the Wolverines and won the A.C. Williamson Award. It was the 16th Pontiac title in program history.

13. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (7-2)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Recorded quality wins over two unbeaten teams, Lancaster (S.C.), 76-50, and then-No. 5 Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia), 65-55. V.J. Edgecombe scored 22 points in the latter win. Connecticut-bound Jayden Ross had 17 points on 7 of 8 shooting against Lancaster.

14. Imhotep Prep, Philadelphia (9-1)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 22 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 65-55, at the Jumpman Classic in the Bronx, N.Y., but rebounded to beat Philadelphia Public League rivals Simon Gratz, 87-35.

15. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (12-0)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won Raymond James Hall of Fame Tournament in New Castle, Ind., beating NorthWood (Nappanee, Ind.), 60-42, in the final.

16. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (10-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Chick-fil-A Classic American Bracket, toppling then-No. 17 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 68-55, in the final in Columbia, S.C. Guard Damon Thompson pumped in 17 points and was named the tournament’s MVP and North Carolina State-bound Dennis Parker threw in a game-high 22 points.

17. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (16-1)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Finished second in the Platinum Division at The Classic in Damien (Calif.).

18. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (6-1)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Upset by Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), 69-55, at the Pete & Jameer Nelson Play-By-Play Classic in Chester, Pa. Baylor-bound junior Robert Wright III scored 21 points and point guard Khaafiq Myers added 17. The Saints were without 6-8 starting center Sultan Adewale, who was home in England attending the funeral of his mother. The Saints have three games in the Philadelphia Catholic League on tap this week.

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

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Idle.

20. West Ranch, Valencia, Calif. (16-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Went 3-1 in the Platinum Division at The Classic in Damien (Calif.). The Wildcats tipoff the New Year with three games this week.

21. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (13-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Placed third at the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore. One of the nation’s top juniors, A.J. Swinton, transferred in from Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) over the holidays and will play this week.

22. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (7-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won the Devonte Graham Bracket of the John Wall Holiday Classic in Raleigh, N.C., beating Farmville (N.C.) Central, 79-74, in the final. Junior guard Dylan Harper, whose father Ron Harper played in the NBA and won titles with the Chicago Bulls, scored a game-high 33 points with four 3-pointers and grabbed 8 rebounds. Isaiah Brown had 16 points and 5 assists and Noah Barnett added 14 points. The Ironmen are scheduled for three games this week.

23. Columbus, Miami (9-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Lost in the John Wall Holiday Invitational T.J. Warren Bracket, going 2-1 at the North Carolina event.

24. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (11-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Placed third at the John Wall Holiday Invitational in the Devonte Graham Bracket.

25. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-4)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Split four games at the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore.

Dropped: No. 17 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.); No. 21 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (12-0)
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (6-2)
3. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (7-1)
4. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (12-2)
5. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (5-4)

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

Midwest

1. Whitney Young, Chicago (12-4)
2. Cathedral, Indianapolis (6-1)
3. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (5-0)
4. Centerville, Ohio (7-1)
5. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (16-1)

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

Southland

1. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (10-3)
2. Lake Highlands, Dallas (15-3)
3. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (11-1)
4. Beaumont (Texas) United (17-1)
5. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (8-4)

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. (17-0)
3. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (15-0)
4. Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (8-4)
5. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (12-2)

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

Records through Sunday

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.