No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) boys are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions after bagging Chipotle Nationals title; two debut in final rankings

BROWNSBURG, Ind. – No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy went coast to coast this season. The Eagles crossed the finish line and for that a whole slew of national championships. Mostly the Eagles have landed atop the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings after holding the top ranking for the entire 2023-24 season.

They are nicknamed for a majestic bird of prey but today they are simply the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions. That No. 1 sign is befitting a champion and so is the index finger pointing skyward.

Last weekend, the Eagles ran their record to a flawless 33-0 after winning the CHIPOTLE High School Boys Basketball Nationals here at Brownsburg High School’s Varsity Field House. Under the guidance of legendary coach Kevin Boyle, the Eagles knocked off three Elite 25 teams with Cooper Flagg, the nation’s top-ranked player from the Class of 2024 earning the tournament’s Most Valuable Player. It was the seventh  CHIPOTLE title in 11 years for the central Florida boarding school which also annexed the Nike EYBL Scholastic with a 12-0 mark during the regular season.

Many speculated this is Boyle’s best team at Montverde. Others feel the 2019-20 team that went unbeaten too in the regular season but saw the then called GEICO Nationals cancelled due to the coronavirus epidemic. Because this year’s team finished out with the CHIPOTLE chip, won convincingly and has the unanimous national player of the year, it might be the best. That’s up for debate but for the present day Eagles, it’s quite an accomplishment.

Our heartfelt congratulations to the entire Montverde Academy Eagles basketball community and we’ll see you next season probably at the top of the Elite 25 preseason rankings.

Big Macs

Last week, the McDonald’s All-American Games were staged on April 2 inside the Toyota Center in Houston.

The JamFest was conducted on April 1. The winners were Mikayla Blakes of Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.) for the girls’ knockout; Tahaad Pettiford of Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.) for boys’ knockout; UConn-recruit Allie Ziebell of Neenah (Wis.) for the 3-point competition and the slam-dunk champion was Jalil Bethea of Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.) and Miami recruit.

In the boys’ game last Tuesday, the East squad defeated the West, 88-86. Derik Queen of Montverde Academy and Dylan Harper of Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) were named co-MVPs. Queen produced 23 points and 8 rebounds in the win while Harper, a Rutgers recruit, scored 22 points for the West.

UConn-bound Sarah Strong of Grace Christian (Sanford, N.C.) posted a double-double with 11 points and 12 rebounds and Joyce Edwards of Camden (S.C.) popped in 19 to share MVP accolades for the East girls’ team in a 98-74 blowout of the West.

USC commit Kennedy Smith tallied 15 points and Me’Arah O’Neal added 12 points and six rebounds. O’Neal, a 6-foot-4 center from Episcopal (Houston) and Florida signee, is the daughter of Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal.

Jordan Brand Classic

The Jordan Brand Classic games are scheduled for April 21 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. It will be the last time the players are featured on the high school level.

The girls’ game tips at 4 p.m. EDT, followed by the boys at 6 p.m. Both games will air on the NBA App and simulcast on NBA’s YouTube Channel.

Several of the players are rostered on teams from the current Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ and girls’ rankings. The rosters are composed of 26 players that will split into teams for the game. The players are listed alphabetically.

Here’s the boys players:

Airious “Ace” Bailey, McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.); Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.); Carter Bryant, Corona (Calif.) Centennial; VJ Edgecombe, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.); Cooper Flagg, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.); Donnie Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); Darren Harris, St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.); Morez Johnson, Thornton (Harvey, Ill.); Tre Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.); Kon Knueppel, Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee); Liam McNeeley, Montverde Academy; Asa Newell, Montverde Academy; Patrick Ngongba, St. Paul VI Catholic; Ahmad Nowell, Imhotep (Philadelphia); Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); Labaron Philon, Link Academy; Drake Powell, Northwood (Pittsboro, N.C.); Jayden Quaintance, Word of God Academy (Raleigh, N.C.); Derrion Reid, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.); Jase Richardson, Columbus (Miami); Billy Richmond, Camden, N.J.; Aiden Sherrell, Prolific; and Rob Wright III, Montverde Academy.

This is always a great event played in a world-class venue in a hip, cool neighborhood.

The Elite 25 final rankings feature two additions from Indiana and New Jersey and 22 teams reshuffled. In the final rankings feature 19 teams from the preseason rankings. That’s an acceptable tally.

No. 19 Fishers (Ind.) joins the Elite 25 after securing the program’s first-ever state championship in winning the Class 4A crown with a 29-1 record. No. 20 St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) is small school located down the Shore in Monmouth County or about 60 miles south of New York City. The Purple Rose completed a 29-2 record and won the Non-Public B state title. One of the losses came against No. 1 Montverde Academy at the Metro Classic in New Jersey.

Well, we’re out of here and this week it’s for the time being.

All of us at Blue Star Media would like to congratulate all the state champions from 50 states and the District of Columbia. It was a long haul for the players, coaches, parents and supporters but hitting the finish line and securing the hardware was worth it.

Take a bow because you deserve it.

The club basketball season is already underway and there’s plenty more action on the hardware remaining. The tournaments and elite camps will continue until early August before a break and then it’s back to the high schools for preseason workouts and open gyms throughout September and October. Check back regularly this spring and summer for updates. We’ll probably be toiling in some sweaty gym, unearthing the next batch of great teams and burgeoning talent.

After nine months of ranking teams in basketball, football and girls’ volleyball, we’re taking that break and looking forward to the 2024-25 academic year. We’re less than four months away from the Elite 25 football preseason rankings which will debut in early August followed by the Net 25 girls’ volleyball rankings.

We’d like to thank all our loyal readers and those on X for sharing the Elite 25 rankings with the world. The Elite 25 rankings are a labor of love and many thanks to the coaches, fans and media members who have assisted throughout the year. You made our job easier.

For those celebrating Passover starting April 22 through nightfall on April 30, “chag sameach” or Happy Passover.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Final Rankings, April 8, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (33-0) !%#

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Eagles are the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National champions for second time in three seasons. Last weekend, they captured the CHIPOTLE Nationals title for the seventh time in 11 seasons under coach Kevin Boyle. The Eagles defeated No. 2 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 79-63, in the final. Duke-bound F Cooper Flagg was tabbed the tournament’s Most Valuable Player.

2. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (35-3)**

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won a second straight Washington Catholic Athletic Conference and fourth consecutive Virginia Intendent Schools Athletic Association Division I titles. The Panthers advanced to the CHIPOTLE Nationals final, falling to No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 79-63, in the final

3. Columbus, Miami (28-5)*

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Won third straight Class 7A state championship. The Explorers advanced the CHIPOTLE Nationals semifinals and will be one of the favorites to win it in 2025.

4. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (33-3)*

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Won a second straight CIF Open Division state championship.

5. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (26-4)**

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Won the inaugural PSAL vs. CHSAA 4A Champions Challenge and second straight CHSAA AA Intersectional championship.

6. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-5)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Lost in the CHIPOTLE Nationals quarterfinals to No. 3 Columbus (Miami), 71-58. Baylor-bound VJ Edgecombe (13 points, six assists), Nigel James (eight points) and Kayden Mingo (team-high 17 points) combined for 38 points.

7. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (33-6)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won the Grind Session World Championship for a second straight year and lost in the quarterfinals of the CHIPOTLE Nationals to No. 10 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 80-76, in two overtimes. AJ Dybantsa, the nation’s No. 1 junior, finished with 21 points, eight rebounds and seven assists.

8. Plano (Texas) East (40-0)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship.

9. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (30-2)*

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won the Class AAAAAAA state championship.

10. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (26-7)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: The Lions went 1-1 at the CHIPOTLE Nationals, losing in the semifinals to No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 58-44.

11. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (27-6)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Lost in the CHIPOTLE Nationals quarterfinals to No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 64-49.

12. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (27-7)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The Bobcats competed in the Nike EYBL Scholastic for the first time.

13. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (29-3)**

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won the PIAA Class 5A state championship for the fourth straight year and captured the Philadelphia Public League City title.

14. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (26-6)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Class 7A final.

15. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (27-4)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Advanced to the FHSAA Class 7A state final.

16. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (33-4)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF-Southern Region Open Division final and captured the Baseline League championship.

17. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (33-4)*

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Won the Class 4A state championship. It is the program’s first-ever state chip.

18. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (20-9)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: The Ascenders lost in the CHIPOTLE Nationals quarterfinals.

19. Fishers, Ind. (29-1)*

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Won the Indiana Class 4A state championship.

20. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (29-2)*

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Won NJSIAA Non-Public B state championship.

21. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (28-7)*

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Won CIF Division 1 state championship.

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

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: The Lakers competed in the Nike EYBL Scholastic.

23. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (27-4)**

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA and Mid-Atlantic Athletic Conference championships.

24. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (25-6)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: The Warriors played in Nike EYBL Scholastic.

25. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (28-6)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Advanced to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament.

Dropped: No. 22 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) and No. 25. Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (29-3)*
2. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (36-5)*
3. Lincoln Park, Midland, Pa. (28-3)*
4. Jackson-Reed, Washington, D.C. (33-3)*
5. The Patrick School, Union, N.J. (28-4)

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 (31-3)*
2. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (30-0)*
3. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (27-1)*
4. DePaul Prep, Chicago (35-2)*
5. St. Ignatius, Cleveland (26-3)*

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

Southland

1. Central Cabarrus, Concord, N.C. (33-0)*
2. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (38-2)
3. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (28-3)*
4. Ridge View, Columbia, S.C. (27-2)*
5. Lyon County, Eddyville, Ky. (34-3)*

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

Far West

1. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (24-6))*
2. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (31-4)
3. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (31-2)
4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (29-6)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)*

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

! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

 % CHIPOTLE High School Nationals Champions

 # Nike EYBL Scholastic champions

* Won state, national or conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

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.