BENSALEM, Pa. – Montverde (Fla.) Academy maintained its hold on the top spot in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. The Eagles polished two opponents last weekend at the Metro Classic in New Jersey.

Meanwhile, No. 22 Etiwanda (Calif.) joins the Elite 25 with No. 24 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) re-entering after a brief stay on the sidelines.

Looking ahead to the Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend, it’s a smorgasbord of hoops for everyone coast to coast. From the Springfields (Massachusetts and Missouri) to Ohio to California, there’s a high-powered event that satisfies the most discerning eye.

The Hoophall Classic and Bass Pro Tournament of Champions are two events this weekend with multiple Elite 25 teams competing.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Jan. 21 and will reflect the myriad of changes that will occur from results over the MLK Weekend.

Get out and see a game in your town this weekend; you need to support local schools and their events. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Jan. 14, 2020

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (17-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Elite 25’s No. 1 team came north for the weekend and dispatched two teams at the Metro Classic in Toms River, N.J. First, they defeated Gill-St. Bernard (Gladstone, N.J.), 75-50, and then Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.), 99-47.

The Eagles play No. 9 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Sunday and McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) Monday at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. After that there are only six games left in the regular season.

2. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (22-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Cameron Thomas scored 34 points in a 65-57 victory over Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) at Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout in Lexington, Va.  The Warriors hit the road for three games starting Thursday at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., and then a quick turnaround two days later to the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., where they play Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas).

3. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (18-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Hawks remained perfect with lopsided victories over ABI (Atlanta, Ga.), 110-72, and Chattanooga (Tenn.) Christian School, 79-46. Florida-bound forward Samson Ruzhentsev totaled 47 points in two games and Bayron Matos-Garcia had 18 points, 14 rebounds and 14 assists in that span. Next is a trip to Washington, D.C., facing No. 4 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) Saturday at the Kevin Durant MLK Classic.

4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (19-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated Desert Valley Prep (Las Vegas, Nev.), 114-65, and Layton (Utah) Christian Academy, 112-34. Those two were a warmup for the Tigers, who play No. 3 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) on Saturday in Virginia. The Tigers have hit triple figures in nine games this season.

5. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: What a week for the Stags. With the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference in full throb, they beat St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 68-62, and

Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 76-53. Next up was No. 23 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) before two more WCAC games and then two at the Hoophall Classic this weekend in Springfield, Mass.

6. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (16-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: After crushing South Gwinnett (Snellville), 81-33, and Rochdale County (Conyers), 79-51, the Rams improved to 4-1 in Class AAAAAAA, Region 8 play.

7. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (16-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won two Big VIII league games by 50 points apiece.

8. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (12-2)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Beat Legacy School of Sport Sciences (Spring, Texas), 88-42, in a light week.

9. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (10-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Ascenders played the role of rude hosts last week in defeating

then-No. 22 Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, 89-77, and No. 16 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 85-67, at the Ascender Classic. The Floridians head north this weekend for the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

10. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (9-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Idle. The Lakers face No. 23 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) Saturday at eh Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

11. Dorman, Roebuck, S.C. (15-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Cavaliers’ win streak is 13 games after two victories with two more games this week.

12. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Idle.

13. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (8-2)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Idle. The Redhawks have a busy week with four games, capped by a matchup with La Follette (Madison, Wis.) at the Midwest Players Classic in La Crosse, Wis.

14. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (16-2)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Kentucky-bound BJ Boston (30 points) and Ziaire Williams (20) teamed for 50 points to take down then-No. 6 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.), 78-62. The Trailblazers have two games this weekend at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

15. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (16-3)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 78-62. Also beat San Ysidro (San Diego), 103-71, at the BorderBoyz Classic in San Diego

16. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (19-2)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Following a pair of victories in MIAA A Conference, the Panthers

Imhotep Prep (Philadelphia), 64-39, and lost to then-No. 13 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 85-67, at the Ascender Classic in Bradenton, Fla.

17. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (9-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Defeated St Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 93-60, and Then-No. 21 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 62-54. Coach Glenn Farello takes his team this weekend to the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., for three high-level games.

18. Duncanville, Texas (15-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated Skyline (Dallas), 66-43, and Lake Highlands (Dallas), xx-xx, District 8-6A action.

19. Curie, Chicago (15-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Condors topped league rivals Kenwood (Chicago), 74-46, and

Bogan (Chicago), 69-66.

20. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (8-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Topped St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark), 58-48, at the Minuteman Classic in Elizabeth as Zarique Nutter posted a double-double with 22 points and 12 rebounds. The Celtics were upset by Blair Academy (Blairstown), 72-54, known for fielding teams with fifth-year players. The Celtics played without four key players, including two starters.

21. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (21-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Defeated Madison Prep Academy (Baton Rouge), 50-40.

22. Etiwanda, Calif. (16-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Eagles enter the Elite 25 with three games on tap this week.

23. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (11-4)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Lost to then-No. 19 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 62-54, but bounced back to defeat The Heights (Potomac, Md.), 93-42. Played No. 5 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) on Monday in key rescheduled WCAC game from last week.

24. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (12-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Andre Curbelo had 16 points, eight rebounds and five assists during a 75-50 victory over Amityville (N.Y.). Next is Trinity Catholic (Stamford, Conn.) Saturday at the LuHi Invitational.

25. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (16-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Monarchs tipped off the Trinity League slate with wins over Orange Lutheran, 68-37, and Servite (Anaheim), 83-68. The league schedule ratchets up with a road game at St. John Bosco (Bellflower) Friday and a cross-country trip to the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts for a meeting with Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Jan. 20.

Dropped: No. 18 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) and No. 22 Huntington (W.Va.) Prep.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (13-2)
2. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (10-2)
3. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (6-2)
4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (9-3)
5. St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (10-3)

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

Midwest

1. Sussex (Wis.) Hamilton (10-0)
2. Collinsville, Ill. (17-0)
3. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (9-0)
4. La Crosse (Wis.) Central (7-0)
5. Evanston, Ill. (16-0)

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

Southland

1. Moravian Prep, Hudson, N.C. (19-1)
2. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (21-2)
3. Lancaster, Texas (20-2)
4. Norcross, Ga. (17-2)
5. Shiloh, Snellville, Ga. (17-1)

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

Far West

1. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (11-1)
2. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (17-2)
3. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (11-2)
4. St. Anthony, Long Beach, Calif. (21-1)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (12-2)

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

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. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.