No. 11 Glenbard West Hilltoppers (IL) commanding national respect and matchup with No. 17 Sierra Canyon (CA); No. 23 Dr. Phillips (FL) returns to Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – When it comes to basketball in the Midwest, the state of Illinois sits atop the food chain. Annually teams from the Chicago Public and Chicago Catholic leagues, Chicagoland suburbs and from southern Illinois (near St. Louis) and find their way into the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

When you think Illinois hoops programs from Chicago such as Simeon, Kenwood, Curie, Morgan Park, Whitney Young, Bogan, Hyde Park and Brooks are always contenders. However, No. 11 Glenbard West from Glen Ellyn, Illinois (a village about 25 mile due west of downtown Chicago) is clamoring for attention and getting it.

The Hilltoppers (22-0) are Illinois’ top-ranked Class 4A team and zeroing in on a berth in the 4A state tournament (March 10-12) at the State Farm Center in Champaign. There’s a whole lot of basketball to be played, but Glenbard West is going to be in the thick of things. A year ago, Illinois cancelled its state tournaments and the Hilltoppers were 13-1 in a truncated season. Center Braden Huff (Gonzaga recruit), forward Caden Pierce (Princeton), guard Bobby Durkin (West Point Army), forward Ryan Renfro and guard Paxton Warden bolsters a squad that is zooming up the Elite 25 rankings.

Last weekend, they throttled Whitney Young (Chicago) at an event in Lisle, Illinois and there are about three weeks left in the regular season. The Hilltoppers will host the 4A regionals on Feb. 22 and 25 before the sectionals and Super-Sectionals are played in advance of states.

As for a signature regular-season game, the Hilltoppers have one before the playoffs.

It was just announced on Monday afternoon, the Hilltoppers will play No. 17 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) on Feb. 5 at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago. Tip time is 8 p.m. CT. In the opening game of the prep doubleheader two Elite 25 Midwest Region teams, Glenbrook South (Glenview, Ill.) and Curie (Chicago) will play at 6 p.m. The games will be streamed live on ESPN Plus. Tickets go on sale Jan. 25.

This double dip has been put together by Paragon Marketing. Great job, fellas!

Just one newcomer lands in the Elite 25 this week.

No. 23 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) returns to the Elite 25 after a short stay in the Southland Regional rankings. The Panthers (17-3) recently won the Metro Conference West Division championship and will compete at another national event close to home this weekend. The Panthers are Florida’s reigning Class 7A state champions and odds on favorites to win it again.

As we wind down the month of January, there are two major events worth noting on each coast. In Florida, the 19^thannual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament tips off for three days on Thursday through Saturday with No. 4 Montverde Academy as the host. It’s a six-team bracket with two teams receiving byes to Friday’s semifinals. The Montverde girls’ team will also play two games at the event. The games will be streamed live.

In California, the 27^th annual Nike Extravaganza will be played two days (Friday and Saturday) at the state-of-the-art Meruelo Center on the campus of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, just south of Los Angeles.

There are two sessions on Friday with six games, beginning at 1:30 p.m. PT and that includes a girls’ game between Mater Dei and Aliso Niguel (Calif.). There are nine games on Saturday with three later games topping the menu: No. 10 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) vs. Whitney Young (Chicago); Mater Dei vs. Los Altos (Hacienda Heights) and No. 9 Corona Centennial vs. Coronado (Las Vegas).

Here is the full Nike Extravaganza schedule and ticket information.

Time is slipping into the future and that means February is nearly upon us. February is the month when dreams are realized and dashed as the state postseasons get underway.

We’ll chronicle it all and that includes the GEICO High School Nationals in April. There will be some exciting changes coming to the national championships. Additionally, the McDonald’s All American Games roster will be revealed today (Tuesday Jan. 25) on ESPN’s NBA Today between 3-4 p.m. ET.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Feb. 1.

Here’s to everyone getting vaccinated and scheduling to get their booster. Stay safe and mask up whenever possible.

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

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

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (26-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Won twice at the Quincy (Ill.) Shootout, defeating Burlington (N.C.) School, 59-53, and St. Rita (Chicago), 72-56. The Lions are off until Feb. 5 when they meet The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) at the Metro Classic in Toms River, N.J.

2. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (16-1)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Defeated We Are United Prep (Nixa, Mo.), 89-42, as Kansas-bound guard Gradey Dick scored a game-high 22 points and hauled down 6 rebounds.

3. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Defeated Mount Carmel (Baltimore), 85-57, and Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia), 88-69, at the Ascender Classic in Bradenton.

4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (14-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Eagles host the 19^th annual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament for three days starting on Thursday afternoon.

5. Richardson, Texas (22-1)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: In District 7-6A, the Eagles are 7-0 after beating Jesuit (Dallas), 82-51, and Lake Highlands (Dallas), 85-78. The latter game was for first place in the district and the rematch is at home on Feb. 11. In the game, Alabama-bound Rylan Griffen pumped in 30 points with six 3-pointers and point guard Cason Wallace, a Kentucky recruit, posted a rare triple-double with 11 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists.

6. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (13-3)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Defeated Bosco Institute (Crown Point), 96-53. The Lakers have two games schedule this week.

7. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (19-3)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: At the Crush in the Valley in San Pablo, Calif., the Dragons split two games. They beat Donda Academy (Simi Valley, Calif.), 72-71.

8. Duncanville, Texas (21-1)

Previous rank: 8.

The Low-down: The Panthers blew out district opponents Mansfield, 73-31, and Waco, 85-42.

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (20-1)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: The win streak reached 17 games after beating Crean Lutheran (Irvine), 72-57, at the State Preview Classic on Saturday night. Jared McClain scored 23 points for the Huskies, who also won a Big VIII League game earlier in the day. The Huskies played regionally ranked Poly (Riverside) on Monday night.

10. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (18-0)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: The Gaels were back in action, beating Clark (Las Vegas), 87-40, and Foothill (Las Vegas), 79-44. Jace Richardson scored 16 points in the former game and 18 in the latter.

11. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (22-0)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Hilltoppers took down Whitney Young (Chicago), 74-59, at When Sides Collide Shootout in Lisle. Gonzaga-bound center Braden Huff accounted for 31 points and 7 rebounds while forward Caden Pierce, a Princeton recruit, added 25 points, sinking 8 of 10 shots.

12. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (18-7)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: The Warriors had a quiet week, defeating Franklin Prep Academy (Charlotte, N.C.), 100-61. Three games are on tap this week.

13. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (14-0)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Tobe Awaka contributed 23 points, 16 rebounds and 3 blocks and Ian Jackson scored 21 points as the Cardinals defeated Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), 75-66, at the New York vs. New Jersey Showcase in New Rochelle, N.Y. They also beat Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 78-61. Coach Joe Lods’ team goes to No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) on Friday night.

14. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (13-1)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The Lions beat Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix), 83-82, and Westfield (N.J.), 61-31, and will play Manasquan on Sunday in a New Jersey showdown.

15. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (13-1)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Went 2-0 last week with a 76-30 win over Boca Raton.

16. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (19-2)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: The Trailblazers blasted three Gold Coast opponents. This weekend the Blazers continue their national schedule playing No. 24 Camden (N.J.) at the PPL Arena in Allentown, Pa.

17. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (11-2)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: James Johns scored 22 points and Jayden Reid added 15 in an 89-50 triumph over Fordham Prep (Bronx) for the LuHi’s lone game last week. The action shifts to Florida for three games at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.

18. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (21-3)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: There’s nothing like home court advantage for the Crew, who beat No. 7 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), 65-63, at the Crush in the Valley, and went 3-0 in the event.

19. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (14-3)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: The Panthers went 2-1 in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. This Friday they travel to No. 22 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.).

20. Centerville, Ohio (14-0)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: The Elks swept three more games, stopping St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron), 52-46; Miamisburg, 68-36, and SPIRE Institute (Geneva), 78-63.

21. North Little Rock, Ark. (15-3)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Defeated Conway, 78-52, and Northside (Fort Smith), 86-56.

22. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (10-3)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Lost to Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 45-43. The Eagles face No. 19 St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) in a WCAC showdown at home. The Eagles have little wiggle room of remaining in the Elite 25 with another loss.

23. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (17-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Panthers are back in the Elite 25 and have played a national schedule that will put them in position to repeat as Florida Class 7A champions. Earlier this month, they won the Metro Conference West Division championship. This weekend it’s three games at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament, tipping Thursday against No. 17 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) in the first round.

24. Camden, N.J. (10-2)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: The Panthers left the two losses in the rear-view mirror after defeating three opponents, including Paul VI (Haddonfield), 83-53. Junior guard D.J. Wagner scored 25 points, sinking five 3-pointers.

25. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (12-3)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Upset by The Patrick School, 33-32, at the New York vs. New Jersey Catholic Showcase in New Rochelle. The Crusader were ice cold, shooting 22% from the field and missed a putback at the buzzer that would have won it. Sophomore guard Boogie Fland netted 12 points in the loss. In an exciting league game finish, the Ben Lyttle’s 15-foot jumper in transition in double overtime provided the Crusaders a thrilling 86-84 victory at St. Raymond (Bronx).

Dropped out: No. 24 Simeon (Chicago).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (11-0)
2. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (5-1)
3. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (20-3)
4. St. Benedict’s Prep, Newark, N.J. (10-1)
5. Bristol (Conn.) Central (10-0)

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

Midwest

1. Glenbrook South, Glenview, Ill. (20-1)
2. Simeon, Chicago (16-2)
3. Kenwood, Chicago (16-5)
4. Curie, Chicago (19-2)
5. Martin Luther King, Detroit (9-1)

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

Southland

1. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (21-2)
2. Westfield, Houston (21-1)
3. George Rogers Clark, Winchester, Ky. (17-1)
4. Pebblebrook, Mableton, Ga. (17-2)
5. Beaumont (Texas) United (23-3)

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

Far West

1. Poly, Riverside, Calif. (21-1)
2. Garfield, Seattle (12-0)
3. Campolindo, Moraga, Calif. (15-1)
4. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (19-2)
5. Damien, La Verne, Calif. (20-2)

Records are 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. 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.