No. 21 Notre Dame (CA) rejoins Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings after reaching CIF-Southern Open Division final; EYBL Scholastic Conference raises bar nationally

BENSALEM, Pa. – Perhaps the biggest and best schoolboy basketball league in the land has delivered what it promised: Unparalleled national competition.

In 2022-23, the National Interscholastic Basketball League was created with the guidance of Paragon Marketing and Nike. Since then, it’s been rebranded as the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference with 14 teams from coast to coast—many of whom are regulars in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys rankings.

With a regular season that starts in November and concluded last weekend with games in Florida and California, the conference went down to the last second to determine the 10-team bracket that will head to the inaugural postseason conference tournament tips on Wednesday, March 5 in North Augusta, Georgia, of the home of Nike’s summertime staple Peach Jam. The winner gets a coveted automatic berth to the CHIPOTLE High School National next month in Indiana.

The most recent Elite 25 rankings feature eight EYBL Scholastic teams with six currently in the top-10. There’s a good reason why 19 teams were relocated with the strength of the EYBL Scholastic felt. Thirteen teams dipped and six went up with No. 7 IMG Academy rising 14 positions.

The EYBL Scholastic Top-10 in order with the bottom four playing in the first round and the six earning byes to the quarterfinals (March 5-8):

 1-Wasatch Academy. 2-Brewster Academy. 3-CIA Bella Vista. 4-Sunrise Christian Academy. 5-IMG Academy. 6-Montverde Academy. 7-Long Island Lutheran. 8-Link Academy. 9-AZ Compass Prep. 10-Oak Hill Academy.

Also, joining the Elite 25 after briefly spending time in the Far West Regional is No. 21 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.). All the Knights did was go 4-0 in their pool in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division. The Knights are in the final but must await the winner of Pool B between Elite 25 teams Roosevelt (Eastvale) and St. John Bosco (Bellflower) on Tuesday, Feb. 25. The final is Saturday March 1. Here are all the brackets in the Southern Section and where and when are the 10 title games.

There are other big-time tournaments and events this weekend.

The Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division I tournament commences this week with No. 11 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly), the WCAC champions, getting the top seed. The quarterfinals are Wednesday, Feb. 26 at the higher seeds with the action shifting to Benedictine College Prep in Richmond. If PVI gets to the final, the Panthers will likely see Highland School (Warrenton) in a scrumptious final on Saturday, March 1.

Once the teams reach Benedictine tickets are $10 and game times:

Friday semifinals

Division IV: 9 and 10:30 a.m.

Division III: 12 and 1:45 p.m.

Division II: 3:45 and 5:30 p.m.

Division I: 7:15 and 9 p.m.

Saturday finals

Division IV: 11 a.m.

Division III: 1 p.m.

Division II: 3 p.m.

Division I: 5 p.m.

Just northbound on I-95, the 54^th Baltimore Catholic League Tournament, presented by Brooks Financial Group, will be contested this week at Reitz Arena on the Loyola University campus in Baltimore.

Thursday, Feb. 27 (seed precedes school)
6 p.m. – Game 1: 8-St. Mary’s (Annapolis) vs. 1-Mount Carmel (Baltimore)
8 p.m. – Game 2: 5-Loyola Blakefield (Towson) vs. 4-John Carroll (Bel Air)

Friday, Feb. 28
6:00 pm – Game 3: 7 Calvert Hall College (Towson) vs. 2 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore)
8:00 pm – Game 4: 6 Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore) vs. 3 Archbishop Spalding (Severn)

Sunday, March 2 – Semifinals
1 p.m. – 5/4 winner vs. 8/1 winner
3 p.m. – 6/3 winner vs. 7/2 winner

Monday, March 3 – Championships
6 p.m. – Junior Varsity final
8 p.m. – Varsity final

Get four-day passes and daily tickets here.

In Napa, Calif., Grind Session Napa at Napa Valley College has a three-day run starting Friday, Feb. 28 through Sunday, March 2. No. 23 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) is the host team and plays on all three days with Senior Day on Saturday and McDonald’s All-American Day on Sunday. There are 11 games, involving nine teams scheduled in Northern California.

Admission is $15 per day, with live streaming available through Tanager Sports.

The Grin Session Napa schedule is here.

Elsewhere, the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association AA Intersectional Tournament is underway and simply one of the best in the nation. The five boroughs are represented over three brackets for the next two weeks.

The top two teams are No. 24 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) and St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows)—both won league tournaments last week.

AA 2^nd Round
Wednesday, Feb. 26 at Stepinac:

6 p.m. Xaverian (Brooklyn) vs. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx)

7:45 p.m. Archbishop Molloy (Briarwood) vs. Iona Prep (New Rochelle)

Thursday, Feb. 27 at St. Francis Prep: 

6 p.m. St. Peter’s (Staten Island) vs. Holy Cross (Flushing)

7:45 p.m. Monsignor Scanlan vs. Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn)

AA Quarterfinals

Sunday, March 2 at Rose Hill Gymnasium on the campus of Fordham University in the Bronx

AA Semifinals

Thursday, March 6 at Fordham University

AA Championship 

Sunday, March 9 at Fordham University

For the CHSAA A and B brackets click here.

In Nevada, the beat goes on for Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas). The regionally-ranked Gaels won the Nevada Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 5A state title, defeating Mojave (North Las Vegas), 71-59, on Saturday, Feb. 22 at UNLV’s Cox Pavilion.

Why is it so important?

The victory extended two Nevada state records with the 24^th basketball title for the Gaels (24-5) and 15the overall crown title for Grant Rice, one of the nation’s premier prep coaches.

Junior Jett Washington, one of the nation’s top football prospects, topped the Gaels with 21 points and 9 rebounds. Senior Nick Johnson delivered 10 points.

Finally, when the Nike EYBL Scholastic Tournament concludes, the CHIPOTLE High School Nationals is the final event of the season. The bracket will have at least eight teams and the winner of the EYBL Scholastic gets an automatic invitation. It’s likely five or six teams will get invites, leaving two or three from the outside.

Assuming No. 1 Columbus (Miami) wins a fourth straight Florida High School Athletic Association Class 7A state title, the Explorers could be top seeds. The WCAC champion is a likely option and so is No. 23 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.). The brackets won’t be released until after the EYBL Tournament most of the field has been visualized.

That’s it for the third week in February we’re sprinting to the maddening month of March. We can’t wait. Get your brackets ready because we’ll make predictions on Selection Sunday, March  9. Until then there’s plenty of hardware to pass out.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, March 4.

Finally, things are starting to take shape in southern California but there’s plenty of rebuilding.

Since the wildfires ravaged the surrounding Los Angeles area in early January, the locals have been displaced and are picking up the pieces of their lives.

We’ve vetted a few places that will make a difference.

Consider donating here to the Red Cross to assist the relief efforts or to The Salvation Army. No dollar amount is too small and prayers are always welcome. Here’s another one called Fire Aid.

Stay safe California.

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 25, 2025

1. Columbus, Miami (25-3)

Previous rank: 1.

The Lowdown: The Explorers are back in the Class 7A state tournament for the fourth straight year after defeating Miami Senior, 74-44, in the Region 4 final. Also beat Western (Davie), 92-48, in the semifinals. Up next is Seminole (Sanford) on Friday, March 7 in the 7A semifinals at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The final is Saturday, March 8. The Explorers are on target for a return trip to the CHIPOTLE Nationals from April 2-5 in Fishers, Ind.

2. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: The Mustangs won twice in CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool B, defeating Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 65-64. Brayden Burries (18 points) sank two free throws with 12.2 seconds left to rally his team. Also stopped Redondo Union (Redondo Beach), 89-67. Burries struck for 44 points and 12 rebounds and Jackson Haggins and Isaac Williamson scored 14 apiece. The Mustangs play No. 25 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with the winner going to the Open Division final against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) on Saturday, March 1 at the Toyota Center in Ontario.

3. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (25-3)

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Three games remain before the Bobcats play in the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament in North Augusta, Ga. They also beat Lawrence (Mass.), 88-30, and South Kent School (Conn.), 80-50.

4. CIA Bella Vista Prep, Phoenix (20-4)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: The Bears were upset by then-No. 16 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 70-66, in the EYBL Scholastic Conference in La Jolla, Calif. Miles Sadler contributed 21 points and 6 assists. Also defeated Veritas Academy (Santa Fe Springs, Calif.), 70-42, Sadler scored 12 points but Paul Osaruyi came off the bench for a double-double, 12 points and 10 rebounds. The first-place Bears go 9-2 in the final conference standings.

5. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (29-2)

Previous: 2.

Lowdown: Duke-bound Nikolas Khamenia poured in 31 points but the Wolverines were upset by Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 68-61, in CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool A, snapping the win streak at 20 games. Also beat JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano), 61-48, as Joe Sterling dropped 18 points. Pool A play concludes on Tuesday, Feb. 25 with Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita) and then it’s CIF-Southern Region playoffs.

6. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (22-4)

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: The Tigers roared to the top of the EYBL Scholastic Conference standing, winning twice in La Jolla, Calif. They defeated No. 4 CIA Bella Vista Prep (Phoenix), 70-66, and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 85-60. Mariano Manciel scored 23 points with six 3-pointers and Isiah Harwell had 23 points and five 3s.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (21-6)

Previous: 21.

The Lowdown: In the EYBL Scholastic Conference, the Ascenders went 2-0, defeating then-No. 7 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 68-62. Darius Acuff Jr. put up 26 points, 4 rebounds and 5 assists. Also stopped Orangeville Academy (Ontario, Canada), 74-36. Kareem Stagg had 12 points and 11 rebounds and Sadiq White Jr. scored 20 points. The Ascenders went 7-4 in the EYBL.

8. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (19-6)

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: In the EYBL Scholastic Conference, the Eagles defeated La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 71-60. Creighton-bound Hudson Greer flipped in 19 points, shooting 6-of-6 from the field, including two 3-pointers. Lost at No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 68-62. The Eagles finished (or sixth place) 7-4 in the EYBL.

9. San Antonio (Texas) Brennan (31-2)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: In the Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 Area playoff game, the Bears defeated Lake Travis (Auston), 100-70. The Bears meet East Central (San Antonio) on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the Region 4 semifinals at the Alamo Convention Center in San Antonio.

10. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (18-5)

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Nike EYBL Scholastic Tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina is next.

11. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (26-5)*

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament and regular season championship going 12-1 in the nation’s top league. The Panthers defeated No. 12 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 58-54, in the final, St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 57-42, in the semifinals and Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 69-56, in the quarterfinals. Jordan Smith Jr. scored 29 points and ripped 7 rebounds in the title game.

12. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (26-5)

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference championship, defeating Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 90-57, in the semifinals and Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 95-58, in the quarterfinals. Alex Touomou scored 24 points in the semifinals. The Purple Eagles fell to No. 11 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 58-54, in the final as Derek Dixon tossed in 13 points.

13. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (27-4)

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Defeated Pace Academy (McKinney), 92-75. Oral Roberts-bound Leroy Kelly scored 19 points and Marcu Spears Jr. added 16 as five players hit for double figures.

14. Hoover, Ala. (33-0)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: The Bucs defeated Huntsville, 63-60, in the Class 7A regional final. They face Phenix City Central in the 7A semifinals on Thursday, Feb. 27. The final is Saturday, March 1 in  Birmingham.

15. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (26-3)

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: In the Class AAAAAA state tournament, the Wildcats defeated Chapel Hill (Douglasville), 76-56, in the second round and Colquitt County (Norman Park), 90-38, in the first round. Up next is Norcross in the quarterfinals on Wednesday, Feb. 26.

16. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (24-2)

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: In the Arizona Open Division, the Pumas defeated Brophy Prep (Phoenix), 83-54, in the second round and Dysart (El Mirage), 70-29, in the first round. In former game, sophomore Bruce Branch III tossed in a game-high 26 points and Dominic Avalos scored 14 of his 22 in the first quarter. The quarterfinals are Friday, Feb. 28 against Ironwood (Glendale).

17. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (27-2)

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: Defeated Meadowcreek (Norcross), 76-38, in the Class AAAAAA second round and Harrison (Kennesaw), 76-58, in the first round. Up next is Cherokee (Canton) in quarterfinals on Wednesday, Feb.. 26.

18. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (17-7)

Previous:15.

The Lowdown: Idle.

19. Fishers, Ind. (23-0)

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Defeated Lawrence North (Indianapolis), 75-59, and Zionsville, 56-50. The regular season ends with North Central (Indianapolis) on Tuesday, Feb. 25.

20. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (20-1)

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: Advanced to the FHSAA Class 3A state semifinals, beating St. Andrew’s (Boca Raton), 74-53, in the Region 4 final. The Eagles play Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) on Friday, Feb. 28 in the semifinals and the 3A final is the next day in Lakeland.

21. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (26-6)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Lowdown: The Knights are back in the Elite 25 and in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final on Saturday, March 1 after going 4-0 in Pool A. They beat No. slkfdhg Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 68-61, to clinch a spot in the championship at Toyota Arena in Ontario. Tyran Stokes scored 24 points and Zachary White added 23.

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

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: On Senior Night, the Dragons defeated PHP Prep (Phoenix), 82-49. The Dragons finished in the 5-6 EYBL Scholastic Conference.

23. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (25-5)

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Defeated St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio), 70-47, at the Scholastic Play-by-Play Classic in Canton, Ohio. Kansas-bound guard Darryn Peterson scored a game-high 23 points.

24. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (22-4)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Won the New York Archdiocesan AA championship, defeating St. Raymond (Bronx), 66-61, in the final. Adonis Ratliff tallied a game-high 26 points and 14 rebounds and UMass-bound guard Danny Carbuccia chipped in with 17. In the semifinals, the Crusaders stopped Cardinal hayes (Bronx), 77-62. Junior Jasiah Jervis contributed 19 points and snared 4 rebounds. Up next is the CHSAA Intersectional AA quarterfinals on Sunday, March 2 at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx.

25. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (26-6)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: The Braves remain alive for a coveted title. In the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool B round-robin play, they swept Heritage Christian (Northridge), 69-39, and Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 60-55. They play at No. 2 Roosevelt (Eastvale) on Tuesday, Feb. 25 in the final pool game with the winner heading to the final on Saturday, March 1 against Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks).

Dropped out: No. 21 The Patrick School (Hackettstown, N.J.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. The Patrick School, Hackettstown, N.J. (27-7)
2. Mount Carmel, Baltimore (31-4)*
3. Highland School, Warrenton, Va. (35-5)*
4. Father Judge, Philadelphia (20-6)*
5. St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (22-4)

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

Midwest

1. Kenwood, Chicago (27-1)*
2. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (15-6)
3. Oak Park, Kansas City, Mo. (23-1)
4. Bolingbrook, Ill. (27-4)
5. Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul, Minn. (23-1)

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

Southland

1. Reidsville, N.C. (25-0)
2. Allen, Texas (32-1)
3. Lake Ridge, Mansfield, Texas (34-2)
4. St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (26-2)
5. Owasso, Okla. (21-4)

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

Far West

1. Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah (20-10)
2. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (30-1)
3. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)*
4. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (23-7)
5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-7)

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

Records through Sunday

* 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 at @clawlor.