No. 23 McEachern (GA) slides into Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings; big-time matchup pits ranked teams in CIF-Southern Section Open Division final

BENSALEM, Pa. – There’s one addition and several massive games or events in this week’s Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings.

First, let’s revisit with No. 23 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), who rejoins the Elite 25 after capturing the Region 3-AAAAAAA title last week and will enter the Class 7A state tournament this week against Westlake (Atlanta). It takes five wins to annex Georgia High School Association’s largest-classification title, which will be decided on March 9 inside the Macon Coliseum.

The Indians were 22-5 entering states and they are on the opposite of the bracket of No. 15 Grayson (Loganville), which sets up to be a tantalizing final. However, there are several other teams that have something to say. McEachern’s main man is McDonald’s All-America forward Ace Bailey, who will suit up for Rutgers in the fall.

We’ve targeted games that will add intrigue to the Elite 25 rankings and two in particular on the West Coast are paramount. The California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open Division championship is Friday at California Baptist University in Riverside between No. 8 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) and No. 10 Roosevelt (Eastvale) at 8 p.m. PT. Expect both teams to be added to the Southern California Region Open Division bracket when it is released on Sunday.

In Ontario, Calif., No. 17 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) faces Windward (Los Angeles) in the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 final Saturday inside the Toyota Arena. The tip is 8 p.m. PT.

In the Northeast corridor, the Catholic Leagues in Philadelphia, New York and Washington have shifted to the postseason.

The Philadelphia Catholic League semifinals are set with one major surprise. Wednesday night is one of the great days annually in the City of Brotherly Love and the semifinals will be showcased at the iconic University of Pennsylvania’s Palestra or the Cathedral of Basketball. The matchups are Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) vs. Father Judge (Philadelphia), 6:15 p.m., and Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) vs. Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia), 7:45 p.m. The Judge Crusaders are making their first appearance in the semifinals since 1999.

If you want tickets, you better act fast. The championship doubleheader with the girls is Monday, Feb. 26 back at the Palestra. These games will sell out.

The New York Catholic High School Athletic Association AA tournaments are a mere prelude to the city championships. The New York Archdiocesan semifinals are Tuesday at Mount St. Michael Academy in the Bronx with Cardinal Hayes (Bronx) vs. St. Raymond (Bronx), 5:30 p.m. ET, and No. 9 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) vs. Monsignor Scanlan (Bronx), 7:30 p.m.

Meanwhile, the Brooklyn-Queens first round was Monday with three games and Nazareth Regional (Brooklyn) as the regular season champions earning a bye to Wednesday’s semifinals at St. Francis Prep in Fresh Meadows. Nazareth and No. 22 Christ the King (Middle Village) are the favorites. The final is Saturday at the St. Francis.

Then all the Class AA teams will be seeded into the CHSAA Intersectional playoffs that tip Friday with the first round and culminate on March 10 at Fordham University’s historic Rose Hill Gymnasium.

In Washington, D.C., the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference gets underway this week with the three first round games on Thursday. The three winners advance to the Saturday’s quarterfinals at Gallaudet University. The semifinals are Sunday at American University’s Bender Arena and the final is Monday back at AU with an 8 p.m. ET start. The WCAC girls’ final precedes it at 6.

No. 3 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), the regular season champion, and No. 19 Gonzaga (Washington) are the top two seeds. What’s wonderful about this tournament is the format. The final three rounds are played on consecutive days and that means anything can happen. That opens the door for schools such as DeMatha (Hyattsville), Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) and St. John’s College (Washington) to make a run. Beware!

Lastly, No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy cemented its claim to the best in the land after two more wins at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Bob McKillop Invitational last weekend in Hempstead, N.Y. The Eagles have two regular season games left in South Carolina before the High School Nationals in late March in Indiana.

By the way, Hawaii will crown two state champions Saturday at Blaisdell Arena  in Honolulu. In Division I, Saint Louis (Honolulu) and Leilehua are the top two seeds and in Division II it’s Kohala and University (Honolulu).

So, it’s full steam ahead for the postseason and power states such as New Jersey, Texas, Georgia, Illinois, New York, Louisiana, Ohio and Arizona get going this week and in some states at the larger class levels. The rest of the nation is warming up.

Wow, that’s it for another week. Lots going on.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Feb. 27. Thank you for your readership.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 20, 2024

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (28-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Indiana-bound G Liam McNeeley dropped 21 points and Cooper Flagg added 20 points, 9 assists and 7 rebounds in a 90-58 drubbing of then-No. 4 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Bob McKillop Invitational. The Eagles also crushed Legacy Early College (Greenville, N.C.), 77-40, as senior C Derik Queen contributed 14 points, 16 rebounds and 5 assists. The Eagles are off until Feb. 29 when they head to Greenville, S.C. for the Nike EYBL Scholastic Pete Hollis Showcase for two games to conclude the regular season.

2. Columbus, Miami (23-4)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: In the Class 7A, Region 4 quarterfinals, the Explorers drilled Boca Raton, 92-28. Up next is Western (Davie) Tuesday in the semifinals. The final region final is Friday.

3. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (27-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: The Panthers closed out the regular season defeating conference foes, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 63-50, and Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 84-38. Coach Glenn Farello’s squad will be the top seed in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament and won’t play until the quarterfinals on Saturday in Washington, D.C. The semifinals are Sunday and the final is the next day.

4. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (17-4)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Lost to No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 90-58, and beat No. 19 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), 70-61, at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Bob McKillop Invitational in New York.

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (19-4)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Defeated Chicago (Ill.) Prep, 95-51, and Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio), 92-71.

6. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (26-5)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Idle.

7. Plano (Texas) East (33-0)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Clinched the District 6-6A title after defeating Flower Mound, 95-29, and perfect 14-0 district mark. The Panthers faced Rock Hill (Frisco) in the Class 6A bi-district playoff round on Monday.

8. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (29-3)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: The Wolverines advanced to the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final by beating No. 13 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 72-38, and No. 25 St. John Bosco (Bellflower), 64-40, in Pool A play and went 3-0. They face No. 10 Roosevelt (Eastvale) in the final on Saturday night in Riverside.

9. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (21-3)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Kentucky-bound G Boogie Fland put on a show in his final home game on Senior Night, manufacturing 29 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals when the Crusaders completed a 15-0 league mark in a 73-63 victory over St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows). Coach Patrick Massaroni’s team is the top seed in the Catholic High School Athletic Association New York Archdiocesan AA Tournament and plays Tuesday in the semifinals in the Bronx.

10. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (32-2)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: The Mustangs defeated St. Pius X-St. Matthias (Downey), 64-59, and then-No. 17 Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 80-76, in the CIF-Southern Section Pool B playoffs. In the former game, Brayden Burries flipped in 21 points. Up next is No. 8 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) Saturday in the Open Division final.

11. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-8)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Idle.

12. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-3)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Idle.

13. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-3)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: In the CIF-Southern Section Open Division Pool A playoffs, the Trailblazers fell to No. 8 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), 72-38, and beat Corona Centennial, 61-55.

14. Dynamic Prep, Irving, Texas (20-1)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Played GRIND Prep (Oklahoma City) Monday putting a 12-game win streak on the line.

15. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (25-2)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Won the Region 4-AAAAAAA Tournament and tip the Class 7A states this week as one of the favorites.

16. Oak Ridge, Orlando, Fla. (24-3)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: In the Class 7A, Region 2 quarterfinals, the Pioneers ghghgh Osceola (Kissimmee), 87-76. They will play Lake Worth Tuesday in the semifinals.

17. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (28-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down:

In the CIF-Southern Section Division 1 playoffs, the Knights defeated Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita), 63-50, in the quarterfinals and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach) 67-60, in the semifinals. The Knights play Windward (Los Angeles) Saturday for the Division 1 title at the Toyota Center in Ontario.

18. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (19-6)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Went 2-0 last weekend at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Air Capital Hoopfest in Wichita, Kan.

19. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-4)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Defeated St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 58-55, and Takoma Academy (Takoma Park, Md.), 87-54. The Purple Eagles tip the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament with the quarterfinals on Saturday afternoon.

20. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (22-7)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Split two games last weekend at the Bob McKillop Invitational on Long Island.

21. Curie, Chicago (27-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Idle. The Condors tip off the Class 4A regional playoffs this week.

22. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (20-4)

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Closed out the regular season defeating Holy Cross (Flushing), 66-51. The Royals played Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn) Monday in the CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan Tournament first round.

23. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (22-5)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Indians are back in the Elite 25 after defeating Hillgrove (Powder Springs), 75-48, for the Region 3-AAAAAAA title. The Class AAAAAAA first round is next.

24. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (13-4)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Lost to Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 60-52, and beat Veritas Christian (Seal Beach, Calif.), 69-58, at the Nike EYBL Scholastic Air Capital Hoopfest in Wichita, Kan.

25. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (24-7)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Finished 1-2 in Pool A of the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs after beating Corona Centennial, 72-55.

Dropped: No. 17 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. Rose, Belmar, N.J. (25-2)
2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (19-3)
3. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (24-3)
4. The Patrick School, Union, N.J. (21-4)
5. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (32-4)

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

Midwest

1. Wisconsin Lutheran, Milwaukee (23-0)
2. Homewood (Ill.)-Flossmoor (26-4)
3. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard, Lake, Mich. (19-1)
4. Fishers, Ind. (21-1)
5. DePaul Prep, Chicago (28-2)

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

Southland

1. Stony Point, Round Rock Texas (32-1)
2. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (22-2)
3. Great Crossing, Georgetown, Ky. (28-1)
4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (30-3)
5. Huntsville, Ala. (31-2)

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

Far West

1. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (27-1)
2. Windward, Los Angeles (28-3)
3. JSerra Catholic, San Juan Capistrano, Calif. (25-6)
4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (26-5)
5. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (21-6))

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

Records through Sunday’s games.

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.