No. 24 Johnston (IA) enters Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ basketball rankings; former New York coaching legend Vincent Cannizzaro passes away

BENSALEM, Pa. – This week we start with somber news after the passing of a true girls’ basketball coaching legend.

Sadly, Vincent Cannizzaro, who guided Christ the King of Middle Village, New York, passed away on Saturday after a battle with cancer. He was 82.

While coaching CTK, Mr. Cannizzaro captured 456 wins in 19 seasons, winning 16 straight Brooklyn Diocesan championships with his last one in 1999. He led the Royals to 12 New York State Catholic High School and 10 consecutive New York State Federation titles. CK regularly traveled for top-notch tournament across the country when few girls’ programs did but they were an attraction and sold out games.

He had the respect of coaches on the AAU, high school and college levels. In the 1980s and ‘90s, Mr. Cannizzaro helped raise awareness of the girls’ game and his program was the gold standard. He began coaching at the Queens school in 1981 and was a highly successful coach on the boys CYO level for two decades.

Mr. Cannizzaro was a retired New York City police detective and founded the Liberty Belles, an AAU team. While at CK, coached future WNBA players such as Sue Bird and Chamique Holdsclaw. He also coached for four years at Stony Brook University on Long Island and later had a scouting service.

When I worked at Scholastic Coach magazine in New York, I frequently called on Mr. Cannizzaro for the Gatorade Player of the Year award. He simply coached some of New York’s top players and in some case the best in the country. His teams were regulars in the national rankings, namely USA TODAY’s Super 25—another publication I worked at for a decade and ranked the teams.

If you are in the area and knew him, Mr. Cannizzaro’s wake is at Cassese Funeral Home in Ozone Park, Queens from 4 to 8 p.m. on Thursday, with a Christian funeral mass to be held at St. Mary Gate of Heaven Roman Catholic Church on Friday morning at 10.

McDonald’s All American Games

If you missed it the future of basketball was revealed today when the McDonald’s All American Games rosters were officially announced on NBA TV with hundreds of prep stars awaiting their selection with baited breath.

Call them “Super-Size” players but they are simply the best but earning the right to be called a McDonald’s All American brings big-time street cred. And the players know it and make it one of their bucket-list items as they matriculate from the grassroots to college or the pros.

The 48 players, 24 boys and 24 girls, will participate in the games to played at the Toyota Center in Houston on April 2. The Jam Fest is April 1  at 7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2.

The McDonald’s All American Girls Game will air on April 2 at 6:30 p.m. ET on ESPN2 and the boys will immediately follow on ESPN at 9 p.m.

Girls rosters

East

Mikayla Blakes, Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.); Kendall Dudley and Zania Socka-Ngueman, Sidwell Friends (Washington D.C.); Joyce Edwards, Camden (S.C.); Kayleigh Heckel, Syla Swords and Kate Koval, Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Zamareya Jones, North Pitt (N.C.); Madisen McDaniel, Bishop McNamara, (Forestville, Md.); Olivia Olson, Benilde-St. Margaret’s (Minn.); Sarah Strong, Grace Christian School (Sanford, N.C.); Berry Wallace, Pickerington (Ohio) Central.

Coach: Fran Burbidge, Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.)

West

Imari Berry, Clarksville (Tenn.); Jaloni Cambridge (G): Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Justice Carlton, Seven Lakes (Houston); Morgan Cheli, Archbishop Mitty (San Jose, Calif.); Avery Howell, Boise (Idaho); Jordan Lee, Saint Mary’s, (Stockton, Calif.); Alivia McGill, Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.); Me’Arah O’Neal, Episcopal (Houston); MacKenly Randolph, Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.); Arianna Roberson, San Antonio (Texas) Clark; Kennedy Smith, Etiwanda (Calif.); Allie Ziebell, Neenah (Wis.).

Coach: Ann Fritz, Blue Valley (Kan.) North.

Boys rosters

East
Jalil Bethea, Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.); John Bol, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Isaiah Evans, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.); Cooper Flagg, Liam McNeeley and Derik Queen, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; Boogie Fland, Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.); Ian Jackson, Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.); Tahaad Pettiford, Hudson Catholic (Jersey City, N.J.); Drake Powell, Northwood High School (N.C.); Jayden Quaintance, Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.); Bryson Tucker, Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.).

Coach: Sharman White, Pace Academy (Atlanta).

West

Ace Bailey, McEachern a.); Flory Bidunga, Kokomo (Ind.); Carter Bryant, Corona (Calif.); Zoom Diallo, Derrion Reid and Aiden Sherrell, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.); VJ Edgecombe, Jr., Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.); Donavan Freeman, IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.); Dylan Harper, Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.); Richard Johnson, Link Academy (Branson, Mo.); Karter Knox, Overtime Elite Academy (Ga.); Trent Perry, Harvard-Westlake School (Studio City, Calif.).

Coach: Tommy Brakel, North Crowley, (Fort Worth, Texas).

This year’s nominees span far and wide with 43 states plus the District of Columbia. Players were nominated by a high school coach, athletic director, principal or member of the McDonald’s All American Games Selection Committee based upon these criteria.

Tickets to the 2024 McDonald’s All American Games and the Jam Fest can be found here.

This was a relatively quiet week in the Elite 25 with No. 24 Johnston (Iowa) joining. The Dragos entered the week with a spotless 17-0 mark and are Iowa’s No. 1 squad in Class 5A.

That wraps up another week and the month of January.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 girls’ rankings will return on Feb. 7.

Be sure to follow us on X at @clawlor.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 31, 2024

1. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (19-0)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Monarchs continue to roll over West Catholic Athletic League opponents after dispatching Valley Christian (San Jose), 77-23, and Presentation (San Jose), 86-7.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (14-1)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Five players scored in double figures led by Syla Swords’ 17 points in a 77-59 victory over Red Bank (N.J.) Catholic. Kayleigh Heckel a triple-double with 14 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists while Kate Koval added 14 points and 9 rebounds and tallied her 1,000^th career point.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (19-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Chloe Sotell scored 25 points and Amaia Jackson had 10 when the Eagles stopped Academy of Central Florida (Orlando), 80-49. They host Palm Bay (Melbourne) on Friday.

4. Westtown School, West Chester, Pa. (15-2)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: The Moose defeated Friends Schools League rivals Germantown Friends (Philadelphia), 55-21, and George School (Newtown), 72-50.

5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (24-1)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Defeated Chaminade (West Hills), 75-31, and Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills), 86-29, moving the won streak to 16 games.

6. Morris Catholic, Denville, N.J. (16-0)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Mia Pauldo’s 28 points with five 3-pointers helped the Crusaders defeated No. 25 DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.), 63-61, at the Mecca Showcase in Bronx, N.Y. Also beat Plainfield, 77-36, and Franklin (Somerset), 79-37. Pauldo totaled 40 points in the two wins.

7. Etiwanda, Calif. (22-3)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Defeated Rancho Cucamonga, 83-22, and Upland, 81-17. The Eagles finish up the regular season with three games this week, including two in the Baseline League.

8. Incarnate Word Academy, Bel Nor, Mo. (17-0)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Nevaeh Caffey netted 21 points and Zoe Best added 14 in a 64-54 win over Fremd (Palatine, Ill.). The Red Knights also beat local rivals St. Joseph Academy (St. Louis), 72-29.

9. Mansfield Timberview, Arlington, Texas (32-1)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Defeated Centennial (Burleson), 80-35, and Midlothian Heritage, 63-26, stretching the win streak to 29 games. Two games remain in the regular season.

10. Loyola Academy, Wilmette, Ill. (28-0)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: The regular season is over after defeating Evanston, 65-63, and Glenbrook South (Glenview), 63-37. The GCAC Tournament tips off this week with the final on Saturday.

11. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (21-0)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: The Rams remained perfect after beating Newton (Covington), 62-39, and Brookwood (Snellville), 67-44. The schedule resumes with Archer (Lawrenceville) Tuesday and Parkview (Lilburn) Friday.

12. Purcell Marian, Cincinnati (19-1)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Jayda Mosley scored a game-high 17 points, including the 1,000^th of her career, when the Lady Cavaliers defeated Roger Bacon (Cincinnati), 81-27. Two games left in the regular season.

13. Bishop McNamara, Forestville, Md. (18-3)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: In the Bronx, N.Y., the Lady Mustangs stopped Rutgers Prep (Somerset, N.J.), 61-53, at the Mecca Showcase. Also defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 58-28, and St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 95-25, in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference.

14. Sidwell Friends, Washington, D.C. (13-3)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Defeated Maret School (Washington, D.C.), 62-44, Bullis School (Potomac, Md.), 61-52, and Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 71-46. Lost to Crestwood Prep (North York, Ontario), 54-48, at the Mecca Showcase in New York.

15. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (20-3)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: The Ascenders split two games at The Mecca Showcase in Bronx, N.Y., but the loss was to a Canadian school.

16. Hebron Christian Academy, Dacula, Ga. (19-2)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Defeated Stephens County (Toccoa), 89-23, and Oconee County (Watkinsville), 60-14.

17. Duncanville, Texas (25-4)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Defeated Lake Ridge (Mansfield), 70-49, and Cedar Hill, 63-50, improving to 10-1 in District 11-6A with three games remaining.

18. Bradley Central, Cleveland, Tenn. (20-1)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: The Bearettes swept three teams, beating Ooltewah, 85-22, East Hamilton (Chattanooga), 85-22, and Knoxville Catholic, 64-53.

19. Bolingbrook, Ill. (21-2)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: The Raiders won a pair of games in the Southwest Suburban Conference last week.

20. Lawrence Central, Indianapolis (23-1)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: In the regular season finale, the Bears beating Avon, 65-43. They tip off the Class 4A playoffs with Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis) Wednesday in the sectional first round. The semifinals are Friday and final is Saturday.

21. DeSoto, Texas (19-5)

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Defeated Skyline (Dallas), 73-26, and Waxahachie, 68-30, in District 11-6A.

22. Hazel Green, Ala. (22-4)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Defeated Buckhorn, 71-36. The Lady Trojans closed out the regular season Tuesday against rivals Hoover.

23. Clark, San Antonio (26-2)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Defeated San Antonio Lee , 62-54, and San Antonio Madison, 71-20.

24. Johnston, Iowa (17-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Dragons return to the Elite 25 and are Iowa’s top-ranked Class 5A team. They host Waukee in a key league game on Friday.

25. DME Academy, Daytona Beach, Fla. (16-4)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Split two games at the Mecca Showcase in New York

Dropped: No. 24 Lake Highlands Prep (Orlando, Fla.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Thomas Dale, Chester, Va. (14-0)
2. Oakland Catholic, Pittsburgh (19-0)
3. Rutgers Prep, Somerset, N.J. (14-4)
4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (13-5)
5. Cardinal O’Hara, Springfield, Pa. (14-2)

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

Midwest

1. Minnetonka, Minn. (18-0)
2. West Bloomfield, Mich. (11-0)
3. Nazareth Academy, La Grange Park, Ill. (21-3)
4. East Kentwood, Kentwood, Mich. (12-1)
5. Millard West, Omaha, Neb. (15-1)

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

Southland

1. Grace Christian, Sanford, N.C (23-0)
2. Fort Bend Austin, Sugar Land, Texas (28-1)
3. Buford, Ga. (19-2)
4. Summer Creek, Houston (27-3)
5. Choctaw, Okla. (17-0)

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

Far West

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (21-6)
2. Sage Hill School, Newport Beach, Calif. (21-2)
3. Ontario (Calif.) Christian (22-3)
4. Clovis West, Fresno, Calif. (23-2)
5. Clackamas, Ore. (10-2)

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

Records through Monday’s games.

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Girls 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.