No. 7 Archbishop Wood (PA) two wins from state championship, No. 24 Simeon (IL) finishes; 9 teams from Blue Star Media Elite boys’ rankings earn bids to GEICO Nationals

BENSALEM, Pa. — There were no additions to the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. As the season closes in most states, it will open in California in April and Washington and Oregon will follow.

Consequently, there was no movement in the rankings.

Besides the nine Elite 25 teams involved in the GEICO High School Nationals, six are still playing in the postseason. No. 7 Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), the Philadelphia Catholic League champions, need two wins this week to win the PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship.

In the Midwest, No. 9 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) is two weeks away from the Class 3A state tournament. No. 19 St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.), which comes out a pandemic pause, tips off the Division I sectionals this week in Michigan. No. 20 Carmel (Ind.) and No. 21 Lawrence North (Indianapolis) have a week off but will meet in the Indiana Class 4A final on April 3 in Indianapolis. Undoubtedly the playoffs were delayed a week due to the NCAA Division I men’s tournament bubble.

Connecticut, New York and Pennsylvania are amid some form of playoffs. So is Kentucky, where they crown a single-class champion. Last week, Arizona, Missouri, Ohio and Colorado feted state champions.

That’s all good. Congratulations to all the teams for enduring a pandemic season.

However, the biggest news last week was the announcement of the GEICO Nationals field.

If you missed it, here is the recap:

After a one year absence due to coronavirus concerns in 2020, the prestigious event is leaving the friendly confines of New York City for the Florida sun. No fans will be allowed in Suncoast Credit Union Arena but all 10 boys’ games will be broadcast on the ESPN family of networks.

In a new twist for the boys’ tournament is the addition of two teams bringing the bracket to 10 teams with two play-in games on March 31. Nine of the 10 teams are featured in Elite 25 rankings.

As for the boys’ tournament, the opening day doubleheader has seventh-seeded Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) facing 10^th-seeded La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) at 6 p.m. EDT and eight-seeded Pace Academy (Atlanta) plays ninth-seeded Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) at 8 p.m. Both games will be shown live on ESPNU.

The quarterfinals are April 1 (all on ESPNU) starting at 12 p.m. with No. 3 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 6 Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) followed by No. 2 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) facing the winner of Prolific Prep-La Lumiere game at 2 p.m.

The play resumes with top-seeded Montverde Academy meeting the Oak Hill-Pace winner at 4 p.m. The final game is No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) versus Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) at 6 p.m.

The semifinals are April 2 at 2:30 and 4:30 p.m., both on ESPN2. The final is April 3 at 12 p.m. on ESPN.

The Elite 25 boys’ rankings are back on March 30.

Until then keep safe, mask up, practice social distancing, wash your hands regularly, get vaccinated when you get the call and support your local businesses. Here’s to future days!

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 23, 2021

1. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Season complete.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-1)*

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won the inaugural National Interscholastic Basketball Conference Championship and now the top-seeded Eagles are back in the GEICO High School Nationals starting on April 1.

3. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (19-3)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle. The next stop are the GEICO Nationals on April 1 in Fort Myers, Fla.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (20-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. GEICO Nationals is the next stop in nearby Fort Myers, Fla.

5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (28-1)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Dragons make their maiden voyage to the GEICO Nationals on April 1.

6. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (28-2)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Idle. Won Class AAAAAAA state championship. The Eagles’ reward is a trip to the GEICO Nationals on April 1.

7. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (18-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: This was a road game the Vikings needed and Marcus Randolph delivered 22 points in a hard-fought 70-58 victory at pesky William Allen (Allentown) in the PIAA Class AAAAAA quarterfinals. Randolph had 22 point and James Madison-bound Jaylen Stinson tossed in 23 as the Vikings held off  Lincoln (Philadelphia), 89-77, in the District XII final. Coach John Mosco leads the Black-and-Gold into the 6A semifinals Tuesday at Lower Merion (Ardmore). The final is Saturday night at the GIANT Center in Hershey.

8. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (18-6)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Idle. The Tigers await the GEICO Nationals on April 1.

 9. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (17-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: All-American C Chet Holmgren’s 17 points paced parade of scorers when the Redhawks doubled up Como Park (St. Paul), 82-41, in the Section 4-AAA quarterfinals. The Redhawks face Mahtomedi Tuesday in the semifinals. The final is Friday.

10. Duncanville, Texas (29-1)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship. Season complete,

11. Camden, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Sorry, but there were no playoffs in New Jersey. What a shame. Season complete.

12. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (27-0)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won FHSAA Class 2A state championship. Season complete.

13. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (13-0)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The Panthers rolled to a perfect regular season in the MIAA A Conference after dispatching rivals Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 76-68, and Mount Carmel (Baltimore), 82-59. They opened the Baltimore Catholic League Tournament on Monday against Calvert Hall College (Baltimore).

14. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (1-0)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Idle. The Crusaders will play No. 15 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) in a home and home series starting Tuesday in White Plains. The backend is home on Wednesday.

15. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (4-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Idle. Coach Patrick Massaroni confirmed his team will host No. 14 Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) Tuesday and then go to Long Island Wednesday for a mini series between New York’s top two teams. This should be great basketball theater.

16. Pace Academy, Atlanta (30-1)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won second straight Georgia Class AA state championship. The Knights will open the GEICO Nationals with a play-in game on March 31 in Fort Myers, Fla.

17. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (20-8)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Idle. The Warriors are preparing for the GEICO Nationals but are scheduled for a play-in game on March 31.

18. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (14-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Season complete.

19. St. Mary’s Prep, Orchard Lake, Mich. (10-0)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle. The Eaglets are on pause for COVID-19 concerns. Coach Todd Covert’s team did not get a chance to defend its Detroit Catholic League title but they will play again in the Division 1 district semifinals on Thursday.

20. Carmel, Ind. (25-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: For the third straight season, the Greyhounds will play for the Class 4A championship after holding off West Side (Gary), 53-50 in overtime in the semistate. Connor Gioia scored 7 of his game-high 16 points in the extra session.

The Greyhounds won’t take the court again until April 3 when they play No. 21 Lawrence North (Indianapolis) in the Class 4A final at Banker’s Life Arena in Indianapolis.

21. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (28-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: In a seesaw game that featured seven ties and seven lead changes, the Wildcats edged Bloomington South, 54-52, in the Class 4A semistate. The Wildcats trailed by as many as 10 points but rallied in the fourth quarter. Yet they did not clinch their first title game appearance since 2007 until Shamar Avance grabbed a rebound off a potential game-tying shot before the buzzer. Avance scored 16 points and Donovan McCulley added 15 points and 7 rebounds. It was coach Jack Keefer’s 849^th win. Next is No. 20 Carmel on April 3 for the 4A title at Banker’s Life Arena in Indianapolis.

22. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (7-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Season complete.

23. DePaul Prep, Chicago (14-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Coach Tom Kleinschmidt’s team climaxed a truncated season winning the Chipotle Clash of Champions earlier this month. Season complete.

24. Simeon, Chicago (12-1)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: It was a busy week to conclude the season—one without a chance at a Class 4A state championship. The Wolverines managed to take down three Chicago schools Morgan Park, 56-46, Brooks, 61-46, and Phillips, 65-37. Season complete.

25. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (6-8)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Idle. The Lakers are slated for a play-in game at the GEICO Nationals on March 31.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Reading, Pa. (24-2)
2. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (12-3)
3. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (16-1)*
4. St. Joseph’s Collegiate Institute, Kenmore, N.Y. (16-1)*
5. East Catholic, Manchester, Conn. (12-0)

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

Midwest

1. Vashon, St. Louis (16-1)*
2. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (25-2)*
3. Whitney Young, Chicago (15-1)
4. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (27-2)*
5. St. Catherine’s, Racine, Wis. (28-1)*

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

Southland

1. Millbrook, Raleigh, N.C. (19-0)*
2. Beaumont (Texas) United (31-0)*
3. Westlake, Austin, Texas (30-2)
4. Richardson, Texas (26-2)
5. Covington Catholic, Park Hills, Ky. (24-3)

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

Far West

1. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (0-0)
2. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (0-0)
3. St. Mary’s, Phoenix (20-1)*
4. Sunnyslope, Phoenix (21-1)*
5. Davis, Kaysville, Utah (22-4)*

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

* Won state championship or major postseason tournament title

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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.