No. 8 Simeon (IL) ascends Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ hoop rankings and No. 3 Montverde (FL) Academy winning big in NIBC; both will play at Hoophall Classic

BENSALEM, Pa. – There are few weekends during the high school basketball season like the one that honors the life of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King was activist and civil right leader in the 1960s that brought change to the United States and it’s fitting this weekend (Friday through Monday) will honor his legacy and prominence.

It’s also when multiple national high basketball events and tournaments take place with so much on the line. And that’s usually what occurs with the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings as teams looking to keep their national standing venture out to play big-time games against big-time opponents. Oftentimes it’s two Elite 25 team pitted against one another.

Since there are no additions to latest Elite 25 rankings, the upcoming MLK Weekend will likely have an impact on the order when they are released the following week. In other words, the national matchups should shake things up in the Elite 25.

If you are looking for events, check out the links to the hottest events from Massachusetts to Missouri. There are a plethora of events and there’s bound to one closer to home.

Hoophall Classic, Springfield, Mass.

Flyin’ to the Hoop, Kettering, Ohio

Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, Springfield, Mo.

St. James MLK Classic, Springfield, Va.

As for the Elite 25 rankings reflecting the first week of January, the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference is still dominating with No. 3 Montverde (Fla.) Academy in first place. No. 8 Simeon (Chicago) slides into the top-10 after recording a pair of quality wins in Indiana and Illinois. No. 5 St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) and No. 6 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)—both members of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference—hop closer to the top.

No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) returns to action this week after a long break at the prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo.

The biggest event with the most hoopla spread out over five days with streaming and television coverage is the Hoophall Classic at the birthplace of basketball in Springfield, Mass. The Elite 25 is well represented at Springfield College’s Blake Arena, with eight teams playing on Saturday, including one head-to-head matchup; Sunday features six teams; and Monday caps the long weekend with eight teams in four head-to-head games.

That’ll keep the most ardent fan glued to their seat or seeking out how to watch on television or online. The ESPN family of channels and streaming service (ESPN+) and Baller TV will broadcast all 32 games starting Thursday afternoon. The Hoophall link provided above for more information.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Jan. 17 and reflect results from the MLK Weekend.

If you have a chance to attend one of the basketball events, please keep the memory of Dr. King alive. Perhaps there’s a civic event in your town honoring his memory. Go, if you can. It’s a fine way to honor a great American.

Stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 10, 2023

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (15-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Idle. The Lions make the short trip to Springfield, Mo., starting Thursday for three games in the prestigious Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. The dream championship game would be with No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) on Saturday but the first round matchup with St. Rita (Chicago) is tricky.

2. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (19-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Crew posted pair of victories at the Gotham City Classic in New York. Aden Holloway had 25 points and Trey Green added 21 points and 4 assists in an 82-72 win over Central Pointe Christian (Kissimmee, Fla.). Yves Missi posted a double-double of 18 points and 14 rebounds in a 75-67 decision over Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.).

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (11-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: It appears the Eagles are gaining momentum with two quality wins at the AXE NIBC Series La Porte Invitational, outlasting two Elite 25 teams. The Eagles defeated Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 66-61, in overtime and No. 7 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire , Kan.), 66-62. Senior center Derik Queen produced 56 points and 21 rebounds in two wins as coach Kevin Boyle’s club is 7-1 in the NIBC.

4. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (12-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: At the AXE NIBC Series La Porte Invitational, the Dragons swept past Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 61-56, in overtime, and Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.), 75-64. In the former win, Tru Washington forced overtime with a tip-in before the buzzer and then sank two key free throws late in OT to ice it. Washington scored eight points in 16 minutes but proved to be the difference. The latter game featured Trent Pierce netting 25 points, including six 3-pointers.

5. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (14-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Capped a 3-0 week, defeating Washington Catholic Athletic Conference rivals Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 66-48. The Eagles are scheduled for two more WCAC contests this week, including Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) Tuesday.

6. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (12-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Defeated Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), 88-62, Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 74-45, and St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.), 85-32. The Panthers carry an unbeaten mark in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play into a showdown at DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) Tuesday.

7. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (10-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: The Buffaloes defeated then-No. 7 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 77-61, in the AXE NIBC Series La Porte Invitational. Matas Buzelis produced a fine stat line of 19 points on 6-of-9 shooting (3-of-5 on 3s), five rebounds and four blocks. The Buffaloes ran away in the fourth quarter, leading up as many as 21. Also, lost to No. 3 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 66-62. Buzelis posted a double-double of 23 points and 12 rebounds.

8. Simeon, Chicago (15-0)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Miles Rubin slammed home the game-winning dunk with 18 seconds left in a 53-51 victory over No. 19 Imhotep (Philadelphia) at the Highland (Ill.) Shootout. Elsewhere, senior guard Jalen Griffith netted 20 points and the Wolverines beat Cathedral (Indianapolis), 74-61, at the La Porte (Ind.) Invitational. The Wolverines host Kenwood (Chicago) Tuesday in a Chicago Public School showdown and travel this weekend to the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts.

9. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (9-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: It was an impressive 2-0 weekend at the NIBC La Porte Ind.) Invitational. The Crusaders beat Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.), 73-47 and No. 24 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 66-63. Connecticut-bound guard Jayden Reid had 21 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and 4 steals in the latter game. In the Walsh game, Reid went off for 24 points and 8 rebounds and Amdy Ndiaye added 13 points.

10. West Linn, Ore. (13-0)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Defeated Jesuit (Portland), 67-53, and Nelson (Happy Valley), 60-51.

11. Duncanville, Texas (17-1)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Panthers improved to 3-0 in District 11-6A with two easy wins.

12. Columbus, Miami (13-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Explorers knocked then-No. 6 Camden (N.J.) from the unbeatens in a 75-66 win. They also beat Riviera Prep (Miami), 67-52, and Westminster Academy (Fort Lauderdale), 80-58.

13. Camden, N.J. (8-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Panthers had a busy week playing three Elite 25 teams. Coach Malik Waayns and his team suffered their first loss in a 75-66 decision to No. 12 Columbus (Miami) but bounced back to take down No. 20 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), 83-68. In the latter game, D.J. Wagner scored 20 points and Aaron Bradshaw contributed a double-double with 16 points and 10 rebounds. The Panthers play No. 21 Corona (Calif.) Centennial Saturday at Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts.

14. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (14-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Giants peeled off two wins last week over local schools and set their focus on the Marion County Tournament, starting Tuesday with Beech Grove in the first round. The final is Saturday night at Southport High School.

15. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (11-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Justices had a light week, defeating L.C. Bird (Chesterfield), 83-47.

16. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (18-1)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Notre Dame-bound guard Brady Dunlap poured in 38 points and the Wolverines outlasted Bishop Montgomery (Torrance), 74-66, in three OTs at the Take Flight Challenge in Redondo Beach, Calif.

17. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (8-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Robert Wright III, a junior guard and Baylor commit, scored 19 of his game-high 25 points in a 57-56 comeback win over West Catholic (Philadelphia). The Saints also defeated Devon (Pa.) Prep, 61-47.

18. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-4)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Ascenders went 1-1 at the AXE NIBC Series La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

19. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (10-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Lost to No. 8 Simeon (Chicago), 53-51, at the Highland (Ill.) Shootout. With the score tied at 51, the Panthers conceded the winning points on a dunk with 18 seconds left. The Panthers play Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) Sunday night at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

20. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (9-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Defeated league opponents St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) and DePaul Catholic (Wayne) but lost to then-No. 6 Camden (N.J.), 83-68. Junior guard Dylan Harper went off for 36 points (four made 3-pointers) and five assists versus Camden. Harper is averaging 26.7 points per game.

21. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (14-3)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Jared McCain and Mike Price scored 16 points apiece and the Huskies rebounded from a rough go over the holidays to defeat Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 69-60.

22. West Ranch, Valencia, Calif. (17-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated Etiwanda, 52-45. The Wildcats should cruise the rest of the regular season.

23. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (15-3)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Bronny James turned it up this week with two impactful games. The son of LeBron James tossed in 22 points when the Trailblazers defeated Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 66-55. The Trailblazers opened Mission League play defeating Chaminade (West Hills), 80-47, as Bronny pumped in 20 points.

24. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (8-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Split two games at the NIBC La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

25. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (8-4)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Idle.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (15-0)
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (8-2)
3. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (10-1)
4. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (15-2)
5. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (7-4)

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

Midwest

1. Whitney Young, Chicago (12-4)
2. Kenwood, Chicago (13-2)
3. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (7-0)
4. Centerville, Ohio (10-1)
5. Cathedral, Indianapolis (8-2)

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

Southland

1. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (11-3)
2. Lake Highlands, Dallas (17-3)
3. Beaumont (Texas) United (19-1)
4. Carter, Dallas (18-2)
5. Kell, Marietta, Ga. (13-2)

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

Far West

1. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (18-1)
2. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (16-3)
3. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (8-7)
4. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (14-3)
5. Garfield, Seattle (11-0)

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 High School Boys Basketball Rankings are released weekly from November 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.