NO DOUBT: No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) sweeps three games at Metro Classic, takes duel with Link Academy (MO); No. 11 Corona Centennial (CA) is top seed in CIF-Southern Section Open Division

BENSALEM, Pa. – If there was a scintilla of doubt who is the number one team in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, it was settled, at least temporarily, last weekend at the Metro Classic in Union, N.J.

Montverde (Fla.) Academy, which started the season atop the Elite 25, is back at the lofty perch it become accustomed to. The Eagles are red-hot and are crushing it. Last weekend, the Eagles moved to 21-2 with their 13th straight win and dispatched then-No. 1 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 84-58, in a meeting of the nation’s top two teams.

However, neither team will rest of its laurels just yet. A second meeting at the season-ending GEICO High School Nationals in Fort Myers, Fla., could occur in April. Montverde has one game left in the regular season and are 10-1 in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference. The Eagles face instate rival and No. 18 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) Friday and then have a seven-week respite before GEICO.

As for the Elite 25 during the first week in February, there were no additions but a few teams are hanging on by a thread. Ten teams were statics, 10 more moved up and five dropped. No. 23 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic dipped four spots and No. 4 Link Academy is down three after its first loss. No. 2 St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) leapfrogs two positions as did No. 11 Corona (Calif.) Centennial.

‘Open’ for business

Corona Centennial earned the No. 1 seed in the California Interscholastic Federation-Southern Section Open DivisionTournament that tips this weekend. All eight teams divided into Pool A and B are in the Elite 25 or the Far West Region. Each team plays three pool games with that winner advancing to the final on Feb. 26 at the Honda Center in Anaheim. The link for the pools and schedule is above.

In Grand Island, Neb., the 16th annual Heartland Hoops Classic goes live this weekend. No. 6 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) plays on Friday and Saturday. Here’s the top-notch schedule of games that will be played Friday at Hastings College and Saturday at the Heartland Events Center. Saturday’s tickets can be purchased online.

That’s it for another week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Feb. 14 (Reminder: order flowers and make dinner reservations ASAP).

Stay safe.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Feb. 7, 2023

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

Previous rank: 2.

Low-down: The Eagles left the Metro Classic in Union, N.J. with three wins, including one in the NIBC. In the showdown for No. 1, the Eagles came out blazing, taking a 29-7 lead after one quarter en route to an 84-58 rout of previous top-ranked Link Academy (Branson, Mo.). Junior center Derik Queen posted 21 points and 13 rebounds and Liam McNeeley added 15 with three 3-pointers. The Eagles close out the regular season Friday at No. 18 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) in NIBC action.

2. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (22-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Panthers remained undefeated in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, beating Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 69-65, and The Heights (Potomac, Md.), 97-45. This week it’s a road game at St. Mary’s Ryken (Leonardtown, Md.) Tuesday and home for Good Counsel (Olney, Md.) Friday.

3. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (19-3)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Won twice at the Court XIV Classic in Charlotte, N.C., including an impressive 56-55 decision against Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.).

4. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (23-1)

Previous: 1.

Low-down: Lost to previous No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 84-58. The Lions were never in this one. North Carolina-commit Eliott Cadeau had 17 points, 3 assists and 3 steals at the Metro Classic in  Union, N.J. Also beat Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.), 61-33, at the Metro. Three games are left in the regular season, including two this weekend at the Dr. Pepper Classic in Chattanooga, Tenn.

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

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Went 2-0 last weekend at the Metro Classic in Union, N.J.

6. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (14-6)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Went 1-1 at the AXE NIBC Series at IMG in Bradenton, Fla.

7. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (22-0)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Idle. The Giants can wrap up the Metropolitan Conference title Friday when they host Lawrence North (Indianapolis).

8. Duncanville, Texas (24-1)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Ron Holland, a McDonald’s All American and Texas Longhorn recruit, bucketed 21 points as the Panthers defeated Waxahachie, 67-54. Four games remain in the season.

9. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (24-1)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Crew won three times last weekend at the Thoroughbred Classic in Harrodsburg, Ky.

10. Columbus, Miami (20-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Finished up the regular season, defeating Southwest (Miami), 87-48. The District 16-7A playoffs tip off this week.

11. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (25-3)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Completed a perfect 10-0 mark in the Big VIII League after defeating Corona, 89-38. The Huskies play Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) Friday in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs. The top seeds have three games in Pool A with other games on Feb. 18 and 17.

12. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (28-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won the Mission League Tournament championship, beating Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 75-71, in the final. Junior guard Trent Perry tossed in 24 points and Princeton-bound Jacob Huggins added a double-double with 23 points and 17 rebounds. Perry also received an offer from UCLA after the game. The Wolverines will play St. Bernard (Playa del Rey) Friday in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs. It’s the first of three games in Pool B.

13. Simeon, Chicago (23-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: The Wolverines will face North Lawndale (Chicago) Tuesday in the Chicago Public League quarterfinals on Tuesday after knocking off Clark (Chicago), 78-41. The city semifinals are Thursday and the title game is Saturday.         The Wolverines were upset by Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.), 56-46, at the O’Fallon Shootout in Missouri.

14. Camden, N.J. (19-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Aaron Bradshaw (21 points), D.J. Wagner (18) and Billy Richmond (15) teamed for 54 points and the Panthers crushed Combine Prep (Lincolnton, N.C.) at the Kentucky Preview in Frankfort, Ky. Bradshaw and Wagner are both Kentucky recruits and McDonald’s All Americans.

15. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (20-0)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Defeated Deep Run (Glen Allen), 96-43.

16. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (19-3)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Closed out the regular season, beating Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Ca.), 66-61, at the Carmel Anthony Classic in Baltimore.

17. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (25-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: The Del Rey League champions will play in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division starting with Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks) Friday in the first of three games in Pool A.

18. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (16-6)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Went 2-2 last week, including a pair of wins at the AXE NIBC Series at IMG.

19. West Ranch, Valencia, Calif. (27-1)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: The Wildcats run the table to win the Foothill League title with a 12-0 mark. Next up are the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoffs, tipping Friday with St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the first of three games in Pool B .

20. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (16-2)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Junior guard Khaafiq Myers scored 16 points and freshman Stephon Ashley-Wright had 15 as the Saints moved into first place in the Philadelphia Catholic League with a narrow 62-60 win over Roman Catholic (Philadelphia). Three games remain in the regular season.

21. West Linn, Ore. (18-1)

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Defeated Tigard, 88-68, and Tualatin, 60-54.

22. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (18-4)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Royals won three games in the NYCHSAA Brooklyn-Queens Diocese AA last week, capped by a 62-54 victory over Bishop Loughlin (Brooklyn). Two games are left in the regular season.

23. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (12-5)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Lost to top-ranked Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 84-62, at the Metro Classic in Union, N.J., but did defeat Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 69-64. In the former game, Arizona State-commit Akil Watson scored 16 points and Simeon Wilcher (North Carolina signee) had 21. The Lions were shorthanded as Duke-bound Mackenzie Mgbako and junior forward Tarik Watson did not play. They are the top seed in the Union County Tournament that starts this week.

24. Don Bosco Prep, Ramsey, N.J. (20-2)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Ironmen advanced to the Bergen County Jamboree semifinals after an 86-37 victory over Pascack Valley (Hillsdale) in the quarterfinals. They will face rival St. Joseph Regional (Montvale) in the semifinals but must play Bergen Catholic (Oradell) Tuesday at home.

25. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (20-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: There is no room for error. The Eagles knocked Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 83-49, in league play and then topped St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), 76-67, at the Carmelo Anthony Classic in Baltimore.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (18-2)
2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (21-2)
3. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (15-6)
4. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (27-3)
5. Reading, Pa. (20-1)

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

Midwest

1. Cass Tech, Detroit (17-0)
2. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (17-0)
3. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (25-1)
4. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (15-1)
5. De Pere, Wis. (19-0)

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

Southland

1. Lake Highlands, Dallas (24-3)
2. Beaumont (Texas) United (27-1)
3. Carmel Christian, Matthews, N.C. (25-3)
4. Carter, Dallas (23-2)
5. Warren Central, Bowling Green, Ky. (22-1)

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

Far West

1. Garfield, Seattle (18-0)
2. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (25-1)
3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (24-4)
4. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (20-9)
5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (20-7)

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.