BENSALEM, Pa. – The latest Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings is based on games through Feb. 10.
There is little change in the rankings; only No. 22 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia) joins. With the season wrapping up this week, especially in the Southland Region, the rankings will need to withstand a heavy postseason push by teams looking to leave their mark.
The next rankings are due Feb. 17. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings, Feb. 10, 2014
1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: The Monarchs picked up two victories, most notably a 78-68 decision over St. John Bosco (Bellflower). Two games left in the regular season.
2. Curie, Chicago (21-1)
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Cliff Alexander had 22 points and eight rebounds in a 71-37 win over Perspectives (Chicago) in the first round of the Chicago Public Schools Tournament.
3. Rainier Beach, Seattle (20-0)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Closed out regular season throttling Franklin (Seattle), 92-40.
4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (22-1)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Idle. The Eagles have a pair of games in New Jersey this weekend.
5. White Station, Memphis, Tenn. (26-1)
Previous: 5.
Low-down: Topped Arlington, 83-66, in the SCIAA Class AAA final at the FedExForum. Leron Black, an Illinois signee, had 31 points and 9 boards and Ladarius Coleman recorded 11 points and 11 rebounds.
6. Northside Christian Academy, Charlotte, N.C. (24-1)
Previous: 6.
Low-down: Closed out regular season with three lopsided wins.
7. Converse (Texas) Judson (30-1)
Previous: 7.
Low-down: The Rockets close out regular season Tuesday against New Braunfels.
8. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (18-2)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: The Lakers knocked Midwest Elite Prep (Merrillville), 65-57.
9. St. John’s, Washington, D.C. (23-1)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Defeated Bishop Ireton (Alexandria, Va.), 72-53.
10. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (21-0)
Previous: 10.
Low-down: The Cardinals defeated their borough rivals St. Raymond (Bronx), 79-71.
11. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (19-3)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: The Apaches defeated Tampa Bay Christian Academy, 94-56.
12. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (21-3)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: The Railsplitters capped the regular season with two wins and open PSAL AA playoffs Tuesday against Brooklyn Law and Technology.
13. Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y. (16-3)
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Kobie Eubanks contributed 23 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists and Cheick Diallo added 14 points and pulled down 5 rebounds to beat Pace Academy (Carrboro, N.C.), 66-56, at the PrimeTime Shootout in New Jersey.
14. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (22-4)
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Junior forward Thomas Bryant had 18 points in a 76-38 win over Carlisle School (Martinsville, Va.).
15. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (30-3)
Previous: 15.
Low-down: Topped Legacy Charter, 77-59, Rokas Gustys had 19 points and nine rebounds.
16. Arsenal Tech, Indianapolis (18-2)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: The Titans bounced back after a loss to beat Pike (Indianapolis), 82-75.
17. Sagemont, Weston, Fla. (28-0)
Previous: 17.
Low-down: Won the District 15-3A championship and now play Palmer Trinity (Palmetto Bay) Thursday in the regional quarterfinals.
18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (22-4)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: Chase Jeter’s 18 points paced the Gaels past Desert Oasis (Las Vegas), 95-74.
19. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (25-4)
Previous: 20.
Low-down: Derryck Thornton scored 14 points and Craig Victor and Kelly Oubre each added 13 as the Pilots beat Desert Pines (Las Vegas), 70-50.
20. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (16-1)
Previous: 21.
Low-down: Marsalis Hamilton flipped in 26 points and cleared 11 rebounds in a 73-70 victory over archrivals St. Ignatius (Cleveland).
21. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (25-1)
Previous: 22.
Low-down: Greg Zuppas recorded a double-double, with 21 points and 16 rebounds, as the Lions stopped Faith Christian Academy (Orlando) in the District 5-2A final.
22. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (20-3)
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: The Cahillites went 13-0 to bag the Philadelphia Catholic League regular season title and the top seed in the upcoming league tournament. Impressive league wins include regionally ranked Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.) and Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia). Pennsylvania’s top-ranked Class AAAA team is in line for a serious run at a state title.
23. Providence Christian, Jacksonville, Fla. (23-4)
Previous: 23.
Low-down: Won the Class 3A, District 4 title, beating University Christian (Jacksonville), 79-27. Next up is Oak Hall (Gainesville) in the regional quarterfinals.
24. Prime Prep, Dallas (18-5)
Previous: 24.
Low-down: The Truth is eyeing the National Association of Christian Athletes national tournament.
25. Loyola, Los Angeles (23-1)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Defeated Crespi (Encino), 63-51, and St. Francis (La Canada), 73-61. Arizona-bound G Parker Jackson-Cartwright left school for admitting to academic misconduct.
Dropped: No. 18 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.).
High-Fives by Region
East
1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (17-4)
2. Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.). (19-3)
3. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (18-5)
4. Mount Vernon, N.Y. (16-1)
5. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (18-5)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midlands
1. Whitney Young, Chicago (19-5)
2. Chaminade, St. Louis (19-1)
3. Apple Valley, Minn. (21-1)
4. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (21-1)
5. Moeller, Cincinnati (17-1)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
South
1. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (27-1)
2. DeSoto, Texas (25-3)
3. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (21-1)
4. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (20-5)
5. Putnam City West, Oklahoma City (16-2)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
1. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (22-2)
2. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (26-1)
3. Lone Peak, Highland, Utah (16-2)
4. Etiwanda, Calif. (23-3)
5. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (20-4)
Geography: Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
About: The Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys High School Rankings are released weekly from September 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. The final rankings will be released April 7, 2014. Follow him on Twitter at #clawlor.
