BENSALEM, Pa. – It was a week that we as a nation won’t soon forget. There is too much to disseminate and process but the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings appear to be on fumes as does the remainder of the state tournaments.

Several states pulled the plug on seasons that were within a game of just over a week from complete due to health concerns of the COVID-19 coronavirus outbreak. There is widespread panic and the government officials are urging people to stay home. Schools are closed for up to three weeks. Restaurants are closing and some are offering deep discounts and free delivery service to it customers. Companies are allowing employees to work from home. The next thing is a complete lockdown as witnessed in Europe, most notably Italy.

It’s a mess but we have to adhere to the warnings from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. We’re not sure if the season will resume anywhere—perhaps April—but the spring seasons nationally are in jeopardy.

There was no movement in the Elite 25 rankings. Twelve Elite 25 teams had their postseason plans altered last week, excluding those heading to the GEICO High School Nationals.

Good news in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, where No. 13 Scotlandville captured its fourth consecutive LHSAA Division I state champion in spite of an empty gymnasium. The Hornets stamped themselves are a national power and Reece Beekman was named Most Valuable Player for the third straight year. We’ll be a welcome addition to the Virginia Cavaliers, who figure to be a favorite to win the NCAA Division I Men’s National Championship in 2021—provided there is a March Madness.

No. 10 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) won the Grind Session World Championship last week in Benton, Kentucky.

As for senior all-star games, both McDonald’s and Jordan Brand Classic scheduled for later this month have been cancelled.

The GEICO High School Nationals are on hold and were moved to Roebuck, South Carolina last week. If played, the 12^thannual event will be contested at Dorman High School some time in April. Hopefully the tournaments will be spared but not at the expense of the public.

My final GEICO Nationals ballot (in no particular order): Montverde Academy, Wasatch Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Sunrise Christian, Prolific Prep, IMG Academy, Dorman and La Lumiere. Book it!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return at a later date. We are indefinitely suspended but will notify you through social mediums and at www.bluestarmedia.org. Check back regularly, we’ll get the information out as soon as possible. Perhaps the next time we’re out is for the final rankings.

Happy Patrick’s Day!

Stay safe, stay indoors and wash your hands multiple times per day if you are out and about. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 17, 2020

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Eagles posted a perfect campaign and won’t play again until the GEICO High School Nationals in South Carolina. They last won it in 2018 and made it to the semifinals last year.

2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (30-3)*

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The season is complete after the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament was canceled last week over Coronavirus concerns. The Stags did capture the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles.

3. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (37-3)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle. The Warriors will play in the GEICO Nationals if the postponed event is staged.

4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (27-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Tigers are headed to the GEICO Nationals.

5. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (22-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Season complete. The Crusaders were scheduled to play in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals but that was cancelled.

6. Dorman, Roebuck, S.C. (30-1)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won fourth straight Class 5A state championship. We’ll see if the GEICO Nationals are played in South Carolina. Otherwise the season is complete.

7. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (22-3)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Buffaloes are headed to their second straight GEICO Nationals in April.

8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Trailblazers season is over when the CIF Open Division state championships were canceled. However, they did put on a show earlier last week. In the Southern California Region final, the Blazers defeated then-No. 15 Etiwanda, 63-61. Ziaire Williams’ 15-foot jumper at the buzzer won it. Brandon Boston’s 3-pointer with under two minutes left capped an incredible 11-0 run that tied the game at 61. Season complete.

9. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (27-8)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: The Panthers were slated to play in the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament last weekend but the event was canceled due to coronavirus concerns. Season complete.

10. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-3)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Grind Session World Championship in Benton, Ky. The Crew beat Our Savior Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.), 95-80, in the final. Nimari Burnett was named Most Valuable Player after torching OSL for 37 points, sinking 6 of 10 3-pointers. The regular season is complete but the Crew is scheduled to appear in its first-ever GEICO Nationals if the event is staged.

11. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-3)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Regular season is complete but the Lakers are headed to GEICO Nationals.

12. Camden, N.J. (29-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The NJSIAA canceled the remainder of the season. The Panthers were slated to play Manasquan last week in the Group 2 semifinals but the game was scrapped. In the South Jersey final, the Panthers crushed Haddonfield, 70-42. Disappointing end to brilliant season.

13. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (35-3)*

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won fourth straight LHSAA Division I championship, trouncing St. Augustine (New Orleans), 66-39. Virginia-bound Reece Beekman earned his third consecutive Most Valuable Player award after posting 16 points, 9 assists and 9 rebounds. The Hornets buried 11 3-pointers and made over half their shots from the floor.

Coach Carlos Sample’s team also hammered Brother Martin (New Orleans), 88-45, in the semifinals. The final was played in Scotlandville’s empty gym over coronavirus concerns. Season complete.

14. Lancaster, Texas (36-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The UIL suspended the Class 5A state tournament last week. There is no word when or if the tournament will be played. The Class 5A Region II champions were scheduled to play Wagner (San Antonio) last Friday in the semifinals.

15. Etiwanda, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Lost to No. 8 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 63-61, in the Southern California Open Division final. Season complete. The Eagles coughed up an 11-point lead in the final three minutes to fall two victories short of a state crown. Season complete.

16. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (19-6)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Ascenders are going to GEICO Nationals if they are played.

17. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)

Previous: 17

Low-down: Season complete.

18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (28-3)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Nevada Class 4A state championship. Season complete.

19. Curie, Chicago (30-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: The remainder of the Illinois boys’ postseason was cancelled last week. The Condors reached the Class 4A sectional final after beating Morton, 65-52, in the semifinals. The SuperSectional was scheduled for Monday and the Class 4A state tournament this weekend in Peoria. It is the first time the IHSA will not crown a boys’ champion since it began sponsoring the sport starting with the 1907-08 academic year. Season complete.

20. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (30-4)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won New Jersey State Prep A championship. Season complete.

21. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (24-4)*

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Game with Loyalsock Township in the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals was suspended over fears of coronavirus. The Saints defeated Holy Redeemer (Wilkes-Barre), 87-49, in the second round. The final three rounds could resume in April.

22. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (38-4)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: The Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament was canceled. Season complete.

23. Eden Prairie, Minn. (28-0)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Austin Andrews threw in 20 points and Miles Frisch added 15, propelling

Buffalo, 79-54, to the Class 4A Section 2 championship. The Eagles advanced to the 4A state tournament but have been cancelled.

24. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (25-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The MHSL Class 3A state tournament has been cancelled. However, the Redhawks won the Class 3A, Section 4 title, pummeling Totino-Grace (Fridley), 94-58. That means the Redhawks qualified for their first 3A state tournament this week after winning the previous two 2A titles Jalen Suggs, a Gonzaga recruit, pumped in 30 points and 7-foot-junior Chet Holmgren added 20. Season complete.

25. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (18-9)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Class AA New York Archdiocesan champions received word last week the season is over. There will be no quest for the CHSAA Class AA intersectional city title because of the Coronavirus concerns. Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (29-6)*
2. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-10)*
3. Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore (25-2)
4. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (22-5)
5. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (21-7)

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

Midwest

1. Moeller, Cincinnati (26-1)
2. Bloomington (Ind.) South (26-0)
3. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (25-1)
4. River Rouge, Mich. (20-1)
5. Vashon, St. Louis (24-5)

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

Southland

1. North Mecklenburg, Huntersville, N.C. (30-1)
2. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (27-3)*
3. Ashland (Ky.) Blazer (32-0)
4. Lee, Montgomery, Ala. (33-1)*
5. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (24-7)*

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

Far West

1. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (28-5)
2. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (25-7)
3. Garfield, Seattle (25-4)*
4. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (22-8)
5. Salpointe Catholic, Tucson, Ariz. (30-1)*

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

* Won a state, national or recognized conference/league postseason tournament championship

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. The final rankings will be released in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.