BENSALEM, Pa. — Michigan and Minnesota capped boys’ basketball seasons over the weekend with state champions crowned.
No. 6 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) claimed the program’s fourth title in as many tries (2020 Minnesota state tournaments were canceled) but it was the first one in Class AAA after winning the previous four in Class AA. The Redhawks (20-1) suffered their lone loss to No. 4 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) on Feb. 6.
The Minnesota 3A state final also ended a prep career of McDonald’s All American C Chet Holmgren, who posted double-doubles in the semifinals and the finals. Holmgren is the nation’s top undecided player from the Class of 2021. Once we find out where Holmgren is headed to college, we’ll post it on Twitter and in this column.
In East Lansing, Mich., No. 25 Catholic Central (Grand Rapids) won the Division 2 state championship. Here’s a team that could be Michigan’s top-ranked team for the start of the 2021-22 season. The Cougars (20-0) completed a perfect season with a cast of young players that form a solid nucleus.
Finally, the New York Catholic High Schools Athletic Association will play a spring schedule at one site. The schedule will be released later this week. The league is considered one of the nation’s best. Here’s the story.
That’s it for the second week of April.
The Elite 25 boys’ rankings are back April 20. After that the Elite 25 boys’ rankings will be updated every two weeks until states such as California, New York, Oregon and Washington finish their seasons later this spring.
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.
Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, April 13, 2021
1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-1)*!
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: Won the GEICO High School Nationals championship for the fifth time in nine years. Season complete.
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Season complete.
3. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (21-4)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals final. Season complete.
4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (21-3)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Advanced to GEICO Nationals semifinals. Season complete.
5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (29-2)*
Previous: 5.
Low-down: Advanced to GEICO Nationals semifinals. Season complete.
6. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (20-1)*
Previous: 6.
Low-down: Won Class AAA state championship, beating Alexandria, 80-29, in the final. It was the Redhawks’ fourth title in as many tries. Three previous three were in Class AA and last year the Minnesota state tournament was canceled. Hercy Miller popped in a game-high 24 points and 7-1 C Chet Holmgren closed out a brilliant prep career with 18 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists and 2 blocks. Mercy Miller added 15 points. In the semifinals, Holmgren had 25 points and 16 rebounds to eliminate De La Salle (Minneapolis), 79-58. Ten players entered the score book and the Redhawks shot 56.7 percent from the field on 34-of-60 accuracy. Season complete.
7. Duncanville, Texas (29-1)*
Previous: 7.
Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship. Season complete,
8. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (28-3)*
Previous: 8.
Low-down: Won Georgia Class AAAAAAA state championship and played at the GEICO Nationals. Season complete.
9. Camden, N.J. (13-0)
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Season complete.
10. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (18-7)
Previous: 10.
Low-down: Season complete.
11. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (27-0)*
Previous: 11.
Low-down: Won FHSAA Class 2A state championship. Season complete.
12. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-9)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: Coach Steve Smith is one win short of 1,200 career victories. Season complete.
13. Carmel, Ind. (26-2)*
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship. Season complete.
14. Pace Academy, Atlanta (30-2)*
Previous: 15.
Low-down: Won Georgia Class AA state championship and earned an invite to the GEICO Nationals. Season complete.
15. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (3-0)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: Season complete.
16. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (14-1)
Previous: 17.
Low-down: Season complete.
17. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-4)
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Season complete.
18. DePaul Prep, Chicago (14-2)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: Season complete.
19. Simeon, Chicago (12-1)
Previous: 20.
Low-down: The Wolverines went unbeaten against Chicago Public League rivals. Season complete.
20. Reading, Pa. (26-2)*
Previous: 21.
Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship. Season complete.
21. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (20-1)
Previous: 22.
Low-down: Won the Philadelphia Catholic League and District XII titles but lost in Class AAAAAA final. Season complete.
22. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (15-1)
Previous: 23.
Low-down: The MIAA A Conference champions lost in the Baltimore Catholic League final. Season complete.
23. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (7-4)
Previous: 24.
Low-down: Season complete.
24. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (4-0)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Nick Davidson and USC-bound Harrison Hornery scored 29 points apiece when the Monarchs beat Foothill (Santa Ana), 77-59. Also beat Calvary Chapel (Santa Ana), 82-43, s Hornery just missed a triple-double with 16 points, 9 rebounds and 8 assists. Coach Gary McKnight’s team raced to a 22-2 lead through one quarter. This weekend they play two games.
25. Catholic Central, Grand Rapids, Mich. (20-0)*
Previous: Not ranked.
Low-down: Won Division II state championship, beating Pennfield (Battle Creek), 77-54, in the final. Sophomore Kaden Brown contributed a game-high 25 points and 5 rebounds. Junior Jack Karasinski scored 18 points, making 3 of 5 3-pointers and Durral Brooks had a double-double with 10 points and 11 boards. The game was tied at 31 by halftime but the Cougars pulled away in the third quarter with a 23-10 tear. In the semifinals, the Cougars stopped Ferndale, 81-55. Brown netted 23 points, making 9 of 16 shots. The Cougars return the solid core for the 2021-22 campaign. Season complete.
Dropped: No. 14 St. Mary’s Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.).
High-Fives by Region
East
- Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (4-2)
- St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (0-0)
- Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (12-3)
- Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (16-1)*
- Bristol (Conn.) Central (15-0)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (6-9)
- Vashon, St. Louis (16-1)*
- St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (25-2)*
- Whitney Young, Chicago (15-1)
- Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (27-2)*
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- Millbrook, Raleigh, N.C. (19-0)*
- Beaumont (Texas) United (31-0)*
- Highlands, Fort Thomas, Ky. (30-4)*
- Westlake, Austin, Texas (30-2)
- Richardson, Texas (26-2)
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (0-0)
- St. Mary’s, Phoenix (20-1)*
- Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (0-0)
- Ribet Academy, Los Angeles (0-0)
- Sunnyslope, Phoenix (21-1)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
! GEICO High School Nationals champion
* 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.
