REIGNMAKER: Coach Kevin Boyle and No. 1 Montverde (FL) are Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys National Champions for third straight year

BENSALEM, Pa. – The Purple Reign continues to rule.

For the third straight year, the Purple and Gold from Montverde (Fla.) Academy are the Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys Basketball National Champions.

Coach Kevin Boyle and the Eagles won their sixth GEICO High School Nationals earlier this month in Fort Myers, Florida and with a national schedule that included 10 games in the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference, it’s clear Montverde is No. 1 again.

Montverde beat No. 2 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 60-49, in the GEICO Nationals final on April 2.

There’s more from Florida.

Last weekend, No. 7 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) rolled to the inaugural State Champions Invitational championship, defeating Auburn (Wash.), 71-44, in the final in Tampa. The Eagles went 26-2 with losses to No. 1 Montverde in January and Milton (Alpharetta, Ga.) at the City of Palms Classic in December. The Eagles claimed their second straight Class 4A state crowns and added the SCI title to their resume.

Taylor Hendricks was the ringleader with 13 points and five rebounds in the final, earning Most Valuable Player honors. Florida Atlantic-signee Brenen Lorient added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds.

Auburn (28-3), which won its first-ever title in Washington Interscholastic Athletic Association Class 3A in March, held their own. The Trojans went 1-1 against national competition, albeit 2,500 miles from home. Senior Trevon Blassingame, who is unsigned, posted his second double-double in the tournament with 13 points and 11 rebounds and was added to the all-tournament team.

In Portland, Oregon, USA defeated the World Select Team, 102-80, last Friday at the Nike Hoops Summit in the Moda Center. It was the first international all-star in the last two years after the pandemic forced cancellations.

The Americans improved to 16-7 all-time in game that was first played in 1995.

Villanova-bound Cam Whitmore of Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.) scored 19 points with two 3-pointers. Dariq Whitehead, a Duke recruit from Montverde Academy, had 17 points and Kel’el Ware, an Oregon recruit, added 11 in the win.

Jean Montero topped all players with 23 points, sinking 4 of 8 3-pointers for the World Team. Omaha Billew of No. 2 Link Academy had 12 points and 6 rebounds.

Kudos to all the players for your selection to such a prestigious event. It’s good the event is back in the rotation.

Okay, we’ve come to the end of the road for another season. For the first time three year we had a normal season. Two years ago, the COVID-19 pandemic crushed the tail end of the term and the GEICO Nationals that were supposed to be played in Roebuck, South Carolina. A year ago, the GEICO Nationals were played but some states were playing as late as June. Some state associations did not conduct state tournaments.

At least this year, all 50 states and the District of Columbia held tournaments much to the relief millions of players, fans, parents and coaches nationwide. We cannot wait for the 2022-23 season. It’ll be bigger and better.

Just because the high school is over doesn’t mean our basketball coverage stops. We’ll hitting the road this spring and summer for select club tournaments and events on the East Coast and beyond. We really looking forward to the Pangos All American Camp slated for early June (the destination of the camp is still unknown).

Check back regularly here for updates on the club scene and whatever else pops up.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return with the preseason sometime in November. The Elite 25 preseason football rankings will be revealed in early August.

It was another great season and we had a blast covering the national scene and relaying all the stories involving the elite players and high school teams.

We cannot thank you enough for your loyal readership and support. It means the world to us.

That’s it for the first week in April. Florida was a blast and the GEICO Nationals was as good as it gets.

Stay safe and make sure your vaccines are up to date.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Final Rankings, April 11, 2022

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-4) # !

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: The Purple and Gold Eagles are the Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions for a third straight year. Also won the GEICO High School Nationals for the sixth time. Dariq Whitehead, a Duke recruit, was named Gatorade National Player of the Year.

2. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (34-2)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals final. Great inaugural season for the Lions, who figure to be main player next season and beyond.

3. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (25-2)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Won the National Interscholastic Basketball League title and advanced to the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (23-5)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals semifinals.

5. Duncanville, Texas (35-1)*

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: Won a third consecutive UIL Class 6A state championship.

6. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (33-1)*

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Won the CIF Open Division state championship.

7. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (26-2)* %

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Won the inaugural State Champions Invitational, beating Auburn (Wash.), 71-44, in the final. Central Florida-bound and Most Valuable Player Taylor Hendricks was the ringleader with 13 points and 5 rebounds. Florida Atlantic-signee Brenen Lorient added a double-double with 13 points and 10 rebounds; Carl Cherenfant struck for 14 points, Michigan-recruit Greg Glenn III had 12 points and 5 assists, while junior Marvel Allen added 12 points. In the semifinals, Hendricks contributed a double-double with 24 points (9 of 13 shooting), 12 rebounds, two steals and two blocks. The Eagles also won a second consecutive FHSAA Class 4A state title.

8. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (20-5)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals.

9. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (33-8)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals. Coach Steve Smith retired with a sparkling 1,231-99 record and nine national championships. Thank you, Steve!

10. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (29-2)**

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Won the New Jersey State Tournament of Champions and Non-Public B titles.

11. Camden, N.J. (31-3)*

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Won Group 2 state championship. Season complete.

12. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (25-5)

Previous: 12.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals.

13. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (26-5)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Southern Region Open Division final.

14. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (37-1)*

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won the Illinois Class 4A state championship.

15. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (31-5)**

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference champions and Virginia Independent Schools Athletic Association Division 1 championships.

16. North Little Rock, Ark. (28-3)*

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: Won the second straight Class 6A state championship.

17. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (25-1)*

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Won the New Jersey Prep A state championship.

18. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (27-3)*

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: Won NYCHSAA Class AA Intersectional championship.

19. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (26-4)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Won the New York CHSAA Class AA Archdiocesan championship but lost in the CHSAA AA Intersectional final. Also tied for the New York Class AA Archdiocesan regular-season title.

20. Beaumont (Texas) United (36-3)*

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Won second straight UIL Class 5A state championship.

21. Columbus, Miami (29-2)*

Previous: 21.

The Low-down: Won the FHSAA Class 7A state championship.

22. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (28-4)*

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: Won the PIAA Class AAAAA state championship.

23. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (30-1)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: Advanced to Nevada Class 5A final.

24. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (21-7)*

Previous: 24.

The Low-down: Won the Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament championship for the 26^th time.

25. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (26-7)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals semifinals.

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Mount Vernon, N.Y. (24-0)*
2. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-4)**
3. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (32-7)**
4. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (24-4)*
5. Bristol (Conn.) Central (29-0)*

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

Midwest

1. Pickerington (Ohio) Central (26-2)*
2. Whitney Young, Chicago (26-10)*
3. Park Center, Brooklyn Center, Minn. (31-1)*
4. Vashon, S. Louis (27-4)*
5. Williamston, Mich. (27-0)*

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

Southland

1. Weddington, Matthews, N.C. (31-0)*
2. Christian Brothers, Memphis, Tenn. (28-0)*
3. George Rogers Clark, Winchester, Ky. (37-1)*
4. Norcross, Ga. (26-7)*
5. Carmel Christian, Matthews, N.C. (26-3)*

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

Far West

1. Damien, La Verne, Calif. (30-4)*
2. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (25-5)*
3. Liberty, Henderson, Nev. (22-4)*
4. Auburn, Wash. (28-3)*
5. Tualatin, Ore. (26-2)*

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

! Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions

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

 # Won GEICO High School Nationals championship

 % Won State Champions Invitational 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. 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.