Second to None: No. 22 Whitney Young of Chicago bags Class 4A title; re-enters Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – Three schools from the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 boys’ basketball rankings won state championships last weekend.

That pushes the total to 15 state champions, with California and Indiana the remaining states yet to crown their winners. With the final weekend of championships upon us, all that remains is the sixth Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament from April 3 to 5 in New York. All eight teams in the event are among the Top-13 teams in the Go-To 25.

No. 1 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) is one win away from a state championship in California’s Open Division and the Blue Star Media Go-To 25 National Championship. The task won’t be easy on Saturday in Sacramento as the opponent is Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) and super junior Ivan Rabb.

Additionally, No. 9 Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis) and McDonald’s All-American Trey Lyles goes for the Indiana Class 4A title Saturday against Lake Central.

Kudos the newly minted champions: No. 18 St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio), No. 19 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), No. 21 Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) and No. 22 Whitney Young (Chicago).

By the way, No. 22 Whitney Young is back in the rankings after enduring a long season that culminated with a Class 4A state title.

Perhaps the most emotional state champion is Ja’Quan Newton of Neumann-Goretti, whose mother, Lisa Brown, passed away last Thursday from cancer. Her son was a one-man wrecking crew as the Saints won the Class AAA championship. Newton poured in 33 points and concluded a brilliant prep career with 1,972 points. Newton is headed to Miami in the fall and will carry the memory of his 38-year-old mother—who was beloved at the South Philadelphia school and taken far too early. Our condolences to Ja’Quan and his family as they grieve.

The final Go-To 25 rankings will appear on April 7. I’ll be at the McDonald’s All-American Game in Chicago and then jet back to New York for three days of basketball bliss at the Dick’s Nationals.

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

Blue Star Media Go-To 25 Boys Basketball Rankings, March 24, 2014

1. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (34-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Monarchs knocked off Westchester (Los Angeles), 70-60, in CIF Southern California Open Division final, and survived a huge scare in the semifinals, fending off Etiwanda, 67-64, in double overtime. Next up is Bishop O’Dowd (Oakland) in Open Division final Saturday at the Sleep Train Center, Sacramento.

2. Rainier Beach, Seattle (29-0)*

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won second straight Class 3A state championship. Regular season complete and the Vikings are off to the Dick’s Sporting Good High School National Tournament next week in New York City.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)**

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Now the Eagles await the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.

4. Northside Christian Academy, Charlotte, N.C. (28-1)*

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Won Class 2A Independent state championship and are headed to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.

5. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-2)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Next up is a third-straight invitation to the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.

6. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (26-4)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Regular season complete. The Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament is next.

7. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (39-3)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Warriors will play in the Dick’s Sporting High School National Tournament tipping on April 3 in New York.

8. Our Savior New American, Centereach, N.Y. (28-3)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won second straight USA National Prep Championships and the National Association of Christian Athletes Division I title. Season complete.

9. Arsenal Tech, Indianapolis (26-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Kentucky-recruit Trey Lyles had 27 points and 10 rebounds as the Titans held off a late charge in defeating Bloomington North, 75-71, in the Class 4A Semistate. Next up is championship game vs. Lake Central Saturday at the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. The Titans aim to become the first Indianapolis public school to claim a state title since 1980.

10. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (30-3)*

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship for a fifth time in six years. Season complete.

11. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (30-4)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Regular season complete. Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament is next.

12. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (31-6)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won Alhambra Catholic Invitational Tournament and the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament titles. Season complete.

13. Sagemont, Weston, Fla. (33-0)*

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Next up is the Dick’s Nationals in New York.

14. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (33-1)*

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won third consecutive Division I state championship. Season complete.

15. Arlington Country Day, Jacksonville, Fla. (30-5)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won the SIAA state championship. Season complete.

16. North Shore, Galena Park, Texas (35-3)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship. Season complete.

17. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (30-1)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Won Class 2A state championship for the program’s fifth title in the last seven years. Season complete.

18. St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (26-2)*

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Won Division I state championship, defeating Upper Arlington, 62-58, in overtime.  Marsalis Hamilton swished a 3-pointer in the waning seconds to force overtime. Kipper Nichols scored a game-high 26 points as the Eagles won their second title and first since 1998. In the semifinals, the Eagles blew out East Tech (Cleveland), 89-64. Nichols popped in 25 points. Season complete.

19. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (27-4)*

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Won Class AAA state championship, taking out Susquehanna Township (Harrisburg), 64-57, in overtime. Miami-recruit G Ja’Quan Newton, whose mother died on Thursday, honored her memory with a monster game, 33 points including 5 3-pointers. The Saints, who have four titles in five years, carry a 17-game win streak into next season. For the second time in two weeks, the Saints knocked off Philadelphia Electrical and Technology, 63-53, in semifinals. Season complete.

20. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (32-1)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won Class 5A state championship. The Chargers have won three straight state titles and seven overall. Season complete.

21. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (25-6)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won second-straight New York State Federation Class AA final, beating Long Island Lutheran (Brookville), 58-52. It was the program’s fourth Fed title and third under coach Joe Arbitello. Senior Andre Walker, the MVP, dropped in 13 of his 25 points in the third quarter to help rally the Royals. In semifinals,  they toppled regionally ranked Cardozo (Oakland Gardens), 54-51, in overtime. Super sophomore Rawle Atkins had 18 points and cleared 10 boards. Season complete.

22. Whitney Young, Chicago (29-5)*

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Dolphins re-enter the rankings, edging Benet Academy (Lisle), 46-44, in Class 4A final. Miles Reynolds, a Saint Louis signee, had 19 points. Duke-bound C Jahlil Okafor scored 8 points and ripped down 6 boards. It’s the program’s third overall title and first since 2009. In the semifinals, Okafor poured in 33 points and cleared 14 rebounds in a 75-68 win over then-No. 22 Stevenson (Lincolnshire). Season complete.

23. Converse (Texas) Judson (37-2)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Advanced to Class 5A final. Season complete.

24. Lincoln, Brooklyn, N.Y. (26-4)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: The Brooklyn Borough champions advanced to the New York PSAL AA semifinals. Seton Hall-bound guard Isaiah Whitehead will play in the Jordan Brand Classic at Brooklyn’s Barclays Center on April 18 and was named New York’s Mr. Basketball. Season complete.

25. Jefferson, Portland, Ore. (26-1)*

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won their second straight Class 5A state championship. The Democrats rolled to their fifth title in seven years. Season complete.

Dropped: No. 22 Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Potomac, Dumfries, Va. (28-1)*

2. East Side, Newark, N.J. (30-1)*

3. Cardozo, Oakland Gardens, N.Y. (30-3)*

4. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (26-2)

5. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (34-5)*

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

Midlands

1. Muskegon, Mich. (28-0)*

2. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (32-2)

3. Germantown, Wis. (26-2)*

4. De La Salle, Minneapolis (26-3)*

5. West, Iowa City, Iowa (23-3)*

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

South

1. Prime Prep, Dallas (22-6)                                               

2. Greater Atlanta Christian, Norcross, Ga. (32-0)*

3. Covington (Ky.) Catholic (33-2)*

4. Norland, Miami (27-5)*

5. Natchitoches (La.) Central (31-3)*

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

Far West

1. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (28-4)

2. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (29-3)

3. Monte Vista, Danville, Calif. (31-1)

4. Etiwanda, Calif. (27-5)

5. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (25-6)

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

* Won state, national or postseason conference tournament championship

** Includes forfeits

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.