Seven of top-11 Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ teams invited to GEICO High School Nationals; states hoping to finish season

BENSALEM, Pa. – The only thing that remains is closure.

April 6, 2020 the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball final rankings were to be released. The GEICO High School Nationals would have been decided. No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy would have the clear prohibitive favorite and likely won it. Hey, the games needed to be played but coach Kevin Boyle assembled the greatest, most talented team and they were steamrolling opponents. So, yes I’d have given them the edge but upsets do occur.

The COVID-19 novel coronavirus remains public enemy No. 1—the silent enemy to all. It halted the tail end of winter sports—especially basketball—nationwide and left some state with suspended state tournaments.

There was a story from the Charlotte Observer that says North Carolina basketball isn’t done—at least not yet. There are a few others like Pennsylvania and Tennessee that are soldering on and thinking … maybe … just maybe we can find closure before calling it a day. That day looms closer and with Easter, Ramadan and Passover approaching, it’s time to lean on faith.

It might be a longshot but the 16 North Carolina teams that would have played for championships on March 14 might still play. The coronavirus isn’t slowing down and schools in North Carolina are closed until at least May 18. It would take at least a few weeks of practice for the idle teams to get prepared. State commissioner Que Tucker said the title games could be played in May or June if schools reopen. Otherwise there could be co-champions.

It’s worth monitoring.

And there’s more.

It was finally announced last Wednesday (April 1) that the GEICO Nationals were canceled. It was not a shock but the right call considering what has transpired over the last month. The 12^th annual tournaments, the eight-team boys’ field and four-team girls, were originally scheduled to run for three days starting April at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York.

When the coronavirus pandemic hit New York City, the games were shifted to Dorman High School in Roebuck, South Carolina. In spite of the change of venue, Paragon Marketing made the right call after exploring all options for the last month. It was a painstaking decision but ultimately the 12 schools were notified and we move on.

However, the eight boys’ teams Montverde Academy, Sunrise Christian Academy, Oak Hill Academy, Dorman, IMG Academy, Wasatch Academy, La Lumiere School and Prolific Prep should be commended for being invited to the prestigious event.

IMG is the defending champion and will have to wait until 2021. Top-ranked Montverde rolled out the strongest team, maybe ever, but the realization of a fifth title won’t happen this year. Oak Hill earned their 12^th straight invite—the only program to get one each year. Prolific Prep would have made its maiden voyage with two of the nation’s top players. La Lumiere last won the event in 2017 and lost in last year’s final.

Seven team in the top-11 of the Elite 25 received invites from Paragon Marketing.

As for the girls, two teams earned their first invites, with top-seeded Hamilton Heights Christian Academy and Westlake both returning. Bishop McNamara and Lake Highland Prep were the newcomers.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return. We have unfinished business and we’re not sure when the final rankings will drop.

Until next time, stay indoors. Stay strong. Say a prayer for the frontline response people in the hospitals nationwide—those are real life heroes! Let’s beat the invisible enemy and end the pandemic. Be safe and God’s Blessings during the Holy Week and the start of Passover. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, April 6, 2020

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

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Eagles won four in-state tournaments, including the City of Palms Classic before Christmas. Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) was named Gatorade’s national player of the year.

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

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) was named Maryland’s Gatorade state player of the year.

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

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Warriors captured prestigious in-season tournaments in Hawaii and Missouri.

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

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Tigers were invited to the GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 5.

Low-down: 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. The Cavaliers were to host the GEICO Nationals but they cancelled last week. PJ Hall (Clemson) was named South Carolina’s Gatorade player of the year.

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

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Buffaloes were invited to their second straight GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Open Division championship game after winning the CIF-Southern Section and Southern California Region titles.

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

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won Virginia Independent Division I state championship. Fought tooth and nail with No. 2 DeMatha all season in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Jeremy Roach (Duke) was named Virginia’s Gatorade player of the year.

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

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Won Grind Session World Championship. The Crew’s earned first-ever trip to GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the Bob Kirk Invitational in Maryland last month and were invited to GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Advanced to the Group 2 semifinals after winning the South Jersey Section title. Eventually the Panthers were declared region co-champions.

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

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Won fourth straight LHSAA Division I championship. Reece Beekman (Virginia) was named Louisiana’s Gatorade player of the year.

14. Lancaster, Texas (36-1)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class 5A semifinals after winning the Region II championship.

15. Etiwanda, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Advanced to the Southern California Open Division final.

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

Previous: 16.

Low-down: The Ascenders were invited to the GEICO Nationals.

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

Previous: 17

Low-down:Season complete. Junior guard Devin Askew, a Kentucky recruit, was named the Trinity League’s Most Valuable Player.

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

Previous: 18.

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

19. Curie, Chicago (30-2)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Advanced to the Class 4A sectional final. The Condors were four wins from the Class 4A state championship before the season was cancelled.

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

Previous: 20.

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

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

Previous: 23.

Low-down: The Philadelphia Catholic League champions advanced to the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals before the tournament was cancelled.

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

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won the Baltimore Catholic League tournament and regular season titles.

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

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won the Class 4A, Section 2 championship.

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

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Won the Class 3A, Section 4 title. Gonzaga-bound Jalen Suggs is Minnesota’s Gatorade player of the year.

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

Previous: 25.

Low-down:Won Class AA New York Archdiocesan tournament championship. RJ Davis (North Carolina) was named New York’s Gatorade player of the year and Mr. Basketball award.

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. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (20-8)

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. 28-3)*
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

# Invited to GEICO High School Nationals

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.