BENSALEM, Pa. – The first weekend of 2020 brought chaos Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. The schoolboy hoop universe was focused on three cities, where all the matchups were impactful and brought change.

No other event had more impact than the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, West Virginia. For two days the nine Elite 25 teams battled and two teams that rose above the rest were No. 3 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) and No. 22 Huntington (W.Va.) Prep. The home state club played so well after a so-so month of December that it re-entered the Elite 25. Both teams went 2-0 at the must-see basketball bonanza.

In Minneapolis, three Elite 25 teams competed and the local squad emerged with the biggest win in state history. Since Minnesota schools are essentially tethered by arcane travel rules, No. 15 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) is back in the rankings after knocking the “road warriors” known as No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) by 20 points before 17,000-plus fans at the Target Center. Minnehaha will play against two teams from Wisconsin later this season but the rest are in-state contests. It would have been interesting to seem that team compete at a real holiday tournament in Florida, Hawaii, Oregon, California, Texas or South Carolina.

On the same trip, No.. 17 The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) lost to Sierra Canyon and its best player, Jonathan Kuminga, to an injury last Friday. Two days later, Patrick rebounded with a win but Kuminga was held out for precautionary reasons. No word on his return.

Finally, in Memphis, Tennessee, the Memphis ARS-Rescue Rooter Classic produced an upset and gave that great basketball city a glimpse at greatness as No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy showed no signs of slowing up by waxing two local teams. Coach Kevin Boyle’s team is looking to run the table and close out with a GEICO High School Nationals’ title in April. If the Eagles achieve it, they will go down as the greatest high school team in history. That’s saying a lot but it’s shaping up that way.

Only three teams were static in the Elite 25 with three additions and 19 other shifting positions. The biggest drop came from No. 19 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), which plummeted 14 spots after two losses. Sierra Canyon and Patrick dipped 13 slots. No. 5 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and No. 7 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore) are repping the DMV quite well and vaulted up 12 and 11 spots, respectively.

No. 24 Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.) joins the Elite 25 after an impressive showing at the Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic. Louisiana’s defending Division I state champions won the New Orleans tournament over the weekend winning four times and capturing the championship for the second time in last three years.

The action is starting to heat up so expect more change.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return Jan. 14.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, Jan. 7, 2020

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (15-0)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: The Eagles swooped into Memphis, Tenn., and captured two wins at the Memphis ARS-Rescue Rooter Classic, defeating Wooddale (Memphis), 82-51, and Olive Branch (Miss.), 86-46. This weekend coach Kevin Boyle returns to New Jersey for two games at the Metro Shore Classic in Toms River.

2. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-1)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. The Warriors resume their schedule Saturday against Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.) at Rock the Ribbon Roundball Shootout in Lexington, Va.

3. Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. (15-0)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: The Hawks rolled to a pair of victories at the Memphis ARS-Rescue Rooter Classic.

4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (17-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: The Tigers moved the needle last weekend winning twice at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia over then-No. 6 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 57-53, and Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 72-52.

5. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (10-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: After winning the DeMatha Christmas Classic last week, the Stags kept the momentum going with a key 71-60 victory over then-No. 15 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia. The Stags take on rival No. 21 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) Tuesday.

6. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (15-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: The win streak hit 12 games after drubbing Santa Clarita Christian (Canyon Country), 82-69, at the Real Run Winter Classic. This weekend the Eagles play No. 16 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth) in a Southern California showdown.

7. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (16-1)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: It’s a defining week for the Panthers, who travel to No. 13 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), and play two league games.

8. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (14-1)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: The Rams topped Shiloh (Snellville), 72-60, in Class AAAAAAA Region 8 play.

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (14-2)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: The only action weekend was a 96-50 victory over Lynwood at the Real Run Winter Classic in Torrance.

10. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (11-2)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Buffaloes split two games the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va., beating then-No. 9 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), 52-39 and lost to Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, 62-54.

11. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (9-2)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Coach Patrick Holmes’ crew lost to then-No. 10 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 52-39, but rebounded to beat Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 68-62, at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia. The Lakers are off until Jan. 14.

12. Dorman, Roebuck, S.C. (13-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, S.C., beating then No. 16 St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 69-60, in the final.

13. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (8-3)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Lost to Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.), 32-22, in a slowdown game at the Memphis ARS-Rescue Rooter Classic. Also defeated East (Memphis), 66-40.

14. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (18-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Split two games at Mustang Madness in Paducah, Ky. The Crew is off until Jan. 17 when they face Huntington (W.Va.) Prep at Flyin’ to the Hoop in Kettering, Ohio.

15. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (8-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Redhawks return to the Elite 25 after manhandling then-No. 3 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.), 78-58, before a packed house at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The Redhawks are off this week and won’t play until Jan. 13. Additionally, Jalen Suggs announced last week he’ll sign with Gonzaga.

16. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (15-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: The Trailblazers had mixed results in Minnesota. First, they defeated then-No. 4 The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.), 71-56. Then the Californians dropped a 78-58 decision to No. 15 Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis) before 17,378 at the Target Center in Minneapolis. The scene shifts back to Los Angeles for a hug matchup with No. 6 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) on Saturday night.

17. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (7-2)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: The Jersey Boys pulled out a 53-44 victory over St. Augustine Prep (Richland, N.J.) as Zarique Nutter popped in 18 points and Muhammad Sow added 12 points and snared 9 rebounds. Also lost to then-No. 3 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 71-56. Junior forward Jonathan Kuminga, the No. 1 player in the Class of 2021, was injured in the loss and did not play in the second half when Sierra pulled away or against St.. Augustine.

18. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (7-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Defeated archrivals Iona Prep (New Rochelle), 62-54. The Crusaders have a busy week with three games, including St. Raymond (Bronx) on Friday.

19. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (7-3)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: It was a lost weekend for the boys from Northern Virginia. The Panthers were outscored 30-20 in the middle two frames of a 60-55 league loss to Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.). They also lost to then-No. 7 Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah), 57-53, in the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va. It’s another big week for the Black and Gold with three WCAC game, including No. ghgh Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) on Thursday.

20. Duncanville, Texas (14-2)

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Opened District 8-6A play with a blowout win over Berkner (Richardson), 80-57.

21. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (10-3)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Eagles faced Elite 25 teams DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) Tuesday and Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) Thursday in WCAC showdowns.

22. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (13-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Irish are back in the Elite 25 after an impressive showing at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va.

23.  Curie, Chicago (13-1)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Defeated Muskegon (Mich.), 60-50. Lost to Callaway (Jackson, Miss.), 62-56, at Mustang Madness in Paducah, Ky. Big game this week against Bogan (Chicago) Tuesday.

24. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (19-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won Allstate Sugar Bowl Prep Classic National bracket, beating Tampa (Fla.) Catholic, 70-56, in New Orleans. It was the second Sugar Bowl title in the last three years. Tai’Ron Joseph pumped in a game-high 25 points and Virginia-bound Reece Beekman added 10 points, 6 rebounds and 3 assists, earning Most Valuable Player honors.

25. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (13-3)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: The Monarchs split two games at the Cancer Research Classic in West Virginia, losing to then-No. 17 DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 71-60. Next is Trinity League games with Orange Lutheran on Wednesday and at Servite (Anaheim) on Friday.

Dropped: No. 16. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C.; No. 21 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic and No. 22 Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (10-2)
2. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (12-1)
3. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (9-2)
4. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (4-2)
5. Xaverian, Brooklyn, N.Y. (11-1)

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

Midwest

1. Sussex (Wis.) Hamilton (7-0)
2. Collinsville, Ill. (14-0)
3. Lawrence North, Indianapolis (8-0)
4. La Crosse (Wis.) Central (6-0)
5. Evanston, Ill. (13-0)

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

Southland

1. Moravian Prep, Hudson, N.C. (18-1)
2. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (19-2)
3. Lancaster, Texas (19-2)
4. Norcross, Ga. (15-2)
5. Briarcrest Christian Academy, Eads, Tenn. (13-3)

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

Far West

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (13-2)
2. Eastside Catholic, Sammamish, Wash. (9-1)
3. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (15-2)
4. Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (10-2)
5. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (10-2)

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

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.