BENSALEM, Pa. – The McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) Indians continue to hold down the top spot in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings. The top eight teams in the Elite 25 were unchanged and there are three additions.

No. 1 McEachern moved within four wins of capturing Georgia’s Class AAAAAAA state championship while No. 2 La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) kept their record spotless and No. 3 Montverde (Fla.) Academy is on a long layoff until it plays at the GEICO Nationals in early April.

No. 13 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) tumbled four positions after a shock loss. No. 21 Cox Mill (Matthews, N.C.) dips 10 spots after a setback but now refocus on the Class 3A state title.

Three schools have been added to the Elite 25: No. 22 University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 23 Carmel (Ind.) and No. 25 Nicolet (Glendale, Wis.). Actually University re-enters the Elite 25 and are five wins from repeating in Florida Class 5A. The Sharks are also closing in on an invite to GEICO Nationals. Carmel is Indiana’s top-ranked Class 4A team and supplanted fellow Metropolitan Conference brethren Warren Central (Indianapolis) in the Elite 25. Nicolet checks in at the foot of the Elite 25 and is Wisconsin’s No. 1 squad in Division 2 with the playoffs on the horizon.

In a couple of weeks the GEICO High School Nationals, the elite eight-team boys’ field will be revealed: McEachern, La Lumiere School, Montverde Academy, IMG Academy, Oak Hill Academy and Wasatch Academy are looking good.

The remaining two spots will be invited from this group: Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.), Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), University School (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and Federal Way (Wash.). The way I see it, University School and Federal Way lead the pack but need to win state titles to confirm their invitations.

The Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on February 26. 

Thank you to all our readers; we cannot do it without you. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor 

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, February 19, 2019

1. McEachern, Powder Springs, Ga. (28-0)

Previous ranked: 1.

Low-down: Junior Sharife Cooper scored season-high 42 points and Auburn-bound Isaac Okoro added 17 points and 7 rebounds in an 89-54 blowout of East Coweta (Sharpsburg) in the Class AAAAAAA first round. Next is Cherokee (Canton) Thursday in the second round of the states. 

2. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (27-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Edged Culver (Ind.) Military Academies, 46-45. Last week Washington-bound Isaiah Stewart was selected to play in the Nike Hoop Summit and junior Gerald Drumgoole committed to Pittsburgh.

3. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (21-2)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (28-1)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated Oldsmar (Fla.) Christian, 80-31, and Downey Christian (Orlando), 97-37.

5. Salesian College Prep, Richmond, Calif. (29-0)

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Advanced to the CIF-North Coast Section semifinals, defeating San Marin (Novato), 84-43, in the quarterfinals and Kennedy (Fremont), 72-18, in the first round. Next up is St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda) in the semifinals Wednesday. 

6. Curie, Chicago (29-1)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won the Chicago Public League championship, defeating Morgan Park (Chicago), 65-60. DaJuan Gordon, a Kansas State recruit, had 28 points and 6 rebounds.  Also beat Orr (Chicago), 63-52, in the semifinals and Farragut (Chicago), 93-49, in the quarterfinals.

7. Federal Way, Wash. (23-2)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won the West Central/Southwest District Class 4A bi-district tournament, topping Curtis (University Place), 73-67. Jaden McDaniels collected 28 points and 7 rebounds.  Also beat Puyallup, 73-64, and Union (Camas), 82-62.

8. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (25-4)

Previous: 8.

Low-down: The Stags topped Washington Catholic Athletic Conference brethren St. John’s College (Washington, D.C.), 69-63, Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 61-59, and Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 64-62. The WCAC season concludes Tuesday at Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.). The WCAC Tournament quarterfinals are Saturday; and the semifinals are Sunday and the final is Monday—the latter two rounds at American University in Washington.

9. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (27-3)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: The Trailblazers topped Corona Centennial, 75-58, and St. john Bosco (Bellflower), 75-72, to capture the CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoff pool. They play Bishop Montgomery (Torrance) Saturday in the sectional final.

10. Mountain Brook, Birmingham, Ala. (28-3)

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Trendon Watford and Lior Berman each tossed in 13 points and the Spartans rolled over James Clemens (Madison), 62-40, in the Class 7A regional semifinals. The played rivals Vestavia Hills Tuesday in the final. The 7A state semifinals are Feb. 28 in Birmingham.

11. Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (26-5)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Defeated Etiwanda, 61-49, and Rancho Verde (Moreno Valley), 54-51, in CIF-Southern Section Open Division playoff pool play.

12. Fairfax, Los Angeles (26-1)

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Defeated Washington Prep (Los Angeles), 84-74, in the CIF-City Section semifinals. The Lions face archrival Westchester (Los Angeles) Saturday in the final.

13. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (25-4)

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Lost to Teays Valley Prep (Scott Depot, W.Va.), 80-72, and beat Wesley Christian (Allen City, Ky.), 82-62, at the FCA Prep Showcase in Bristol, Va. Cole Anthony had 27 points, 12 rebounds and 8 assists in the latter. Also beat West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.), 76-66, at Own the Game Invitational in Charlotte.

14. Moeller, Cincinnati (21-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Closed out a perfect regular season, trouncing St. Xavier (Cincinnati), 63-27. Miles McBride and Max Land each scored 11 points. The Crusaders open the Division I Dayton 1 District against Middletown on Friday.

15. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-2)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Andre Curbelo registered a rare triple-double with 19 points, 12 assists and 10 rebounds in a 105-58 victory over St. John’s Prep (Astoria). Also defeated The Knox School (St. James), 79-63. This weekend is the LuHi Postseason Invitational with the Crusaders facing Henninger (Syracuse) on Friday. 

16. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (24-3)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle.

17. Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn, N.Y. (20-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Idle. The CHSAA Brooklyn-Queens AA regular season champions received a bye to the tournament semifinals Tuesday.

18. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (21-5)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Defeated Planet Athlete Academy (Chandler, Ariz.), 73-34, and Redemption Life (Tulsa, Okla.), 84-43.

20. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (22-3)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Blasted New Providence, 88-61, in the Union County Tournament quarterfinals. The Lions face Union Catholic (Scotch Plains) Tuesday in the semifinals. 

21. Cox Mill, Concord, N.C. (22-2)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Saw its win streak snapped at 13 straight and received a wakeup call for the upcoming state playoffs. Upset by The Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.), 79-74, at the Own the Game Invitational in Charlotte, N.C. Wendell Moore (Duke signee, McDonald’s All-American) and Caleb Stone-Carrawell (Charlotte) pumped in 29 points apiece. The Class 3A postseason looms.

22. University School, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (22-4)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Sharks are back in the Elite 25 after winning a district title. Next is Monsignor Pace (Miami Gardens) in the Class 5A, Region 4 quarterfinals. The semifinals are Feb. 25.

23. Carmel, Ind. (19-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: The Greyhounds enter the Elite 25 after crushing then-No. 13 Warren Central (Indianapolis), 69-52. The regular season concludes Friday hosting Dwenger (Fort Wayne).

24. Scott County, Georgetown, Ky. (28-2)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The 42^ndDistrict Tournament semifinals are Wednesday at Henry Clay High School in Lexington. The final is Friday. Lost to Paul Laurence Dunbar (Lexington), 91-84, in regular season finale.

25. Nicolet, Glendale, Wis. (19-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Regular season wraps up this week with games against Whitefish Bay on Monday and Cedarburg on Thursday. The playoffs open on March 1 with regional play.

Dropped: No. 13 Warren Central (Indianapolis); No. 24 Bogan (Chicago) and No. 25 Charlotte (N.C.) Christian.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (19-4)

2. Elizabeth, N.J. (23-0)

3. Imhotep Charter, Philadelphia (19-5)

4. St. Raymond, Bronx, N.Y. (19-5) 

5. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (23-4)

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

Midwest

1. Morgan Park, Chicago (26-4)

2. Belleville (Ill.) West (26-3)

3. Bogan, Chicago (22-3)

4. Benton Harbor, Mich. (17-1)

5. Warren Central, Indianapolis (20-2)

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

Southland

1. Guyer, Denton, Texas (29-4)

2. Bartlett, Tenn. (27-2)

3. Timberview, Mansfield, Texas (31-2)

4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (32-3)

5. Millbrook, Raleigh, N.C. (24-0)

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

Far West

1. Shadow Mountain, Phoenix (24-3)..F-22-23

2. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (25-5)

3. Westchester, Los Angeles (23-3)

4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (23-4)

5. Gonzaga Prep, Spokane, Wash. (21-2)

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. 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 Senior Writer 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.