SHOWTIME: Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament debuts with Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings supplying eight teams

BENSALEM, Pa. – Finally, it’s showtime for the Nike EYBL Scholastic. The nation’s top schoolboy basketball conference is about to unveil its inaugural tournament this week in North Augusta, South Carolina.

And the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings have their fingerprints all over it. Eight of the 10 teams from the EYBL Scholastic Conference are featured in the Elite 25. When the next set of rankings are dropped in seven days, expect big changes and the winner getting an automatic berth to the prestigious CHIPOTLE High School Nationals from April 2-5 in Fishers, Indiana.

But first the EYBL Scholastic Tournament particulars. It’s a 10-team based solely on the regular season standings from the conference play that began in November and ended on Sunday, Feb. 22 in La Jolla, Calif. Some of the household names from the national scene will participate in the two first round, play-in games with the top-6 earning byes to the quarterfinals.

The first round is Wednesday, March 5; the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 6; the semifinals are Friday, March 7 and the championship game is Saturday, March 8. The final two rounds will be shown on NBA TV. The first two days or six games are on the League Ready channel on YouTube.

The schedule includes all games Eastern Time and played in the Riverview Activities Center, home of the Nike Peach Jam, the summer’s most anticipated grassroots club tournament.

Wednesday (teams are preceded by their seed)

7-Long Island Lutheran vs. 10-Oak Hill Academy, 3:30 p.m.

8-Link Academy vs. 9-AZ Compass Prep, 5:15 p.m.

Thursday, Quarterfinals

Game 3, Montverde Academy vs. CIA Bella Vista Prep, 3 p.m.

Game 4, Highest ranked play-in seed vs. Brewster Academy, 4:45 p.m.

Game 5, IMG Academy vs. Sunrise Christian Academy, 6:30 p.m.

Game 6, Lowest ranked play-in seed vs. top-seeded Wasatch Academy

Friday, Semifinals

Winners of Games 3 and 4, 3:15 p.m.

Winners of Games 5 and 6, 5 p.m.

Saturday, Championship

Semifinal winners, 12 p.m.

Additionally, there will be an “audition” tournament at the facility with hopefuls looking to get admittances in the EYBL Scholastic when openings occur. The conference is about change and looks for teams that will keep the competitive balance intact.

Elsewhere, four other tournaments in three states and New York City are gaining momentum this week.

The California Interscholastic Federation Open Division regional tournaments are set and run March 4-11. Four teams from the Southern Region compose the six-team bracket that tips off on Wednesday, March 5. The remainder of the brackets statewide can be found here. Tickets are only available online.

The University Interscholastic League (Texas) state tournament runs for three days, starting Thursday, March 6 at the Alamodome in San Antonio. No. 14 Brennan (San Antonio) is the lone team from the Elite 25 in play but must win this week in the Class 6A, Division I semifinal matchup. The brackets are here. Tickets and other information can be accessed here.

No. 1 Columbus (Miami) goes for a fourth Florida High School Athletic Association state championship this weekend at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The Explorers are bracketed in Class 7A. Everything starts Wednesday, March 5 and goes for four days in Class 7A, 6A, 5A and 4A. If Columbus four-peats, it goes to the CHIPOTLE Nationals.

Arizona crowns four champions this week, including the Open Division on Saturday, March 8 at the Arizona Veterans memorial Coliseum in Phoenix. No. 17 Perry (Gilbert) is the top seed and playing in the semifinals. The Pumas are two wins away from winning the chip again. Here’s state tournament information and brackets.

In the Bronx, N.Y., the New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Intersectional AA tournament is down to the semifinals on Thursday, March 6 at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium at 5 and 8 p.m. The final is Sunday, March 9 at 3 p.m. back at famed Rose Hill.

The semifinal pairings are No. 23 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains) vs. Christ the King (Middle Village) and St. Francis Prep (Fresh Meadows) vs. St. Raymond (Bronx). Times to be announced. Tickets are sold at the door.

The Intersectional AA is one of the top tournaments in the nation, stronger than nearly every state bracket.

So, let’s look closer at the latest Elite 25 rankings. There are no additions but with California and EYBL Scholastic getting underway, the rankings will get shifted with likely newcomers. A dozen teams remained in the same position; nine teams dropped with No. 25 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) cratering eight slots; nine ascended with No. 9 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) zooming up 14. Four teams have captured postseason titles and five more or 13 if you count the EYBL vie for championships this week. The EYBL has six teams in the Top-10.

Expect the CHIPOTLE Nationals to be announced next week after the EYBL Scholastic Tournament is completed. Figure six EYBL teams to qualify. Columbus and No. 12 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.) are strong candidates. So is No. 13 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) and teams from Arizona, Utah, Florida and Georgia are under consideration.

The coaching rumor mill is spinning and the Miami Hurricanes are expected to name Duke assistant Jai Lucas as their head coach this week. If that happens, published reports have Columbus head coach Andrew Moran joining his staff. With the Boozer twins off to Duke in the fall, it makes sense for a clean cut and reboot at the all-male Catholic school.

That’s it for February. Welcome to March Madness! Get your brackets ready because we’ll make predictions after Selection Sunday, March  9. It’s the best time of year.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, March 11.

Finally, things are starting to take shape in southern California. Since the wildfires ravaged the surrounding Los Angeles area in early January, the locals have been displaced and are picking up the pieces of their lives.

We’ve vetted a few places that will make a difference.

Consider donating here to the Red Cross to assist the relief efforts or to The Salvation Army. No dollar amount is too small and prayers are always welcome. Here’s another one called Fire Aid.

Stay strong California.

Just a reminder it’s time to move the clocks forward for Daylight Savings Time on Sunday, March 9 at 2 a.m., and the time moves to 3 a.m. Although most Americans will lose an hour on the second Sunday in March, they gain it back on the first Sunday of November. Think of the extra hour as brighter evenings. It’s always a sign that warm weather is ahead and March Madness has arrived. Opening day for baseball is right around the corner.

Finally, for Christians worldwide, it’s Ash Wednesday on March 5, signifying the start of Lent. It’s a span of six and a half weeks leading up to Easter Sunday (on April 20) and Lent asks individuals to repent for their sins.

Additionally, our friends in the Muslim world started Ramadan (ninth moth of the Islamic calendar) on Friday, Feb. 28 and lasts until Saturday, March 29. It’s a month of fasting, prayer, reflection and community. Ramadan Bubaraki!

Bye for now.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 4, 2025

1. Columbus, Miami (25-3)

Previous rank: 1.

The Lowdown: Idle. Up next is Seminole (Sanford) on Friday, March 7 in the Class 7A semifinals at the RP Funding Center in Lakeland. The final is Saturday, March 8.

2. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (32-2)

Previous: 2.

The Lowdown: Won the CIF- Southern Section Open Division championship, defeating No. 21 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), 74-67, in the final. Brayden Burries and Myles Walker scored 19 points apiece. Isaac Williamson contributed 15 points with two 3-pointers and 3 steals. The reward for winning is a bye to the semifinals of the CIF-Southern Region Open Division on Saturday, March 8 at home.

3. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (27-3)

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: The Bobcats tuned up for the EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament in North Augusta, S.C. by defeating Tilton (N.H.) School, 99-51, and North Mount Hermon (Mass.), 86-57.

4. CIA Bella Vista Prep, Phoenix (20-4)

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament is next.

5. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (30-2)

Previous: 5.

Lowdown: The Wolverines are well rested for the CIF-Southern Region Open Division playoffs and open with No. 24 St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the first round on Wednesday, March 5. The semifinals are Saturday, March 8 at No. 2 Roosevelt (Eastvale).

6. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (22-4)

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: The Tigers are the No. 1 seed in the inaugural Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament and open in the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 6 in North Augusta, S.C.

7. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (21-6)

Previous: 7.

The Lowdown: Idle.

8. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (19-6)

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Eagles have the Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament this week in South Carolina.

9. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (28-5)

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Three home games in three days yields three wins for the Crew in the Grind Session Napa. Niko Bundalo collected 22 points, 11 rebounds and 2 assists to help defeat Accelerated Prep (Lakewood, Colo.), 90-86. Kansas-bound Darryn Peterson poured in 38 points. Also defeated DNA Prep (Chatsworth, Calif.), 84-76, as Winters Grady scored 18 points and Peterson had 23 points and 10 assists and Rosemary Anderson (Portland, Ore.), 92-69. Peterson scored 27 points (10-of-12 FG, 5-of-6 3FG) and 10 assists; Niko Bundalo had a double-double of 27 points and 14 rebounds; Hunter Carter threw in 27 points and Dominik Robinson scored 19 points.

10. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (18-5)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Nike EYBL Scholastic Tournament in North Augusta, South Carolina is next.

11. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (22-1)*

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: Won the FHSAA Class 3A state championship, rallying to defeat The Villages Charter, 66-64, in the final. It was the program’s fifth state crown and third since 2021. Kenneth Francis’ fallaway jumper off an offensive rebound with 2.5 seconds left broke a tie at 64. Down 54-51 heading into the fourth quarter, the Eagles needed a 15-10 spurt to win it. Cayden Daughtry flipped in 23 points, making 7-of-7 free throws, Cincinnati-bound Shon Abaev scored 20 and ripped 11 rebounds, and Paul Collin scored 16 and cleared 9 boards. Also stopped Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale), 72-58, in the semifinals. Season complete.

12. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (26-7)*

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Went 1-1 in the Virginia Independent Schools AA tournament. Season complete.

13. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (29-5)*

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: Won the District of Columbia State Athletic Association Class AA championship, defeating four-time defending title holders Sidwell Friends (Washington), 67-51, in the final. All five starters scored in double figures, led by Harvard-bound Alex Touomou with 15 points on 6-of-7 shooting. Also stopped Jackson-Reed (Washington), 65-58, in the semifinals and Archbishop Carroll (Washington), 89-68, in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

14. San Antonio (Texas) Brennan (33-2)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: In the Class 6A, Division I, Region 4 final, defeated Cibolo Steele, 68-39.

The Bears also defeated East Central (San Antonio), 87-49, in the Region 4 semifinals. Up next is Bellaire in the Class 6A, Division I semifinals on Tuesday, March 4.

15. Hoover, Ala. (35-0)*

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: Won the Class 7A state championship for the third consecutive year, beating Florence, 66-56, in the final. Jarett Fairley had 21 points and 7 rebounds. The Bucs bombed Phenix City Central, 94-67, in the semifinals. Tennessee-bound DeWayne Brown put up 27 points, 15 rebounds and 4 blocks. The Bucs closed on a 45-game win streak dating back to 2023. Season complete.

16. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (28-3)

Previous: 15.

The Lowdown: In the Class AAAAAA state tournament, the Wildcats are back in state final after taking down then-No. 17 Grayson (Loganville), 68-53. The Wildcats overcame a three-point hole at the break for a 49-43 edge heading into the fourth. Also beat Norcross, 80-50, in the quarterfinals. The Wildcats meet Newton (Covington) for the state chip on Saturday, March 8 in the Macon Coliseum.

17. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (25-2)

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: Defeated Ironwood (Glendale), 67-45, in the Open Division quarterfinals. The Pumas face Sandra Day O’Connor (Phoenix) on Wednesday, March 5 in the semifinals. The final is Saturday, March 8 at Arizona Veterans Memorial Coliseum in Phoenix.

18. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (17-7)

Previous:18.

The Lowdown: Idle. The Nike EYBL Scholastic Conference Tournament tips off this week in South Carolina.

19. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (27-4)

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: Defeated Goines STEM Academy (Arlington), 63-47.

20. Fishers, Ind. (24-0)

Previous: 19.

The Lowdown: Defeated North Central (Indianapolis), 86-56, to close the regular season. The Tigers open the Class 4A Carmel Sectional on Tuesday, March 4 with Westfield. The winner plays Zionsville on Friday, March 7. The final is the next day.

21. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (26-7)

Previous: 21.

The Lowdown: Lost to No. 2 Roosevelt (Eastvale), 74-67, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final. Junior Tyran Stokes scored a game-high 21 points and dished out 5 assists. The Knights face Montgomery (San Diego) in the CIF-Southern Regional Open Division first round on Wednesday, March 5.

22. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (19-7)

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Idle.

23. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (23-4)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Defeated Holy Cross (Flushing), 73-57, in the CHSAA Intersectional AA quarterfinals. Jasiah Jervis scored 21 points and Adonis Ratliff added 19 for the Crusaders, who trailed 18-14 after one stanza. Up next is Christ the King (Middle Village) on Thursday, March 6 at Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx.

24. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (26-6)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: The Braves open the CIF-Southern Region with No. 5 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) in the first round on Wednesday, March 5. The semifinals are Saturday, March 8.

25. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (28-3)

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Lost to No. 15 Wheeler (Marietta), 68-53, in the Class AAAAAA semifinal and defeated Cherokee (Canton), 83-42, in the quarterfinals. Season complete.

Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. The Patrick School, Hackettstown, N.J. (28-7)
2. Mount Carmel, Baltimore (33-4)*
3. Highland School, Warrenton, Va. (38-5)**
4. St. Francis Prep, Fresh Meadows, N.Y. (23-4)
5. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (23-5)*

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

Midwest

1. Kenwood, Chicago (29-1)*
2. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (15-6)
3. Oak Park, Kansas City, Mo. (25-1)
4. Bolingbrook, Ill. (29-4)
5. Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul, Minn. (25-1)

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

Southland

1. Allen, Texas (34-1)
2. Owasso, Okla. (23-4)
3. Lake Ridge, Mansfield, Texas (35-2)
4. Reidsville, N.C. (27-0)
5. St. Xavier, Louisville, Ky. (27-2)

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

Far West

1. Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah (18-10)
2. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (31-1)
3. Archbishop Riordan, San Francisco (27-1)
4. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (24-5)*
5. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-7)

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

Records through Sunday

* Won state, national or conference postseason tournament championship

[Editor’s note: Each asterisk represents a separate postseason title]

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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 at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.