THE OZARK ROAR: Link Academy Lions (MO) navigates treacherous slate moving to No. 1 in Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings; No. 2 Richardson (TX) avenges loss

BENSALEM, Pa. – It has been an unprecedented start for Link Academy of Branson, Missouri. In 21 games, the Lions have surfaced following the annual holiday boys’ basketball bonanza of events and nationally-themed tournaments as the best. Well, that’s for now.

Link Academy, a program  from the foothills of Ozark Mountains in southwest Missouri in town that boasts its 76 Country Boulevard, famously choked with theaters and an array of entertainment options (previously a majority in country music), has assumed the position as the latest No. 1 in the Blue Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings

Normally, January is a month where teams start anew as most head back to their respective states to conclude the schedule but for the Link Lions the heavy lifting will just begin. The schedule is rife with landmines but last week, the Lions (21-0) won the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon with four lopsided victories.

The January schedule includes stops in Bentonville, Ark. (Hoophall South), Kettering, Ohio (Flyin’ to the Hoop), Springfield, Mass. (Hoophall Classic) and Quincy, Ill. (Quincy Shootout). And in February, the road leads to New Jersey and Nebraska for more high-profile games. Ultimately, coach Rodney Perry wants an invitation to the GEICO Nationals in April.

Perry has assembled a talented squad that is built to go the distance.

As of today, all signs point in that direction. However, the season is just gaining momentum.

Link’s rise to the top occurred when previously top-ranked Duncanville (Texas) fell to then-No. 23 Richardson (Texas) in tournament play. No. 3 Duncanville slips one spot while Richardson zooms up to No. 2. The two Texas teams could meet again at the Class 6A state tournament in March.

Two name teams return to the Elite 25 rankings after winning blue-chip tournament brackets in South Carolina. No. 20 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) and No. 21 Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) arrive after success last week at the Chick-fil-A Classic in Columbia, S.C.

Stepinac (7-1) won the American Bracket at the event with exciting freshman Danny Carbuccia turning heads (and smashing backboards). He’s already fielding offers from big-time programs and playing in the high-profile New York Catholic High School Athletic Association Class AA Archdiocese of New York Division. The Crusaders are the third team from New York in the Elite 25. They are led by one of the nation’s most gifted, young coaches Patrick Massaroni, a high riser in the industry.

Prolific Prep (16-2) captured the National Bracket with three quality wins and others in December. The Crew is making a push for the GEICO Nationals.

Both teams have earned their rankings but maintaining is never a shoo-in.

The National Interscholastic Basketball Conference cranks up after a one-month hiatus. The national loop has eight of eight teams ranked in the Elite 25. This weekend’s three-day schedule is here.

That’s it for 2021 and this week but before departing a big-time coach reached a big-time career milestone.

Special shoutout to Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) coach Gary McKnight, who won his 1,200^th game on Dec. 29 as the Monarchs beat Porterville (Calif.), 89-53, in the Xavier Winter Classic in Rancho Mirage, Calif. McKnight became only the fourth boys’ coach nationally to eclipse that vaunted barrier and the first from California.

He joins a select club of Robert Hughes of Texas and Morgan Wootten of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) and current coach Steve Smith of Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). Smith bagged his 1,200^th in October.

Kudos to Gary, a great coach, mentor and winner!

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on Jan. 11, 2022. We will then look ahead to the key events and games played over the Dr. Martin Luther King weekend.

This ranking period updates everything through the month of December. All the very best to everyone in 2022 and stay safe. Get vaccinated. It’s free and will help flattened the soaring COVID rates from the Omicron variant.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 4, 2022

1. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (21-0)

Previous rank: 12.

The Low-down: Won the Les Schwab Invitational, beating Tualatin (Ore.), 83-50, in the final. Michigan-bound center Tarris Reed, Jr. had 20 points and hauled down 7 boards in the final and was named Most Valuable Player. The Lions had a clear path to the title when Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) pulled out prior to the tournament for COVID reasons.

2. Richardson, Texas (17-1)

Previous: 23.

The Low-down: The Eagles fly up the Elite 25 rankings after annexing the Whataburger Tournament Orange Division championship over then No. 1 Duncanville, 60-58, in overtime in the final. Cason Wallace, a Kentucky recruit, flipped in 22 points and bagged MVP honors. It was sweet revenge for the Eagles, who fell in last year’s Texas Class 6A state tournament to the Panthers. The two will likely meet again at states in March.

3. Duncanville, Texas (16-1)

Previous rank: 1.

The Low-down: Lost in the Whataburger Tournament Orange Division final to then-No. 23Richardson (Texas), 60-58, in the final. The defending UIL Class 6A champions did receive good news as transfer, Anthony Black (from Coppell), had his eligibility restored going forward. This is massive for the Panthers, who could see Richardson again in the state tournament.

4. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (9-2)

Previous: 2.

The Low-down: Idle. The Eagles play in the NIBC this weekend.

5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (17-1)

Previous: 5.

The Low-down: The Dragons picked up two quality wins last week at the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del. This weekend, there’s a matchup with No. 20 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.).

6. Camden, N.J. (2-0)

Previous: 7.

The Low-down: Junior D.J. Wagner scored 21 points and Cian Medley added 20 when the Panthers defeated Archbishop Wood (Warminster, Pa.), 73-41, at the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Lewes, Del. The Panthers have three local games this week but must be eyeing a No. 4 Montverde (Fla.) Academy  on Jan. 13.

7. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (9-1)

Previous: 3.

The Low-down: Idle. The Buffaloes are back in the NIBC this weekend.

8. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (9-2)

Previous: 4.

The Low-down: Idle. The Ascenders look to rebound in the NIBC this weekend with three key games.

9. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (12-1)

Previous: 8.

The Low-down: Won The Classic at Damien Platinum Bracket championship, defeating Crean Lutheran (Irvine), 66-56, in the final. The Huskies play four games this week.

10. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (14-1)

Previous: 6.

The Low-down: Defeated Venice, 83-49. The Trailblazers will get an injection of talent with 605 guard Amari Bailey, a UCLA recruit, back from an ankle injury and key two transfers. This will be the team to beat in the CIF-Southern Section.

11. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (14-0)

Previous: 14.

The Low-down: Won the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic National Division title, rallying to beat Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Dallas), 80-73, in the final. The Gaels used a 32-15 spurt in the fourth quarter to erase a 10-point deficit. The Gaels are off until Jan. 11 when they face Centennial (Las Vegas).

12. Glenbard West, Glen Ellyn, Ill. (14-0)

Previous: 13.

The Low-down: The Hilltoppers rolled to the Josh Tosh Holiday Classic title, beating Lyons, 60-28, in the final. Gonzaga-bound center Braden Huff scored 21 points, Paxton Warden had 12 and Bobby Durken netted 11 in the final. Huff was the MVP after averaging 17.0 points and 7.2 rebounds in tournament play.

13. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (9-1)

Previous: 9.

The Low-down: Idle. This weekend the Lakers have three games in the NIBC Series in La Porte.

14. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (6-1)

Previous: 10.

The Low-down: Idle. The Stags face Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) on Tuesday and Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.) on Thursday in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play.

15. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (6-0)

Previous: 11.

The Low-down: Idle. COVID 19 shut down the Cardinals last week.

16. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (5-1)

Previous: 16.

The Low-down: The Lions captured a pair of quality games at the Slam Dunk to the Beach in Delaware. They also outlasted state powerhouse Bergen Catholic (Oradell), 85-70.

17. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (8-1)

Previous: 19.

The Low-down: Won the Arby’s Classic in Bristol, Tenn., crushing Berkmar (Lilburn, Ga.), 71-58, in the final. Jayden Pierre, a Providence signee, earned MVP honors after dropping 32 points

18. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (7-1)

Previous: 17.

The Low-down: Idle. The schedule resumes this week with three local south Florida contests.

19. St. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (8-1)

Previous: 18.

The Low-down: In Lewes, Del., the Panthers defeated then-No. 24 Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia), 59-50, at the Hoop Hall East Slam Dunk to the Beach. Michigan-bound guard Dug McDaniel scored 9 of his 13 points in the final quarter and junior DeShawn Harris-Smith had a double-double with 19 points (7-of-13 shooting) and 11 rebounds.

20. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (16-2)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: The Crew returns to the Elite 25 after an impressive early season run. Last week, they won the Chick-fil-A National Division Bracket, crushing Dream City Christian (Phoenix), 71-44, in the final. M.J Rice was the MVP and Adem Bona earned all-tournament.

21. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (7-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

The Low-down: Won Chick-fil-A Classic American Division, beating Irmo (Columbia, S.C.), 79-56, in the final. Freshman Danny Carbuccia scored 15 points and was named the Most Valuable Player. Samuel Gibbs added 12 points and was on the American All-Tournament team. The Crusaders are back in the Elite 25 rankings after going 3-0 in South Carolina last week.

22. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (13-6)

Previous: 20.

The Low-down: Idle. The Warriors will be well rested for this weekend’s trio of games at the NIBC.

23. North Little Rock, Ark. (11-3)

Previous: 25.

The Low-down: Won the King Cotton Classic King Division championship going 3-0 in the process. Arkansas-bound Nick Smith scored 33 points and won MVP honors after beating then-No. 15 Beaumont (Texas) United, 82-72, in the final. Earlier in the tournament, Smith recorded a rare triple-double in Pine Bluff, Ark.

24. Beaumont (Texas) United (15-2)

Previous: 15.

The Low-down: Took second place at King Cotton Classic in Pine Bluff, Ark. The Timberwolves play this weekend at the Allstate Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic National Division in New Orleans.

25. Reading, Pa. (6-1)

Previous: 22.

The Low-down: The Red Knights were upended in the championship of Reading Invitational but remain in the Elite 25 rankings largely due to a win over nationally ranked Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia) in December.

Dropped out: No. 21 Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) and No. 24 Imhotep Prep Charter (Philadelphia).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (6-0)
2. Imhotep Prep Charter, Philadelphia (6-2)
3. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (4-1)
4. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (15-2)
5. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (4-1)

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

Midwest

1. Simeon, Chicago (9-1)
2. Kenwood, Chicago (12-2)
3. Curie, Chicago (15-1)
4. Grand Rapids (Mich.) Catholic Central (3-0)
5. Centerville, Ohio (6-0)

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

Southland

1. Dr. Phillips, Orlando, Fla. (10-3)
2. McKinney, Texas (20-2)
3. Greensboro (N.C.) Country Day (18-2)
4. Combine Academy, Lincolnton, N.C. (11-2)
5. Newton, Covington, Ga. (9-1)

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

Far West

1. Harvard-Westlake Lake, Studio City, Calif. (13-1)
2. Poly, Riverside, Calif. (16-1)
3. Damien, La Verne, Calif. (17-1)
4. Southern Cal Academy, Los Angeles (14-2)
5. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (8-4)

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

Records through Sunday.

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 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 in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.