Three Florida schools in Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings aim for state hardware

BENSALEM, Pa. – Don’t look know but the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings are reaching into Florida for two schools and another from the Midwest to bolster its membership.

In Florida, No. 22 Providence School (Jacksonville) and No. 23 Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale) are added only two victories short of annexing state championships.

No. 24 Simeon (Chicago) made a splash knocking off then-No. 13 Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) in a preview of what many locals think could be the matchup of the Class 4A final. Stevenson’s loss plummeted them 12 spots in the Elite 25.

As the regular season concludes, state tournaments become the focal point of March. Once those brackets are crunched and played out, the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School National Tournament becomes the prize of everyone’s eye. As we turn the page on the February calendar here’s what we know about the field of eight.

Already in: Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Montverde (Fla.) Academy and Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.). All three are guarantees.

On the cusp: Wesleyan Christian (High Point, N.C.), Greensboro (N.C.) Day, La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.), Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.), Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) Huntington (W.Va.) Prep, and Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.). The winner of the North Carolina Independent Schools 3A tournament is in and at least one of the Florida state champions (the tournaments are this week).

In contention: Perhaps a state champion from Utah or Washington, and St. Benedict’s (Newark, N.J.).

Yet, there could be a surprise or two thrown into the final equation.

The next Elite 25 rankings will appear on March 3. In the meantime, please support your local high school teams in the playoffs and on senior nights. There are plenty of great stories and players out there. Drop us an email if there is a story idea or special player locally. We are listening. Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys Basketball Rankings, Feb. 24, 2015

1. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (40-0)*

Previous rank: 1.

Low down: The Warriors had three games cancelled by inclement weather. With their legs rested, the next outing is Tuesday when Mount Zion Academy (Durham, N.C.) visits.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (28-1)

Previous: 2.

Low down: Idle. The Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Invitational Tournament is still a month away.

3. Findlay Prep, Henderson, Nev. (25-2)

Previous: 3.

Low down: The Pilots scored 115 and 108 points in a pair of lopsided victories. The ultimate goal is to win the Dick’s Sporting Goods High School Invitational Tournament from April 2 to 4 in New York.

4. Cape Henry Collegiate, Virginia Beach, Va. (27-2)

Previous: 4.

Low down: Buried Bishop O’Sullivan Catholic (Virginia Beach), 79-53, in the TCIS Tournament semifinals and Nansemond-Suffolk (Va.) Academy, 94-38, in the quarterfinals. The start of the tournament was delayed four days by inclement weather. The Dolphins play Norfolk Collegiate in Monday’s final. The Virginia Independent State Tournament starts later this week.

5. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (28-2)

Previous: 5.

Low down: The Wildcats eliminated Douglas County (Douglasville), 87-78, in the Class AAAAAA second round. In the first round, they defeated Centennial (Roswell), 64-37.

6. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (27-1)

Previous: 7.

Low down: The Knights cruised to an 81-56 victory over J.W. North (Riverside) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division first round. Now it’s a third date this season with Cathedral (Los Angeles) in Wednesday’s quarterfinal matchup.

7. Plano West, Plano, Texas (26-2)

Previous: 8.

Low down: Plenty of drama last week in the Metroplex when the Wolves, who blew a fourth-quarter lead, needed overtime to knock off rivals Plano East, 83-79, to finish 16-0 in District 6-6A play. D.J. Hogg had 25 points and Mickey Mitchell added 19 in the victory. Up next is the Class 6A Region 1 bi-district playoff against Timber Creek (Keller) on Tuesday.

8. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (20-0)

Previous: 9.

Low down: Waxed then-No. 25 Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland), 89-73. The Fighting Irish open the Division II Canton District playoffs with Springfield (Akron) or Canal Fulton Northwest in the quarterfinals on March 3.

9. Ely, Pompano Beach, Fla. (27-0)

Previous: 10.

Low down: Javon Heastie scored 20 points but drained three of his six 3-pointers in the decisive third period to down Central (Miami), 79-65, in the Class 7A, Region 4 final. Therrell Gosier added a double-double, 19 points and 12 boards, as the Tigers go for their third state title in four years. In the semifinals, they beat Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), 75-56. The Tigers face North Port in the 7A state semifinals at The Lakeland Center Friday.

10. St. Anthony, Jersey City, N.J. (21-1)

Previous: 11.

Low down: Junior G Jagan Mosely’s 17 points sparked the Friars past Holy Spirit (Absecon), 71-30. Additionally, Wichita State-bound F Markis McDuffie (25 points) and Mosely (13) scored a combined 38 points during a 67-53 triumph over Coastal Academy (Belmar). With three games left, the top-seeded Friars are tuning up for the Non-Public B North state tournament.

11. Corona del Sol, Tempe, Ariz. (29-1)

Previous: 12.

Low down: Drubbed Desert Ridge (Mesa), 81-46, in Division I state second round. Up next is a date with Phoenix Central in the quarterfinals on Wednesday at the Wells Fargo Arena in Tempe. The semifinals are Saturday, with the final on March 2 at the Gila River Arena in Glendale.

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

Previous: 14.

Low down: M.J. Cage (22 points) and La’Vette Parker (18) teamed for 40 points in a 65-56 win over Price (Los Angeles) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division first round. Next up is a quarterfinal date at Chino Hills on Wednesday.

13. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-2)

Previous: 15.

Low down: The Lakers won the La Lu Classic, edging Don Bosco Prep (Crown Point, Ind.), 64-63, in overtime. Also stopped Canada Prep (Orangeville, Ontario), 61-53, and St. Louis (Mo.) Christian, 58-52, Regular season complete. Another invite to the Dick’s Nationals is likely in the bag.

14. Huntington (W.Va.) Prep (27-2)

Previous: 16.

Low down: Idle. The weather wreaked havoc on the schedule with two games cancelled. When the Irish play a rescheduled game with Genesis Academy (Lynchburg, Va.) on Monday. Unless the weather interferes, the Irish have two other games this week.

15. Wesleyan Christian School, High Point, N.C. (28-4)

Previous: 17.

Low down: Idle. The North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 3A state tournament was postponed by one week due to heavy snow and ice. The tournament picks up with the quarterfinals on Thursday. Don’t be surprised when the Trojans face No. 21 Greensboro Day in Saturday’s final in Asheville. The winner could secure an invite to the Dick’s Nationals in New York.

16. Fairfax, Los Angeles (28-2)

Previous: 18.

Low down: The Lions crushed Gardena, 65-41, in the CIF-Los Angeles City Section Open Division quarterfinals. Now they play El Camino Real (Woodland Hills) in the semifinals on Saturday, with the winner playing Westchester or Dorsey in the championship on March 7.

17. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (22-3)

Previous: 19.

Low down: Sophomore F Cody Riley threw in 21 points and Adam Seiko added 16 in a 75-63 win over St. John Bosco (Bellflower) in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division first round. The Trailblazers play xxx Etiwanda or Cantwell-Sacred Heart (Montebello) in the quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals are Saturday.

18. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (26-3)

Previous: 6.

Low down: The Stags stumbled down the stretch losing their last two regular season games but rebounded in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament, stopping Good Counsel (Olney, Md.), 74-57, in the quarterfinals. The semifinals are Monday vs. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) at American University’s Bender Arena.

19. Bishop O’Dowd, Oakland, Calif. (21-4)

Previous: 21.

Low down: The Dragons brushed aside Berkeley, 81-61, and San Leandro, 84-48. The CIF-North Coast Section playoffs open on Tuesday.

20. Muskegon, Mich. (16-1)

Previous: 22.

Low down: Deyonta Davis had a monster week totaling 37 points, 27 rebounds and 10 blocks in two victories over Zeeland East, 71-33, and Reeths-Puffer (Muskegon), 81-25. Junior G Michael Littlejohn tossed in 17 vs. Reeths-Reefer as the Big Reds can clinch the OK Black Division outrights Tuesday against Grand Rapids Union.

21. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (30-2)

Previous: 20.

Low down: Idle. The NCISAA Class 3A tournament was pushed back a week by inclement weather. The three rounds will be played in Asheville.

22. Providence School, Jacksonville, Fla. (29-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: For the fourth straight year, the Stallions have reached the Final Four. Princeton-bound Wyatt Walker’s 30 points and Deion Johnson’s career-high 17 were enough to overcome Maclay (Tallahassee), 82-55, in the Class 3A, Region 1 championship. The reward is a state semifinal with The First Academy (Orlando) on Tuesday at The Lakeland Center.

23. Cardinal Gibbons, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (31-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: The Chiefs are back in the state semifinals for the fist time since 2011 by overcoming slowdown tactics in a 49-38 win over Eustis in the Class 5A, Region 4 final. Junior Maverick Rowan tossed in a game-high 32 points. The action resumes Friday at The Lakeland Center with Gibbs (St. Petersburg) Friday in the 5A semifinals.

24.  Simeon, Chicago (24-3)

Previous: Not ranked.

Low down: The Wolverines bounced then-No. 13 Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.), 66-55. Junior Zack Norvell had 18 points and snared 6 rebounds. They also went 10-0 in Chicago Public League Red-South Conference play, but lost the city title game to Bogan, 47-42. Up next are the Class 4A playoffs.

25. Stevenson, Lincolnshire, Ill. (22-3)

Previous: 13.

Low down: In a battle for Chicagoland supremacy, the Patriots fell to Simeon (Chicago), 66-55, in a highly anticipated matchup on Saturday. Jalen Brunson flipped in 25 points. In a 65-48 win over Lake Forest, the Villanova-bound Brunson scored 26 points and became the state’s 12^th player with 100 career wins.

Dropped out: No. 23 Garfield, Seattle; No. 24 Parkview, Little Rock, Ark.; and No. 25 Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Cleveland.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (23-1)

2. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (22-2)

3. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (20-3)

4. Jefferson, Brooklyn, N.Y. (24-2)

5. Sacred Heart, Waterbury, Conn. (18-0)

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

Midlands

1. East Kentwood, Kentwood, Mich. (18-0)

2. Champlin Park, Champlin, Minn. (26-0)

3. Western, Detroit (18-0)

4. Reitz, Evansville, Ind. (21-0)

5. Villa Angela-St. Joseph, Cleveland (17-3)

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

South

1. Jonesboro, Ga. (29-1)

2. Callaway, Jackson, Miss. (27-3)

3. Atascocita, Humble, Texas (31-1)

4. Ballard, Louisville, Ky. (26-2)

5. Parkview, Little Rock, Ark. (19-1)

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

Far West

1. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (25-6)

2. Rainier Beach, Seattle (22-2)

3. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (22-4)

4. Garfield, Seattle (23-2)

5. Cathedral, Los Angeles (20-6)

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

*Includes a forfeit victory

 About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 High School Boys’ Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December 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 April 6, 2015. Follow him on Twitter: @clawlor.