Three teams from Washington, Wisconsin and Indiana move into Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings; Panini Hoophall Classic spawns greatness

BENSALEM, Pa. – The annual shakeup of the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings did rattle and jangle over the Dr. Martin Luther King Weekend with multiple events reshaping the national landscape.

If you figure in the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., and Flyin’ to the Hoop Invitational in Kettering, Ohio, you can count on change and easily compose a separate national ranking for the participants.

Simply put, the MLK Weekend has become a go-to, four-day stretch that is impactful and must-see hoops. If you are a national wannabe or regular, you better compete at a major event or be branded a pretender.

Having said that the Elite 25 saw 17 teams shift positions with games through Sunday, Jan. 18. Any games on Monday, Jan. 19 will be factored in next week.

Three teams from three different states—two from the Midwest and one from Pacific Northwest—debut in the Elite 25.

No. 15 Rainier Beach (Seattle), who for many years was a fixture in the Elite 25, is back and better than ever under sage head coach Mike Bethea. The Vikings are 15-1 and the No. 1 team in Washington. The two biggest reasons are the nation’s top-ranked 6-7 senior Tyran Stokes (unsigned) and electric freshman J.J. Crawford (dad played in the NBA), who recently received an offer from his father’s alma mater Michigan. Stokes is undecided but in demand. His future announcement will be national news.

In the Midwest, No. 18 Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee) is back after a two-year absence. In the 2023-24 season Kon Knueppel was leading the Vikings to Wisconsin state championships before his one-and-done year at Duke and is a rookie with the Charlotte Hornets. He has two brothers on the current Vikings squad, who are Wisconsin’s top-ranked team as of late January.

No. 22 Fishers (Ind.) is cruising along in the Hoosier State as the top team in Class 4A with a 14-0 record with star guard Jason Gardner Jr., the main attraction. His dad played at Arizona and in the NBA. The son is a highly touted player from the Class of 2027 and is pointing the Tigers to an Indiana 4A title chase.

The latest Elite 25 has three newcomers, eight teams stood still, seven took a dive with No. 24 Bartlett (Tenn.) sinking nine slots and seven ascending with four moving two spots.

We’ll highlight a few events this weekend that will have influence on the next batch of Elite 25 rankings:

Quincy (Ill) Shootout played at two sites on Friday and Saturday. If you plan on attending tickets are sold at the door at both venues on Friday but get Saturday’s tickets here.

Nike Extravaganza is Friday and Saturday at the Meruelo Athletic Center on the campus of Mater Dei High School in Santa Ana, Calif. Get tickets here.

Nike EYBL Scholastic Air Capital Hoopfest runs Friday through Sunday (five games) in Fugate Gymnasium on the campus of Newman University in Wichita, Kansas. No. 25 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) is the host school. Get ticket information here.

The schedule: Friday, Sunrise Christian vs. Veritas Academy (Calif.), 7 p.m. CT; Saturday, Veritas Academy vs. Dream City Christian (Ariz.), 6 p.m., and No. 19 Montverde (Fla.) Academy vs. Sunrise Christian Academy, 8 p.m.; Sunday, Montverde Academy vs. Veritas Academy, 11 a.m.

That’ll do it for the second full week of January. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, Jan. 27. With the seasons winding down nationwide, get out to a game in your town or area.

Bye for now. Be the good.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 20, 2026

1. Spire Academy, Geneva, Ohio (17-1)

Previous rank: 1.

Lowdown: King Gibson was the game Most Valuable Player, putting up 18 points on 6 of 12 shooting and snaring 4 rebounds in a 57-48 win over No. 25 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) at the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic in Springfield, Mass. Spire’s game with Reynoldsburg (Ohio) at the Flyin’ to the Hoop last Friday in Kettering, Ohio was cancelled by inclement weather.

2. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (18-1)

Previous: 2.

Lowdown: The Bobcats won their first two games at the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic in Springfield, Mass., defeating Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 69-60, and Oak Cliff Faith Family (Dallas), 59-57. Junior G Antonio Pemberton had 19 points, 6 rebounds and 7 assists against OHA and 19 points against Faith Family. Also played No. 1 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) on Monday night in Springfield.

3. Prolific Prep, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (20-2)

Previous: 4.

Lowdown: Idle. Played at Panini Hoophall Classic on Monday morning.

4. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (18-1)

Previous: 6.

Lowdown: Game MVP Brandon McCoy scored 24 points and cleared 10 rebounds and Maxi Adams added 24 points when the Trailblazers defeated No. 21 Columbus (Miami), 75-58, at the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Also, the Blazers moved to 4-0 in the Mission League after an 83-48 win over Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills). Adams posted a double-double with 22 points and 10 rebounds. Wednesday’s game vs. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) for first place in the Mission.

5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (14-1)

Previous: 7.

Lowdown: Defeated Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 59-58, at the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic in Springfield, Mass. DeMarcus Henry contributed 16 points, 13 rebounds and 2 blocks. Also beat then-No. 3 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 64-54. Quincy Wadley netted 15 points, drilling 3 of 5 3-pointers, and grabbed 4 rebounds.

6. CIA Bella Vista Prep, Phoenix (13-2)

Previous: 8.

Lowdown: Defeated then-No. 17 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 66-32, at the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. The Bears limited IMG to 22% shooting from the floor.

7. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (15-2)

Previous: 3.

Lowdown: At the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic, the Lions defeated No. 19 Montverde (Fla.) Academy, 64-59, as Michigan State-bound Carlos Medlock Jr. scored a game-high 25 points. However, the Lions lost to No. 6 AZ Compass Prep (Chander, Ariz.), 64-54.

8. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (17-2)

Previous: 5.

Lowdown: Placed second at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo., losing in the final to No. 14 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 78-64. The Panthers played without star guard Jordan Smith Jr. but Florida Gulf Coast-bound guard Lawrence Brown stepped up, tossing in 14 points. The Panthers completed vaunted the “Springfield Double” with a gritty 75-69 triumph over St. Mary’s (Phoenix) at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

9. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (14-1)

Previous: 9.

Lowdown: The Lakers needed overtime but survived Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio), 72-71, at the Flyin’ to the Hoop in Kettering, Ohio. Notre Dame-bound Jonathan Sanderson (26 points) and Jacob Webber (22) combined to score 48 points.

10. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (15-1)

Previous: 10.

Lowdown: Played on Monday at the Panini Hoophall Classic.

11. Seven Lakes, Katy, Texas (25-0)

Previous: 11.

Lowdown: Defeated Morton Ranch (Katy), 82-61, and Cinco Ranch (Katy), 86-41.

12. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (11-4)

Previous: 12.

Lowdown: Game MVP and USC signee Darius Ratliff had 17 points, 9 rebounds and 6 blocks in a 56-53 victory over then-No. 17 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at the Panini Hoophall Classic. In the regular season, the Crusaders defeated Holy Cross (Flushing), 60-49, as Jasiah Jervis went off for 32 points, 10 rebounds, 4 steals and 3 assists. Ratliff had 7 points, 17 rebounds, 5 blocks and 2 assists.

13. Sunnyslope, Phoenix (18-1)

Previous: 14.

Lowdown: Defeated Corona del Sol (Tempe), 76-40.

14. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (15-1)

Previous: 16.

Lowdown: Won Bass Pro Tournament of Champions championship, beating No. 8 St. Paul VI Catholic (Chantilly, Va.), 78-64, in the final. Cayden Daughtry scored a game-high 23 points and Aiden Bolden doubled up with 10 points and 10 boards. In the semifinals, the Eagles defeated then-No. 16 Principia School (St. Louis), 62-56.

15. Rainier Beach, Seattle (15-1)

Previous: Not ranked.

Lowdown: Coach Mike Bethea, who is in his 32^nd year leading the Vikings, join the Elite 25 after winning a pair of overtime games on both coasts. Tyran Stokes, a likely McDonald’s All-American, had 37 points,11 rebounds, 5 steals, 5 assists and 3 blocks in a 91-85 win over Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) at the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. Freshman J.J. Crawford scored 10 of his 32 points in the overtime. Also beat local rivals O’Dea (Seattle), 78-76. Five games are left in the regular season.

16. Principia School, St. Louis (14-2)

Previous: 13.

Lowdown: Went 2-1 at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, taking the third-place consolation game over then-No. 15 Bartlett (Tenn.), 64-57. The Panthers rallied from a four-point hole in the fourth quarter with a 23-12 spree. Wake Forest-bound Quentin Coleman scored 27 points on 9 of 11 shooting and snared 7 rebounds and Sekou Cisse had 11 points, 9 rebounds and 3 blocks. Up next are two games at the Quincy (Ill.) Shootout on Friday and Saturday.

17. Millenium, Goodyear, Ariz. (17-2)

Previous: 18.

Lowdown: Trey McKinney had 23 points, 8 rebounds and 2 steals to help beat Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), 61-43, at the Panini Hoophall Classic.

18. Wisconsin, Lutheran, Milwaukee (13-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Lowdown: The Vikings return to the Elite 25 after two seasons. Last week, they beat Arrowhead (Hartland), 76-43, and Brookfield Central, 83-58. Up next are two league games this week.

19. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (9-5)

Previous: 17.

Lowdown: The Eagles won two of three games at the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic in Springfield, Mass., beating Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 66-57, and Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.), 71-58. Lost to No. 3 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.), 64-59. In the LuHi win, Dhani Miller led the Eagles with 17 points as all five starters scored in double figures.

20. Southeastern Prep Academy, Orlando, Fla. (26-8)

Previous: 22.

Lowdown: C.J. Rosser threw in 25 points with a trio of 3-pointers when the Eagles defeated Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 69-58, at the Flyin’ to the Hoop in Kettering, Ohio. Also beat Reynoldsburg (Ohio), 92-53.

21. Columbus, Miami (13-5)

Previous: 21.

Lowdown: Lost to No. 4 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.), 75-58, at the Panini Hoophall Classic. Also played on Monday afternoon against St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) at Hoophall.

22. Fishers, Ind. (14-0)

Previous: Not ranked.

Lowdown: Indiana’s top-ranked team enters the Elite 25 with a perfect record. The Tigers stretched the win streak to 14 games with a 55-43 victory over Centerville (Ohio) at the Flyin’ to the Hoop in Kettering, Ohio. The action on the hardwood resumes on Friday and again on Saturday.

23. Webb School, Knoxville, Tenn. (20-2)

Previous: 23.

Lowdown: The Spartans stretched their win streak to 10 games with two victories.

24. Bartlett, Tenn. (17-4)

Previous: 15.

Lowdown: Went 1-2 for fourth place at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. The margin for error is zero the rest of the way for the Memphis area school.

25. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (9-6)

Previous: 24.

Lowdown: Lost to No. 1 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio), 57-48, and Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Dallas), 63-61, at the Panini Hoophall Classic Nike EYBL Scholastic in Springfield, Mass.

Dropped: No. 19 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 20 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) and No. 25 Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.).

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (12-1)
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (23-4)
3. Bergen Catholic, Oradell, N.J. (12-2)
4. Bishop O’Connell, Arlington, Va. (15-4)
5. Mount Carmel, Baltimore (19-5)

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

Midwest

1. Benet Academy, Lisle, Ill. (20-1)
2. DePaul Prep, Chicago (17-3)
3. East Lansing, Mich. (13-0)
4. Curie, Chicago (18-1)
5. Kankakee, Ill. (15-1)

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

Southland

1. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (13-7)
2. Greensboro (N.C.) Day (26-2)
3. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (16-1)
4. North Crowley, Fort Worth, Texas (21-3)
5. Gadsden City, Gadsden, Ala. (24-2)

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

Far West

1. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (20-3)
2. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (21-2)
3. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (15-5)
4. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (21-3)
5. Timpview, Provo, Utah (14-1)

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 October 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 in April of the 2025-26 season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.