TOP DOGS: No. 11 Corona (CA) Centennial Huskies move into Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings after winning CIF-Southern Section Open Division title; No. 10 Torrey Pines (CA) beats buzzer

BENSALEM, Pa. — The longest season is down to the final two weeks. Graduations have taken place and the Class of 2021 is off to college, trade schools, armed forces or the professional world.

Yet still the high school boys’ basketball season is alive and the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings are entering the final stretch along with Far West Region schools from California, Oregon and Washington. In Washington, some district and league are done.

The California Interscholastic Federation Southern Region tips off the final week of the season Tuesday and the finals are slated for Saturday. Since the NorCal playoffs were played and there is no CIF state tournament, this is it. We maintain California squeezing in a springtime season was miraculous and gave players, coaches, mediums and fans a last chance to witness the action.

The CIF-Southern Region playoffs feature two teams from the Elite 25 rankings, No. 10 Torrey Pines (San Diego) and No. 12 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), are on a collision course for the Open Division championship. In all, there are 24 regional brackets—12 each for boys and girls. It will be an intense week.

Last week, No. 10 Torrey Pines (29-0) won the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division title in thrilling fashion. Nick Herrmann’s 3-pointer at the buzzer won it 63-60 over Cathedral Catholic (San Diego). The Falcons were awarded the top seed for the Region Open Division tournament and jumped nine spots in the Elite 25 rankings.

No. 11 Corona (Calif.) Centennial made the biggest splash in the Elite 25 after dusting off No. 12 Sierra Canyon, 80-72, in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final. Sierra had not lost in the postseason for 21 games but the Huskies (21-2) silenced that win streak and head home. Centennial opted out of the regional playoffs are headed to Glendale, Arizona this weekend for the Section 7 event at State Farm Stadium, where 12 courts will be going with college coaches in attendance. That means everyone is pulling for a Torrey Pines-Sierra Canyon final.

Centennial is the lone new team in the Elite 25 rankings and figures to be there in two weeks when the final rankings are released. For all the CIF-Southern Region brackets click here.

Quick Hitters

Here are few notes from the around the nation.

► Ed Azzam of Westchester (Los Angeles), one of the nation’s top coaches and winningest in California boys’ basketball history announced his retirement last weekend effective following the CIF-Southern Region playoffs. Azzam was the gold standard in CIF-City Section, where he won 15 sectionals titles and six CIF major championships.

Azzam, 932-286 since the 1979-80 season, has at least one more game on Thursday in the CIF-Southern Region Division 1-AA semifinals, where his Comets faces Ribet Academy (Los Angeles) or San Marcos in the semifinals. The regional final is Saturday. Last weekend, Westchester was upset by Birmingham (Lake Balboa), 73-68, in the City Open Division final.

I first met Ed at the City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.) in 2000 and watched his teams dismantle the remainder of the field with star forward Trevor Arriza. He platooned his first and second teams and there wasn’t much drop off between them. We’d run and press the opposition, squeezing them into submission. His Western League rivalry with Fairfax (Los Angeles), coached by Harvey Kitani, ranked atop the list of annual matchups. They’d play up to four times per season. Westchester’s gym is painted red and black and adorned with numerous banners, mostly won by Azzam’s teams. If anyone can go out a winner it would be Azzam. Two more, coach, two more!

► Gatorade announced last week its state boys’ basketball players of the year. There were 11 players from the 50 states and District of Columbia (51 total) having played for teams currently ranked by Blue Star Media. Players are listed alphabetically by state (all players are seniors unless denoted):

7-1 junior Donovan Clingan, Bristol (Conn.) Central; 6-8 Caleb Houston, Montverde (Fla.) Academy; 6-7 Tucker Devries, Waukee (Iowa); 6-1 Kennedy Chandler, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.); 6-4 Sam Vinson, Highland (Fort Thomas, Ky.); 6-6 Jordan Hawkins, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.); 7-0 Chet Holmgren, Minnehaha Academy (Minneapolis); 6-5 Hunter Sallis, Millard North (Omaha, Neb.); 6-3 sophomore D.J. Wagner, Camden (N.J.); 6-2 Nolan Hickman, Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) and 6-5 Trevor Keels, Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.).

No surprise that Holmgren was named the player of the year. He’s headed to Gonzaga in the fall along with Sallis and Hickman in the aforementioned list. The Zags will be in the NCAA National Championship hunt again. Keels and Hawkins played in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, considered the nation’s top schoolboy league.

► Thank goodness the NCAA live evaluation period starts up this weekend and the following weekend. According to the NCAA, the period starts June 18 (noon) through 20 (6 p.m.) and returns this month June 25 (noon) through June 27 (6 p.m.). That’s for approved scholastic events by the NCAA and National Federation of High Schools.

Next month, the window opens July 8-11; July 16-18 and July 23-26. This period is for NCAA certified events, institutional camps and permissible governing body events.

This weekend there’s Philly Live 1 at St. Joseph’s Prep in Philadelphia, Pa. It tips at noon Friday for three days and some of the notable high school teams attending include: Archbishop Wood (Pa.), Camden (N.J.), Neumann-Goretti (Pa.); First Love (Pa.); Imhotep Prep (Pa.); Roman Catholic (Pa.); St. Elizabeth (Del.); Reading (Pa.); Don Bosco Prep (N.J.); Centerville (Ohio); Florida Christian; Pocono Mountain West (Pa.) Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.); Baltimore Poly (Md.); St. Augustine Prep (N.J.); Harrisburg (Pa.) and East Catholic (Conn.).

Philly Live 2 is June 25-27 back at St. Joseph’s Prep, with a stronger field. We’ll be attending the first weekend in Philadelphia for sure.

Meanwhile, the New York Catholic High Schools Athletic Association will hold its team camp, featuring several of the league members, starting June 25 at Iona Prep in New Rochelle, N.Y. It was last run in 2019 to great success. The top teams attending are Archbishop Stepinac, Cardinal Hayes, Xaverian, Christ the King, Monsignor Scanlan, St. Francis Prep, Iona Prep and St. Raymond. We will be reporting live at this one.

Okay, that’ll do it for this week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ final rankings are June 29.

Until then keep safe, get vaccinated and a Happy Father’s Day to all.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, June 15, 2021

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (24-1)* ! @

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Coach Kevin Boyle’s team are Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champions!

2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (11-0)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: The Stags completed an unbeaten season and spent nearly two months atop the Elite 25.

3. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (21-4)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals final. Three losses were to No. 1 Montverde.

4. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (21-3)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Advanced to GEICO Nationals semifinals.

5. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (29-2)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Advanced to GEICO Nationals semifinals and won the Grind Session World Championship. Standout G TyTy Washington committed last week to Kentucky.

6. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis (20-1)*

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Won Minnesota Class AAA state championship. Gonzaga-bound C Chet Holmgren was named Gatorade’s national player of the year.

7. Duncanville, Texas (29-1)*

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Won the Class 6A state championship.

8. Milton, Alpharetta, Ga. (28-3)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won Georgia Class AAAAAAA state championship and played at the GEICO Nationals.

9. Camden, N.J. (13-0)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: There were no New Jersey state playoffs but the Panthers were the state’s top-ranked team.

10. Torrey Pines, San Diego (29-0)^

Previous: 19.

Low-down: It was a fantastic finish for the Falcons, who edged Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), 63-60, in the CIF-San Diego Section Open Division championship. With the score knotted at 60 with :00.5 remaining senior G Nick Herrmann peeled off a high screen and delivered a 30-foot, 3-pointer that beat the buzzer and secured another sectional title for coach John Olive’s team. Herrmann’s 28 points paced the Falcons over St. Augustine (San Diego), 84-59, in the semifinals. They also topped Carlsbad, 70-48, in the quarterfinals. Senior G Chris Howell collected 24 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists and Herrmann added 12 points. The action continues this week as the top-seeded Falcons get a bye to the semifinals Thursday where they play Damien (La Verne) or St. Joseph (Santa Maria). The Open Division Regional final is Saturday.

11. Corona (Calif.) Centennial (21-2)^

Previous: Not ranked.

Low-down: Won CIF-Southern Section Open Division championship, knocking off previously unbeaten No. 12 Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth), 80-72, in the final. Sophomore G Kylan Boswell pumped in 24 points (six 3-pointers), junior G Donovan Dent netted 21 points and sophomore G Jared McCain added 16. The Huskies are done for the season, opting out of the CIF-Southern Region playoffs. Instead, the team heads to Arizona for a live event that will give their players exposure in front of college coaches. Season complete.

12. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (15-1)^

Previous: 8.

Low-down: In a shocker, the Trailblazers bowed in the CIF-Southern Section Open Division final to Corona Centennial, 80-72. The loss was the first in the playoffs since the 2017-18 term, while putting the brakes on a 21-game win streak. Amari Bailey topped all scorers with 33 points. The Blazers closed out Pool A with a 3-0 mark after holding off Etiwanda, 82-76, with Bailey throwing in 25 points. They also beat Ribet Academy (Los Angeles), 82-70, as Bailey bucketed 38 points. Next is the CIF-Southern Region Open Division quarterfinals against Birmingham (Lake Balboa) Tuesday. The winner gets Mater Dei (Santa Ana) or Etiwanda in the semifinals Thursday. The championship game is Saturday night.

13. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (18-7)

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Earned an invitation to the GEICO Nationals.

14. Orlando (Fla.) Christian Prep (27-0)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won FHSAA Class 2A state championship.

15. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (21-9)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Coach Steve Smith is one win short of 1,200 career victories.

16. Carmel, Ind. (26-2)*

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Won Class 4A state championship.

17. Pace Academy, Atlanta (30-2)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Won Georgia Class AA state championship and earned an invite to the GEICO Nationals. Sharman White was named head coach for the USA Basketball Men’s U16 National Team.

18. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (3-0)

Previous: 16.

Low-down: New York did not hold Federation State championships.

19. The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (14-1)

Previous: 17.

Low-down: The Celtics were upended once and will be stronger in 2021-22.

20. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-4)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Advanced to the GEICO Nationals quarterfinals.

21. DePaul Prep, Chicago (14-2)

Previous: 20.

Low-down: In a season when Illinois canceled state tournaments, the Rams won the Chipotle Clash of Champions, a tournament featuring Chicago’s top teams.

22. Simeon, Chicago (12-1)

Previous: 21.

Low-down: The Wolverines went unbeaten against Chicago Public League rivals.

23. Reading, Pa. (26-2)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won PIAA Class AAAAAA state championship.

24. Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (20-1)

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Won the Philadelphia Catholic League and District XII titles but lost in Class AAAAAA final.

25. Paul VI, Chantilly, Va. (7-4)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: The Panthers played a competitive schedule with elite players, including Duke-bound Trevor Keels, who was the Virginia Gatorade Player of the Year.

Dropped: No. 24 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore).

 High-Fives by Region

East

1. Cardinal Hayes, Bronx, N.Y. (6-1)^*
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (15-1)
3. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (9-3)^
4. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (12-3)
5. Stone Bridge, Ashburn, Va. (16-1)*

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

Midwest

1. Catholic Central, Grand Rapids, Mich. (20-0)*
2. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (6-9)
3. Vashon, St. Louis (16-1)*
4. St. Vincent-St. Mary, Akron, Ohio (25-2)*
5. Millard North, Omaha, Neb. (27-2)*

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

Southland

1. Millbrook, Raleigh, N.C. (19-0)*
2. Beaumont (Texas) United (31-0)*
3. Highlands, Fort Thomas, Ky. (30-4)*
4. Westlake, Austin, Texas (30-2)
5. Richardson, Texas (26-2)

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

Far West

1. Etiwanda, Calif. (11-2)^
2. Damien, La Verne, Calif. (28-3)^
3. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (26-3)^
4. Archbishop Mitty, San Jose, Calif. (17-1)^
5. St. Mary’s, Phoenix (20-1)*

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

@ Blue Star Media Elite 25 National Champion

! GEICO High School Nationals champion

* Won state championship or major postseason tournament title

^ Currently playing or completed a spring season

Records are 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.