BENSALEM, Pa. – This was supposed to be a special 10-day stretch.
All within those two clenched fistful of days there were three national and even some statewide events that would shape futures. It would’ve started on March 26 when the boys and girls’ players convened in Chicago for the Jordan Brand Classic at the United Center—the game was slated for March 27.
Once the players—many of the them from teams in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings—would shift to Houston for the McDonald’s All American Games at the Toyota Center on April 1 (no fooling!). The following day the 12th annual GEICO High School Nationals were back at Christ the King High School in Middle Village, New York for three days (later moved to Dorman High School in Roebuck, South Carolina) for three days of basketball bliss and helping determine the boys’ national champion.
Last weekend, the New York State Federation championships were being played in New York City (Fordham University’s Rose Hill Gymnasium in the Bronx) for the first time. Finally, the city game was coming to the Big City, where annually the fed’s large-school champions reside. Traditionally, schools from New York City’s Catholic and Public leagues and Long Island Lutheran in suburban Nassau County (about 28 miles from the Fordham campus).
Yet the COVID-19 or novel coronavirus had the last say on the high school basketball world and now dictates our daily lives. For those who played for a state championship and completed your season, consider it a blessing. Other states were not as fortunate and will forever harbor unfinished dreams.
Last week, Ohio and Oklahoma, two states’ governing bodies that originally suspended their state tournaments, finally canceled. The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association voted unanimously voted to end all state-sponsored activities for the rest of the school year. The Ohio High School Athletic Association announced that winter sports that includes boys and girls’ basketball tournaments were also canceled.
It was the responsible thing to do.
States such as West Virginia, Pennsylvania and Tennessee are still suspended but cancellation is only a matter of time.
Last week, Gatorade announced their 51 state players of the year (including the District of Columbia). Seven schools from the Elite 25 featured chosen student-athletes. It’s a very prestigious program that I run for a decade. The founder of the program, Bruce Weber, formerly of Scholastic, Inc., would be very proud of the Gatorade’s growth in interscholastic athletics. Sadly, Mr. Weber passed away in May 2018.
The GEICO Nationals continued to remain on hold. No dates or future plans have been revealed for the two tournaments. We’ll get it out there as soon as news breaks.
The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return this season and are waiting for all states to make final decisions. We have unfinished business.
Until next time, stay indoors! Let’s beat the invisible enemy and smash the pandemic. Be safe. – Christopher Lawlor
Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings, March 31, 2020
1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (25-0)
Previous rank: 1.
Low-down: The Eagles won four in-state tournaments, including the City of Palms Classic before Christmas. The GEICO Nationals are on hold. Otherwise, coach Kevin Boyle assembled one of the greatest teams in schoolboy history. Cade Cunningham (Oklahoma State) was named Gatorade’s Florida state player of the year.
2. DeMatha, Hyattsville, Md. (30-3)*
Previous: 2.
Low-down: Won Washington Catholic Athletic Conference regular season and tournament titles. Hunter Dickinson (Michigan) was named Maryland’s Gatorade state player of the year.
3. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (37-3)
Previous: 3.
Low-down: The Warriors captured prestigious in-season tournaments in Hawaii and Missouri and are looking to play in the GEICO Nationals.
4. Wasatch Academy, Mount Pleasant, Utah (27-2)
Previous: 4.
Low-down: Regular season is complete. The Tigers are invited to the GEICO Nationals.
5. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (22-3)
Previous: 5.
Low-down: The Crusaders were scheduled to play in the New York State Federation Class AA semifinals but that was cancelled.
6. Dorman, Roebuck, S.C. (30-1)*
Previous: 6.
Low-down: Won fourth straight Class 5A state championship. The Cavaliers are set to host the GEICO Nationals if they are played. PJ Hall (Clemson) was named South Carolina’s Gatorade player of the year.
7. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (22-3)
Previous: 7.
Low-down: The Buffaloes are headed to their second straight GEICO Nationals.
8. Sierra Canyon School, Chatsworth, Calif. (30-4)
Previous: 8.
Low-down: Advanced to the CIF Open Division championship game after winning the CIF-Southern Section and Southern California Region titles.
9. Paul VI, Fairfax, Va. (27-8)*
Previous: 9.
Low-down: Won Virginia Independent Division I state championship. Fought tooth and nail with No. 2 DeMatha all season in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference. Jeremy Roach (Duke) was named Virginia’s Gatorade player of the year.
10. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (31-3)*
Previous: 10.
Low-down: Won Grind Session World Championship. The Crew’s first-ever trip to GEICO Nationals is on hold.
11. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (23-3)
Previous: 11.
Low-down: Won the Bob Kirk Invitational in Maryland last month and are awaiting word on the GEICO Nationals.
12. Camden, N.J. (29-1)
Previous: 12.
Low-down: Advanced to the Group 2 semifinals after winning the South Jersey Section title.
13. Scotlandville, Baton Rouge, La. (35-3)*
Previous: 13.
Low-down: Won fourth straight LHSAA Division I championship. Reece Beekman (Virginia) was named Louisiana’s Gatorade player of the year.
14. Lancaster, Texas (36-1)
Previous: 14.
Low-down: Advanced to the Class 5A semifinals after winning the Region II championship.
15. Etiwanda, Calif. (30-4)
Previous: 15.
Low-down: Advanced to the Southern California Open Division final.
16. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (19-6)
Previous: 16.
Low-down: The Ascenders are headed to GEICO Nationals in hopes of defending their title.
17. Mater Dei, Santa Ana, Calif. (25-8)
Previous: 17
Low-down:Season complete. Junior guard Devin Askew, a Kentucky recruit, was named the Trinity League’s Most Valuable Player.
18. Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas (28-3)*
Previous: 18.
Low-down: Won Nevada Class 4A state championship.
19. Curie, Chicago (30-2)
Previous: 19.
Low-down: Advanced to the Class 4A sectional final. The Condors were four wins from the Class 4A state championship before the season was cancelled.
20. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (30-4)*
Previous: 20.
Low-down: Won New Jersey State Prep A championship.
21. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (24-4)*
Previous: 23.
Low-down: The Philadelphia Catholic League champions advanced to the PIAA Class AAA quarterfinals before the tournament was cancelled.
22. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (38-4)*
Previous: 22.
Low-down: Won the Baltimore Catholic League tournament and regular season titles.
23. Eden Prairie, Minn. (28-0)
Previous: 24.
Low-down: Won the Class 4A, Section 2 championship.
24. Minnehaha Academy, Minneapolis, Minn. (25-3)
Previous: 25.
Low-down: Won the Class 3A, Section 4 title. Gonzaga-bound Jalen Suggs was tabbed Minnesota’s Gatorade player of the year.
25. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (18-9)
Previous: 25.
Low-down:Won Class AA New York Archdiocesan tournament championship. RJ Davis (North Carolina) was named New York’s Gatorade player of the year.
Dropped: None.
High-Fives by Region
East
- Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (29-6)*
- Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (25-10)*
- Polytechnic Institute, Baltimore (25-2)
- Archbishop Wood, Warminster, Pa. (22-5)
- The Patrick School, Hillside, N.J. (20-8)
Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.
Midwest
- Moeller, Cincinnati (26-1)
- Bloomington (Ind.) South (26-0)
- St. Edward, Lakewood, Ohio (25-1)
- River Rouge, Mich. (20-1)
- Vashon, St. Louis (24-5)
Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
Southland
- North Mecklenburg, Huntersville, N.C. (30-1)
- Hamilton Heights Christian, Chattanooga, Tenn. 28-3)*
- Ashland (Ky.) Blazer (32-0)
- Lee, Montgomery, Ala. (33-1)*
- Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (24-7)*
Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.
Far West
- Sheldon, Sacramento, Calif. (28-5)
- Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (25-7)
- Garfield, Seattle (25-4)*
- Rancho Christian, Temecula, Calif. (22-8)
- Salpointe Catholic, Tucson, Ariz. (30-1)*
Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.
* Won a state, national or recognized conference/league postseason tournament championship
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 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 in April. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.
Senior Writer and national analyst for Blue Media and compiles the Blue Star Elite 25 national boys and girls high school basketball and football rankings during the season. Lawlor, an award-winning writer, is a voting committee member and advisor for several national high school events, including the McDonald’s All-American Games. He previously wrote for USA TODAY and ESPN.com, where he was the national preps writer, while compiling the national rankings in four sports.
