WORLD BEATERS: No. 6 Prolific Prep (CA) wins Grind Session World Championship; two from Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings in State Champions Invitational

BENSALEM, Pa. – Prolific Prep of Napa, California is on top of the world. The No. 6 Crew staked that claim last weekend by capturing the Grind Session World Championships in Phoenix, Arizona.

And that’s exactly how the No. 6 Crew, who improved to 35-1, want it. With Trey Green, a Xavier recruit, bedazzling the crowd with an array of moves and flipping in a game-high 30 points it was too much in a 91-79 victory over Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.). The Crew might be the hottest team in the Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings.

So, it’s a week off to reset, and then the Crew is off to the GEICO High School Nationals that tips off on March 30 in Fort Myers, Fla. No. 1 Montverde (Fla.) Academy is the two time defending champions and the clear-cut favorites but the Crew could see them in the championship on April 1.

We’ll have more on the GEICO Nationals next week.

However, there’s another national postseason tournament that will impact the Elite 25.

State Champions Invitational

Last week, Paragon Marketing and ESPN family of networks revealed the brackets for the second annual State Champions Invitational. The new wrinkle this year is a six-team bracket, two of which are in the Elite 25 rankings. The tournament will be played April 6-8 on the campus of Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.

The schedule (All times Eastern Daylight Time):

April 6

6 p.m.: No. 12 Roselle (N.J.) Catholic vs. Curtis (University Place, Wash.), ESPNU
8 p.m.: Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) vs. Yazoo City (Miss.), ESPN+

April 7
4 p.m. — Corner Canyon or Yazoo City vs. Sidwell Friends (Washington), ESPNU
6 p.m. — Roselle Catholic or Curtis winner vs. No. 20 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), ESPN+

April 8
12 p.m.: Championship game, ESPN.

With the state championships wrapping up this weekend in states such as Alaska, Indiana, New York, Pennsylvania, Michigan and Minnesota, that means only three weekends remain in the high school season.

There are no additions to the Elite 25 this week and only three teams shifted positions. Prolific Prep hopped up two slots after winning the Grind Session World Championship. Five teams from the Elite 25 are going for state championship, including three in Pennsylvania and one apiece in New York and Indiana. So far, Elite 25 teams have won state or conference postseason championships.

If you are anywhere near Hershey, Pa., head over to the Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association championships at the GIANT Center. Chocolate Town, USA hosts 12 state championship games, starting on Thursday through Saturday with two sessions daily. Get tickets here. Three nationally ranked boys teams from Philadelphia could punch their tickets to the final.

Finally, one interesting note out of Kentucky, where they held the UK HealthCare Boys’ Sweet 16 last week for four days at legendary Rupp Arena in Lexington. The Kentucky High School Athletic Association tweeted 99,565 fans attended the 15 games or an average of 6,638 per game. That off the charts.

Rupp Arena is the home of the Kentucky Wildcats and holds 23,500. It’s cavernous but it’s the dream of every schoolboy hooper to play there one day. Warren Central (Bowling Green) won the program’s second-ever title with a 64-60 win over defending champion George Rogers Clark (Winchester) before a boisterous crowd in the big house.

Bluegrass basketball is a scared tradition and this simply reinforced it.

That’s a wrap for the week.

The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ rankings will return on March 28.

Stay safe and get out to a state playoff or championship game. Good luck with your NCAA Men’s brackets moving into the Sweet Sixteen. Mine are busted.

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

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, March 21, 2023

1. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (23-2)

Previous rank: 1.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the GEICO High School Nationals, where the Eagles look to defend their title.

2. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (21-2)

Previous: 2.

Low-down: Idle. The Crusaders still have business with the New York State Federation Class AA Tournament against Victor in the semifinals on Saturday and less than a week later at the GEICO Nationals in Florida.

3. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (24-1)

Previous: 3.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is the GEICO Nationals.

4. Ben Davis, Indianapolis (32-0)

Previous: 4.

Low-down: Defeated Brownsburg, 66-38, in the Class 4A South Semistate final and Bloomington North, 78-55, in the semifinals. Up next is Kokomo in the Class 4A state final on Saturday at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis.

5. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (31-3)*

Previous: 5.

Low-down: Idle. The Panthers will play in the GEICO High School Nationals beginning March 30 in Fort Myers, Fla.

6. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (35-1)*

Previous: 8.

Low-down: Won the Grind Session World Championship, defeating Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 91-79, in the final. Xavier-bound point guard Trey Green was named Most Valuable Player after posting 30 points (making seven 3-pointers) and 6-11 Yves Missi added 24 points and snared 8 rebounds. Up next is the GEICO Nationals tipping on March 30 in Fort Myers, Fla.

7. AZ Compass Prep, Chandler, Ariz. (23-4)

Previous: 6.

Low-down: Idle. The Dragons are headed to the GEICO Nationals.

8. Duncanville, Texas (28-1)

Previous: 7.

Low-down: Season complete.

9. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (33-2)*

Previous: 9.

Low-down: Won CIF Open Division state championship. Season complete.

10. Sunrise Christian School, Bel Aire, Kan. (21-7)

Previous: 10.

Low-down: Idle. Up next is a date in the GEICO Nationals on March 30 in Florida.

11. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (27-0)*

Previous: 11.

Low-down: Won the Class 2 state championship. Season complete.

12. Roselle (N.J.) Catholic (22-5)*

Previous: 12.

Low-down: Won the Non-Public B state championship but the Lions will play in the State Champions Invitational running April 6-8, in Washington, D.C. Regular season complete.

13. Centennial, Corona, Calif. (30-4)

Previous: 13.

Low-down: Season complete.

14. Camden, N.J. (23-2)

Previous: 14.

Low-down: Season complete.

15. Imhotep Institute Charter, Philadelphia (28-3)*

Previous: 15.

Low-down: Defeated Abington Heights, 65-38, in the PIAA Class 5A quarterfinals and Muhlenberg (Reading), 64-54, in the second round. The Panthers played Archbishop Ryan (Philadelphia) Monday in the semifinals. The final is Friday night in Hershey.

16. Columbus, Miami (26-4)*

Previous: 16.

Low-down: Won second straight FHSAA Class 7A state championship. Season complete.

17. Roman Catholic, Philadelphia (26-3)*

Previous: 17.

Low-down: Defeated Parkland (Allentown, Pa.), 53-35, in the PIAA Class 6A quarterfinals

Lower Merion (Ardmore, Pa.), 60-56, in overtime in the second round. Up next is Archbishop Wood (Warminster) Tuesday in the 6A semifinals.

18. Ss. Neumann-Goretti, Philadelphia (25-3)

Previous: 18.

Low-down: Defeated Bishop Shanahan (Downingtown, Pa.), 74-64, in the PIAA Class 4A quarterfinals and Bethlehem Catholic, 74-49, in the second round. The Saints played Allentown Central Catholic Monday in the Class 4A semifinals. The winner advances to the final Thursday in Hershey.

19. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (17-7)

Previous: 19.

Low-down: Idle. The Ascenders are preparing for the GEICO Nationals next week in nearby Fort Myers.

20. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (26-6)*

Previous: 20.

Low-down: Won Class 7A state championship. The Wildcats are the top seed in the upcoming State Champions Invitational from April 6-8 in Washington, D.C. Regular season complete.

21. Metamora, Ill. (34-2)*

Previous: 21.

Low-down: Won Class 3A state championship. Season complete.

22. Lake Highlands, Dallas (34-3)*

Previous: 22.

Low-down: Won UIL Class 6A state championship. Season complete.

23. Simeon, Chicago (32-4)*

Previous: 23.

Low-down: Advanced to Class 3A state final and won the Chicago Public School City Championship. Season complete.

24. St. John’s College, Washington, D.C. (32-4)*

Previous: 24.

Low-down: Won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference Tournament. Season complete.

25. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (26-7)

Previous: 25.

Low-down: Season complete.

Dropped: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (21-9)*
2. Christ the King, Middle Village, N.Y. (23-5)
3. Mount St. Joseph, Baltimore (38-4)*
4. St. Benedict’s, Newark, N.J. (23-3)*
5. Reading, Pa. (30-1)

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

Midwest

1. Moline, Ill. (35-3)*
2. De Pere, Wis. (30-0)*
3. Cass Tech, Detroit (25-1)…tu
4. Park Center, Brooklyn Park, Minn. (26-2)
5. Archbishop Hoban, Akron, Ohio (26-3)*

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

Southland

1. Warren Central, Bowling Green, Ky. (36-1)*
2. Myers Park, Charlotte, N.C. (28-4)*
3. Kimball, Dallas (33-2)*
4. Greensboro (N.C.) Day School (30-5)*
5. Brentwood (Tenn.) Academy (29-3)*

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

Far West

1. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (27-10)*
2. Garfield, Seattle (25-2)*
3. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (30-1)*
4. Durango, Las Vegas (21-6)*
5. Bishop Montgomery, Torrance, Calif. (28-5)

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

Records through Sunday’s games

 * Won state, national or conference 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. Follow him on Twitter at @clawlor.