MaxPreps Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings
January 12, 2015 by MaxPreps, AZPreps365
1. (No. 2 last week) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 16-0
A challenging week awaits the nation's new No. 1. The Pilots meet No. 13 Stevenson on Saturday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic and dangerous Wayne (Huber Heights, Ohio) on Monday at Flyin' to the Hoop.
2. (4) Montverde Academy (Fla.), 19-1
The Eagles are 6-1 against teams that have appeared in the rankings this season and notched their second tournament title Saturday in New Orleans. Big games against Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) are ahead this week.
3. (5) Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 15-1
The annual Spalding Hoophall Classic (Jan. 15-19) is loaded will compelling matchups, but none are as pivotal from a national rankings perspective than Wheeler's tilt with No. 10 Bishop O'Dowd.
4. (6) Roselle Catholic (N.J.), 9-0
Kentucky pledge Isaiah Briscoe and the Lions beat The Patrick School 61-39 in a showdown of Garden State powers Saturday night.
5. (21) Hamilton (Memphis, Tenn.), 12-0
Thanks to a win over then-No. 1 Oak Hill Academy at the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest, the Wildcats make the biggest jump this week in the rankings. Former Arkansas and NBA star Todd Day is in his first season as head coach at Hamilton.
6. (1) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 22-1
After suffering its first loss of the season to Hamilton over the weekend, Oak Hill Academy has a brutal week ahead. The Warriors face 18-1 Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), No. 11 Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland) and take a trip to Missouri for the loaded Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
7. (7) Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.), 11-1
Sophomore Iziah James stepped up to lead the Dolphins with 21 points in a 69-54 win over L.C. Bird (Chesterfield) on Saturday night at the Virginia Preps Classic.
8. (8) Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), 18-2
The Trojans will join No. 6 Oak Hill Academy and No. 10 Bishop O'Dowd in a tough field at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.
9. (9) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 11-1
Junior guard Devearl Ramsey surpassed 1,000 career points Saturday as Sierra Canyon routed Beverly Hills 79-51.
10. (10) Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.), 7-2
After beating Sacramento in impressive fashion Saturday, the Dragons open play at the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions Thursday against Waynesville (Mo.).
11. (12) Villa Angela-St. Joseph (Cleveland), 8-0
New Kansas pledge Carlton Bragg scored 31 points Saturday as the Vikings knocked off Mentor 72-59. It's a big opportunity for VASJ Jan. 19 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic against No. 6 Oak Hill Academy.
12. (13) St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio), 10-0
We'll know exactly where St. Vincent-St. Mary stands a week from now. SVSM plays at perennial power Dunbar (Dayton) on Saturday night then turns around and meets Balboa City (San Diego) at Flyin' to the Hoop on Sunday.
13. (14) Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.), 14-1
The Patriots get a crack at No. 1 Findlay Prep Saturday night at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts.
14. (15) Cardinal Gibbons (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), 19-0
Tuesday's meeting with 14-2 Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) may be toughest remaining test in the regular season.
15. (16) Greensboro Day (N.C.), 22-0
The defensive-minded Bengals meet No. 8 Wesleyan Christian Academy on Jan. 20.
16. (17) Southport (Indianapolis), 10-0
The Cardinals have won eight of 10 contests this season by double digits, including Friday's 72-56 win over Franklin Central (Indianapolis).
17. (NR) Roman Catholic (Philadelphia), 12-0
The Cahillites got a big one Sunday, beating Archbishop Carroll (Radnor) 69-64 in a key Philly Catholic League matchup. Junior wing Nazeer Bostick led Roman with 22 points the victory.
18. (18) Corona del Sol (Tempe, Ariz.), 14-1
Another program headed to the Spalding Hoophall Classic this week, the Aztecs will close out play Saturday night against Putnam Vo-Tech (Springfield, Mass.).
19. (19) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 14-1
The Stags got a big win in Washington Catholic Athletic Conference play Friday night, beating Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), 54-48.
20. (20) Jonesboro (Ga.), 15-1
Griffin looked to be a formidable opponent for the Cardinals on Friday night. Instead, Jonesboro built a 45-17 halftime lead en route to an 80-45 victory.
21. (22) Garfield (Seattle), 12-0
The points continue to come in bunches for the Bulldogs. Garfield scored 96 and 83 in wins over Chief Sealth (Seattle) and Lakeside (Seattle) last week and is averaging 84.1 points per game on the season.
22. (NR) Simeon (Chicago), 13-1
Since losing to St. Rita back on Dec. 19, the Wolverines won the Pontiac Holiday Classic, beat Beach Ball Classic champ Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) by 30 in West Virginia and swept a pair of games over the weekend at the Penny Hardaway Hoopfest in Tennessee.
23. (24) Fairfax (Los Angeles), 14-0
While we often highlight the staggering win margins of Top 25 teams, Fairfax is living dangerously on the other end of the spectrum. Six of the Lions' last eight outings have been decided by eight points or less – including Saturday's 59-55 win over Cathedral (Los Angeles).
24. (25) Pope John XXIII (Sparta, N.J.), 8-0
Syracuse signee Moustapha Diagne led the way with 22 points as Pope John blasted Vernon 86-29 on Friday.
25. (NR) Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 12-3
QEA's resume is a bit of a tangled web. There are quality wins – no pun intended – over Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) and then-No. 3 Huntington St. Joseph Prep over the weekend. The Fighting Pharaohs also played No. 6 Oak Hill Academy tough in a loss. But two other setbacks against St. Louis Christian (Mo.) and 18-1 Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) makes placing them without debate a tough proposition.
Dropped out: No. 3 Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.); No. 11 Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.); No. 23 St. Joseph (Westchester, Ill.).