SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Greensboro Day (N.C.) moves into national high school boys basketball rankings after beating Oak Hill
Greensboro Day (N.C.) makes its debut in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 Boys Basketball Rankings after an early season upset of national powerhouse Oak Hill Academy, the preseason No. 5.
The Bengals rode a shutdown zone defense, 16 points from Michael Zanoni and 12 from Jaydon Young to upset the Warriors. Oak Hill dropped four spots to No. 9.
Beaumont United (Texas), No. 23 in our preseason rankings, was the only team dropped after taking a 41-39 season-opening loss to Cypress Ranch — a game in which both teams missed players due to football. But the Timberwolves could soon be back. In their first game at full strength, they responded with a 94-66 win over Madison.
Many SBLive/SI Power 25 teams have not yet tipped off their 2021-22 seasons and some of those who have aren't playing at full strength with the lingering overlap from the football season. That is set to change this week with a full slate of nationally-competitive Thanksgiving week tournaments, such as the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas and Fort Worth, Texas and the Atlanta-based Holiday Hoopsgiving.
SBLIVE POWER 25:PRESEASON RANKINGS
The Power 25 is a collaboration between SBLive and Sports Illustrated. Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Andy Buhler and SI Director of Basketball Recruiting Jason Jordan based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. You can reach Andy on Twitter @AndyBuhler or email him at andy@scorebooklive.com.
SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Nov. 22, 2021
1.Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (0-0)
Up next: Nov. 26 vs. Real Salt Lake Academy (Holiday Hoopsgiving)
Last ranking: No. 1
Beat Central Pointe Christian by 28 ahead of a big Thanksgiving week at the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta.
2.IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (2-0)
Up next: Nov. 22 vs. Admiral Farragut
Last ranking: No. 2
Opened season with comfortable wins over South West Florida Christian and Charlotte (Fla.) as the start of NIBC play approaches (Dec. 2).
3.Milton (Milton, Ga.) (1-0)
Up next: Dec. 3 at Mount Pisgah
Last ranking: No. 3
Opened the season with an 83-47 win over Roswell on Wednesday in a week overshadowed by the arrest of two players on murder charges.
4.Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) (2-0)
Up next: Nov. 24 vs. CBC St. Louis (in Memphis, Tenn.)
Last ranking: No. 4
Opened season with lopsided wins over PHH Prep and Universal Academy, then beat Scotland Campus 86-82 in the National Prep Showcase on Saturday.
5.Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (3-0)
Up next: Nov. 23 vs. Chatsworth
Last ranking: No. 6
Trailblazers eked out a 51-46 win over St. Augustine Saturday after opening the season with wins over CIF opponents Montgomery (72-19) and San Ysidro (84-70). UCLA pledge Amari Bailey still out nursing a foot injury.
6.Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (2-0)
Up next: Nov. 24 vs. Wheeler (Ga.)
Last ranking: No. 7
Opened with a pair of tune-up wins before taking down Kimball (Tex.) Saturday with a put-back game-winner from Ron Holland in the RJ Hampton Classic. A tough road lies ahead — Panthers enter a stretch that pits them against Wheeler, Corona Centennial and Sierra Canyon.
7.Camden (Camden, N.J.) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 17 vs. Roselle Catholic (ESPN Tip Off)
Last ranking: No. 8
Has not started its season.
8.DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 1 vs. Coolidge (D.C.)
Last ranking: No. 9
Has not started its season.
9. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (8-1)
Up next: Dec. 2 vs. Montverde (NIBC tipoff)
Last ranking: No. 5
Won convincingly in a stretch of home games, then took a 55-54 loss to Greensboro Day (N.C.) in the Carmel Tip-Off Classic then rebounded with blowout wins over Providence Academy and Vision Academy.
10.North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.) (0-0)
Up next: Nov. 27 vs. Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy (Thanksgiving Hoopfest)
Last ranking: No. 10
Has not started its season.
11. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) (0-0)
Up next: Nov. 26 vs. Pebblebrooks (Ga.) (Holiday Hoopsgiving, Atlanta)
Last ranking: No. 12
Has not started its season.
12. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) (4-0)
Up next: Dec. 2 vs. Bishop Walsh (Cumberland, Md.)
Last ranking: No. 13
Opened the season with four lopsided wins.
13.Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) (0-0)
Up next: Nov. 24 vs. Lake Highland Prep
Last ranking: No. 13
Has not started its season.
14. Richardson (Richardson, Tex.) (4-0)
Up next: Dec. 27 vs. AZ Compass Prep
Last ranking: No. 15
Opened the season with four double-digit wins over Texas opponents.
15. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) (5-0)
Up next: Dec. 2 vs. Folsom
Last ranking: NR
Flexed a zone defense to help preserve a win over No. 5 Oak Hill Academy, 55-54, as a part of its 5-0 start.
16.Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (2-0)
Up next: Nov. 22 vs. Central Carolina Prep
Last ranking: No. 11
Opened with lopsided wins over New Life Christian Academy and Northside Christian Academy. Brings back plenty of talent on the Jeff McGinnis-coached squad to make up for the losses of Robert Dillingham and Bryce Alfino to transfer, starting with two seniors: Illinois-pound point guard Jayden Epps and 7-0 center Patrick Wessley, a Virginia Tech commit.
17. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (0-0)
Up next: Unknown
Last ranking: No. 16
Has not started its season. The NJSIAA regular season starts Dec. 15.
18. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 22 vs. Glenbard South (District 87 Thanksgiving Invite, Ill.)
Last ranking: No. 17
Has not started its season.
19. Westtown School (Bellefonte, Penn.) (2-0)
Up next: Dec. 2 vs. La Academia
Last ranking: No. 18
Opened the season last weekend with a 69-50 with a win over Mercersburg and 10-point win over Upper Room. Plays Dematha Dec. 4 in the Nike National Hoopfest.
20. Whitney Young (Chicago) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 4 vs. Gonzaga College Prep
Last ranking: No. 19
Has not started its season.
21. Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Highlands Christian
Last ranking: No. 20
Has not started its season.
22. St. Frances (Baltimore, Md.) (2-0)
Up next: Dec. 3 vs. Calvert Hall (Md.)
Last ranking: No. 21
Opened season with blowout wins over New Hope Academy and Arundel Christian.
23. Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 23 vs. Archbishop Stepinac
Last ranking: No. 22
Has not started the season.
24. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (3-0)
Up next: Dec. 26 vs. Duncanville
Last ranking: No. 2
Opened the season with blowout wins over Paloma Valle, Sheldon and Notre Dame of Sherman Oaks (Calif.).
25. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (0-0)
Up next: Dec. 2 vs. Folsom
Last ranking: No. 25
Has not started its season.
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-- Andy Buhler, SBLive - @AndyBuhler
-- Jason Jordan, SI - @JasonJordanSI
