SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Prolific Prep back in top 3 of national high school boys basketball rankings (Feb. 27)
There’s a familiar name back in the top three of the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national high school boys basketball rankings.
Prolific Prep (California) held the No. 1 spot in the rankings for three weeks in January. The Crew, who began the season No. 6 in the country, rose to the very top following a 21-0 start with multiple wins over ranked opponents but slid a few spots when it took its first loss to now-ranked Dream City Christian (Arizona).
The Crew are on the rise once again, as they’re back in the top three for the first time in a month. Since taking its first and only loss of the season, Prolific Prep has won 10 games in a row by an average of 24.5 points.
Another team back on the rise is John Marshall (Virginia), which jumped two spots and re-entered the top 15. The Justices had slid a few spots in recent weeks due to a light schedule in February, but they showed their power in three dominant wins last week to win a region title and remain undefeated entering their state tournament.
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Ben Davis (Indiana) reached a new high in the national rankings after completing its first undefeated regular season in program history. The Giants are one of two Power 25 teams to pull off perfect regular seasons, joining the aforementioned John Marshall.
That wasn’t the end of the movement in the top 20, as West Linn (Oregon), Perry (Arizona) and St. John’s (D.C.) all climbed one spot.
Find the complete breakdown of the 15th update to the SBLive/SI Power 25 below:
The Power 25 is a collaboration between SBLive and Sports Illustrated. Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Zach Shugan based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. Reach Zach on Twitter @ZachShugan or email him at zshugan@gmail.com.
SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS
Feb. 27, 2023
1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (23-2)
Last ranking: 1
Up next: TBD
Did not play.
2. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (24-1)
Last ranking: 2
Up next: TBD
Did not play.
3. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) (31-1)
Last ranking: 4
Up next: Mar. 10 vs. Albuquerque Prep (New Mexico)
Prolific Prep surpassed 30 wins on the season with victories over Phoenix Prep (Arizona) and Balboa School (Calif.) in Las Vegas. The Crew finished the regular season on a 10 game win streak and earned the top seed in the Grind Session World Championship, a 16 team tournament which begins Mar. 10 in New Mexico.
4. Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (28-1)
Last ranking: 3
Season completed.
5. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (28-2)
Last ranking: 5
Up next: Feb. 27 vs. No. 18 St. John’s (D.C.)
The Panthers survived a scare against DeMatha (Maryland) in the semifinals of the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference tournament, winning 72-70 after trailing by two points at halftime. The Panthers will see No. 18 St. John’s for the second time this year in the WCAC championship Monday night at American University. St. Paul VI won the first meeting 69-60 at home.
6. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (29-3)
Last ranking: 6
Up next: Mar. 4 vs. TBD
Aaron McBride. The Loyola Marymount signee lifted Corona Centennial to a CIF-Southern Section title with a heroic steal and fastbreak dunk, putting the Huskies ahead 58-56 just before the final buzzer sounded. Corona Centennial earned the top seed for Southern California in the CIF State Open Division Championships and will take on the winner of No. 20 West Ranch vs. St. Augustine in the quarterfinals.
7. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (24-4)
Last ranking: 7
Up next: Mar. 3 vs. Colonial (Fla.)
Columbus cruised past Deerfield Beach (Fla.) in the regional championship at Florida International University, winning. Sophomore Cameron Boozer, a potential candidate for National Player of the Year, posted 19 points, 15 rebounds, nine assists and eight blocks. The Explorers will take on Colonial in the FHSAA 7A state semifinals this weekend.
8. Camden (Camden, N.J.) (23-2)
Last ranking: 8
Season completed.
9. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (16-7)
Last ranking: 9
Up next: TBD
Did not play.
10. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ari.) (21-5)
Last ranking: 10
Up next: Mar. 3 vs. La Lumiere (Indiana)
AZ Compass Prep defeated AOSS (Calif.) 82-49 on senior night. Portland signee Vince Delano led the Dragons with 16 points, and recent New Mexico commit Tru Washington added 15 points. AZ Compass will visit South Carolina this weekend to take on La Lumiere (Ind.) and No. 12 Long Island Lutheran (New York) in its final NIBC games of the season.
11. Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) (20-6)
Last ranking: 11
Up next: Mar. 3 vs. No. 12 Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.)
Sunrise Christian added emphatic victories over T.A.C.A (Tex.) and OKC Prep (Oklahoma) to what is now a seven-game win streak, tied for its longest of the season. The Buffaloes will wrap up the regular season this weekend in South Carolina, where they will be taking on fellow NIBC teams No. 12 Long Island Lutheran and La Lumiere (Ind.)
12. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) (18-2)
Last ranking: 12
Up next: Mar. 3 vs. No. 11 Sunrise Christian (Kan.)
Did not play.
13. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.) (24-3)
Last ranking: 13
Up next: TBD
Imhotep Charter won the Philadelphia Public League championship after defeating West Philadelphia 72-43 in the finals. The Panthers won their five tournament games by an average of 40 points. Justin Edwards and company will look to win their second consecutive state championship in the upcoming PIAA Class 5A playoffs.
14. John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) (25-0)
Last ranking: 16
Up next: TBD vs. Strasburg (Va.)
John Marshall went 3-0 last week to take home a region title. The Justices have scored at least 100 points each of the past four games, including a 124-41 win over Prince Edward County in the region quarterfinals. John Marshall will take on Strasburg in the quarterfinals of the VHSL Class 2 state tournament.
15. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (30-2)
Last ranking: 14
Up next: Mar. 4 vs. St. John Bosco (Calif.)
Did not play.
16. West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) (24-1)
Last ranking: 17
Up next: Mar. 1 vs. Century (Ore.)
West Linn squeezed in an 89-78 win over Tualatin (Ore.) before a snowstorm hit the area Wednesday. The Lions closed out the regular season later in the week with a 58-50 win against Oregon City and earned the top seed in the upcoming OSAA Class 6A state tournament.
17. Perry (Gilbert, Ari.) (29-1)
Last ranking: 18
Up next: Mar. 4 vs. Sunnyslope (Ari.)
Perry knocked out Desert Mountain (Ari.) 64-50 to advance to the first-ever AIA Open Division state championship. The Pumas will take on Sunnyslope this weekend for the second time this season, but this time it will be for a state title. Perry beat the Vikings by 25 points in their first meeting Jan. 12.
18. St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) (28-2)
Last ranking: 19
Up next: Feb. 27 vs. No. 5 St. Paul VI (Va.)
St. John’s edged out Gonzaga (D.C.) 54-53 in the WCAC semifinals, earning its third win against the former Power 25 squad in the past three weeks. The Cadets will look to knock off No. 5 St. Paul VI (Va.) in the WCAC championship game Monday and avenge a 69-60 loss to the Panthers earlier this season.
19. Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) (26-0)
Last ranking: 21
Up next: Mar. 1 vs. Southport (Ind.)
Ben Davis wrapped up a perfect regular season with resounding wins over in-state teams Don Bosco and Arsenal Technical. The Giants open the state playoffs this week against Southport, a team which gave them one of their closest calls in a 55-52 win Nov. 30.
20. West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.) (29-2)
Last ranking: 20
Up next: Mar. 1 vs. St. Augustine (Calif.)
Did not play.
21. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (31-5)
Last ranking: 15
Up next: TBD
After getting past Spire Institute (Ohio) and TSF Prep (Georgia) in the first two rounds, Combine Academy fell to Moravian Prep (N.C.) 82-59 in the championship of the Big Shots Prep National bracket.
22. Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ari.) (28-4)
Last ranking: 22
Up next: Mar. 10 vs. Fort Erie International (Canada)
Dream City Christian earned the second seed in the Grind Session tournament and will take on the 15th seed Fort Erie International from Canada in the first round.
23. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (19-5)
Last ranking: 23
Up next: Feb. 27 vs. St. Thomas Aquinas (N.J.)
Roselle Catholic rolled past Koinonia Academy and Morris Catholic in playoff games last week. The Lions will see St. Thomas Aquinas in the NJSIAA North Non-Public B semifinals on Monday.
24. Beaumont United (Beaumont, Tex.) (32-1)
Last ranking: 24
Up next: Feb. 28 vs. Westbrook (Tex.)
Beaumont United opened its playoff run last week by downing Dobie 82-47 and Dickinson 87-63. The Timberwolves will meet up with Westbrook, with a trip to the quarterfinals of the UIL 6A Region 3 & 4 tournament on the line.
25. Simeon (Chicago, Illinois) (28-3)
Last ranking: 25
Up next: Feb. 28 vs. St. Laurence (Illinois)
Simeon crushed Solorio 97-32 and Englewood STEM 70-33 in playoff games last week. The Wolverines will square off with St. Laurence in the IHSA 3A sectional semifinals on Tuesday.
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ON THE BUBBLE
Don Bosco (Ramsey, N.J.) (26-2)
Lake Highlands (Dallas, Tex.) (29-3)
Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) (21-2)
Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) (35-3)
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) (23-6)
Lake City (Coeur d'Alene, Ida.) (23-0)
