SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Sunrise Christian (Kansas) wins NIBC, remains No. 1 in national boys basketball rankings

The inaugural National Interscholastic Basketball Conference crowned its first champion on Saturday night at the Metro Classic in Toms Ford, N.J.

Locked atop the high school basketball super-league standings entering the weekend, No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy (Kansas) beat No. 2 IMG Academy (Florida) 57-52 to claim the NIBC title.

The win all but secured the top seed for the GEICO Nationals in late March and affirmed the Buffaloes' position at No. 1 in this week's SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings.

More Power 25 teams clashed at the Metro Classic, including No. 8 La Lumiere (Indiana), which beat Baylor pledge Keyonte George (40 points) and IMG Academy in double-overtime on an Aden Holloway go-ahead 3-pointer.

Gonzaga pledge Braden Huff and No. 16 Glenbard West (Illinois) gave Amari Bailey and No. 11 Sierra Canyon (California) a wire-to-wire effort in front of a raucous sold out crowd at the SunTrust Arena in Chicago, but Trailblazers junior Dylan Metoyer spoiled the Hilltoppers' upset hopes, hitting a game-winning corner 3-pointer in the final seconds. 

The NIBC standings may be fixed, but coach Luke Barnwell’s top-ranked Buffaloes face another top-5 showdown with No. 5 Link Academy (Missouri) on Friday at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Grand Island, Nebraska. Can Link Academy, the national newcomers, produce a win in its biggest game yet as a program?

Find the complete breakdown of the latest SBLive/SI Power 25 national boys basketball rankings below.

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25:PRESEASON RANKINGS| NOV. 22| NOV. 29| DEC. 6| DEC. 13 | DEC. 20| JAN. 3| JAN. 11| JAN. 18| JAN. 24| JAN 31

The Power 25, sponsored by Discount Tire, 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

Feb. 7, 2022

1. Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) (21-1)

Up next: Feb. 11 vs. Link Academy (Mo.)

Last ranking: No. 1

Locked up the inaugural NIBC championship with a win over No. 2 IMG Academy at the Metro Classic, also collecting wins over No. 1 SI99 prospect Dereck Lively and Westtown (Pa.) and Bishop Walsh (Md.).

2. Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (25-1)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Cedar Hill (Tex.)

Last ranking: No. 3

It’s unclear if they would even be able to accept a GEICO Nationals invite, but the Panthers are putting together an impressive resume. Beat district foe Lake Ridge by eight and Waxahachie by 41 — 19 from junior forward Ron Holland. 

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (21-4)

Up next: Beach Blast at IMG Academy (Feb. 18)

Last ranking: No. 2

Keyonte George forced OT with a clutch 3 and finished with 40, but the Ascenders lost in double overtime to No. 9 La Lumiere on a game-winning 3 by Aden Holloway in the Metro Classic, then beat The Patrick School (N.J.) by 35 then lost the NIBC title game to No. 1 Sunrise Christian on Saturday. 

4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (19-4)

Up next: Unknown

Last ranking: No. 4

Went 3-0 at its final NIBC weekend in New Jersey, capped by 16 points from Malik Reneau and a double-double from Dillon Mitchell. 

5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (26-0)

Up next: Feb. 11 vs. No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy (Kan.)

Last ranking: No. 5

Snow kept the Lions in Branson, Mo. and away from competing in the Metro Classic with their game of the year Friday: No. 1 Sunrise Christian in the Heartland Hoops Classic.

6. Richardson (Richardson, Tex.) (26-1)

Up next: Feb. 7 vs. Pearce (Tex.)

Last ranking: No. 6

Relatively quiet week that saw a game get moved to Monday and Kentucky-bound Cason Wallace named as one of 10 semifinalists for the Naismith Trophy, recognizing the national high school player of the year.

7. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (16-2)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Coral Springs Charter (Fla.)

Last ranking: No. 7

Coasted to wins over Schoolhouse Prep (Fla.) and St. John Paul II Academy. Postseason begins this week and Calvary Christian enters the District 13-4A Tournament the top overall seed.

8. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) (16-3)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. International Sports Academy (Ohio)

Last ranking: No. 9

Aden Holloway’s go-ahead 3 with seconds left in gave the Lakers a 93-91 win over No. 2 IMG Academy in the Metro Classic Thursday. They followed it up with a 15-point loss to No. 4 Montverde and a 17-point win over Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.).

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

Up next: Feb. 7 Woodrow Wilson (N.J.)

Last ranking: No. 10 

Five-star junior DJ Wagner had 17, but his supporting cast built the bulk of the lead en route to a a 24-point win over N.J. power St. Peter’s Prep at the Metro Classic. 

10. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (22-3)

Up next:CIF Southern Section Open Division pool play (brackets release Tuesday)

Last ranking: No. 11

Snapped No. 16 Glenbard West’s 26-game win streak in front of a raucous pro-Hilltoppers crowd for its biggest win of its national schedule so far. Chicago native and UCLA pledge Amari Bailey had a game-high 19 and Dylan Metoyer hit the game-winner. Up next, a return to California for three Southern Section Open Division pool play games. Sierra Canyon enters the No. 2 seed.

11. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) (21-4)

Up next: Feb. 9 vs. district tournament opponent

Last ranking: No. 12

Closed out its regular season with a 56-53 win over Florida power Windermere on Tuesday. Florida signee Denzel Aberdeen scored 14 and Kansas signee Ernest Udeh Jr. had 13.

12. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (23-7)

Up next: Feb. 11 vs. Rock Creek Christian (Md.)

Last ranking: No. 14

Swept its way to a 3-0 weekend at the Metro Classic, headlined by a 61-54 win over No. 8 Roselle Catholic to finish fourth in the NIBC standings at 6-4.

13. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (16-2)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Westfield (N.J.)

Last ranking: No. 8

Win streak ended at 17 after a 61-54 Metro Classic loss to Judah Mintz (23 points) and No. 14 Oak Hill (Va.).

14. North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.) (18-3)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Little Rock Southwest (Ark.)

Last ranking: No. 13

Defeated rival Little Rock Central (Ark.) in overtime on the back of McDonald’s All-American Nick Smith’s 29 points, then had a Saturday game with Conway (Ark.) canceled due to ice.

15. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (14-4)

Up next: Unknown

Last ranking: No. 15

Illinois-bound Jayden Epps had 24 points and eight assists and Virginia Tech pledge Patrick Wessler finished with 17 and 13 boards in a 73-56 win over Huntington Prep, then beat Vertical Academy 84-76 Sunday in the Charlotte, N.C.-based Court XIV Classic.

16. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (24-0)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Canyon Spring (Nev.)

Last ranking: No. 17

Beat 5A Southern League foe Durango (Nev.) and thrashed Faith Lutheran to remain one of the three undefeated Power 25 teams.

17. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (26-1)

Up next: CIF Southern Section Open Division pool play (brackets release Tuesday)

Last ranking: No. 18

Closed out Big VIII League play with lopsided wins over Roosevelt and Corona before Southern Section Open Division pool play begins. The Huskies are the No. 1 seed.

18. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (26-1)

Up next: Feb. 10 vs. Hinsdale Central (Ill.)

Last ranking: No. 16

Took care of two conference opponents to clear the way for a showdown with No. 11 Sierra Canyon in Chicago and took the star-studded Trailblazers down to the wire in a 67-64 loss. Gonzaga pledge Braden Huff showed up for the moment and the Hilltoppers proved they belong in the national conversation.

19. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) (26-3)

Up next: Feb. 7 vs. Wesleyan Christian Academy (N.C.)

Last ranking: No. 19

Lost to 2A North Carolina opponent Trinity Academy and beat Caldwell Academy (N.C.) by 19.

20. Centerville (Centerville, Oh.) (19-0)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Springboro (Ohio)

Last ranking: 22

Snagged wins over Veritas Academy (Ohio), 67-63, and a 20-point win over Greater Western Ohio Conference foe Fairmont. 

21. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (18-3)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. The Heights (Md.)

Last ranking: NR

Panther well-acquainted with free basketball after last week. Beat DeMatha 77-74 in overtime and played St. John’s to triple-overtime in WCAC play.

22. Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.) (20-2)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Newnan (Ga.)

Last ranking: 25

Georgia’s top-ranked team remains on top of Class 7A entering the last week of the regular season. Escaped with a one-point home win over No. 18 McEachern and coasted against Campbell. 

23. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) (14-2)

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. St. John’s (D.C.)

Last ranking: 23

Still atop the WCAC after wins over conference foes Our Lady of Good Counsel and Bishop Ireton, but took its second loss of the season to nonconference opponent Sidwell Friends (D.C.) 52-46 on Saturday. 

24. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) (13-9)

Up next: Feb. 9 vs. Layton Christian (Utah)

Last ranking: NR

They were close to re-entering after a last-second loss to No. 1 Sunrise Christian. Now the Tigers are back in after surviving a grueling NIBC schedule — 7 of 9 losses are to Power 25 teams — coming off of a double-overtime win over No. 23 Long Island Lutheran. Big man Keba Keita and Ohio State-bound Roddy Gayle had 18 apiece.

25. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) (15-2) 

Up next: Feb. 8 vs. Xaverian (N.Y.)

Last ranking: 20

Lost to St. Francis Prep (N.Y.) 61-56 in its lone game of the week.

—

Who qualifies for the Power 25?

In order to qualify, programs must be either affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state it resides in or recognized by the association and allowed to play member high schools in its home state.

—

— Andy Buhler, SBLive – @AndyBuhler

— Jason Jordan, SI – @JasonJordanSI