Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings: Long Island Lutheran on rise (12/26/2023)

High school basketball is heating up. Who rose, who fell in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated national Power 25?

Author:
Zach Shugan
Updated:
Dec 26, 2023 4:51 PM EST
Original:
Dec 26, 2023

Long Island Lutheran (New York) didn't win the at the City of Palms Classic high school basketball championship last week, but it had one of the best weeks of any team in the entire country.

The Crusaders moved up three spots to No. 3 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings after taking down top 10 squads Link Academy (Missouri) and Don Bosco Prep (New Jersey) on consecutive days at the prestigious Florida tournament.

When it came time for the championship game however, LuHi was no problem for Cooper Flagg and No. 1 Montverde Academy (Florida), who did more than enough last week to hold on to the top spot in the rankings. The Eagles took downof three top 20 teams last week, including top-five squads Long Island Lutheran and St. Paul VI (Virginia).

Cooper Flagg is the top-ranked senior recruit in the country.

Don Bosco Prep made the biggest move of the week after five-star Rutgers commit Dylan Harper led the Ironmen to ranked wins over Columbus (Florida), IMG Academy (Florida) and McEachern (Georgia). The Ironmen took fifth place at the City of Palms Classic, with their only loss coming by three points to No. 3 Long Island Lutheran.

No teams dropped out or entered the top 25 this week, but bubble teams like Bullis (Maryland) and JSerra Catholic (California) continue pushing for spots in the national rankings.

Find the complete breakdown of the second update to the SBLive/SI Power 25 below:

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: WAY-TOO-EARLY | PRESEASON | DEC. 12

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

December 26, 2023

1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (13-0)

Previous rank: 1 Up next: Jan. 5 vs. No. 18 Gonzaga (DC) at Maine Event

Montverde’s reign continues. The Eagles won the championship at the City of Palms Classic, notching wins against No. 3 Long Island Lutheran, No. 4 St. Paul VI and No. 19 Archbishop Stepinac in the process. Entering 2024, the Eagles have wins over eight teams in the top 20.

2. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) (16-1)

Previous rank: 2 Up next: Dec. 28 vs. Gray Collegiate (SC) at Chick-Fil-A Classic

Prolific Prep just keeps winning. Since its three-point overtime loss on the road at No. 9 Columbus, the Crew have won 10 games in a row. The nation’s top-ranked sophomore Tyran Stokes returned from a preseason injury for their big win over No. 5 Link Academy on Dec. 2, and they added another ranked win against No. 12 AZ Compass Prep last week at the Tarkanian Classic.

3. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) (8-1)

Previous rank: 6 Up next: Dec. 30 vs. Roselle Catholic (NJ) at Jordan Holiday Classic

For a moment, it appeared Long Island Lutheran was about to stake its claim for the No. 1 ranking. The Crusaders dominated former No. 3 Link Academy in the City of Palms Classic semifinals, but they were outmatched by No. 1 Montverde the next night in the finals. Still, the Crusaders now have three wins over three top 10 teams in just nine games.

4. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (8-1)

Previous rank: 4 Up next: Dec. 29 vs. Cardinal Ritter (MO) at Hoophall East

After sliding past bubble team Millenium (Arizona) and No. 13 IMG Academy in the first two rounds of the City of Palms Classic, the Panthers gave No. 1 Montverde its best fight of the season in a 69-62 loss. They followed it up with a 74-71 win over No. 5 Link Academy, proving their near-upset the night before was no fluke and they belong squarely in the top-five.

5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (13-4)

Previous rank: 3 Up next: Dec. 29 vs. No. 25 Sidwell Friends (DC) at Jordan Holiday Classic

It wasn’t a bad week for Link Academy at the City of Palms Classic, but it wasn’t exactly a great one. The Lions edged out No. 9 Columbus and beat bubble team North Mecklenburg (North Carolina) before finishing with back-to-back losses to No. 3 Long Island Lutheran and No. 4 St. Paul VI. All four of the Lions' losses this season have come against the top four teams.

6. Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ari.) (11-2)

Previous rank: 7 Up next: Dec. 28 vs. Rock School (FL) at Chick-Fil-A Classic

The Eagles went 2-0 last week in Las Vegas at the Tarkanian Classic, dominating BFL Prep (Washington) and Trinity Prep (Nevada). Up next is a trip to South Carolina for the Chick-Fil-A Classic, where they could see No. 2 Prolific Prep for the second time this season. Prolific Prep won the first matchup, 87-80.

7. Wasatch Academy (Wasatch, Utah) (5-2)

Previous rank: 8 Up next: Jan. 2 vs Provo (UT)

It’s been more than three weeks since the Tigers’ last game, a win over Canyon International on Dec. 2. They’ll be back in action soon, as they’re scheduled to host local school Provo on Jan. 2 before heading to Indiana right after for a couple big games against No. 11 La Lumiere and No. 13 IMG Academy.

8. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (4-1)

Previous rank: 25 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. The Patrick School (NJ) at Jordan Holiday Classic

Don Bosco is here to stay. After joining the top 25 last week, the Ironmen have cracked the top 10 following a strong showing at the City of Palms Classic. Five-star Rutgers commit Dylan Harper led the Ironmen past No. 9 Columbus, No. 13 IMG Academy and No. 24 McEachern. Their only misstep was a 58-55 loss to No. 3 Long Island Lutheran.

9. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (6-4)

Previous rank: 5 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Lake Oswego (OR) at Les Schwab Invitational

After looking strong in wins over Norland (Florida), Word of God (North Carolina) and Archbishop Ryan (Pennsylvania), the Explorers dropped consecutive games to No. 5 Link Academy and No. 8 Don Bosco. All four of their losses this season are against teams ranked above them, so we’re not giving up on the Explorers.

10. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (12-1)

Previous rank: 9 Up next: Jan. 4 vs. Orangeville Prep (Canada) at La Porte Invitational

Oak Hill played its final game of 2023 on Dec. 12, earning a 98-49 win over New Faith Christian (Georgia). The schedule is about to heat up for the Warriors, who will take on Canada’s Orangeville Prep and Sunrise Christian (Kansas) next in EYBL Scholastic league play.

11. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) (9-1)

Previous rank: 13 Up next: Jan. 4 vs. No. 7 Wasatch Academy (UT)

La Lumiere went 3-0 in its final games of 2023, taking down Canyon International (Arizona), Legacy Early College (South Carolina) and Covington Catholic (Kentucky) to close out the year. The Lakers will return to action Jan. 4-5 when they host the La Porte Invitational, where they’re set to take on No. 7 Wasatch Academy and No. 3 Long Island Lutheran.

12. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ari.) (11-4)

Previous rank: 12 Up next: Dec. 29 vs. DeMatha (MD) at Governors Challenge

Between dominant wins against Inglewood Prep (California) and Southern Coast Academy (Florida), the Dragons took a 56-48 loss to No. 2 Prolific Prep at the Tarkanian Classic, their fourth loss to a top seven team. They'll be back in action this week at the Governors Challenge in Maryland.

13. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (4-5)

Previous ran: 15 Up next: Jan. 4 vs. No. 7 Wasatch Academy (UT) at La Porte Invitational

Take a deeper look and IMG’s record isn’t as bad as it appears on the surface. The Ascenders have lost to four of the top 12 teams in the country in addition to a Bullis (Maryland) squad right outside the top 25. As for wins, they have taken down No. 17 Brewster Academy and No. 19 Archbishop Stepinac.

14. St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) (10-1)

Previous rank: 14 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Clovis North (CA) at Classic at Damien

After blowing by Hawaii teams St. Louis and Iolani in the first two rounds of the ‘Iolani Classic, St. John Bosco stumbled against Christ the King (New York) with a 74-71 loss in the semifinals. Kade Bonam (20 points) and the Braves bounced back with a 71-67 win over DeMatha (Maryland) in the third place game, getting back on track before the Classic at Damien this week.

15. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (12-0)

Previous rank: 10 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Liberty (OR) at Les Schwab Invitational

Harvard-Westlake went 3-0 since the last rankings update, beating in-state opponents Campbell Hall, Rancho Christian and Valencia by an average margin of 43 points. The Wolverines will be in Oregon this week for the Les Schwab Invitational, where they could see bubble team Perry (Arizona) for the second time this season, in addition to the Boozer twins and No. 9 Columbus.

16. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) (10-0)

Previous rank: 17 Up next: Dec. 28 vs Imani Christian (PA) at Chick-Fil-A Classic

Grayson went 2-0 last week, beating Parkview (Georgia) and Dorman (South Carolina) by 35 points each. The Rams will travel to South Carolina this week for the Chick-Fil-A Classic, where they could match up with No. 24 John Marshall in the championship game.

17. Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) (12-2)

Previous rank: 16 Up next: Jan. 13 vs. No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) at Hoophall Classic

Brewster went 2-1 at the Western Maryland Classic playing without four-star forward Dwayne Aristode. The Bobcats edged out No. 22 Bishop O’Connell (Virginia) and beat Orangeville Prep (Canada) by 20 points, but they were upset by Veritas Prep (California) in EYBL Scholastic league play.

18. Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.) (8-0)

Previous rank: 19 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. St. Joseph (CA) at King Cotton Classic

Gonzaga improved to 8-0 with double-digit wins over St. John’s (D.C.), Bishop Ireton (Virginia) and St. John Paul the Great (Virginia). The Eagles will be in Arkansas this week for the King Cotton Classic before heading to Maine to take on No. 1 Montverde Academy.

19. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) (6-2)

Previous rank: 18 Up next: Dec. 29 vs. St. Rose (NJ) at Jordan Holiday Classic

After picking up three wins against in-state opponents Holy Cross, Cardinal Hayes and Scarsdale, the Crusaders went to Florida for the City of Palms Classic and fell to No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 13 IMG Academy. It's tough to knock Stepinac too much for losing to those highly talented squads.

20. Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) (6-2)

Previous rank: 20 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. Garner (NC) at John Wall Holiday Invitational

The Mustangs blew out Palisades (North Carolina) on the road before traveling to Alabama for the Jasper Christmas Classic, where they picked up wins over Mountain Brook (Ala.) and Norcross (Georgia). Next up for the Mustangs is the John Wall Holiday Invitational in Raleigh.

21. Stony Point (Round Rock, Tex.) (17-0)

Previous rank: 21 Up next: Dec. 28 vs. Coppell (Texas) at Championship Basketball Tournament

The perfect season rolls on for Stony Point. The Tigers added wins over in-state opponents Vandegrift and Round Rock last week. They’ll look to stay undefeated and bring home some hardware in the Championship Basketball Tournament this week in Mansfield.

22. Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) (8-2)

Previous rank: 11 Up next: Jan. 2 vs. No. 18 Gonzaga (DC)

Playing without five-star sophomore Quincy Wadley (injury), Bishop O’Connell dropped back-to-back games against No. 17 Brewster Academy at the Western Maryland Classic and Arbor View (Nevada) at the Tarkanian Classic. The Knights can move back into the top 20 with a win at home next week against No. 18 Gonzaga.

23. John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) (7-1)

Previous rank: 21 Up next: Dec. 28 vs. Lancaster (SC) at Chick-Fil-A Classic

The Justices improved to 7-1 with wins against in-state opponents Richmond City School of the Arts, Landstown and St. Anne’s-Belfield. They’ll be in South Carolina this week for the Chick-Fil-A Classic, where they could see No. 16 Grayson in the championship game.

24. McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) (8-3)

Previous rank: 23 Up next: Dec. 29 vs. Camden (NJ) at The Battle at Rutgers

McEachern was outdone in a matchup of five-star Rutgers commits Ace Bailey and Dylan Harper’s No. 8 Don Bosco squad at the City of Palms Classic, but it responded with wins over Westminster Academy (FL), Cannon (NC) and North Mecklenburg (NC) to win the consolation bracket.

25. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) (5-2)

Previous rank: 24 Up next: Dec. 27 vs. St. Benedict’s (NJ) at Governors Challenge

After suffering back-to-back losses earlier this month to No. 4 St. Paul VI and No. 24 John Marshall, the Quakers responded with victories against Georgetown Prep (Maryland), St. Alban’s (D.C.) and St. Frances (Maryland).