Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings: Columbus climbs after Hoophall Classic (1/16/2024)

Cameron Boozer, Columbus rise after show-stopping MLK holiday weekend. Who rose, who fell in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated national Power 25?

Author:
Zach Shugan
Updated:
Jan 16, 2024 1:52 PM EST
Original:
Jan 16, 2024

When Columbus (Florida) lost back-to-back games at the City of Palms Classic in December and fell to 6-4 on the season, few could have predicted the month ahead for Cameron Boozer and the Explorers.

Since that point, Columbus has won 10 games in a row and established itself as one of the top two high school boys basketball teams in the country, rising to a program record of No. 2 in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings update, released Tuesday.

The run for Columbus started with a trip to Oregon during the final week of 2023. The Explorers won the Les Schwab Invitational, defeating No. 12 Harvard-Westlake (California) in the championship game.

After winning four more games back in the Miami area to start the new year, the Explorers earned signature wins over former No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (New York) and No. 3 St. Paul VI (Virginia) while at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts, giving them wins over four of the top six teams in the country (which includes themselves).

The only team top six team Columbus hasn't defeated is Montverde Academy (Florida), which continues to solidify itself as the No. 1 team in the country and one of the sport's best teams in recent history.

Elsewhere, Archbishop Stepinac (New York) reclaimed a spot in the Power 25 after a brief stint on the bubble, and two new teams joined the national rankings: Mater Dei (California) and Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.).

Find the complete breakdown of the fourth 2023-24 update to the SBLive/SI Power 25 below:

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: WAY-TOO-EARLY | PRESEASON | DEC. 12 | DEC. 26 | JAN. 4

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

January 16, 2024

1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (18-0)

Previous rank: 1; Up next: Jan. 20 vs. DME Academy (FL)

Montverde is developing a stranglehold on the top spot in the Power 25. Of the other 24 teams in the national rankings, Montverde has defeated 12 of them, including seven teams in the top 10. The Eagles dispatched No. 4 Prolific Prep (California), No. 13 Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) and No. 14 Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) in three games at the Hoophall Classic, and they raced past No. 16 Gonzaga (D.C.) the previous week in Cooper Flagg and Ace Flagg's homecoming at The Maine Event.

2. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (16-4)

Previous rank: 9; Up next: TBD

The Explorers earned a big jump in the rankings with an impressive weekend at the Hoophall Classic, taking down former No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (New York) by 19 points and No. 3 St. Paul VI (Virginia) by nine points. Those wins came after Columbus beat Huntington Prep (West Virginia) and five-star junior Darryn Peterson last week.

3. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (14-2)

Previous rank: 3; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Archbishop Carroll (DC)

St. Paul VI fell short at the Hoophall Classic against former No. 9 Columbus, which jumped to No. 2 this week, but the game was played in Springfield, Massachusetts, less than 48 hours after the Panthers went 3-0 in Springfield, Missouri, at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. They picked up wins over former No. 23 St. John Bosco (California) and former No. 25 McEachern (Georgia) on the way to winning the Bass Pro tournament title.

4. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) (19-3)

Previous rank: 4; Up next: Jan. 20 vs. No. 21 Dream City Christian (AZ)

In one of the most anticipated matchups of the season, Prolific Prep gave No. 1 Montverde Academy a real run for its money but came up just short, 76-71. It was the best any team has looked against the Eagles this season, with the Crew leading by two points with two minutes left in the game. The return of five-star forward Derrion Reid, who has been out for nearly a month with an injury, could provide a huge boost if Prolific sees Montverde again this season.

5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (17-4)

Previous rank: 5; Up next: Jan. 19 vs. Oak Cliff Faith Family (TX)

Link Academy is 2-0 in 2024, picking up a 65-49 win against No. 19 IMG Academy (Florida) at the Hoophall Classic and a 90-52 win against Huntington Prep (WV) in Kentucky the previous week.

6. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) (11-3)

Previous rank: 2; Up next: Jan. 27 vs. Eagle Academy (NY)

LuHi handled No. 15 La Lumiere in Indiana but stumbled at the Hoophall Classic, losing back-to-back games against No. 2 Columbus and No. 9 AZ Compass Prep. After starting 8-0, the Crusaders went 3-3 in a six-game stretch featuring four ranked opponents, but they still have national-champion potential.

7. Dynamic Prep (Irving, Tex.) (15-1)

Previous rank: 6; Up next: Jan. 23 vs. OKC Millwood (OK)

Coming off their massive week at the Chick-Fil-A Classic, Dynamic Prep stayed hot with wins against R.W Goines STEM (Texas), Shabach Christian (Maryland) and Mt. Zion Prep (Maryland).

8. Wasatch Academy (Wasatch, Utah) (10-3)

Previous rank: 7; Up next: Jan. 19 vs. iSchool of Lewisville (TX)

After an impressive showing at the La Porte Invitational, defeating No. 15 La Lumiere (Indiana) and No. 19 IMG Academy (Florida), the Tigers were upset by newly-ranked Jackson-Reed (D.C.). With four wins over top 20 teams this season, including No. 2 Columbus, they’ve accomplished enough to stay in the top 10 despite the upset.

9. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ari.) (16-5)

Previous rank: 12; Up next: Jan. 23 vs. AOSS Prep (CA)

AZ Compass started the new year with wins over Tennessee teams Whitehaven and Bartlett at Memphis Hoopfest and followed it up with a strong showing at the Hoophall Classic. The Dragons lost 47-46 to No. 15 La Lumiere (Indiana) but responded the next day with a 65-62 takedown of former No. 2 Long Island Lutheran.

10. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (10-3)

Previous rank: 8; Up next: Jan. 16 vs. Paramus Catholic (NJ)

Dylan Harper and company fell just two spots after losing 74-67 to Archbishop Stepinac (New York), which jumped back into the top 25 with the win. Don Bosco’s win over Columbus (Florida) earlier this season continues to look better and better, with the Explorers climbing to No. 2 this week.

11. Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) (16-0)

Previous rank: 13; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Westwood (SC)

The Blazers kept their record unblemished with wins over region opponents Lugoff-Elgin and Irmo. They’ll see more region foes like Westwood and Richland Northeast this week.

12. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (18-1)

Previous rank: 16; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Notre Dame-Sherman Oaks (California)

In addition to taking down in-state opponents Alemany, Heritage Christian, Crespi and Loyola, the Wolverines went to Massachusetts for the Hoophall Classic and edged out five-star Ace Bailey and former No. 25 McEachern (Georgia) in overtime.

13. Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) (13-3)

Previous rank: 17; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Vermont Academy (VT)

After nearly a month off, Brewster returned to action with a 33 point loss to No. 1 Montverde Academy at the Hoophall Classic. The Bobcats bounced back with a 73-71 win over No. 14 Oak Hill Academy (Virginia) the next day.

14. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (14-3)

Previous rank: 10; Up next: Jan. 18 vs. Elevation Prep (NC)

Oak Hill started 2024 with a pair of EYBL Scholastic league wins against Orangeville Prep (Canada) and Sunrise Christian (Kansas), but it went 0-2 at the Hoophall Classic against No. 1 Montverde Academy and No. 13 Brewster Academy.

15. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) (11-3)

Previous rank: 11; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Wilson Academy (GA)

La Lumiere dropped both of its games at the La Porte Invitational, losing to former No. 2 Long Island Lutheran and No. 8 Wasatch Academy, but it responded well at the Hoophall Classic. The Lakers beat No. 9 AZ Compass Prep, 47-46, and Sunrise Christian (Kansas), 75-64.

16. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) (14-2)

Previous rank: 19; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Bishop McNamara (MD)

The Eagles became one of a dozen ranked teams to fall at the hands of No. 1 Montverde Academy this season, but they’ve since won three in a row, including a 72-67 victory against five-star Tahaad Pettiford and Hudson Catholic (New Jersey) at the Hoophall Classic.

17. Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) (12-2)

Previous rank: 20; Up next: Jan. 16 vs. Olympic (NC)

In addition to rolling past in-state opponents Hough and Ardry Kell, Myers Park went on the road and won 63-47 against Northwood and five-star UNC commit Drake Powell. The Mustangs have won nine games in a row since losing in overtime to No. 3 St. Paul VI.

18. Plano East (Plano, Tex.) (24-0)

Previous rank: 22; Up next: Jan. 16 vs. Hebron (TX)

Plano East just keeps winning. The Panthers took down district opponents Plano, Coppell and Plano West last week as they look to keep their perfect season rolling with the postseason one month away.

19. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (7-7)

Previous rank: 14; Up next: Ascender Classic (Jan. 19-20)

With seven losses, it might seem like IMG Academy doesn’t deserve to be ranked, but the Ascenders' schedule has been one of the toughest in the country. Six of their seven losses this season have came against teams ranked in the top 10, and the other loss came against a team right outside the top 25. The highly talented squad still has two wins over teams currently in the top 25, which is more than several other ranked teams, but little margin for error remains.

20. Dream City Christian (Glendale, Ari.) (18-4)

Previous rank: 24; Up next: Jan. 20 vs. No. 4 Prolific Prep

Dream City Christian has won four games in a row since losing two in a row to No. 7 Dynamic Prep and DME Academy (Florida) at the Chick-Fil-A Classic. Arizona commit Jamari Phillips returned from an injury to help the Eagles avenge their loss to DME Academy with an overtime win on the road last week.

21. Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (19-1)

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Santa Margarita (CA)

Fresh off a national title on the gridiron, Mater Dei is showing it’s not just a football school. The Monarchs earned a spot in boys basketball Power 25 with back-to-back wins over former No. 23 St. John Bosco (California) and former bubble team JSerra Catholic (Calif.). Led by highly-touted sophomore Brannon Martinsen, they also defeated Florida’s No. 4 team Riviera Prep and Texas powerhouse Oak Cliff Faith Family earlier this season.

22. Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) (14-3)

Previous rank: 18; Up next: Jan. 19 vs. The Heights (MD)

After winning on the road against No. 16 Gonzaga, the Knights took a loss at the hands of DeMatha Catholic (Maryland), their second of the season against an unranked team. They got back on the right path with wins against St. Mary’s Ryken (Md.) and Cardinal Ritter (Missouri) last week.

23. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) (16-2)

Previous rank: 19; Up next: Jan. 19 at South Gwinnett (GA)

Grayson lost on a buzzer beater to formerly ranked Perry (Arizona) at the Hoophall Classic, but it went to the Dream Classic in Maryland a couple days later and handled Bishop McNamara (Md.), 78-55. The Rams still look like the team to beat in Georgia more than halfway through the regular season.

24. Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) (19-2)

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Jan. 17 vs. Banneker (DC)

Jackson-Reed earned a spot in the national rankings after defeating bubble team Bullis (Maryland) and No. 8 Wasatch Academy last week. The Tigers’ only losses this season came against No. 16 Gonzaga and Kell, the No. 6 team in Georgia.

25. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) (10-3)

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Jan. 19 vs. St. Raymond (NY)

The Crusaders fought their way back into the national rankings with a win over No. 10 Don Bosco (New Jersey). Since losing to bubble squad St. Rose (NJ) last month, Kentucky-signed combo guard Boogie Fland and Archbishop Stepinac have won four games in a row.