SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Pebblebrook (Georgia) debuts, Camden (New Jersey) moves up in national boys basketball rankings
There were plenty of fireworks among the Power 25 teams last week.
No. 14 Dr. Phillips (Florida) beat No. 21 Long Island Lutheran (New York) twice and No. 7 Calvary Christian (Florida) took No. 4 Montverde Academy (Florida) to overtime, but lost thanks to 5-star Kentucky pledge Skyy Clark's buzzer-beater in the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.
Both teams — Montverde and Calvary Christian — stand pat in this week's SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national boys basketball rankings. But Camden (New Jersey) moves up a spot to No. 10 after beating Sierra Canyon, who slides back a spot back to No. 11.
Pebblebrook, Georgia's top-ranked team, debuts at No. 25 and four undefeated teams remain: No. 5 Link Academy, No. 16 Glenbard West, No. 17 Bishop Gorman and No. 21 Centerville.
Power 25 teams will be active this week in a slate of games headlined by the Metro Classic in Toms Ford, N.J., where eight ranked teams will play in another NIBC weekend, including the entire top 5.
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
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
Jan. 31, 2022
1. Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) (18-1)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Bishop Walsh (Md.)
Last ranking: No. 1
Coasted to two more home wins over Spring Creek Academy (Tex.) and Premier Academy (Tex.).
2. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (19-2)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. La Lumiere (Ind.)
Last ranking: No. 2
Defeated Riverview (Fla.) 98-59 on Monday night then Highlands Christian (Fla.) by 54 on senior night Saturday.
3. Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (25-1)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Lake Ridge (Tex.)
Last ranking: No. 3
Newly minted McDonald’s All-American Anthony Black led the Panthers to two more wins, taking care of DeSoto and Midway.
4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (14-4)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Bergen Catholic (N.J.)
Last ranking: No. 4
Skyy Clark. Overtime. Buzzer-beating dagger to beat No. 7 Calvary Christian. Jalen Hood-Schifino’s 26 fueled a 21-point win over Kimball (Tex.), then Montverde turned around and beat American Fork (Utah) by 24 in the 19th annual Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.
5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (26-0)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. First Love Christian (Pa.)
Last ranking: No. 5
No games this week ahead of a key stretch that includes the Metro Classic (Feb. 3-5) and the Heartland Classic (Feb. 11). But the week wasn’t without news: Julian Phillips (LSU) and Jordan Walsh (Arkansas) were both named McDonald’s All-Americans.
6. Richardson (Richardson, Tex.) (24-1)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Berkner (Tex.)
Last ranking: No. 6
Cason Wallace was named a McDonald’s All-American this week and the Eagles rolled all week, beating Nimitz and Irving handily.
7. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (15-1)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. SchoolHouse Prep (Fla.)
Last ranking: No. 7
Defeated No. 14 Dr. Phillips 54-51 — its fourth Power 25 win of the season — behind 6-foot-9 forward and UCF pledge Taylor Hendricks’ 17 points, then took No. 4 Montverde to overtime and lost at the buzzer in the MAIT.
8. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (15-1)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Elizabeth (N.J.)
Last ranking: No. 8
Lions, winners of 16 straight, coasted to three comfortable wins — two against conference opponents.
9. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) (13-3)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. IMG Academy (Fla.)
Last ranking: No. 9
Lone scheduled game of the week — a home game against Lake Forest Academy (Ill.) — was canceled. Rest and recharge for the Lakers ahead of the Metro Classic.
10. Camden (Camden, N.J.) (12-2)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Gill St. Bernard’s (N.J.)
Last ranking: No. 11
After taking its first two losses in years to national powers, the Panthers rebounded with three consecutive in-state wins by 30 or more points, then beat No. 10 Sierra Canyon 66-60.
11. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (20-3)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Windward (Calif.)
Last ranking: No. 10
Lost a showdown with No. 11 Camden in the Pennsylvania-based showdown at Allentown despite 23 points from McDonald’s All-American Amari Bailey. It was the latest Power 25 test for the Trailblazers, who are finally playing at full strength.
12. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) (20-4)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Windermere (Fla.)
Last ranking: No. 14
Florida signee Denzel Aberdeen had 24 points to lead Dr. Phillips past No. 21 Long Island Lutheran twice in three days and Mississippi State-bound Riley Kugel’s 23 points weren’t enough in a 54-51 loss to No. 7 Calvary Christian in the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.
13. North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.) (17-3)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Little Rock Central (Ark.)
Last ranking: No. 12
Newly-minted McDonald’s All-American and Arkansas commit Nick Smith returned to the lineup after a bout with turf toe. Pulled away to beat Bryant (Ark.) on the road, 72-54, Wednesday and thrashed Cabot (Ark.) on Friday.
14. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (20-7)
Up next: Jan. 31 vs. The Burlington School (N.C.)
Last ranking: No. 13
Plenty of high-major Division I talent to turn to in another 3-0 week. On Tuesday, it was Duke pledge Caleb Foster who had 23 points in a win over Quality Education Academy (N.C.) and 19 in a win over Ridge View.
15. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (12-4)
Up next: Unknown
Last ranking: No. 15
Played two games in Atlanta against teams from Overtime Elite, an upstart professional basketball league for high school-age players. Dropped the first to Team Elite by 11 despite 30 points from Jayden Epps, then lost to Team Overtime Saturday.
16. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (24-0)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Downers Grove North (Ill.)
Last ranking: No. 16
Beat Lyons (Ill.) behind Princeton-bound Caden Pierce’s 25 points. Pierce had another 16 in a win over St. Charles North Saturday. Hilltoppers' face their biggest test of the season on Saturday: No. 11 Sierra Canyon in Chicago.
17. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (21-0)
Up next: Jan. 31 vs. Palo Verde (Nev.)
Last ranking: No. 17
Didn’t need overtime to beat Nevada foe Liberty, like it did in early December. Darrion Williams helped the Gaels out to a hot start and finished with 24 points in an 80-71 road win. Hit 13 3s to thrash Chicago power Whitney Young (Ill.) in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei.
18. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (24-1)
Up next: Jan. 31 vs. Roosevelt (Calif.)
Last ranking: No. 18
Cruised to a over Riverside Poly, two Big VIII League wins over Santiago and Norco before taking down Coronado (Nev.) in overtime in the Nike Extravaganza at Mater Dei.
19. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) (24-2)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. Forsyth Country Day (N.C.)
Last ranking: No. 19
Bengals hold firm after collecting double-digit NCISAA Triad wins over High Point Christian Academy, Forsyth Country Day School and Calvary Day School.
20. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx, N.Y.) (15-1)
Up next: Feb. 6 vs. St. Francis Prep (N.Y.)
Last ranking: 20
Lost to Archbishop Stepinac in a rematch from early December despite 19 points, nine boards and five assists from highly-touted sophomore Ian Jackson.
21. Centerville (Oh.) (16-0)
Up next: Feb. 4 vs. Fairmont (Ohio)
Last ranking: 22
Coasted to lopsided Great Western Ohio Conference wins over Beavercreek and Northmont and beat Archbishop Moeller by 28.
22. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) (12-4)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Wasatch Academy (Utah)
Last ranking: 21
Lost to No. 14 Dr. Phillips 66-60 on Thursday and again on Saturday after beating Kimball (Tex.) at the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament.
23. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) (12-1)
Up next: Feb. 3 vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel (Md.)
Last ranking: 23
The tide of the WCAC shifts week to week. Last week’s darlings lost by 27 to previously ranked DeMatha thanks to 41 combined points from Virginia Tech-bound Rodney Rice Jr. and Xavier pledge Tyrell Ward.
24. Gonzaga College (Washington D.C.) (11-3)
Up next: Feb. 1 vs. St. John’s (D.C.)
Last ranking: No. 23
Beat Bishop Ireton handily, 84-62, then had its Saturday showdown with St. Paul VI postponed.
25. Pebblebrook (Ga.) (18-2)
Up next: Feb. 1 McEachern (Ga.)
Last ranking: NR
Georgia’s top-ranked team nearly debuted after beating No. 22 Newton by 21 on Jan. 15 and does now after coasting to a win over East Coweta. Holds a 17-point win over preseason Power 25 Milton. Losses are to Wasatch Academy (by seven) and Durango (Nev.) by 10.
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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.
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— Andy Buhler, SBLive – @AndyBuhler
— Jason Jordan, SI – @JasonJordanSI
