Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings: Cooper Flagg, Montverde aim for perfect regular season (2/26/2024)

Flagg and the Eagles enter their final week of the regular season with a 28-0 record

Author:
Zach Shugan
Publish date:
Feb 26, 2024 3:43 PM EST

Will Montverde Academy (Florida) complete an undefeated regular season and continue staking its claim as one of the greatest high school boys basketball teams ever?

Entering their final week of the regular season, Cooper Flagg and the Eagles (28-0) remain No. 1 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings.

Harvard-Westlake (California) climbed four spots to No. 11 after winning the CIF Southern Section Open Division championship, its first in program history.

After spending several weeks on the bubble, Salesian College Prep (California) and Fishers (Indiana) earned debuts in the national rankings. Archbishop Stepinac (New York) and The Patrick School (New Jersey) dropped to the bubble following losses.

Find the complete breakdown of the latest SBLive/SI Power 25 rankings update below:

PREVIOUS RANKINGS: PRESEASON | DEC. 12 | DEC. 26 | JAN. 4 | JAN. 16 | JAN. 22 | JAN. 29 | FEB. 5 | FEB. 12 | FEB. 19

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

February 26, 2024

1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (28-0)

Montverde Academy senior forward Derik Queen looks for a lane against Prolific Prep during the MAIT championship game Saturday. — Montverde Academy senior Derik Queen dribbles the ball against Prolific Prep (California) on Jan. 27, 2024.
Photo by Bill Kemp, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 1; Up next: Feb. 29 vs. Veritas Academy (CA)

Coming off a bye week, Montverde can wrap up an undefeated regular season with wins this week against Veritas Academy (California) and Orangeville Prep (Canada) in South Carolina. Off the court, five-star senior Derik Queen committed to Maryland last week.

2. Columbus (Miami, Fla.) (25-4)

Columbus celebrates after winning the Les Schwab Invitational championship on Dec. 30, 2023.

Previous rank: 2; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. Evans (FL)

Cameron Boozer and Columbus are two wins away from capturing their third consecutive state championship. The Explorers take on Evans in the FHSAA 7A semifinals on Mar. 8, with the state finals coming the next day against the winner of Winter Haven vs. Oak Ridge.

3. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (29-2)

St. Paul VI poses together after winning the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions on Jan. 13, 2024.
Photo by Greta Cross/Springfield News-Leader/USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous rank: 3; Up next: Feb. 26 vs. No. 15 Gonzaga (DC)

PVI knocked off Bishop McNamara (Maryland) and Archbishop Carroll (DC) in the quarterfinals and semifinals of the WCAC playoffs. The Panthers face No. 15 Gonzaga (DC) in the championship game Monday night.

4. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.) (19-4)

Long Island Lutheran junior Nigel James passes the ball against Link Academy (Missouri) on Dec. 21, 2023.
Photo by Amanda Inscore/The News-Press USA Today Network-Florida/USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous rank: 4; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. No. 8 Wasatch Academy (UT)

LuHi cruised past in-state opponents Albany Academy and South Shore last week. The Crusaders wrap up EYBL Scholastic league play Mar. 8-9 against No. 8 Wasatch Academy and Canyon International (Arizona).

5. Dynamic Prep (Irving, Tex.) (23-1)

Previous rank: 5; Up next: TBD

Dynamic Prep went 3-0 last week and captured the TCAL 6A state championship. Following a 72-57 win over TACA Storm in the semifinals, Dynamic Prep defeated R.W. Goines STEM in the finals to repeat as state champs.

6. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) (29-5)

Prolific Prep senior Aiden Sherrell goes up for a shot in a win over Riviera Prep (Florida) on Jan. 25, 2024.
Photo by Robson Lopes, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 6; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. TBD

Prolific Prep went 3-0 in Napa last week, taking down Trinity Prep (Nevada), Bella Vista (Arizona) and Accelerated Prep (Colorado). The Crew turn their attention to the Grind Session playoffs as the No. 1 seed for the tournament, which begins Mar. 8 in Las Vegas.

7. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (22-6)

Link Academy senior James Browns rises up for a shot in a win against The Burlington School (North Carolina) on Jan. 20, 2024.
Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 7; Up next: Mar. 2 vs. Wilson Academy (GA)

Link Academy picked up a 75-51 win over Grind Prep (Oklahoma) on senior night, led by Texas signee Tre Johnson’s 15 points, five rebounds and four assists. The Lions play Wilson Academy (Georgia) this weekend before EYBL Scholastic league games next week.

8. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) (14-4)

Previous rank: 8; Up next: Feb. 29 vs. No. 17 Brewster Academy (NH)

Wasatch didn’t play last week, but the Tigers have games this week against No. 17 Brewster Academy and Legacy Early College (South Carolina). It doesn’t get any easier, as they play No. 4 Long Island Lutheran and No. 7 Link Academy next week.

9. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ari.) (23-5)

Previous rank: 9; Up next: Mar. 1 vs. Legacy Early College (SC)

AZ Compass continues to rack up wins, beating Ascending Life (Arizona) and Legacy S.S.S. (Texas) at home last week. The Dragons have gone 13-1 since losing to No. 6 Prolific Prep in December.

10. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (25-3)

Previous rank: 10; Up next: Feb. 26 vs. St. Joseph (NJ)

Dylan Harper and Don Bosco dominated in-state opponent Roselle Catholic, extending its win streak to 15 games entering the state playoffs this week. The Ironmen face St. Joseph in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA North Jersey Non-Public A state playoffs.

11. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (30-3)

Harvard-Westlake vs. Roosevelt in the CIF Southern Section Open Division boys basketball final at Cal Baptist University on Friday, Feb. 23, 2024. — Harvard-Westlake poses with the trophy after beating Eastvale Roosevelt in the CIF Southern Section Open Division final on Feb. 23, 2024.
Photo by Andy Holzman, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 15; Up next: Mar. 2 vs. TBD

Harvard-Westlake held on for a 54-47 win over No. 20 Eastvale Roosevelt to capture its first CIF Southern Section Open Division title in program history. The Wolverines earned the top seed in the South for the CIF Open Division state playoffs and will take on the winner of Carlsbad vs. St. Pius X in the regional semifinals.

12. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) (22-4)

Previous rank: 11; Up next: Mar. 1 vs. Veritas Academy (CA)

La Lumiere went 3-0 last week with dominant wins against Elite Prep (Indiana), International Sports Academy (Ohio) and DME Academy (Wisconsin). The Lakers play No. 16 IMG Academy this weekend in South Carolina.

13. Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) (24-2)

Previous rank: 12; Up next: Feb. 27 vs. Mallard Creek (NC)

Myers Park edged out Ardrey Kell for a 52-50 win in the SoMeck 4A conference championship game. The Mustangs earned the No. 1 seed for the West half of the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs and will see No. 32 seed Mallard Creek in the first round.

14. Plano East (Plano, Tex.) (35-0)

Previous rank: 13; Up next: Feb. 27 vs. Allen (TX)

Plano East beat Rock Hill and Highland Park in the first two rounds of the UIL 6A state playoffs. The Panthers meet up with Allen in the regional quarterfinals this week as they continue a historic season for the program.

15. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) (27-4)

Previous rank: 14; Up next: Feb. 26 vs. No. 3 St. Paul VI

Following a 73-50 win against Bishop Ireton (Virginia) in the quarterfinals of the WCAC playoffs, Gonzaga held on for a 53-50 win over DeMatha (Maryland) in the semifinals. The Eagles have a showdown with No. 3 St. Paul VI in the conference championship Monday night.

16. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (16-8)

Previous rank: 16; Up next: Feb. 29 vs. No. 12 La Lumiere (IN)

The Ascenders close out their regular season this weekend against No. 12 La Lumiere and Orangeville Prep (Canada) in South Carolina.

17. Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) (25-7)

Previous rank: 17; Up next: Feb. 29 vs. Canyon International (AZ)

Brewster went 3-0 last week, edging out Tilton School (New Hampshire) and then blowing out Reason Prep (Massachusetts) and Hoosac School (New York). The Bobcats take on No. 8 Wasatch Academy and Canyon International (Arizona) in South Carolina this week for EYBL Scholastic league play.

18. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (21-4)

Previous rank: 18; Up next: Feb. 29 vs. Experience Academy (TN)

Coming off its loss at No. 16 IMG Academy the previous week, Oak Hill beat Reynoldsburg (Ohio) and Central Carolina Prep (North Carolina) by 30 points each last week. The Warriors have a couple more tune-ups before big games against No. 7 Link Academy and No. 9 AZ Compass.

19. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) (27-2)

Previous rank: 19; Up next: Feb. 27 vs. Peachtree Ridge (GA)

Grayson continued its run to a GHSA 7A state title with victories over Colquitt County and Carrollton in the first two rounds of the playoffs. The Rams are three wins away from capturing their first state title in program history.

20. Eastvale Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) (30-3)

Previous rank: 20; Up next: Mar. 2 vs. TBD

Roosevelt lost 54-47 to No. 11 Harvard-Westlake in the CIF Southern Section Open Division title game, but the Mustangs’ season isn’t over. They earned the No. 2 seed for the South region of the CIF Open Division state playoffs and will play the winner of St. Joseph vs. Sierra Canyon, a team on the bubble of the national rankings.

21. Stony Point (Round Rock, Tex.) (34-1)

Previous rank: 22; Up next: Feb. 27 vs. Austin Westlake (TX)

Stony Point advanced to the regional quarterfinals of the UIL 6A state playoffs after defeating Bowie and Judson in the first two rounds. The Tigers have won 14 games in a row since falling to No. 14 Plano East.

22. Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) (32-2)

Previous rank: 21; Up next: Feb. 28 vs. TBD

Jackson-Reed was off last week as it continues gearing up for the DCSAA Class 2A state playoffs, which begin this week. The Tigers earned the No. 1 seed for the 12-team tournament and will host the winner of Friendship Tech vs. Dunbar in the quarterfinals.

23. St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) (25-2)

Previous rank: 25; Up next: Feb. 26 vs. Wildwood Catholic (NJ)

St. Rose was off last week after winning the Shore Conference title the previous week. The Purple Roses play Wildwood Catholic in the quarterfinals of the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B state playoffs.

24. Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.) (29-1)

Salesian raises the trophy after winning the CIF North Coast Section Open Division championship on Feb. 23, 2024.
Photo by Dennis Lee, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Mar. 2 vs. TBD

Salesian brought home a CIF North Coast Section Open Division title with a win over De La Salle in the championship game. The Pride, who earned the top seed for the North in the CIF Open Division state playoffs, will play the winner of De La Salle vs. Modesto Christian in the regional semifinals.

25. Fishers (Fishers, Ind.) (22-1)

Fishers junior JonAnthony Hall throws down a dunk in a win over Homewood-Flossmoor (Illinois) on Feb. 3, 2024.
Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Feb. 27 vs. Carmel (IN)

In addition to owning wins over several of Indiana’s top teams, Fishers beat Illinois power Homewood-Flossmoor earlier this month. This week, the Tigers have the chance to avenge their only loss of the season when they face Carmel in the IHSA Class 4A Section 8 playoffs.