IMG Academy defeats Prolific Prep: Live score, updates of high school boys basketball (2/3/2024)

Follow along for live updates from a top 20 showdown Saturday at Grind Session Puerto Rico

When it comes to high school boys basketball, very few teams in the nation are more talented than Prolific Prep (California) and IMG Academy (Florida).

From five-star junior AJ Dybantsa to Syracuse signee Donnie Freeman, the nationally-ranked squads feature a combined four McDonald's All-Americans and a bevy of highly coveted recruits.

Prolific Prep and IMG Academy will face off Saturday in Puerto Rico as part of the Grind Session's three day event on the island.

The Crew (23-4) came in at No. 4 in the latest SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings, with the Ascenders (12-7) not too far behind at No. 20. 

The game is being streamed by Tanager Sports and is scheduled to tip off at 4:30 p.m. ET. 

(FINAL): PROLIFIC PREP 92, IMG ACADEMY 99

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Prolific Prep five-star sophomore Tyran Stokes goes up with the basketball during the Crew's win over Riviera Prep (Florida) on Jan. 25, 2024 / Photo by Robson Lopes, SBLive Sports

FOURTH QUARTER

-- Player of the game goes to five-star junior Darius Acuff, who came one rebound shy of a triple-double with 28 points, 9 rebounds and 12 assists.

-- No. 20 IMG Academy wins, 99-92, knocking off No. 4 Prolific Prep. The Ascenders, who defeated former top-10 squad Dream City Christian (Arizona) last night, come to Puerto Rico and pick up a pair of signature wins.

-- A floater by Mikey Lewis rims out, and Cole Certa grabs the rebound for IMG Academy. The sharpshooter heads to the line and knocks down a pair of free throws to make it 95-88. It looks like the Ascenders will hold on for the upset win.

-- Tyran Stokes somehow makes a shot while falling to the ground after getting fouled, and he hits the ensuing free throw to make it a one possession game, 91-88.

-- Notre Dame-bound Cole Certa drills a huge three to put IMG Academy up by six points, 89-83, with less than 1:30 to go.

-- Donnie Freeman goes 2-for-4 on a pair of trips to free throw line, tying the game at 83. He makes up for leaving a couple points at the line with a three pointer on the next possession, giving IMG Academy an 86-83 lead with 1:52 left.

-- Tyran Stokes shows off his finishing ability once again, and Prolific Prep takes an 83-81 lead with less than four minutes to go.

-- McDonald's All-American Zoom Diallo goes 2-for-2 at the free throw line to tie the game at 81.

-- The scoring has slowed down in the second half after a fast-paced first half. Shots aren't falling at the same rate, and defense is stepping up for both teams.

-- Tyran Stokes comes back into the game after sitting with foul trouble, and he immediately provides two points with a tough finish through contact.

THIRD QUARTER

-- A three-point attempt by Prolific Prep's Cory Connor comes up short to end the third quarter. IMG Academy leads by six, 75-69, entering the fourth quarter.

-- AJ Dybantsa absolutely posterizes an IMG Academy defender. What a slam by the nation's No. 1 overall junior. Prolific Prep trails by four, 71-67.

-- Tyran Stokes is called for his fourth personal foul, sending him back to the bench. Foul trouble has kept the nation's top-ranked sophomore from contributing much today.

-- Cole Certa gets involved for IMG Academy, burying a three pointer to give the Ascenders a 60-58 lead.

-- Donnie Freeman converts the and-one to give IMG Academy a three point lead, 57-54, early in the quarter.

SECOND QUARTER

-- After all that back-and-forth action, it's a tie game at halftime. Both teams are on pace to surpass 100 points today.

-- Aiden Sherrell, a five-star Alabama signee and McDonald's All-American, cleans up a miss to put Prolific Prep in front, 52-51. The Crew are on a 22-7 run since trailing by 14 points earlier this quarter. 

-- Five-star Washington commit Zoom Diallo nails a three to get Prolific Prep back within five points, 49-44, with a few minutes left in the fist half. 

-- Mikey Lewis hits a pair of big threes for Prolific Prep, making it 47-38. The St. Mary's commit is hitting some timely shots to help keep the Crew in this game.

-- Khani Rooths. Again. He drills another three, giving IMG Academy a 40-28 lead.

-- Tyran Stokes appears to say something to an official after missing a contested layup, and he's called for a technical. The five-star sophomore heads to the bench with three fouls to his name early in the second quarter.

FIRST QUARTER

-- AJ Dybantsa gets to the paint and finishes through contact for a much-needed Prolific Prep bucket. The Crew trail by seven, 35-28, after one quarter. Both teams are shooting lights out. IMG is already 8-for-12 from beyond the arc.

-- Rooths says "Don't forget about me." The Michigan commit knocks down another three and then converts an and-one the next possession, making it 16 points for him in the first quarter. IMG Academy leads 35-26 with less than a minute left in the period.

-- Acuff has the hot hand for IMG. He hits his third three-pointer of the quarter, as the Ascenders go up 26-22.

-- IMG Academy has it going from beyond the arc in the first quarter. Five-star junior Darius Acuff and Michigan commit Khani Rooths hit from long range, making it three consecutive possessions with a three pointer for the Ascenders.

-- Houston commit Chase McCarty buries a three for IMG Academy to stop a 9-0 run for the Crew.

-- Mikey Lewis has five points early for Prolific Prep. The St. Mary's commit knocks down a three pointer to give the Crew their first lead of the game, 7-5.

-- Donnie Freeman, a Syracuse commit and McDonald's All-American, scores the first points of the game with an old fashioned three-point play. 

-- Time for basketball in Puerto Rico. Big opportunity here for both teams in this top 20 matchup.

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4:30 p.m. Saturday (ET) | Coliseo Guillermo Angulo, Carolina, PR

-- Zach Shugan | zshugan@gmail.com | @SBLiveSports