Top 25 national high school boys basketball rankings: Cooper Flagg, Montverde finish regular season undefeated (3/4/2024)

Flagg, Eagles shift focus to Chipotle Nationals after going 30-0 in the regular season

As Montverde Academy (Florida) continues a historic season that has many comparing the loaded squad to the greatest high school basketball teams ever, the Eagles can add a couple more accomplishments to their resume.

Cooper Flagg and Montverde hold strong at No. 1 in the SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25 national rankings after finishing its regular season with a perfect 30-0 record and winning the EYBL Scholastic league title. The Eagles now turn their attention to preparing for Chipotle Nationals, the postseason invitational formerly known as GEICO Nationals, as the likely top-seed for the tournament.

Chipotle Nationals: High school basketball tournament moving to Indiana with new sponsor

Sidwell Friends re-entered the national rankings, while fellow District of Columbia schools Gonzaga and Jackson-Reed fell out of the top 25. Archbishop Stepinac (New York) also made its return to the rankings.

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 | FEB. 26

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

March 4, 2024

1. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (30-0)

Montverde senior and Indiana commit Liam McNeeley shoots a three against Imani Christian (Pennsylvania) on Jan. 25, 2024 / Photo by Robson Lopes, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 1; Up next: TBD

Montverde completed an undefeated regular season and captured an EYBL Scholastic league title after beating Veritas Academy (California) and Orangeville Prep (Canada). With 15 wins over ranked teams, the Eagles have surely locked up the top seed for Chipotle Nationals.

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

Columbus junior Cameron Boozer brings the ball up the court against Harvard-Westlake at the Les Schwab Invitational on Dec. 30, 2023 / Photo by Naji Saker, SBLive Sports

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

Columbus was off last week in preparation for the FHSAA Class 7A final four this weekend. If the Explorers defeat Evans in the semifinals, they will play in the state championship the next day against the winner of Winter Haven vs. Oak Ridge.

3. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (33-2)

St. Paul VI poses with the trophy 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: TBD

Paul VI went 4-0 and brought home some hardware last week. The Panthers defeated former No. 15 Gonzaga in the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference (WCAC) title game and then beat Benedictine, Blue Ridge and St. Anne’s Belfield to win a VISAA Division 1 state championship. After making GEICO Nationals last year, PVI has put together an even stronger resume to make Chipotle Nationals this year.

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

LuHi senior VJ Edgecombe fights for a rebound against Montverde Academy (Florida) on Dec. 22, 2023 :: Photo by Andrew West/The News-Press /USA TODAY NETWORK

Previous rank: 4; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. No. 14 Wasatch Academy (UT)

LuHi will close out its regular season this week with EYBL Scholastic league games against No. 14 Wasatch Academy and Canyon International (Arizona). The Crusaders have likely locked up a spot at Chipotle Nationals, but these games could still impact seeding for the tournament.

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

Previous rank: 5; Up next: TBD

After winning a TCAL 6A state championship two weeks ago, Dynamic Prep waits to see if it will receive an invite to Chipotle Nationals. The team's only loss this season came to No. 7 Link Academy, and it defeated No. 6 Prolific Prep and formerly-ranked Dream City Christian (Arizona).

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

Prolific Prep junior AJ Dybantsa throws down a dunk against Riviera Prep on Jan. 25, 2024 / Photo by Robson Lopes, SBLive Sports

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

The Grind Session playoffs start this week for Prolific Prep. AJ Dybantsa and the Crew earned the top seed for the tournament and will play the winner of Pace Academy (Texas) vs. Chicago Prep (Illinois) in the first round.

7. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (23-6)

Link Academy junior Andre Igoudala Jr. is the son of former NBA star Andre Igoudala.  / Photo by Nate Latsch, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 7; Up next: Mar. 7 vs. No. 17 Oak Hill Academy (VA)

Link picked up a win over Wilson Academy (Georgia) on senior night. The Lions sit in a solid position for Chipotle Nationals finish the regular season this week with a pair of big games against No. 17 Oak Hill and No. 14 Wasatch Academy.

8. Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) (27-3)

Previous rank: 10; Up next: Mar. 4 vs. St. Peter’s Prep (NJ)

Dylan Harper led Don Bosco past Tahaad Pettiford and Hudson Catholic in a battle of McDonald’s All-Americans, extending the Ironmen's win streak to 17 games and sending them to the NJSIAA North Jersey Non-Public A finals.

9. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.) (31-3)

Harvard-Westlake senior Trent Perry brings the ball up the court against Eastvale Roosevelt on Feb. 23, 2024 / Photo by Andy Holzman, SBLive Sports

Previous rank: 11; Up next: Mar. 5 vs. No. 18 Eastvale Roosevelt (CA)

USC-bound Trent Perry went off for 42 points to help Harvard-Westlake edge out Carlsbad in the CIF Open Division state playoffs. The Wolverines face No. 18 Eastvale Roosevelt in the North region finals, setting up a rematch of the dramatic Southern Section Open Division final less than two weeks ago. 

10. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ari.) (25-5)

Previous rank: 9; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. No. 17 Oak Hill Academy (VA)

AZ Compass went 2-0 in South Carolina last week, beating Legacy Early College (SC) and Canyon International (Arizona) by two points each. The Dragons wrap up their regular season this week against No. 17 Oak Hill Academy and Orangeville Prep (Canada), as they look to put the finishing touches on their resume for Chipotle Nationals.

11. Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) (26-2)

Previous rank: 13; Up next: Mar. 5 vs. Independence (NC)

Myers Park advanced to the third round of the NCHSAA 4A state playoffs, beating Mallard Creek and Ardrey Kell in the first two rounds. The Mustangs play Independence on Tuesday and, with a win, could see Duke signee Isaiah Evans and North Mecklenburg in the state quarterfinals.

12. Plano East (Plano, Tex.) (38-0)

Previous rank: 14; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. Lake Ridge (TX)

Plano East is two wins away from its first state title in program history after knocking off Allen, Eaton and Keller. The Panthers play Lake Ridge in the UIL Class 6A semifinals, with No. 20 Stony Point potentially waiting in the state championship game.

13. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (18-8)

Previous rank: 16; Up next: TBD

IMG stayed hot and finished its regular season with wins over No. 16 La Lumiere and Orangeville Prep (Canada). As for a Chipotle Nationals bid, the committee must decide if IMG accomplished enough in the second half of the season to overcome a slow start. 

14. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) (15-5)

Previous rank: 8; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. No. 4 Long Island Lutheran

Wasatch avoided an upset against Legacy Early College (South Carolina) but failed to do the same against No. 15 Brewster Academy. Now 6-3 in their past nine games, the Tigers road ahead won’t get any easier with games this week against No. 4 Long Island Lutheran and No. 7 Link Academy.

15. Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) (27-7)

Previous rank: 17: Up next: TBD

Brewster capped off its regular season by taking down former No. 8 Wasatch Academy in South Carolina. With three wins over teams in the top 25, the Bobcats will wait and see if they did enough to receive a Chipotle Nationals bid.

16. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) (23-5)

Previous rank: 12; Up next: TBD

La Lumiere beat Veritas Academy (California) but lost 72-63 to No. 13 IMG Academy in its final game of the regular season. With no remaining opportunities to improve their resume, it’s likely the Lakers will narrowly miss the cut for Chipotle Nationals.

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

Previous rank: 18; Up next: Mar. 7 vs. No. 7 Link Academy (MO)

With matchups against No. 7 Link Academy and No. 10 AZ Compass Prep, the Warriors might have the most to gain of any team in the country this week.

18. Eastvale Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) (31-3)

Previous rank: 20; Up next: Mar. 5 vs. No. 9 Harvard-Westlake (CA)

Brayden Burries and Roosevelt beat Tounde Yessoufou and St. Joseph in a battle of five-star juniors, setting up a showdown with No. 9 Harvard-Westlake in the South finals for the CIF Open Division state playoffs.

19. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) (29-2)

Previous rank: 19; Up next: Mar. 9 vs. McEachern (GA)

Grayson notched wins over Peachtree Ridge and Milton last week, earning a spot in the GHSA Class 7A state championship game. The Rams will take on National Player of the Year candidate Ace Bailey and McEachern, a team on the bubble of the top 25, in the finals this Saturday.

20. Stony Point (Round Rock, Tex.) (37-1)

Previous rank: 21; Up next: Mar. 8 vs. Beaumont United (TX)

Stony Point went 3-0 last week, including a thrilling last-second win over Brennan, to reach the UIL Class 6A state semifinals. With a win over Beaumont United, the Tigers could get the chance for revenge against No. 12 Plano East in the state championship game.

21. St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.) (27-2)

Previous rank: 23; Up next: Mar. 4 vs. Bishop Eustace (NJ)

St. Rose defeated Wildwood Catholic and Holy Cross Prep last week, advancing to the NJSIAA South Jersey Non-Public B finals. The Purple Roses have won six games in a row since falling to No. 1 Montverde Academy.

22. Salesian College Prep (Richmond, Calif.) (30-1)

Previous rank: 24; Up next: Mar. 5 vs. Archbishop Riordan (CA)

The top seed in the North region for the CIF Open Division state playoffs, Salesian knocked out Modesto Christian in the region semifinals. The Pride will see Archbishop Riordan in the region finals, with No. 9 Harvard-Westlake or No. 18 Eastvale Roosevelt waiting for the winner in the state championship game.

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

Previous rank: 25; Up next: Mar. 9 vs. Kokomo (IN)

Fishers beat Carmel, Hamilton Southeastern and Noblesville last week to win a sectional title. The Tigers will now take on five-star Kansas commit Flory Bidunga and Kokomo in the regional round, with the winner moving on to the IHSAA Class 4A state tournament for the final eight teams.

24. Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) (27-4)

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Season complete

Sidwell Friends, which started the season ranked nationally, re-enters the top 25 after defeating former No. 15 Gonzaga to reach the DCSAA 2A state finals and then beating St. John's in the title game. The Quakers ended the season on a 19-game win streak, and all of their losses came to teams in the top 25 or on the bubble of the national rankings. 

25. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) (23-4)

Previous rank: Unranked; Up next: Mar. 6 vs. St. Francis Prep (NY)

Archbishop Stepinac defeated Christ the King behind 43 points from McDonald's All-American Boogie Fland. The Crusaders are set to take on St. Francis Prep in the CHSAA AA intersectional semifinals.

DROPPED OUT

Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) (28-6)

Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) (33-3)

ON THE BUBBLE

The Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) (25-4)

Central Cabarrus (Concord, N.C.) (29-0)

Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wisc.) (26-0)

Bullis (Potomac, Md.) (25-2)

McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) (26-5)

Ridge View (Columbia, S.C.) (25-2)

Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) (29-5)

John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) (24-3)

Curie (Chicago) (31-2)

Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) (25-1)

St. Mary’s (Orchard Lake, Mich.) (24-1)

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