Video: Jabari Parker highlights MaxPreps 2013 Player of the Year before his NBA career.
In the current high school basketball landscape, public schools can often seem lost in the shuffle as private schools and independent academies continue to elevate themselves on the national hoops scene.
As the 2019-20 high school basketball season winds down, we look back over the last decade to identify the 25 best public school high school basketball programs.
In order to qualify for consideration, teams must have won at least 70 percent of their games, captured at least two state titles and been featured in the final Top 25 rankings (including current 2019-20 rankings) once over the past decade.
Overall Record: 250-49 (83.6 percent)
State Titles: Three (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13)
Nationally Ranked: No. 9 in 2010-11, No. 4 in 2011-12, No. 3 in 2012-13, No. 22 in 2017-18
Summary: Led by
Jabari Parker, the 2013 MaxPreps National Player of the Year, the Wolverines finished ranked in the Top 10 nationally each of the first three years of the decade. Although the Chicago powerhouse hasn't captured a state title since 2012-13, it has remained nationally relevant throughout the decade and finished the season ranked in the Top 25 more than any other team on this list.
Overall Record: 204-50 (80.3 percent)
State Titles: Five (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2017-18)
Nationally Ranked: No. 24 in 2011-12, No. 1 in 2012-13
Summary: The Knights captured the national title in 2012-13 behind a talented roster led by BYU standouts
Eric Mika,
T.J. Haws and
Nick Emery. Lone Peak won five state titles this decade and earned a trip to GEICO Nationals in 2017-18, where the Knights nearly upset event national champions Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.).
Overall Record: 239-80 (74.9 percent)
State Titles: Three (2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 1 in 2015-16, No. 17 in 2016-17
Summary: Onyeka Okongwu and the Ball brothers —
Lonzo,
LaMelo and
LiAngelo — had a major impact on the Huskies basketball program. The talented group led them to the national title in 2015-16, with an exciting brand of basketball that produced a state-record tying 18 100-point games. Other highlights included Lonzo Ball winning MaxPreps National Player of the Year in 2015-16 and LaMelo Ball erupting for 92 points as a sophomore.
Overall Record: 228-64 (78 percent)
State Titles: Six (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2015-16, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 14 in 2011-12, No. 8 in 2012-13, No. 7 in 2014-15
The Tigers have shown the ability to compete with top national competition, making three appearances at GEICO Nationals and narrowly losing 67-61 to St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) in 2011-12 and 66-65 to Prime Prep (Dallas) in 2012-13. They've won five state titles spaced out over the course of the decade and twice finished ranked in the Top 10.
Overall Record: 253-56 (81.9 percent)
State Titles: Five (2010-11, 2012-13, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 3 in 2016-17, No. 11 in 2017-18, No. 23 in 2018-19
Summary: The Philadelphia Public League power has become a mainstay on the national hoops scene in recent seasons, finishing each of the past three seasons in the rankings. The Panthers are 88-10 over the past three seasons and boast impressive wins over perennial powerhouses Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) and Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) among others.
Overall Record: 242-72 (77 percent)
State Titles: Five (2010-11, 2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16)
Nationally Ranked: No.6 in 2010-11, No. 19 in 2012-13, No. 15 in 2015-16
Summary: Under Sharman White, the Wolverines won five state titles in six seasons from 2010-11 to 2015-16. Since he left the program following the 2015-16 season, this program has struggled to maintain national prominence and is 71-47 over the past four years. Miller Grove made an appearance at GEICO Nationals in 2015-16, falling 47-46 in the semifinals to eventual event champion Oak Hill Academy.
Overall Record: 325-33 (90.8 percent)
State Titles: Six (2011-12, 2012-13, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 16 in 2011-12, No. 13 in 2019-20
Summary: The Hornets have the highest win percentage (90) and most state titles (six) of any team on this list. They're heavy favorites to capture their fourth consecutive state title behind Virginia signee
Reece Beekman. Current LSU guard
Javonte Smart was another major contributor for the program this decade, finishing his high school career with 3,306 career points.
Overall Record: 211-86 (71 percent)
State Titles: Four (2011-12, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18)
Nationally Ranked: No. 21 in 2015-16, No. 2 in 2016-17, No. 4 in 2017-18
Summary: Although the Mustangs have the lowest win percentage of any team on this list, their mid-decade dominance can't be ignored. Memphis East went 97-8 from 2015-16 to 2017-18, finishing as finalists in the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions in 2016-17 and City of Palms Classic in back-to-back seasons in 2016-17 and 2017-18. The Mustangs finished both 2016-17 and 2017-18 ranked in the Top 5.
9. Shadow Mountain (Phoenix)Overall Record: 206-72 (74.1 percent)
State Titles: Five (2013-14, 2015-16, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 14 in 2016-17, No. 9 in 2017-18, No. 18 in 2018-19
Summary: After a 10-35 start from 2010-11 to 2011-12, the Matadors have been one of the most successful public school basketball programs in high school basketball. Shadow Mountain captured five state titles over the past seven seasons and earned an invitation to GEICO Nationals in back-to-back years in 2016-17 and 2017-18. This year ended a string of four consecutive state title runs.
Overall Record: 237-38 (86.2 percent)
State Titles: Three (2013-14, 2014-15, 2017-18)
Nationally Ranked: No. 21 in 2013-14, No. 17 in 2014-15, No. 19 in 2017-18
Summary: Coached by former NBA star Brandon Roy, Garfield has a strong opportunity to capture its fourth state title in seven years and enter regional action this weekend at 21-4.
11. Germantown (Wis.)Overall Record: 188-62 (75.2 percent)
State Titles: Three (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14)
Nationally Ranked: No. 19 in 2011-12, No. 2 in 2012-13, No. 25 in 2013-14
Summary: The Warhawks won state titles in three consecutive seasons from 2011-12 to 2013-14. Germantown won 96.3 percent of its games over the first five years of the decade from 2010-11 to 2014-15.
Overall Record: 236-64 (78.7 percent)
State Titles: Four (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15)
Nationally Ranked: No. 7 in 2013-14, No. 8 in 2014-15
Summary: The Aztecs had a dominant four-year stretch from 2011-12 to 2014-15, winning four consecutive state championships with a 128-7 record during that time period. Corona del Sol doesn't have a losing season this decade and has finished ranked in the Top 10 nationally twice this decade.
Overall Record: 290-54 (84.3 percent)
State Titles: Five (2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 5 in 2018-19
Summary: The Spartans could capture their fourth consecutive state title on Saturday, facing Lee (Montgomery) in the 7A final. Mountain Brook has won over 90 percent of its games since the start of the 2016-17 season and pulled off a massive upset over eventual national champion IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) at the City of Palms Classic last season.
State Titles: Two (2013-14, 2016-17)
Nationally Ranked: No. 10 in 2012-13, No. 9 in 2013-14
Summary: Led by 2013-14 first team MaxPreps All-American
Jahlil Okafor, Whitney Young finished ranked in the Top 10 twice over the past decade and has been competitive on the national hoops scene throughout.
Overall Record: 261-39 (87 percent)
State Titles: Three (2010-11, 2015-16, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 15 in 2010-11, No. 11 in 2015-16
Summary: One of the most consistent public schools over the last decade, Hopkins sits at third on this list for the highest winning percentage over the last 10 seasons. Coach Ken Novak Jr. has 892 career wins, putting him among the Top 25 winningest active coaches.
State Titles: Two (2016-17, 2017-18)
Nationally Ranked: No. 19 in 2016-17, No. 5 in 2017-18
Summary: The Wolves are the only team on this list with fewer than 30 losses this decade, boasting the second highest winning percentage. Back-to-back state titles runs in 2016-17 and 2017-18 saw this program break into the national rankings, with a 53-2 record during that two-year run. Clarkston has lost no more than six games in a season this decade and is a favorite to capture its third state title in four years.
Overall Record: 234-70 (77 percent)
State Titles: Four (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15)
Nationally Ranked: No. 24 in 2013-14, No. 16 in 2014-15
Summary: From 2011-12 to 2014-15
Malik Newman was dominant for the Chargers, leading them to four consecutive state championships, while breaking into the team into the national rankings in his junior and senior seasons. Newman was a first team MaxPreps All-American in 2014-15 and averaged 23 or more points per game all four years with the program. Callaway has an opportunity this year to capture its fifth state title of the decade and first since 2014-15.
Overall Record: 203-53 (79.3 percent)
State Titles: Three (2011-12, 2012-13, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 15 in 2012-13, No. 16 in 2018-19
Summary: After finishing 2010-11 with a sub .500 record, the Greyhounds captured back-to-back state titles in 2011-12 and 2012-13 to become this decade's team to beat from the Hoosier State. Last year, Carmel finished the season ranked for the second time this decade, ending the year on a 15-game winning streak and going 26-1 overall.
Overall Record: 239-55 (81.3 percent)
State Titles: Two (2010-11, 2011-12)
Nationally Ranked: No. 18 in 2010-11, No. 5 in 2011-12
Summary: Historically one of the most successful public school programs in Pennsylvania, Chester kicked off the decade in dominant fashion with a pair of state titles and a 61-game winning streak from January 2010 to December 2012. The Clippers fell just shy of capturing a third straight state title in 2012-13, losing in the state finals to a Lower Merion squad they beat by 14 points earlier in the month.
Overall Record: 225-57 (79.8 percent)
State Titles: Four (2011-12, 2012-13, 2013-14, 2015-16)
Nationally Ranked: No. 5 in 2013-14
Summary: The Vikings earned a trip to GEICO Nationals in 2013-14 after finishing the regular season unbeaten. Beach has won 20 or more games every season since 2011-12.
Overall Record: 244-74 (76.7 percent)
State Titles: Two (2014-15, 2015-16)
Nationally Ranked: No. 23 in 2015-16, No. 23 in 2019-20
Summary: The Tigers are heavy favorites to capture their third state title of the decade this season, riding a 30-game winning streak as they compete in the second round of the Class 5A state tournament this weekend. This program has captured a pair of state titles and won 30 or more games in a season five times.
Overall Record: 230-62 (78.8 percent)
State Titles: Two (2013-14, 2016-17)
Nationally Ranked: No. 12 in 2016-17
Summary: While Wheeler, Milton and McEachern each qualified for this list as well, Tift County, over the past decade, won nearly 80 percent of its games and captured a pair of state titles to put them over the top.
Overall Record: 201-41 (83.1 percent)
State Titles: Five (2012-13, 2013-14, 2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 14 in 2012-13
Summary: The Huskies are aiming for their fourth consecutive state championship, riding a 16-game winning streak with one game remaining in the regular season. Blue Valley Northwest has the sixth highest win percentage on this list and has captured five state titles since the start of the decade in Kansas' highest classification.
Overall Record: 194-63 (75.5 percent)
State Titles: Five (2012-13, 2013-14, 2014-15, 2016-17, 2017-18)
Nationally Ranked: No. 9 in 2012-13
Summary: North Little Rock is among favorites to capture its sixth state title in the past eight seasons. The Charging Wildcats are 21-4 and the top team in Class 6A according to the MaxPreps computer rankings. They finished No. 9 nationally in 2012-13.
Overall Record: 221-52 (81 percent)
State Titles: Three (2016-17, 2017-18, 2018-19)
Nationally Ranked: No. 3 in 2019-20
Summary: Barring a major upset, the Cavaliers appear to be a lock to capture their fourth consecutive state championship and receive their first invite to GEICO Nationals this season. Dorman has been dominant over the past four seasons, winning 89 percent of its games and rides a 57-game winning streak against in-state opponents dating back to January 2018.
Honorable Mention (Alphabetical Order):
Overall Record: 232-65 (78.1 percent)
State Titles: Three (2012-13, 2014-15, 2016-17)
Nationally Ranked: One (No. 22 in 2016-17)
Overall Record: 234-60 (79.6 percent)
State Titles: Three
Nationally Ranked: One (No. 5 in 2016-17)
Overall Record: 242-60 (80.1 percent)
State Titles: Two (2013-14, 2014-15)
Nationally Ranked: One (No. 9 in 2014-15)
Overall Record: 229-79 (74.4 percent)
State Titles: Three (2010-11, 2011-12, 2013-14)
Nationally Ranked: One (No. 21 in 2010-11)
Overall Record: 190-57 (76.9 percent)
State Titles: Three (2014-15, 2015-16, 2016-17)
Nationally Ranked: One (No. 5 in 2015-16)
