MaxPreps High School Top 25 boys basketball national rankings

Video: Zion Williamson highlights
See the super junior prospect in action over the holidays at Farm Bureau Insurance Classic.


1. (No. 7 last week) Nathan Hale (Seattle), 9-0
We've run with this fact before but it bears repeating now – Nathan Hale went 3-18 last year. The addition of first-year head coach Brandon Roy and superstar senior Michael Porter Jr. have had a dramatic impact on the program. Porter dominated the Les Schwab Invitational in Oregon after Christmas, averaging 32 points and 16.7 rebounds per game in four outings. He went for 27 and 15 in the final as Nathan Hale stunned then-No. 1 Sierra Canyon 67-65. The Raiders also have wins over two of the top five teams in Washington in Garfield (Seattle) and Rainier Beach (Seattle).

2. (2) Chino Hills (Calif.), 16-0
Winners of 51 games in a row, the defending national champs have a strong case for being the nation's No. 1-ranked team. The Huskies have three tournament titles under their belt, accumulating wins over No. 7 Mater Dei, Under Armour Holiday Classic champ Foothills Christian (El Cajon, Calif.), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Woodcreek (Roseville, Calif.) and Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.) in the process.

3. (1) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 10-1
Our preseason No. 1 fell victim to a heroic fourth quarter performance by Porter and Nathan Hale at the Les Schwab Invitational. But with wins over Independent Top 10-ranked Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 13 Gonzaga, the Trailblazers aren't falling too far for now.

4. (10) Simeon (Chicago), 11-0
Senior guard Evan Gilyard won the A.C. Williamson Award as the Wolverines went 4-0 at the Pontiac Holiday Tournament. The last two Simeon players to earn that honor are not bad – Jabari Parker and Derrick Rose.

5. (3) Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.), 20-1
For the ninth time in the last 11 years, Greensboro Day won the HAECO Invitational after Christmas. The Bengals swept through three contests at the event by an average margin of 27.6 points per game.

6. (4) Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.), 9-2
The Mustangs lost to Independent Top 10-ranked Montverde Academy (Fla.) in the City of Palms Classic final but get another crack at head coach Kevin Boyle's bunch Saturday at the National Hoopfest.

7. (5) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 16-1
Junior point guard Spencer Freedman is becoming a star at Mater Dei, earning MVP honors at The Classic at Damien after Christmas. The Monarchs dominated previously-unbeaten host Damien (La Verne, Calif.) 82-63 in the final.

8. (NR) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 12-0
Behind sophomore Isaac Okoro and freshman Sharife Cooper, the Indians blew up over the holiday break. McEachern won the Tournament of Champions Classic after Christmas, beating No. 15 Scotlandville, formerly-ranked Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) and New York City perennial contender Jefferson (Brooklyn) in the process.

9. (11) Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.), 3-2
Perhaps no team in the country opened the season with a tougher five-game slate than the Celtics. After a trip to the City of Palms Classic in Florida, Patrick School beat St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 70-65 at Slam Dunk to the Beach in Delaware.

10. (12) St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), 6-0
The Friars are looking for a signature win to enhance their resume and will have several opportunities in the next few weeks with games against No. 9 Patrick School, Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J. ) and Jemison (Huntsville, Ala.). 11. (14) North Central (Indianapolis), 8-0
Don't schedule Doug Mitchell in December. The Panthers are 23-0 during the final month on the calendar over the past three seasons.

12. (17) Westerville South (Westerville, Ohio), 8-0
Fellow Buckeye State unbeaten Pickerington North (Pickerington) is up next for the Wildcats on Tuesday. South has won 16 in a row going back to last season.

13. (16) Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), 9-2
Head coach Steve Turner's team had a good showing at the Les Schwab Invitational, playing then-No. 1 Sierra Canyon tough in a four-point semifinal loss and knocking off then-No. 6 Garfield (Seattle) in the third-place game. The Eagles have wins over teams from seven different states and the District of Columbia already.

14. (NR) Skyline (Dallas), 17-0
The Raiders are ferocious on the defensive end of the floor, limiting 10 of 17 opponents to 40 points or less. Key wins include Norman North (Okla.) and defending 5A Texas state champ Lancaster.

15. (15) Scotlandville (Baton Rouge, La.), 13-1
A one-point loss to No. 8 McEachern is all that separates Ja'vonte Smart and the Hornets from perfection heading into 2017.

16. (9) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), 8-1
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) upset the Stags in the semifinals of the Hoodie's House National High School Hoops Classic. DeMatha has a big week ahead with a pair of WCAC games and a trip to West Virginia to face formerly-ranked Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.).

17. (NR) Jonesboro (Ark.), 11-0
Fun to see a team like this come way off the radar to earn a spot in the rankings. The Hurricane beat Missouri contender Kickapoo (Springfield) in early December, then won the Poplar Bluff Shootout after Christmas – winning convincingly over a battle-tested Kenwood (Chicago) team in the final.

18. (NR) Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), 8-1
Rhode Island pledge Daron Russell scored 25 points but it was backcourt mate Dave Beatty providing the game-winner at the buzzer as Imhotep Charter edged Evanston (Ill.) in the Beach Ball Classic final on New Year's Eve.

19. (NR) Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), 14-0
Maryland signee Darryl Morsell earned MVP honors as the Gaels swept three Florida schools en route to the Junior Orange Bowl Classic title. MSJ also beat Independent Top 10-ranked St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.) in early December.

20. (NR) Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.), 11-1
Behind junior guard Darius Garland and Austin Peay football commitment Jeremiah Oatsvall, the Eagles went 3-1 at the City of Palms Classic then won the Next Level Hoops Fest tourney in Nashville.

21. (21) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.), 12-1
The Knights swept through four games at the D1 Bound Christmas Classic by an average margin of 44 points per game.

22. (24) Greenforest (Decatur, Ga.), 10-2
Huge 14-day stretch coming up for the Eagles, who take on formerly-ranked Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) and Independent Top 10-ranked IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) this weekend in West Virginia, then head to Missouri for the Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions.

23. (NR) Shadow Mountain (Phoenix, Ariz.), 16-0
Head coach Mike Bibby has one of the most productive backcourts in the country with Jaelen House (21.4 points per game), Marcus Shaver (20.9) and Jovan Blacksher (17.4).

24. (25) East English Village Prep (Detroit), 5-0
The backcourt combo of Greg Elliott and recent Michigan commitment David DeJulius is powering the Bulldogs, who are averaging 83.4 points per game.

25. (NR) Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), 14-1
Ranked in our preseason High School Top 25, the Trojans have won nine in a row since an upset loss to Christ School back on Dec. 2.

Dropped out: No. 6 Garfield (Seattle), No. 8 Curie (Chicago), No. 13 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.), No. 18 Sam Houston Math Science & Tech (Houston), No. 19 Norcross (Ga.), No. 20 Cordova (Tenn.), No. 22 Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.), No. 23 Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.)

On the bubble: Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.), Champlin Park (Minn.), Evanston (Ill.), Klein Forest (Houston), Newton (Covington, Ga.)