Four teams from this week’s Top 25 high school basketball rankings concluded their state tournament journeys triumphantly. No. 3 Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), No. 6 Hoover (Ala.), No. 11 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), and No. 14 Highland (Warrenton, Va.) all earned titles in their respective states.
In addition to these victories, noteworthy performances occurred last week, such as No. 4 Brennan (San Antonio) and No. 8 Allen making it to the Class 6A Division 1 state semifinals in Texas.
Meanwhile, No. 9 Wheeler (Marietta) defeated previous No. 10 Grayson (Loganville) in the Class AAAAAA semifinals in Georgia. In California’s Southern Section Open Division title game, No. 5 Roosevelt (Eastvale) overcame No. 16 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks), and Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) pulled off an upset over former No. 12 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) in the VISAA Division I semifinals.
Looking ahead, both No. 1 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) and No. 7 Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) aspire to make history on Saturday, aiming to join 51 other programs that have won four consecutive state titles in their highest classification. Columbus seeks to follow in the footsteps of Dillard (Fort Lauderdale) from 2000-04 in Florida, while Perry hopes to match Mesa (1923-26), Phoenix Union (1958-61), and Corona del Sol (Tempe) from 2012-15 in Arizona.
On Saturday, additional games to keep an eye on include a possible clash between Brennan and Allen in the Class 6A Division I title game, Wheeler vs. Newton (Covington) for the Class AAAAAA state title in Georgia, and potential encounters of No. 2 Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) against Roosevelt and No. 13 St. Joseph (Santa Maria) against Notre Dame in the Open Division quarterfinals of California.
Top 25 boys basketball rankings
1. Columbus (Miami, Fla.)
Record: 25-3 | Last week: 1
The team aims to secure a fourth consecutive Class 7A state championship this weekend, starting with a state semifinal match against Seminole (Sanford) on Friday.
2. Harvard-Westlake (Studio City, Calif.)
Record: 30-2 | Last week: 2
As two-time reigning state champions, they initiate their Open Division state tournament play with a first-round matchup against St. John Bosco (Bellflower) tomorrow.
3. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 22-1 | Last week: 3
Secured the Class 3A state championship with a nail-biting 68-66 victory over The Villages, highlighted by a crucial putback by junior K.J. Francis with just two seconds left. Four-star sophomore Cayden Daughtry led all scorers with 23 points.
4. Brennan (San Antonio, Texas)
Record: 33-2 | Last week: 4
Dominated Steele (Cibolo) with a 68-39 score, thanks to a game-high 29 points from five-star Houston signee Kingston Flemings. They now move into the Class 6A Division 1 state semifinals, facing Bellaire tonight.
5. Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)
Record: 32-2 | Last week: 5
Claimed the Open Division Southern Section title with a 74-67 win over No. 18 Notre Dame, with five-star senior Brayden Burries and senior guard Myles Walker each scoring 19 points. The Mustangs will take on the winner of Harvard-Westlake and St. John Bosco on Saturday in the Open Division state quarterfinals.
6. Hoover (Ala.)
Record: 35-0 | Last week: 6
Made history as the first Class 7A team to complete an unbeaten state championship run, defeating Florence 66-56 in the title game. Senior guard Jarett Fairley led the way with 21 points, while four-star Tennessee signee DeWayne Brown contributed 14 points, 16 rebounds, and five blocks. Three-star UAB signee Salim London added 18 points.
7. Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Record: 25-2 | Last week: 7
Facing the tough news that five-star senior Koa Peat will be sidelined for the rest of the postseason due to an injury, the Pumas still managed to beat Ironwood 67-45, thanks to 34 points and 14 rebounds from Missouri-Kansas City commit D’Andre Harrison while advancing to the Open Division state semifinals.
8. Allen (Texas)
Record: 34-1 | Last week: 8
Advanced to the state semifinals for the first time since 2018, securing a 62-44 victory over Marcus (Flower Mound), led by senior guard Antonio Shannon’s 16 points. The Eagles will compete against Duncanville in tonight’s Class 6A Division 1 state semifinals.
9. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
Record: 28-3 | Last week: 11
Revenge was sweet with a 68-53 victory over former No. 10 Grayson in the Class AAAAAA state semifinals. Senior forward Mansur McClain scored 18 points, while four-star sophomore Kevin Savage contributed 14 and junior guard Lamarrion Lewis added 13 off the bench.
10. Fishers (Ind.)
Record: 24-0 | Last week: 9
Wrapped up regular season play on a remarkable 37-game win streak, with standout performances led by sophomore Cooper Zachary, who dropped 22 points. The Tigers head into the postseason favored to win their second consecutive state title.
11. Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)
Record: 29-5 | Last week: 14
Defeated the three-time defending state champions, Sidwell Friends, with a 67-51 score in the DCSAA Class AA championship game. All five starters contributed with 12 points or more, with three-star Harvard pledge Alex Touomou leading with 15 points, while four-star Xavier signee Nykolas Lewis added 13 points, nine rebounds, four assists, and three steals.
12. John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)
Record: 22-2 | Last week: 12
The Justices showcased an impressive average of 126.7 points per game, outscoring their opponents by an average of 67 points on their way to the Class 2 Region A title.
13. St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)
Record: 31-1 | Last week: 15
After winning the Central Section Division I title with a 54-33 victory over Buchanan (Clovis), the Knights were sent south for the second straight year, set to begin Open Division state tournament play against the winner of the matchup between No. 18 Notre Dame and Montgomery (San Diego) in the state quarterfinals.
14. Highland (Warrenton, Va.)
Record: 38-5 | Last week: 20
Took home the VISAA Division I state championship with a close 56-51 victory over Bishop O’Connell (Arlington) in the title match. Senior standout Nate Ament capped off an impressive career with 24 points and 18 rebounds in the triumph.
15. Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 29-1 | Last week: 17
Progressed to the Hinsdale sectional semifinals.
with a 78-72 victory over Oak Lawn, spearheaded by a remarkable performance from three-star senior Aleks Alston, who amassed 25 points, 14 rebounds, five assists, and four blocks. The Broncos are set to square off against Simeon (Chicago) tonight, with a coveted spot in the sectional title game at stake.
16. Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)
Record: 26-7 | Last week: 16
Experienced a setback against No. 5 Roosevelt, falling 74-67 in the Open Division Southern Section title match, despite the efforts of top-ranked junior Tyran Stokes, who scored a game-high 21 points. The Knights will embark on their Open Division state tournament journey tomorrow, facing off against Montgomery (San Diego) in the first round.
17. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)
Record: 27-6 | Last week: 12
Unexpectedly fell to WCAC rival Bishop O’Connell (Arlington) by a narrow margin of 59-57 in the VISAA Division I state semifinals, missing out on their fourth consecutive state championship.
18. Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)
Record: 28-3 | Last week: 10
Failed to clinch back-to-back state championships, bringing a 49-game in-state winning streak to an end with a 68-53 defeat against No. 9 Wheeler in the semifinals.
19. Reidsville (N.C.)
Record: 27-0 | Last week: 18
While the Rams continue to secure decisive victories, their conservative scheduling has allowed other teams to leapfrog them in the national rankings during the postseason. They kicked off their Class 2A state title defense with a 73-19 rout of Brevard, followed by a dominant 94-62 win over North Stanley (New London).
20. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
Record: 23-6 | Last week: 19
Started the MDPSS state tournament with a 75-63 victory against Glenelg Country (Ellicott City), driven by a game-high 26 points from junior guard Ashton Meeks in the quarterfinals. The Stags will meet Bullis (Potomac) tomorrow in the semifinals.
21. Oak Park (Kansas City, Mo.)
Record: 25-1 | Last week: 21
Wrapped up the regular season with two commanding victories over Park Hill South (Riverside) and Liberty, extending their winning streak to an impressive 24 games.
22. Christ School (Arden, N.C.)
Record: 26-2 | Last week: 23
NCISAA Class 4A state champions.
23. Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.)
Record: 20-2 | Last week: 24
Enter postseason play as favorites, poised to secure the program’s fifth consecutive Class 4 state championship.
24. St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
Record: 28-2 | Last week: 25
They are set to compete against Charlotte (Punta Gorda) in the Class 6A state semifinals on Thursday. The Raiders are aiming to achieve their first state championship since 2001 this weekend.
25. Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.)
Record: 27-1 | Last week: NR
Received a bye in the opening round of the Open Division state tournament and will face the winner of the Salesian College Prep (Richmond) versus Modesto Christian (Modesto) matchup on Saturday.
NEXT FIVE:
- Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.)
- Corpus Christi Veterans Memorial (Corpus Christi, Texas)
- Huntsville (Ala.)
- St. Michael’s (Austin, Texas)
- Owasso (Okla.)
