Six teams debut in Super 25 Week 2 Boys Basketball rankings

Montverde Academy remains atop Super 25 boys basketball rankings, six new teams emerge.

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The Super 25 Boys Basketball rankings shifted substantially in Week 2, with six new teams making their debut.

The steepest slide came after then No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) dropped two games at Hoophall West last weekend, subsequently dropping them out of the Super 25. One of Hillcrest’s losses came to then No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, California), who moved up to No. 2.

FULL RANKINGS: Super 25 Boys Rankings, Week 2

Reigning GEICO Nationals champs IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida) had previously held down the No. 2 spot, but the Ascenders got picked off by then No. 11 Paul VI (Fairfax, Virginia), which sent the Panthers to No. 8.

Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kansas) made its debut at No. 19 after knocking off then No. 10 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Maryland).

RELATED: Chosen 25 | ALL-USA Preseason

Top 10 holds strong in Week 1 Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings

Montverde Academy remains No. 1 in Week 1 of the USA Today Super 25 boys basketball rankings.

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The proverbial dust has settled on the preseason Super 25 Boys Basketball rankings, and the top 10 have remained intact in the Week 1.

FULL RANKINGS: Super 25 Boys Rankings, Week 1

Top-ranked Montverde (Florida) Academy had a strong showing at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas this past weekend, demolishing then No. 22 Duncanville (Texas) 84-51 and then Yates (Houston) 98-46.

RELATED: ALL-USA Boys Basketball Teams

Eagles point guard Cade Cunningham, an Oklahoma State signee who is ranked No. 1 overall in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25 for 2020, led a balanced attack averaging 14 points, eight assists and six rebounds for the weekend.

Prolific Prep (Napa, California), ranked No. 5, was also impressive at the Hoopfest, but the Crew will face its toughest challenge of the early season when they square off against No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) at Hoophall West on Thursday at 9 p.m. ET (ESPN2).

McEachern (Powder Springs, Georgia), ranked No. 6, had an impressive 87-79 home win over then-No. 12 Mayfair (Lakewood, California) at the Thanksgiving Shootout; reigning ALL-USA Player of the Year Sharife Cooper, an Auburn signee who is ranked No. 2 in the Chosen 25, posted 44 points, eight rebounds and six assists in the win.

RELATED: Chosen 25 Basketball Rankings

Both Duncanville and Rancho Christian School (Temecula, California) suffered two losses and subsequently fell out of the rankings, which opened the door for Briarcrest Christian School (Eads, Tennessee) and Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.) to debut in the Super 25.

Hoopfest: Cade Cunningham happy be back home as a Cowboy

Cade Cunningham said he knows he made the right decision picking Oklahoma State.

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DALLAS – Cade Cunningham knew the question was coming at some point and, while he’ll concede that “it’s a fair question,” he’s not ready to give an answer.

HOOPFEST: Harrison Ingram earns respect

Earlier this month when Cunningham committed to Oklahoma State he released a video and said, “To be honest, I was this close to picking a different school, but blood is always thicker than water,” eluding to his brother Cannen being on staff at Oklahoma State as the reason the Cowboys ultimately won out.

“I’m not gonna say which school it was,” said Cunningham, the No. 1 overall player in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25. “But the small space between my two fingers was how close I came to going to another school. Things changed though and I’m happy where I’m at. I wouldn’t want to be at any other school; I can honestly say that. It feels good to know you made the right decision.”

HOOPFEST: Bryce Thompson thrives after committing to Kansas

On Friday at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Cunningham channeled that positive energy into a big win, scoring 15 points and handing out eight assists to lead the No. 1 Eagles past No. 22 Duncanville (Texas) 84-51. It was Cunningham’s first high school game in his home state since transferring to Montverde from Bowie (Arlington, Texas) the summer before his junior year.

“it was great to be back home,” Cunningham said. “It’s been a minute for me, but it just felt great to get the chance to play in front of everybody. Now, I’m just focused on winning a GEICO Nationals title with my guys.”

Last year in the GEICO Nationals semifinals, Montverde blew a 16-point second half lead and fell to eventual champion IMG Academy (Bradenton, Florida), who currently checks in at No. 2.

HOOPFEST: Elite sophomore Arterio Morris stars at the Hoopfest

“We’re No. 1, but we’re the hunters,” Cunningham said. “We’re trying to beat the brakes off every team we play like they’re No. 1. We’re just hungrier this year than we’ve ever been. We’re coming for everybody.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

Seventeen Super 25 teams to be featured in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase

GEICO ESPN High School Showcase will feature 17 Super 25 teams and multiple Chosen 25 stars this season.

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Seventeen of the 25 teams ranked in USA Today’s Super 25 Boys Basketball Rankings will be featured this season in the GEICO ESPN High School Showcase.

In all 34 games will be available across ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU and digitally on ESPN3.

“When you combine the abundance of nationally ranked teams and the nation’s most elite prospects, this year’s schedule is our biggest and best to date,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN national recruiting director.

RELATED: Day one of the Early Signing Period

The TV games will kickoff on Dec. 5 when No. 5 Prolific Prep (Napa, California) takes on No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix) on ESPN2.

The Crew features elite guard Nimari Burnett, a Texas Tech signee who is ranked No. 15 overall in USA Today Sports’ Chosen 25, and Jalen Green, who is ranked No. 3 overall, while the Bruins feature a handful of Chosen 25 players, including junior forward Michael Foster, who is ranked No. 6, and Keon Edwards, who is ranked No. 19.

PRESEASON BASKETBALL COVERAGE:

Super 25 Boys Rankings | ALL-USA Boys | ALL-USA Girls

Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, California), ranked No. 8, will make 15 appearances across the different platforms this season.

The Trailblazers boast Chosen 25 star shooting guard B.J. Boston, a Ketucky signee who is ranked No. 14 and Ziaire Williams, who is ranked No. 9. Also, Bronny James, son of NBA superstar LeBron James, and Zaire Wade, son of retired NBA star Dwyane Wade, suit up for Sierra Canyon.

Checkout the full slate of games below.

Date Time (ET) Matchup Network
Thu, Nov 21 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.)at Montgomery HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Nov 22 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Saint Augustine (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Nov 23 11 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Cathedral Catholic (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 5 9 p.m. No. 5 Prolific Prep (Calif.) vs. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN2
Sat, Dec 7 7 p.m. No. 16 Mater Dei (Calif.) vs. Perry (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 8:30 p.m. Christ the King (N.Y.) vs. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 10 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Millenium (Ariz.) ESPN3
Sat, Dec 7 11:30 p.m. Hamilton Heights (Tenn.) at No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) ESPN3
Thu, Dec 12 8 p.m. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) at No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPNU
Sat, Dec 14 8:30 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. St. Vincent & St. Mary (Ohio) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 7 p.m. Park Center (Minn.) at Minnehaha Acadamy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 3 9 p.m. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 4 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at No. 20 Minnehaha Academy (Minn.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 10 9 p.m. No. 7 Huntington Prep (W.Va.) at No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) ESPN2
Fri, Jan 11 TBD No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) at No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 3 p.m. La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Gonzaga (D.C.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 4:30 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. Camden (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 6 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Jan 18 8 p.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Dominican (Wis.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 12:30 p.m. Orangeville Prep (Canada) vs. Brewster Adcademy (N.H.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 2:15 p.m. Whitney Young (Ill.) vs. No. 4 The Patrick School (N.J.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 4 p.m. No. 3 Hillcrest Prep (Ariz.) vs. Sunrise Christian (Kan.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 5:30 p.m. No. 6 Prolific Prep (Calif.) at vs. La Lumiere (Ind.) ESPN3
Sat, Jan 19 7:30 p.m. No. 2 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) ESPN
Sun, Jan 20 11 a.m. No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 12 Paul VI (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 1 p.m. No. 18 Rancho Christian (Calif.) vs. No. 10 DeMatha (Md.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 3 p.m. No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) vs. No. 11 Oak Hill Academy (Va.) ESPNU
Sun, Jan 20 5 p.m. No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 6 McEachern (Ga.) ESPNU
Thu, Jan 24 11 p.m. Coronado (Nev.) at No. 17 Bishop Gorman (Nev.) ESPNU
Mon, Jan 28 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Campbell Hall (Calif.) ESPN3
Thu, Jan 31 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Brentwood School (Calif.) ESPN3
Mon, Feb 4 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) at Paraclete HS (Calif.) ESPN3
Wed, Feb 6 5:30 p.m. No. 25 Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) at Christ the King (N.Y.) ESPNU
Wed, Feb 6 7:30 p.m. Saint John Vianney (N.J.) vs. Christ the King (N.Y.) Girls TBD
Thu, Feb 7 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. Gil St. Benard’s (N.J.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD No. 8 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 9 Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) ESPN3
Fri, Feb 8 TBD Huntington Prep vs. The Patrick School TBD