Five-Star Top 25: 17U: August 3, 2011

The final rankings

After a season of upsets, nail-biting finishes and dominant championship runs, the dust has finally settled and we have determined our final Top 25. In the end, it was a tough choice between two teams that both had remarkable seasons. Surprised by our final rankings? Did we get it right, or do you feel your favorite team was snubbed? Comment below and tell us what you think.

Rank	Prev	Team
1	8		Houston Defenders Houston, Texas
		Congrats to the Houston Defenders on finishing the season ranked No. 1! It was between them and BABC, and the Defenders won head-to-head when it mattered most.
2	1		BABC Boston, Mass.
		With an 80-4 overall record, BABC had an argument to be in that top spot. Had they taken care of business against the Defenders last week, they would have been our No. 1 team.
3	5		Team Takeover (D.C.) Washington, D.C.
		The team that spent 11 consecutive weeks at No. 1 fell to the Defenders in the quarterfinals of the Super Showcase.
4	3		Oakland Soldiers Oakland, Calif.
		That season-ending loss a week ago to Branch West Elite was not how the Soldiers wanted to go out. Still, they finish as our fourth-best team.
5	4		DreamVision Las Vegas, Nev.
		Their season ended with a title-game loss to Texas Assault at Super 64.
6	10		Playaz Basketball Club (N.J.) Paterson, N.J.
		The Playaz made a big jump in our polls after taking two tournaments last week: The Duel in the Desert and the End of Summer Classic.
7	2		Memphis YOMCA Memphis, Tenn.
		This team is Top-5 caliber with Shaq Goodwin. Unfortunately for them, he doesn't play with them year-round. Without him this past week, they reached the title game at Nationals before falling to All-Ohio Red in the championship game. It would have been more impressive had they beaten anyone notable along the way.
8	7		Indiana Elite Indianapolis, Ind.
		They lost to Dream Vision in the semifinals of Super 64.
9	12		SYF Players Gary, Ind.
		Mitch McGary's squad rose in the polls once again. If BABC's half-court prayer didn't fall at Super Showcase, SYF would be even higher.
10	9		Mac Irvin Fire Chicago, Ill.
		Advanced all the way to the Duel in the Desert championship before falling to the New Jersey Playaz.
11	6		Georgia Stars Norcross, Ga.
		With their blowout loss to BABC still fresh in our minds, the Georgia Stars lost in the quarterfinals of nationals to eventual-champion All-Ohio Red.
12	11		CIA Bounce Brampton, Ontario
		They were demolished by Each 1 Teach 1 in the first round of bracket play at Super Showcase.
13	13		Connecticut Basketball Club Hartford, Conn.
		After such an encouraging week last week, they lost in the first round of Nationals to an unranked squad.
14	17		Texas PRO Houston, Tex.
		They stuck around at Nationals long enough to knock off the Houston Defenders.
15	21		KC 76ers Kansas City, Mo.
		The 76ers took the 'chip at the Best of Summer Double Pump tournament in Anaheim.
16	24		All-Ohio Red Columbus, Ohio
		For a team that was in danger of falling out of the Top 25 last week, they sure didn’t play like it. They knocked off Top 10 foes Georgia Stars and Memphis YOMCA, along with a respectable Houston Hoops squad to win 17U Nationals.
17	14		New England Playaz Springfield, Mass.
		The New England Playaz followed up an undefeated pool play stretch with a first-round exit at Best of Summer.
18	16		Texas Assault Dallas, Tex.
		Texas Assault finishes the season as the third Texas team in our Top 25.
19	15		New Orleans Elite New Orleans, La.
		Endured a disastrous trip to the desert where they lost to DC Assault and Colorado Chaos, but they were without the services of standout PG Javan Felix (broken rib).
20	19		Atlanta Celtics Atlanta, Ga.
		Their deep run in the desert was halted by the champion Playaz Basketball Club.
21	18		New Heights New York, N.Y.
		Spent the weekend in Reading, PA. at the End of Summer classic where they lost to the NJ Playaz in the championship game.
22	22		All Iowa Attack Des Moines, Iowa
		Made it to the quarterfinals at Nationals before falling to CP3.
23			Pryme Tyme Rockford, Ill.
		Their impressive résumé brings them back into the Top 25.
24	20		Florida Rams - Black St. Petersburg, Fla.
		Florida Rams hold down No. 24 after finishing their season early.
25			Eric Gordon All-Stars Indianapolis, Ind.
		During the season, the The Eric Gordon All-Stars took down No. 1 Houston Defenders, No. 9 SYF and No. 24 Florida Rams. A lack of big-time final four appearances is the only thing keeping them from being ranked higher. They still end the summer knowing they are one of the 25 best teams in the country.
Best of the Rest CP3 All-Stars, Grassroots Canada, Houston Hoops, Houston Hoopstars, Kansas Pray and Play, Long Island Lightning, Nike Baltimore Elite, Team Philly, Utah Pump-N-Run, Wisconsin Playground Warriors