Five-Star Basketball - H.S. Power Rankings: Week 11: January 25, 2012

Arlington Country Day jumps out, Gonzaga College moves up

Not much movement between the top squads as our Top 8 went this past week unscathed. But we do have a new contender, Gonzaga College High School,  they've racked off three victories (including one over DeMatha) without Tar Heel recruit Nate Britt. Arlington Country Day by virtue of getting blown out by Tilton and losing to Quality Education puts them outside the Power Rankings. Losing Torian Graham didn't help the Apaches one bit.

Rank	Prev	Team		Comments
1	1		Brewster Academy 5th year/prep school Wolfeboro, NH
Record: 17-0 Key Wins: Tilton (2x), Notre Dame Prep, New Hampton Results: Beat Proctor Academy, 88-44; beat Winchendon School, 98-57; beat Maine Central Institute, 125-68 Weekly Report: The Bobcats were not challenged this past week but might have their hands full with the scoring prowess of Ricardo Ledo and South Kent this weekend. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Bridgton Academy
2	2		Oak Hill Academy 4-year traditional Mouth of Wilson, VA
Record: 30-0 Key Wins: Prestonwood Chrisitan, Grace Prep, La Lumiere Results: Beat Craigmont, 69-66; beat Melrose, 76-71 Weekly Report: The Warriors had a couple of challenges at the Penny Hardaway HoopFest but left with two victories. 14 more games on the schedule … can they go 44-0? Would be quite a feat. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Blue Ridge
3	3		Findlay Prep 4-year non-traditional Henderson, NV
Record: 19-1 Key Wins: Simeon, Marcus Key Loss: La Lumiere Results: Beat Bishop Gorman, 73-61 Weekly Report: Winston Shepard deserves some praise. A week after containing Jabari Parker, he forced Shabazz Muhammad into a poor shooting night in their rivalry matchup with Bishop Gorman. The swingman is one of the top players left in 2012. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Impact
4	4		Tilton School 5th year/prep school Tilton, NH
Record: 17-3 Key Wins: Notre Dame Prep, New Hampton, Huntington Prep, Key Losses: South Kent Results: Beat Vermont Academy, 73-63; beat Villa Angea-St. Joseph, 67-50; beat Arlington Country Day, 68-53 Weekly Report: The Rams' big-time matchup with Arlington Country Day lost some buzz with Torian Graham transferring from the Apaches. The highly-coveted Nerlens Noel and Tilton will have to avoid any letups in anticipation of their rematch with Brewster in February. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Lawrence Academy
5	5		St. Anthony 4-year traditional Jersey City, NJ
Record: 12-0 Key Wins: St. Benedict’s, Miller Grove Weekly Report:The Friars will see a trio of tough teams at the SNY Invitational this weekend. They still are expected to come out as victors. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Thomas Jefferson
6	6		Huntington Prep 4-year non-traditional Huntington, WV
Record: 14-1 Key Losses: Tilton Results: Beat Bishop Kearney, 60-41; beat Villa Angela-St. Joseph, 71-41 Weekly Report: The Express have a big three game stretch ahead. First St. Edwards, then N.C. State-bound Rodney Purvis and Upper Room Christian. The capper? Kyle Anderson and St. Anthony. Next Up: 1/29 at St. Edward
7	7		Grace Prep 4-year traditional Arlington, TX
Record: 15-2 Key Wins: Prestonwood Christian, Montverde, Mater Dei Results: Beat Faith Christian, 93-26 Weekly Report: Isaiah Austin and the Lions keep on winning. The biggest challenge for Austin will probably come in recruiting Julius Randle to join him at Baylor. Next Up: 1/27 at Pantego Christian
8	8		Simeon Career Academy 4-year traditional Chicago, Ill.
Record: 17-1 Key Wins: Whitney Young, Miller Grove, Southwind Results:Beat Urban Prep, 83-49 Weeky Report: Jabari Parker might not be the flashiest player, but he does get the job done. A win over Southwind gives them another solid win after a disappointing loss to Findlay Prep. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Bogan
9	15		Gonzaga College 4-year traditional Washington, D.C.
Record: 18-0 Key Wins: DeMatha, Riverside, Patterson, Neumann-Goretti, Whitney Young Results: Beat Our Lady of Good Counsel, 75-60; beat DeMatha, 76-74; Beat Bishop Ireton, 80-59 Weekly Report: When you manage to beat DeMatha without your star player (UNC-bound Nate Britt), you deserve a jump in the rankings. Junior Kris Jenkins led the Eagles' force with 27 points. They leapfrog Montrose Christian by virtue of beating better teams. Next Up: 1/27 at Bishop McNamara
10	9		Montrose Christian 4-year traditional Rockville, MD
Record: 13-1 Key Losses: Marcus Results: Beat Freedom, 91-58; beat T.C. Williams, 72-49 Weekly Report: The Mustangs keep racking up the victories. That could come to a hold when they play against one of the best shot-blockers in the nation in Christopher Opekpa and Our Savior New American in early February. Next Up: 1/26 vs. Coolidge
11	10		Marcus 4-year traditional Flower Mound, TX
Record: 26-2 Key Wins: Montrose Christian Key Losses: Findlay Results: Beat Flower Mound, 76-56; Beat Plano West, 63-42 Weekly Report: The Marauders are in good position to rise in the rankings with only two losses and a favorable remaining schedule. Oklahoma State fans should be excited for the duo of Marcus Smart and Phil Forte. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Plano
12	13		Mater Dei High School 4-year traditional Santa Ana, CA
Record: 17-2 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lincoln (N.Y.), Key Losses: Grace Prep, Gill St. Bernard’s Results: Beat JSerra Catholic, 79-45 Weekly Report: Outside of Findlay Prep, there is no better team on the West Coast. They’ll try to keep that statement true with three tough local matchups looming. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Santa Margarita
13	16		La Lumiere School 4-year traditional La Porte, Ind.
Record: 17-2 Key Wins: Findlay Prep Results: Beat Trader’s Point Chrisitian, 70-39 Weekly Report: Judging by the score of their contest last week, the Lakers should have no problem finishing out a home-and-home series with Trader’s Point. Next Up: 1/26 at Trader’s Point Christian
14	17		St. Benedict's 4-year traditional Newark, NJ
Record: 18-1 Key Losses: St. Anthony Results: Beat NIA Prep, 89-67; Beat Peddie, 78-33 Weekly Report: The Gray Bees don’t have any more big-time regular season games left. Need to keep racking up the Ws in impressive fashion as they have been doing. Next Up: 1/28 vs. Blair Academy
15	11		DeMatha Catholic 4-year traditional Hyattsville, MD
Record: 17-2 Key Wins: Neumann-Goretti Key Losses: Bishop Gorman, Gonzaga College Results: Beat Bishop McNamara, 90-75; lost to Gonzaga College, 76-74; Beat Archbishop Carroll, 79-66 Weekly Report: A loss to Gonzaga College always hurts, considering their rivalry. When you consider they lost to the Eagles who were without UNC-bound Nate Britt … it’s even more painful. Hence for the second straight week the Stags drop in the rankings. Next Up: 1/27 at Paul VI
16	19		Notre Dame Prep 5th year/prep school Fitchburg, MA
Record: 13-6 Key Wins: St. Thomas More, New Hampton Results: Beat Vermont Academy, 68-66; beat Putnam Science Academy 96-82 Weekly Results: With Steven Adams in the fold, this team is a force. But don’t sleep on Myles Davis. The sharpshooter had 29 second half points in the team’s most recent win. Next Up: 1/27 at Winchendon
17	18		Hargrave Military Academy 5th year/prep school Chatham, Virg.
Record: 23-0 Results: Beat Massanutten Military Academy, 86-83; beat Univ. of Charleston, 131-63 Weekly Report: The Chatham, Va squad just keeps rolling.   Next Up: 1/27 vs. Body of Christ
18	12		Montverde Academy 4-year traditional Montverde, FL
Record: 16-3 Key Losses: Grace Prep, Hagerty, Ridgeway Results: Lost to Ridgeway, 73-69 Weekly Report: The Florida-bound combo of Michael Frazier and Kasey Hill couldn’t muster enough to go unscathed at the Penny Hardaway HoopFest, losing to Ridgeway. Next Up: 1/26 vs. Florida A&M
19			Milton 4-year traditional Milton, Ga
Record: 15-4 Key Wins: Bishop Gorman, Lone Peak Key Loss: Tift County Weekly Report: Three of their losses were forfeits. They have wins over Bishop Gorman and Lone Peak. The team also features 4 Division I players in its starting lineup … We can make some space for them in the Power Rankings. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Centennial
20	20		Wichita Heights 4-year traditional Wichita Heights, KS
Record: 11-0 Results: Beat St. James Academy, 60-43; beat Dodge City, 47-33; beat East 69-52 Weekly Report: Perry Ellis’ crew took home the honors at the Dodge City Tournament of Champions. Next Up: 1/24 vs. Kapaun Mt. Carmel
21	21		Chester 4-year traditional Chester, Pa.
Record: 16-0 Results:Beat Glen Mills, 56-45 Weekly Report: Chester is on a roll, blowing out its last three opponents by 26 points or more. Next Up: 1/26 vs. Academy Park
22	22		New Hampton 5th year/prep school New Hampton, NH
Record: 14-4 Key Wins: St. Thomas More Key Losses: St. Thomas More, Brewster, Bridgton, Notre Dame Prep Results: Beat Maine Central Institute, 71-63; beat Phillips Exeter Academy, 93-44 Weekly Report: The Huskies recovered from their loss to Notre Dame Prep with two victories. Holderness and Austin Colbert loom at the end of the month. Next Up: 1/25 at Winchendon School
23	23		Southwind 4-year traditional Memphis, Tenn
Record: 20-2 Key Wins: Ridgeway Key Losses: Arlington Country Day, Simeon Results: Beat Ridgeway, 76-74 Weekly Report: A win over Simeon would have been huge, but beating a rising Ridgeway team helps stabilize the team’s ranking. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Wooddale
24	24		Prestonwood Christian Academy 4-year traditional Plano, TX
Record: 17-4 Key Wins: Grace Prep, Westbury Christian, Bishop Gorman Results: Beat Bishop Dunne, 76-59; Beat John Paul II, 54-42 Results: The Lions got back to their winning ways this past week. They will need to win the rest of their games to stick around in the rankings with inferior competition remaining. Next Up: 1/27 vs. Trinity Christian
25	25		Bishop Gorman 4-year traditional Las Vegas, NV
Record: 14-3 Key Wins: DeMatha, Whitney Young, Miller Grove Key Losses: Prestonwood Christian Academy, Milton, Mater Dei, Findlay Prep Weekly Report: Shabazz Muhammad had a hard time scoring against his Vegas counterparts on Findlay Prep. They should win the remainder of their contests with a challenge coming in early February from Jahlil Okafor and Whitney Young. Next Up: 1/25 vs. Desert Oasis
Best of the Rest St. Thomas More (Oakdale, CT), Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, PA), St. Augustine (New Orleans, LA), Ridgeway (Memphis, TN), Westbury Christian (Houston, TX), Columbia (Decatur, GA), Olympic (Charlotte, NC), Gil St. Bernard's (Glastone, NJ)