Max Preps top 25 high school teams

We are going to keep this simple. We have the updated Max Preps top 25 high school teams in the nation - take a look.

There are a couple of newcomers in Max Preps top high school rankings this time. Gonzaga Prep (Spokane Washington) and Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Washington) break into the top 25.

Brandon Roy, formerly an All-Star guard for the Portland Trailblazers has been coaching his head of in Seattle, Washington with Garfield High. He suffered his first loss as a coach, previously having won 51 straight. They still sit at 18 on the list.

The top five teams remain unchanged and look like locks for the GEICO National tournament. Below is the full top 25 list straight from MaxPreps.com

1. (last week 1) Montverde Academy (Fla.), (32-0)

2. (2) Sunrise Christian Academy Elite (Bel Aire, Kan.), (21-2)

3. (3) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), (36-1)

4. (4) University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), (28-1)

5. (5) Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.), (26-0)

6. (7) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), (27-2)

7. (9) Shadow Mountain (Phoenix), (23-1)

8.  (10) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), (25-2)

9.  (11) Simeon (Chicago), (25-3)

10.  (12) Guyer (Denton, Texas), (34-1)

11. (13) Memphis East (Tenn.), (17-3)

12. (14) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), (27-4)

13. (15) Clarkston (Mich.), (14-1)

14. (18) La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.), (21-3)

15. (8) St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.), (25-2)

16. (22) Upson-Lee (Thomaston, Ga.), (27-0)

17. (19) Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia), (24-2)

18. (6) Garfield (Seattle), (24-1)

19. (20) Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.), (25-4)

20. (21) Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), (26-5)

21. (24) Cretin-Derham Hall (St. Paul, Minn.), (20-1)

22. (25) South Bend Riley (South Bend, Ind.), (21-0)

23. (NR) Gonzaga Prep (Spokane, Wash.), (23-0)

24. (17) DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), (25-5)

25. (NR) Plymouth Whitemarsh (Plymouth Meeting, Pa.), (24-0)

Remember to keep an eye out for more high school basketball updates from The Basketball Movement.

Player movement - High school edition

There have been some signings recently, so let's take a look at where some of the top high school ballers in the nation are headed.

Examining the ESPN High School Top 100 list, the column that displays where the players have signed is starting to really fill in.

The list is of course a little subjective, as each player brings a different skill set and will fit with each team differently. Analytics still come into play and it is one of the most comprehensive lists available.

The thing that jumps out right away is the top three player's college selection.

Duke is still a premier destination for top high school talent

Next to each of the top three player's we now see a big blue "D" symbol for Duke. With the recent commitment of Spartanburg's Zion Williamson (number two on the list), Duke appears to have locked up the nation's top talent.

Playing for coach Mike Krzyzewski is a big draw for young players. Krzyzewski's national titles and Olympic coaching tenure means that he is as experienced as it gets and has worked with all-time great players.

Duke has also signed number twelve player, Tre Jones of Apple Valley High School. We cannot forget Kentucky of course, who has plucked the sixth, seventeenth, and twenty fifth ranked players. Kansas has three players in the top thirty as well.

Who has yet to sign?

There are only three players remaining in the top 25 that have yet to commit to a school.

Number five on ESPN, McDonalds All-American Romeo Langford of New Albany High school has yet to decide, though he has offers from Indiana, Kansas, and Vanderbilt.

Number seven, Anfernee Simons (great name) of IMG Academy has twelve offers, three of which are from his home state of Florida. He had committed at one point to Louisville, but the recent scandals steered him away.

Number sixteen, E.J. Montgomery of Wheeler High School currently has five offers but has also drawn attention from Duke and Kentucky, so he may hold out for a little while longer.

Check out the full list at ESPN and keep it locked to The Basketball Movement for continued updates.

TOURNAMENT Of CHAMPIONS:TOP 10

Rechon Black, 6’7, G/F, 2018, Montverde

Kid can flat ball and showed up all three nights. He combines height and length with an impressive offensive arsenal. He can shoot it and score at all three levels. Originally from Charlotte, N.C., Black recently committed early to the North Carolina Tarheels.

Remy Martin, 6’1, PG, 2017, Sierra Canyon

An elite passer and ball handler, Martin combines speed and quickness with an exciting brand of basketball. He put together several highlight-type passes and plays and brought the crowd to their feet on several occasions throughout the tournament. He went for 11 points, 5 rebounds and seven assists in game 1 against Republic

Cody Riley,  6’9, PF, 2017, Sierra Canyon

Riley is a force in the paint, he’s a massive kid with strength and power, but also some finesse in his game. He can certainly get things done in the paint, but also has a nice face-up game with the ability to shoot from the mid-range. Riley chose UCLA after narrowing his list to three schools, including Kansas and USC.

Ikey Obiagu, 7-0, C, 2017, Greenforest

A 7’0 2017 Florida State signee, Obiagu is among the nation’s most highly sought after shot blockers and showed why throughout the Tournament of Champions, blocking 10 shots in game 1, and following with seven more in game 2.

Jared Ridder, 6’8, SF, 2017, Kickapoo

The Xavier signee showed off his outside shooting touch, scoring 19 points in the opening game against Montverde, then went for 11 in the consolation side on Friday, and 18 points and a game high nine boards in the consolation finale against Republic. Ridder is an athletic 6’8 wing.

Lamine Diane, 6’6, F, 2017,  Findley Prep

He has a funky game that is hard to describe but just finds a way to get it done. A long, athletic 6’7 forward, Diane can handle the ball, especially in transition and gets a ton of garbage buckets by just always finding a way to be at the right place at the right time. He needs to straighten out his perimeter jumper but he could be an impact player at the next level regardless. He finished with 22 points and nine rebounds in the third-place game against Montverde on Saturday.

Marvin Bagley, 6’11, F, 2018, Sierra Canyon (MVP)

The top ranked player in 2018 showed off an elite game throughout the tournament, playing high above the rim, grabbing rebounds, handling the ball and showing the ability to dominate the paint as well as play on the perimeter. He had 15 and seven against Republic in a game 1 win, then went for 28 and 14 points in a semifinal win over Findlay Prep on Friday.

RJ Barrett, 6’7, G, 2019, Montverde

He’s the No. 1 ranked player nationally in the Class of 2019. A long, rangy guard, Barrett showed off a diverse skill set and has the ability to impact the game in a variety of ways. He is perhaps at his best sizing up a defender and driving all the way to the hoop, but can also rebound and defend. He finished with a game-high 28 points and 13 rebounds in the third-place game against Findlay Prep on Saturday.

Alex Lomax, 6’1, G, 2018, Memphis East

A 6’1 2018 guard, Lomox hit one of the biggest shots in tournament history in a semifinal game on Friday, knocking down a game-winning 3 at the buzzer to knock off Montverde, 59-56. He finished with a game-high 19 points in that contest.

Chandler Lawson, 6’8, F, 2019, Memphis East

A long, rangy 6’8 forward, Lawson is a top 20 player in the Class of 2019 and showed he is capable of dominating in the paint or on the wing. He was one of the tournament’s leading rebounders, going for 13 in a win over Montverde in the semifinals. Lawson is the younger brother of  University of Memphis’ Keelon, Jr. and Dedric Lawson.

PJ Washington, 6’7, F, 2017, Findlay Prep

A big, strong forward that can handle the ball and score inside and outside. He had a stellar first game, scoring 19 points and hauling in nine rebounds, then largely went missing in game 2, finishing with four points in a loss to x. Washington rebounded with a solid performance in the third-place contest on Saturday against Montverde, scoring 26 points and hauling in 11 boards.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: JOSH ANDERSON TALKS ABOUT W. KENTUCKY’S BEST RECRUITING CLASS IN SCHOOL HISTORY

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Josh Anderson showcased why he is a major part of what is widely considered the best recruiting class in Western Kentucky history as his Madison Prep squad competed at the 2017 Bass Pro Tournament of Champions.

A 6’4, 175-pound 2017 wing player, Madison Prep Anderson is considered a four star recruit by most publications. He brings the ability to score and play above the rim.

He and7’0 2017 big man Mitchell Robinson form what very well could be the best recruiting class in school history. Robinson is a five star recruit who is already projected as an NBA lottery pick in the 2018 draft by NBADraft.net.

“I was really comfortable when I went to Western Kentucky,” he said. “I really enjoyed the coaches and the campus. The recruiting class they had was another huge reason. When I found out that Mitchell Robinson committed from Chalmette, La., that was pretty big.”

Anderson played throughout the offseason for Louisiana Elite and raised his profile immensely on the grassroots circuit. He has helped Madison Prep start the 2016-17 season 16-2.

“During the AAU season I was trying to get better on both sides of the ball. I really wanted to improve my on ball defense and getting my jumper up with Louisiana Elite.”

Anderson chose Western Kentucky over Arkansas, Baylor, Flordai, LSU, North Carolina State and numerous others.

His Madison Prep squad competed against Greenforest, Ga., for fifth-place on Saturday after losing to Findlay Prep in the first round on Thursday and posting a win over local team Republic on Friday.

“It’s big to play in a tournament like this because you get to go up against other big time programs and players,” Anderson said. “You get to see where you are at as a team and an individual.”

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TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEMPHIS EAST 2018 ALEX LOMAX HITS BIG SHOT

SPRINGFIELD, Mo. — Memphis East guard Alex Lomax’s game is all heart and on Friday, he showed out with one of the biggest shots in Tournament of Champions’ history, knocking down a long 3-pointer at the buzzer to beat national ranked Montverde in a semifinal game.

A 5’11, 190-pound 2018 guard, Lomax answered a bucket by five star 2019 Montverde guard RJ Barrett with a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the game and give Memphis East a 59-56 win.

Lomax has a host of Division I offers and says he brings passion and energy to the court.

“I am a dog first, I don’t bow to anyone, I really don’t care if you’re a top player or even if you’re not a top player,” Lomax said. “I feel like it’s my life on the line and I’ve got to do what I’ve got to do to survive. That is what my coaching staff has taught me and how I was raised up.

“Offensively, I am going to make sure my teammates are happy because in basketball if you’re teammates are happy on offense, they’re going to be extra excited on defense. I always put others above myself and make plays. At the end of the game, I just try to put myself in the best situation. If I have to I to take the last shot I will, and if I have to pass it to the next person I will. I try to put others first and recognize the situation.”

Lomax said playing for former NBA legend Penny Hardaway at Memphis East has been a special experience as Memphis East has had an opportunity to travel the country and play in a host of high profile events.

“Memphis East high school is a regular, neighborhood high school,” Lomax said. “That’s not not what it is to coach Penny. To him, Memphis East is Memphis University, it’s a high school, but basically a college. He is showing us that inner city kids, we don’t have to go to prep school. We can stay right in the city and play basketball and have the right mindset and be prepared for college.

“He prepared us for the season and we can’t do anything but just thank him.”

Lomax competed for Team Penny has helped prepare him for the Tournament of Champions and a tough schedule. He competed on the 17U circuit as an underclassmen.

“Playing against top guards in the country like Trae Young and Quade Green, that just motivated me,” he said. “Playing against guys that are better than me motivated me to get better and get to where they are and get better than they are.

“If I can play with those guys, I can play with anybody.”

He currently holds offers from Memphis, Ole Miss, Florida, Seton Hall, LSU, UMass, Temple and California, and has drawn interest from Arkansas and Tulsa.

TOURNAMENT OF CHAMPIONS: MEET RJ BARRETT, THE NATION’S NO. 1 PLAYER IN THE 2019 CLASS

SPRINGFIELD — The nation’s premier players in the Class of 2019 showed off an impressive arsenal of skills at the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions held at Missouri State in Springfield

RJ Barrett, a long, athletic 6’7 point guard that can rebound, pass, handle the ball and create plays, Barrett has already created a significant recruiting buzz drawing a host of high major offers.

A native of Mississauga, Ontario, Barrett spent the offseason competing for UPlay in the Nike 16U EYBL and says the experience helped make him a better player.

“I was trying to work on my shooting and a little bit of everything,” he said.

Barrett said competing in the Tournament of Champions in front of some of the largest crowds any high school event will draw was a good experience. Montverde knocked off local favorite Kickapoo in the first round and advanced to face Memphis East in a semifinal contest. Memphis East is among the nation’s top ranked high school programs and have already split a pair of games this season against Montverde.

“It was a good atmosphere especially with us playing a team from Missouri,” Barrett said. “Just great to play against such great competition in a great tournament against good teams.”

Barrett said he lets his dad and coaches handle his recruiting, but has offers from Baylor, Kansas, Kentucky, Oklahoma, UCLA, USC and Missouri where the TofC is being played. On Thursday, Kentucky head coach John Calipari was in attendance to watch Barrett after watching Kentucky signee PJ Washington compete in the previous contest.

Barrett says he enjoys watching some of the NBAs best players and tries to implement elements of their game into his own.

“In the NBA I like to watch LeBron James and James Harden because they are both great leaders and can score the basketball so that’s who I try to get my game like.”

Montverde features a slew of high level players with several players already committed to high major college programs. Barrett says the team has high expectations for the remainder of the season.

“We have a lot of potential,” he said. “We are close on and off the court and most importantly we play a lot of great defense so that gives us a great chance to win a lot of games.”