MaxPreps Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings

Find out where the nation's elite will be playing this week as holiday tournament season gets underway.

Thumbnail image of this articles writer: Jason Hickman
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Dec 16, 2013, 4:00am
Head coach Kevin Boyle and star senior guard D'Angelo Russell were big factors in Montverde Academy's title run at the prestigious City of Palms Classic last December. Can the top-ranked Eagles repeat in Fort Myers?
Head coach Kevin Boyle and star senior guard D'Angelo Russell were big factors in Montverde Academy's title run at the prestigious City of Palms Classic last December. Can the top-ranked Eagles repeat in Fort Myers?
Photo by Andrew Bersham

Xcellent 25 National Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard

1. (No. 1 last week) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 6-0
The Eagles head to the prestigious City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., this week as the defending champion. Montverde opens Thursday against a play-in opponent. Five members of this week's Xcellent 25 will be in the 16-team tournament field at City of Palms.

2. (3) Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 5-0
There are questions about Mater Dei's depth, but the Monarchs head to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic next week unbeaten with all five wins coming by 20 points or more. The Monarchs crushed Yates (Houston) 100-57 on Saturday at Hoophall West in Phoenix, Ariz. Head coach Gary McKnight's squad opens Wednesday in Sin City against Foothills Christian (El Cajon).

3. (4) Prime Prep (Dallas, Texas), 8-0
Another program headed to the Tarkanian Classic, Prime Prep will run a treacherous gauntlet in Las Vegas that includes Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.), No. 5 Findlay Prep (Friday on CBS Sports Network) and La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.).

4. (5) Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), 5-0
Impressive week for the Panthers with wins over other top local programs in St. John's (Washington, D.C.) and Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.). Paul VI opens play at the City of Palms Classic on Thursday against a dangerous Norland (Miami) squad.

5. (2) Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), 14-1
Future College Prep (Harbor City, Calif.) handed the Pilots their first home loss ever (program began in 2006) last week. FCP is a post-graduate program with considerable talent this season and a 27-6 record against a schedule that includes junior colleges and other West Coast post-grads. Tough to knock Findlay Prep too much for that setback but a steeper slide will be in order if it doesn't get back on track at the Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas next week. Meetings with the Atlanta Sports Academy (Ga.), No. 3 Prime Prep and Montrose Christian are on the slate in that event.

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