SPIRE Academy remains undefeated with wins over the No. 2 AZ Compass Prep and No. 3 Brewster Academy.
The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball Top 25 — January 20: SPIRE Academy takes over the No. 1 position originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
For the second week in a row, there's a new No. 1 team in the The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball Top 25.
The AZ Compass Prep [Chandler, AZ] Dragons took over the top spot a week ago after taking down the previous No. 1 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions who were 14-0 at the time. The only sticking point was a 72-50 loss to the No. 10 SPIRE Academy National [Geneva, OH] squad in early January, but we waited to see if SPIRE, which had only played eight games, could handle the No. 2 Brewster Academy [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats.
And handle them they did.
SPIRE defeated Brewster, 80-67, Monday evening in the finale of the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts, and it was clear after that game that there was no way to keep the boys from Ohio out of the top spot. To be fair, AZ Compass Prep also had a good week taking down that same Link Academy squad that Brewster beat the week before, but it isn't enough to overcome the big loss to SPIRE at this point.
We've made the adjustment here, and it's a light week for most of the nation's top-ranked teams so, this time, we expect our No. 1 team to hang onto the spot next week.
MORE: The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball Preseason Top 25
The Sporting News High School Boys Basketball Top 25 rankings
1. SPIRE Academy [Geneva, OH]
2025-26 record: 10-0
Previous ranking: No. 10
Upcoming games: 1/25 — vs. Huntington Prep
SPIRE Academy's 60-47 win over last week's No. 2 Brewster Academy means that the boys from Ohio are the only team to have wins over both the Bobcats and last week's No. 1 AZ Compass Prep which was coming off a win over the previous week's No. 1 Link Academy. Combined with their unblemished record to date, it's clear that, for now, SPIRE Academy has the best resume in the country, and they make the jump from No. 10 to No. 1by virtue of that win over Brewster.
2. AZ Compass Prep National [Chandler, AZ] Dragons
2025-26 record: 14-1
Previous ranking: No. 1
Upcoming games: No games scheduled this week
As noted above, AZ Compass Prep's loss to SPIRE was bound to cost them as long as SPIRE kept piling up other big wins. Despite a great week, including a win over last week's No. 3 Link Academy, the Dragons slip to No. 2 for now by virtue of that loss.
3. Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats
2025-26 record: 18-2
Previous ranking: No. 2
Upcoming games: 1/24 — vs. Reason Prep Academy; 1/25 vs. Hoosac
Brewster Academy's only losses are to the two teams ahead of them in this week's rankings.
4. Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions
2025-26 record — 15-2
Previous ranking — No. 3
Upcoming games: 1/17 — No games scheduled this week
After a 14-0 start, Link Academy has lost two of its last three games to No. 2 AZ Compass Prep and No. 3 Brewster Academy.
5. Dynamic Prep [Irving, TX]
2025-26 record: 15-1
Previous ranking: No. 7
Upcoming games: 1/23 — vs. Riviera Prep; vs. Mt. Zion Prep Academy
Dynamic Prep's big win over Prolific Prep is enough to move the Texans up a couple of spots this week to No. 5 with their only loss to date coming to No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista Prep. They get the No. 5 spot by virtue of the fact that Bella Vista has two losses, including one to that Prolific Prep squad that Dynamic just beat.
6. CIA-Bella Vista Prep [Scottsdale, AZ] Bears
2025-26 record: 13-2
Previous ranking: No. 5
Upcoming games: 1/22 — vs. Iowa United Prep; 1/24 — vs. Wasatch Academy
CIA-Bella Vista's only two losses are to the current No. 1 AZ Compass Prep and No. 4 Prolific Prep.
7. Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles
2025-26 record: 15-1
Previous ranking: No. 11
Upcoming games: 1/24 — vs. Highlands Christian; 1/26 — vs. Somerset Academy Key
Calvary Christian Academy won the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions which included wins over previous No. 5 Paul VI and last week's No. 9 Principia.
8. Prolific Prep [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Crew
2025-26 record: 20-3
Previous ranking: No. 4
Upcoming games: 1/23 — vs. DNA Prep; 1/24 — vs. CIA-Bella Vista Prep; 1/25 — vs. Mode Prep
Prolific Prep's loss to Dynamic Prep knocked them down four spots this week. They are the highest-ranked team to currently have a loss against an unranked team (Tennessee Collegiate Academy), but wins over current No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista and No. 9 Paul VI continue to prop the Crew up.
9. Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers
2025-26 record: 17-2
Previous ranking: No. 5
Upcoming games: 1/21 — vs. Archbishop Carroll; 1/23 — vs. Gonzaga; 1/25 — vs. DeMatha
Paul VI lost to Calvary Christian Academy in the finale of the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, and that cost them their spot in the Top 5.
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10. Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers
2025-26 record: 18-1
Previous ranking: No. 8
Upcoming games: 1/21 — vs. Harvard-Westlake; 1/24 — vs. Crespi
Sierra Canyon has tough games against Harvard-Westlake and Crespi this week as they look to maintain their position in the Top 10 after slipping a couple of spots last week due to some of the big upsets that took place.
11. Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers
2025-26 record: 14-2
Previous ranking: No. 9
Upcoming games: 1/23 — vs. Kankakee; 1/24 — vs. Riviera Prep
Principia was one of Calvary Christian Academy's victims at the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions event in Springfield, Missouri, last weekend, and the loss cost the Panthers a couple of spots this week.
12. Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers
2025-26 record: 11-4
Previous ranking: No. 13
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. Layton Christian Academy
Wasatch Academy defeated Dream City Christian National in Dayton, Ohio's, Flyin' to the Hoop Basketball Invitational, and they trade places with the Eagles in the Top 25 this week.
13. Dream City Christian National [Glendale, AZ] Eagles
2025-26 record: 6-2
Previous ranking: No. 12
Upcoming games: 1/24 — vs. Veritas Academy
As noted above Dream City Christian switched spots with Wasatch Academy this after losing to Wasatch Academy in Dayton, Ohio.
14. Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles
2025-26 record: 9-5
Previous ranking: No. 14
Upcoming games: 1/24 – vs. Sunrise Christian Academy; 1/25 — vs. Veritas Academy
Montverde Academy is one of only two teams with five losses still ranked in the Top 25, and that's due, in part, to big wins over No. 8 Prolific Prep and No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac. All five of the losses have come against teams that have been ranked this season, including four that are currently ranked ahead of them in the Top 13.
15. Sunnyslope [Phoenix, AZ] Vikings
2025-26 record: 18-1
Previous ranking: No. 15
Upcoming games: 1/21 — vs. Millennium
Sunnyslope got through another week unscathed to hang onto their position in the Top 15, and a big game against a Top 50 Millennium squad this week gives them a chance to burnish their resume.
16. Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders
2025-26 record: 11-4
Previous ranking: No. 16
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. Mt. St. Michael Academy; 1/23 — vs. St. Raymond Boys
Archbishop Stepinac holds even at No. 16 after a 3-0 week that included a win over previous No. 24 IMG Academy.
17. Bartlett [TN] Panthers
2025-26 record: 17-4
Previous ranking: No. 17
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. Germantown; 1/22 — vs. Arlington; 1/23 — vs. Munford
Bartlett lost two games against Top 25 opponents at the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, but they also picked up a win against previous No. 18 Wheeler to maintain their position here at No. 17.
18. St. John Bosco [Belllower, CA] Braves
2025-26 record: 16-5
Previous ranking: Unranked
Upcoming games: 1/21 — vs. JSerra Catholic; 1/24 — vs. Saint Mary's
St. John Bosco lost to Calvary Christian Academy in the opening round of the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions before going on to win the consolation bracket in Springfield, Missouri. They followed that up with wins over a solid Logan-Rogersville squad before ending the week at the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts, where they picked up a win over previous No. 23 Columbus. That's enough to lift the Braves back into the Top 25 this week.
19. Seven Lakes [Katy, TX] Spartans
2025-26 record: 25-0
Previous ranking: No. 25
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. Katy; 1/23 — vs. Katy Taylor
Another week, another win for Seven Lakes as they preserve their undefeated season for another week at 25-0.
20. Salesian College Prep [Richmond, CA] Pride
2025-26 record: 17-2
Previous ranking: No. 19
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. St. Patrick-St. Vincent; 1/24 — vs. St. Joseph
Salesian's only losses this season so far are to Crespi and Wheeler which had a tough week at the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions
21. Webb [Knoxville, TN] Spartans
2025-26 record: 20-2
Previous ranking: No. 20
Upcoming games: 1/20 — vs. Baylor; 1/22 — vs. Knoxville Catholic
If Bartlett is the best in the west when it comes to Tennessee prep basketball, then Webb has established itself so far as the beast of the east. Just as Bartlett has only two losses so far this season against out-of-state opponents, the Spartans have also gone undefeated against in-state competition with their only setbacks coming against St. Frances Academy of Maryland and Wheeler of Georgia – the team Bartlett will take on this Thursday in Springfield, Missouri.
22. St. John's [DC] Cadets
2025-26 record: 15-4
Previous ranking: Unranked
Upcoming games: 1/21 — vs. Saint John Paul the Great Catholic; 1/23 — vs. Our Lady of Good Counsel
Bishop O'Connell has three games scheduled this week, including a tough Tuesday matchup against DeMatha to get the week started. The Knights have to keep winning to hang onto their spot here in the national Top 25.
23. Fishers [IN] Tigers
2025-26 record: 14-0
Previous ranking: Unranked
Upcoming games: 1/23 — vs. Avon; 1/24 — vs. Carroll
St. Thomas Aquinas got a big win last week against Columbus, and now the Raiders look to build on their resume with three winnable games starting Wednesday night against Pembroke Pines Charter.
24. East Lansing [MI] Trojans
2025-26 record: 13-0
Previous ranking: Unranked
Upcoming games: 1/23 — vs. Grand Ledge
IMG climbs back into the Top 25 this week despite losing a lopsided contest to No. 15 Montverde Academy in an 83-62 blowout last Wednesday. That's because the Ascenders rallied to win back-to-back games against two other Top 25 squads at the La Porte Invitational, taking down Sunrise Christian Academy and Southeastern Prep Academy on Saturday and Sunday.
25. Wisconsin Lutheran [Milwaukee, WI] Vikings
2025-26 record: 13-0
Previous ranking: Unranked
Upcoming games: 1/22 — vs. Pius XI Catholic
IMG climbs back into the Top 25 this week despite losing a lopsided contest to No. 15 Montverde Academy in an 83-62 blowout last Wednesday. That's because the Ascenders rallied to win back-to-back games against two other Top 25 squads at the La Porte Invitational, taking down Sunrise Christian Academy and Southeastern Prep Academy on Saturday and Sunday.
The next 25 teams on the "bubble"
Here are the best of the rest — teams under consideration for the SN Top 25.
Bishop O'Connell [Arlington, VA] Knights — 15-4
Christ School [Arden, NC] Greenies — 17-4
Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers — 14-6
Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams — 13-1
Greensboro [NC] Day School Bengals — 22-2
Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines — 17-2
IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders — 13-7
La Lumiere [La Porte, IN] Lakers — 6-3
Lakota West [West Chester, OH] Firebirds — 14-1
Millenium [Goodyear, AZ] Tigers — 17-2
Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights — 15-6
Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy [Dallas, TX] Eagles — 19-6
Oak Hill Academy [Mouth of Wilson, VA] Warriors — 14-6
Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks — 20-3
Riviera Prep [Miami, FL] Bulldogs — 10-8
Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles — 21-3
St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers — 22-4
St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders — 18-4
St. Thomas More [Oakdale, CT] Chancellors — 16-3
Southeastern Prep Academy National [Orlando, FL] Falcons — 26-8
Sunrise Christian Academy [Bel Aire, KS] Buffaloes — 6-6
Tennessee Collegiate Academy [Millington, TN] Spartans — 10-7
Timpview [Provo, UT] Thunderbirds — 14-1
The Villages [FL] Charter Buffalo — 13-6
Wheeler [Marietta, GA] Wildcats — 15-5
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