1st Regular Season FAB 50: NEW No. 1!

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There was a full slate of vacation showcases and tournaments over Thanksgiving weekend and the outcomes brought about loads of change within the first version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Crew Rankings powered by Ballislife.com for the 2022-23 season. The best ranked amongst seven newcomers is No. 32 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) as NIBC play tipped-off in Utah final week. NIBC outcomes additionally create a brand new No. 1, as earlier No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) takes excessive spot after turning into FAB 50 eligible for the primary time this season.

By Ronnie Flores

As we stated in the preseason, this 12 months’s crop of elite groups and gamers have a lot to show. One of many causes we put Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) at preseason No. 1 within the FAB 50 was its observe file. Positive coach Kevin Boyle has expertise at his disposal, however so do different high ranked groups, notably these within the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC). It additionally helped that the Eagles captured the Prime Flight Invitational bracket at The Border League in Las Vegas in October. In that title recreation, Montverde Academy edged AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) in time beyond regulation and downed Centennial (Corona, Calif.) within the semifinals. However essentially the most outstanding cause this system started at No. 1 is its success when it reached the top of highschool basketball. Montverde has repeatedly received massive video games whereas ranked No. 1 and has a 26-5 file all-time at GEICO Nationals through the years.

Primarily based on the outcomes to date this season, it’s a straightforward name to maneuver up preseason No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) to No. 1 after the Dragons downed Montverde Academy, 65-54, of their first-ever NIBC common season recreation on November 22. Coach Ed Gipson’s membership cemented the transfer by downing preseason No. 2 Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) the subsequent night at The 5 For The Struggle Nationwide Hoopfest in Utah, 53-47, to maneuver its present season file to 7-0. Beating the No. 1 and No. 2 ranked groups on back-to-back nights for a program eligible for the FAB 50 for the primary time is a exceptional feat and the problem for Gipson and his employees and gamers might be retaining the highest spot within the FAB 50 Nationwide Crew Rankings powered by Ballislife.com .

Cincinnati-bound Rayvon Griffith had a terrific recreation versus Montverde Academy with 12 factors, 5 rebounds, two assists and two steals. It was a complete group effort, as 4 different AZ Compass gamers scored a minimum of eight factors, whereas the protection compelled 17 Montverde Academy turnovers and scored 17 factors off these turnovers. The following night time in opposition to Dawn Christian, level guard Jordan Ross led the best way offensively with 10 factors (together with 8-of-9 free throw makes an attempt). As soon as once more, nonetheless, it was the defensive effort that instructed the story, because the Dragons scored 19 factors off 15 Buffaloes turnovers. Merely put, AZ Compass performs with the mandatory defensive depth to not solely be the No. 1 ranked group within the nation, however to keep the No. 1 ranked group within the nation in a season by which it should face robust competitors on a nightly foundation.

“Final week in Utah was an incredible week for our program, as we captured two massive wins to begin our inaugural season within the NIBC,” stated AZ Compass Prep Director Pete Kaffey. “Our gamers and training employees are wanting ahead to going to Kansas this week to win two massive NIBC video games to remain undefeated.”

The sport in opposition to Dawn Christian was a “lure recreation” for AZ Compass Prep, because the Buffaloes have been coming off a shocking 56-55 loss to regionally-ranked and FAB 50 bubble membership American Fork (American Fork, Utah). Maybe the Buffaloes missed a wholesome Ohio State-bound Scotty Middleton greater than would have been anticipated earlier than the sport, however the first massive rankings query of the season was what to do with Dawn Christian Academy after it misplaced on back-to-back nights. We determined to drop them seven spots to No. 9 due to the closeness of the sport with AZ Compass Prep and due to the upcoming video games versus a plethora of ranked foes. Coach Luke Barnwell’s membership appears to be like to get on observe on the Air Capital Hoopfest this week in Wichita, Kan. In some unspecified time in the future, the American Fork outcome will develop into extra outstanding of a FAB 50 issue relying on how effectively that membership and the Buffaloes play within the weeks and months to come back.

Preseason No. 1 Montverde Academy drops to No. 2 after it bounced again from the loss to AZ Compass Prep with a 85-42 victory over Nice Grove (Utah).

The highest newcomer this week is one other NIBC membership. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) jumps in at No. 32 after defeating American Fork, 69-64, one night time after that membership upset Dawn Christian Academy. 4 gamers scored in double-figures for the Tigers led by senior ahead Osiris Grady with 16 factors on 5-of-6 capturing from the sector and 6-of-8 from the road. Over the weekend, Wasatch Academy traveled right down to Atlanta for the Vacation Hoopgiving and got here away with two victories, together with a powerful 60-36 win over new No. 40 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.). South Carolina commit Collin Murray-Boyles performed effectively and the backcourt duo of senior R.J. Jones (Kansas St.) and sophomore Isiah Harwell are off to a sizzling begin for coach Paul Peterson’s membership.

The margin within the Wasatch Academy-McEachern result’s vital as a result of McEachern performed FAB 50 No. 6 Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) pretty robust (78-69) one recreation after knocking off preseason No. 35 Grovetown (Grovetown, Ga.), 88-80. Duncanville, in the meantime, had crushed 4 groups in its 5 video games that have been both ranked within the preseason or at the moment ranked, together with a 59-57 victory on Saturday over No. 8 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) on the Thanksgiving Hoopfest at Sandra Meadows Memorial Area at Duncanville. The Panthers, who completed No. 1 within the FAB 50 final season earlier than being stripped of their College Interscholastic League (UIL) Class 6A state title by Texas’ governing physique for highschool athletics, put collectively a terrific defensive effort within the closing minutes in opposition to the defending California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) open division champs. Duncanville didn’t enable a area purpose try on Centennial’s last possession and in addition received a giant fourth quarter from Texas-bound and Mr. Basketball USA candidate Ronald Holland, who completed with 24 factors. Duncanville, which won’t take part within the UIL playoffs, faces No. 41 Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.) in its subsequent recreation December 2.

The performances of regionally-ranked Durango (Las Vegas, Nev.) on the Thanksgiving Hoopfest and Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) on the O’Dowd Thanksgiving Showcase in Oakland, Calif., over the weekend helped defending NIAA Class 5A state champ Liberty (Henderson, Nev.) break into the FAB 50 at No. 43 because the second-ranked NIAA membership behind No. 15 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.). Durango received two video games in opposition to stable Texas golf equipment and Coronado downed earlier No. 27 Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.), 78-70, behind a 26-point effort from UCLA recruit Sebastian Mack. The following night in Oakland, he hit the game-winning shot on the buzzer in a 55-53 win over Salesian (Richmond, Calif.). Coronado faces No. 27 Simeon (Chicago) at Hoophall West in Arizona on December 10.

Durango, Liberty, Bishop Gorman, and Coronado wil all participatie within the Platinum Bracket on the Tarkanian Basic in Las Vegas, December 19-22. The sphere additionally contains new No. 47 Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas, Texas) and No. 35 West Ranch (Valencia, Calif.), which downed No. 37 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) by two factors, 66-64, on November 19. Notre Dame handed Modesto Christian its second loss in two nights, 98-72, on the NorCal Tip-Off Basic in Dublin, Calif.

Liberty and new No. 36 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) have been the “first two out” of the preseason rankings. Gonzaga provides the highly effective Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) three FAB 50 ranked groups with long-time FAB 50 mainstay DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) additionally a contender. DeMatha Catholic faces Notre Dame in Southern California on December 3.

The following FAB 50 replace is scheduled for Monday, December 12.

Dropped Out: Earlier No. 20 Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.), No. 27 Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.), No. 32 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), No. 35 Grovetown (Grovetown, Ga.), No. 37 Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas), No. 46 Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.), No. 48 Grissom (Huntsville, Ala.).

Bubble Groups: American Fork (American Fork, Utah) 1-1; Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 0-0; Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 0-0; Bentonville (Bentonville, Ark.) 1-0; Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) 4-0; Brophy Prep (Phoenix, Ariz.) 0-0; Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) 0-0; Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 1-2; Carter (Dallas, Texas) 4-1; Catholic Central (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 0-0; Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) 0-0; Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 2-0; Nook Canyon (Draper, Utah) 2-0; Del Metropolis (Del Metropolis, Okla.) 0-0; DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 0-0; Durango (Las Vegas, Nev.) 2-0; Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 1-1; Garfield (Seattle, Wash.) 0-0; Grey Collegiate Academy (West Columbia, S.C.) 2-0; Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 4-1; Heights (Wichita, Kan.) 0-0; Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.) 3-1; Joliet West (Joliet, Sick.) 2-0; Kimball (Kimball, Texas) 4-1; Martin (Arlington, Texas) 6-1; Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) 2-0; Modesto Christian (Modesto, Calif.) 0-2; Newton (Covington, Ga.) 2-1; Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 4-0; North Crowley (Ft. Price, Texas) 8-1; Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 2-0; O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.) 0-0; Patrick College (Elizabeth, N.J.) 0-0; Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 4-0; Windfall Day (Charlotte, N.C.) 4-1; Putnam Metropolis West (Oklahoma Metropolis, Okla.) 2-0; Sacred Coronary heart Griffin (Springfield, Sick.) 0-0; Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) 2-1; Staley (Kansas Metropolis, Mo.) 0-0; St. Bernard (Playa del Rey, Calif.) 3-0; St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 1-0; St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 0-0; St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 1-0; Varina (Richmond, Va.) 0-0; Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1-0; Waukee (Waukee, Iowa) 0-0; Whitney Younger (Chicago, Sick.) 2-1.

Be aware: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the Nationwide Sports activities Information Service rankings that started in 1952. These have been the primary nationwide highschool rankings and the late Artwork Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They have been compiled for a few years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 23 years in the past.

Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He might be reached at ronnie@ballislife.com. Don’t neglect to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores