NEW FAB 50: Who Can STAY No. 1?

This was essentially the most tough, and most anticipated, in-season FAB 50 Nationwide Group Rankings powered by Ballislife.com in a few years after the completion of the vacation tournaments. When the mud settled, there are a whopping 15 newcomers to the primary rankings replace of 2023, however No. 1 stays the identical. Learn on to see why the Panthers of Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) stay No. 1 and why it’s about them remaining No. 1 within the coming weeks that’s key. The newcomers are led by No. 19 West Linn (West Linn, Ore.), which handed defending FAB 50 champ Duncanville (Texas) its first loss in a calendar yr.

By Ronnie Flores

Regardless of a plethora of of outcomes from everywhere in the nation following the vacation match season, the third version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Group Rankings powered by Ballislife.com for the 2022-23 season reveals Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) sustaining its No. 1 spot regardless of a 3rd place end within the prestigious Metropolis of Palms Basic in Ft. Myers, Fla. That occasion was captured by No. 5 Imhotep Constitution (Philadelphia, Pa.) with a 61-44 victor over No. 11 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), the staff that defeated Paul VI within the semifinals.

Imhotep Constitution’s Florida Gulf Coast-bound level guard Rahmir Barno made all of his three 3-point makes an attempt and completed with 21 factors, whereas Kentucky-bound ahead Justin Edwards added 16 factors and 6 rebounds within the title sport win. The margin of victory over Columbus helps the defending PIAA Class 5A state champs transfer up 5 spots within the newest FAB 50 replace, regardless of later taking a 65-55 loss to No. 25 Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) on the Jumpman Basic within the Bronx, N.Y. Not like a few years in the past, taking an early-season loss doesn’t put a staff out of FAB 50 title rivalry.

Let’s check out why Paul VI stays No. 1:

What’s Coming Up Is Essential
For the Panthers, it’s not about being No. 1. They actually have the expertise and resume for that. It’s about remaining No. 1. It’s alot simpler to get there than to remain there. That’s why what No. 3 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) has completed in current seasons is so spectacular. Once you’re on prime, each staff is gunning for you and a win over a top-ranked staff could make a staff’s season.

Paul VI not solely has wins over No. 13 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 63-61, and No. 15 Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas), 64-58, it blasted No. 16 Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.), 87-52, and No. 36 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), 75-47. On prime of that, the Panthers’ convention is so sturdy. They’ll need to defeat No. 8 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) and No. 9 Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) video games, to not point out bubble golf equipment DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) and Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), to remain on prime. If the Panthers survive their WCAC common season slate and defeat No. 26 Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) on January 15, they’ll have the resume of a season-ending No. 1 staff. Then they’ll nonetheless need to win the WCAC playoff match, their very own state match and certain beat powerful groups on the Alhambra Catholic Invitational.

Camden (N.J.) is available in at No. 2 this week for a similar motive. Since its season in New Jersey begins a lot later than different golf equipment, it’s about what’s coming down the road. Camden takes on Columbus on January 4 in Florida and faces No. 20 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.) two nights later. The Panthers additionally tackle the No. 14 Centennial (Corona, Calif.) membership Don Bosco Prep simply defeated and No. 40 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.) on the Spalding Hoophall Basic, Jan. 14-16. There’s a sport reportedly getting finalized with Imhotep Constitution as effectively.

Which means the highest of the rankings will deal with itself. If Camden defeats the Columbus membership Paul VI misplaced to and stays unbeaten all through the common season, D.J. Wagner and firm can have one spectacular resume.

Doing The Analysis On High Groups
One of many predominant causes Paul VI stays No. 1 is the schedule it had coming into the season and the way good the staff is. If we didn’t suppose coach Glenn Farello’s membership was probably the greatest within the nation, we wouldn’t have began them No. 3 in the preseason. Seeing No. 8 St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) remain unbeaten by capturing the Torrey Pines Holiday Classic in Del Mar, Calif., and realizing the Cadets may end No. 3 or No. 4 within the WCAC standings and nonetheless have a stable season is eye-opening as a result of they’ve a wonderful staff. Just like the groups within the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC), it’s extraordinarily tough to win every convention sport and the groups don’t simply mechanically drop far down after a loss. On the flip aspect, it’s not that straightforward for a staff to only come out of nowhere and seem within the High 10.

A lot of the nation’s prime groups have taken a loss or began later and are simply now entering into the meat of their schedule. That’s why groups equivalent to No. 6 Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.), No. 7 John Marshall (Richmond, Va.) and No. 18 Ben Davis (Indianapolis, Ind.) get good bumps up as unbeaten golf equipment. John Marshall additionally defeated Columbus, with the Justices’ 50-47 victory coming within the Chick-fil-A Basic (Columbia, S.C.) American Bracket semifinals. Within the closing, John Marshall downed No. 13 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 68-55, as North Carolina State-bound guard Dennis Parker netted a game-high 22 factors, whereas junior level guard Damon “Redd” Thompson Jr. scored 17 factors and was named tourney MVP.

Scheduling Is Paramount
It could have been fascinating if earlier No. 6 Duncanville (Texas) would have defeated No. 19 West Linn (Ore.) within the championship sport of the Les Schwab Invitational in Hillsboro, Ore., as a result of the defending FAB 50 champs had extra high quality wins in November and December than another staff. The 24 factors and 12 rebound of Mr. Basketball USA candidate Ronald Holland was not sufficient to offset a scintillating efficiency by Oregon-bound level guard Jackson Shelstad. He scored a game-high 30 factors, together with 12-of-13 from the charity stripe, and had eight rebounds. For the match, wherein West Linn downed No. 37 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) within the semifinals, 86-69, Shelstad averaged 33 ppg, together with a 38-point efficiency in opposition to the Trailblazers.

Duncanville scheduled to compete for the FAB 50 title and it’s mirrored in its present rating. The Panthers drop 4 spots to No. 10, and stay 9 spots forward of West Linn, as a result of you may’t ignore their different high quality wins. Duncanville has defeated No. 11 Columbus, No. 14 Centennial and No. 15 Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas), amongst others. Ought to West Linn proceed to win, the hole between it and Duncanville will shrink. It could additionally bode effectively for West Linn if Sierra Canyon would defeat No. 13 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) on the Chosen 1’s Invitational this weekend in Southern California at USC’s Galen Heart. Wheeler owns a win over Centennial.

The identical holds true for the hole between No. 16 Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) and No. 3 Montverde Academy ought to the Gaels proceed to win within the Baltimore Catholic League (BCL). We’re on the level the place each single head-to-head consequence can’t put the winner in entrance of the loser. That consequence, nevertheless, turns into extra essential as we attain the season’s end line.

Parity Is Good
There won’t be a brilliant staff or all-time nice just like the 2019-20 Montverde Academy club, and that’s okay. We talked about that within the preseason and it’s truly a great factor. Lengthy gone are the times within the early years of the Nationwide Prep Ballot (FAB 50 precursor) that started in 1987-88 the place most of the prime 10 groups completed unbeaten. There are extra packages than ever that really feel they’ve a legit shot on the FAB 50 title by ending No. 1 and there’s fact in that sentiment. So long as these groups schedule as if they’re taking part in for No. 1 and have the expertise and training to win the video games on that schedule, then the outcomes often deal with relaxation.

RELATED:  Preseason 2022-23 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | “In The Paint” Podcast (Spotify) |  “In The Paint” Podcast (YouTube) 

Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Group Rankings
Powered by Ballislife.com

(third ballot of 2022-23 common season; Via video games performed on Sunday, Jan. 1; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included)

Dropped Out: Earlier No. 19 Christ The King (Center Village, N.Y.), No. 21 Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio), No. 26 Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.), No. 30 Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), No. 32 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah), No. 33 Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.), No. 35 Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.), No. 36 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), No. 40 Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.), No. 41 George Rogers Clark (Winchester, Ky.), No. 43 Pewaukee (Pewaukee, Wis.), No. 44 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), No. 46 Kenwood Academy (Chicago, Ailing.), No. 47 Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.), No. 48 Durango (Las Vegas, Nev.).

Bubble Groups:  American Fork (American Fork, Utah) 9-3; Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 5-4; Baldwin (Baldwin, N.Y.) 7-0; Belleville East (Belleville, Ailing.) 12-1; Bellevue West (Bellevue, Neb.) 9-0; Benet Academy (Lisle, Ailing.) 16-1; Bentonville West (Centerton, Ark.) 13-1; Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) 10-1; Damaged Arrow (Damaged Arrow, Okla.) 8-0; Brownsburg (Brownsburg, Ind.) 10-1; Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) 5-7; Carter (Dallas, Texas) 17-2; Chambers (Charlotte, N.C.) 10-3; Christ the King (Center Village, N.Y.) 6-2; Coronado (Henderson, Nev.) 7-6; Nook Canyon (Draper, Utah) 10-2; Curtis (College Place, Wash.) 10-2; DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 9-3; Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.) 13-2; Durango (Las Vegas, Nev.) 6-3; Eagle’s Touchdown (McDonough, Ga.) 14-0; Edmond North (Edmond, Okla.) 10-2; Hayfield (Alexandria, Va.) 7-0; Isidore Newman (New Orleans, La.) 16-2; Jackson-Reed (Washington, D.C.) 12-2; Jonesboro (Jonesboro, Ark.) 12-2; Kenwood Academy (Chicago, Ailing.) 12-2; Kimball (Kimball, Texas) 14-2; Lancaster (Lancaster, S.C.) 12-1; MacArthur (Decatur, Ailing.) 14-0; Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, La.) 12-0; Milton (Milton, Ga.) 11-2; Myers Park (Charlotte, N.C.) 10-3; Norcross (Norcross, Ga.) 12-2; North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) 12-1; Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 13-7; Oak Park (Kansas Metropolis, Mo.) 10-1; O’Dea (Seattle, Wash.) 8-2; Penn (Wishawaka, Ind.) 7-1; Pinson Valley (Pinson, Ala.) 14-0; Putnam Metropolis North (Oklahoma Metropolis, Okla.) 11-0; Rolling Meadows (Rolling Meadows, Ailing.) 16-1; Sacred Coronary heart Griffin (Springfield, Ailing.) 11-0; Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.) 10-3; St. Augustine (San Diego, Calif.) 12-3; St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) 8-1; Totino-Grace (Fridley, Minn.) 3-2; UOD Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.) 5-0; Volcano Vista (Albuquerque, N.M.) 11-0; Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah) 8-4; Westlake (Austin, Texas) 21-2; Whitney Younger (Chicago, Ailing.) 13-4; Winter Haven (Winter Haven, Fla.) 12-2.

Notice: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the Nationwide Sports activities Information Service rankings that started in 1952. These had been the primary nationwide highschool rankings and the late Artwork Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They had 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 may be reached at [email protected]. Don’t overlook to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores