All all of the high-powered vacation tournaments are within the books, there’s a new No. 1 within the first FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com in 2025. For the primary time in program historical past, Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) sits atop the perch of the nation’s finest groups, nevertheless it has loads of work to do to remain there. Greater than ever, there’s motion on the prime as groups beat up on one another on account of nationwide schedules. In a yr of parity, there are 9 newcomers, led by No. 7 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.), however solely two inside the earlier Prime 25 drop out. The parity creates pleasure for a number of groups whose fan bases really feel they’ve a shot on the FAB 50 crown.
By Ronnie Flores
Within the 38 years of the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com, and the 25 years because it took its present format, there has by no means been so many outcomes which have turned the rankings the wrong way up since its earlier replace.
That may be a good factor.
Why is it an excellent factor you ask? As a result of which means the nation’s ranked groups are competing towards one another on a weekly foundation and are very aggressive. Within the early years of the FAB 50 (and even earlier than that within the early life of the USA Immediately and Basketball Weekly rankings), many of the prime groups had been unbeaten on the finish of the season. It was simple to replace the data and groups had been usually ranked excessive based mostly on fame or prior success.
That’s not the case as we enter 2025. There is not a group within the Prime 10 in our up to date ballot that hasn’t suffered a loss, as most of the finest packages have competed towards one another over the previous two months. Greater than ever, a head-to-head outcome would not robotically imply the dropping group is ranked behind the group it misplaced to, as a result of this yr that group has additionally misplaced to a 3rd group that got here into their contest ranked decrease.
Greater than ever, elements apart from head-to-head outcome come into play, because the analysis executed within the preseason and the circumstances surrounding a giant sport are extra important than ever. With that in thoughts, it is truly not that troublesome to put Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) at No. 1 within the nation, two spots increased than its place once we final up to date our rankings previous to the massive Christmas-time tournaments, added in with the outcomes of the Nike Event of Champions that includes Hoophall West in Arizona, Jan. 2-4. That is the primary time Prolific Prep, which performs within the Grind Session Energy Convention, has been on this place after fielding many fantastic groups in recent times.
The rational is straightforward. The Crew took three consecutive shut losses when Mr. Basketball USA candidate Daryn Peterson was out with a foot harm. A sport earlier, Peterson led The Crew to a victory over preseason No. 1 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), 66-54. This week, Columbus is available in at No. 2 after capturing the distinguished Metropolis of Palms Event in Ft. Myers, Fla. Sure, Columbus did undergo back-to-back losses to No. 22 Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) and No. 21 Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) on the Madehoops Jordan Vacation Traditional after COP, each each these groups have stinker losses on their resume as properly. If it weren’t for the win over the Explorers, Hyperlink Academy can be decrease than No. 20 and Lengthy Island Lutheran would not have been in a position to transfer up on this week’s rankings, because the Crusaders have misplaced to new No. 25 Owasso (Okla.) and No. 39 Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.).
After Peterson returned to the lineup, Prolific Prep recorded victories over No. 34 Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.), 91-70, and No. 8 Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah), 76-70. Utah Prep not too long ago captured the long-running Iolani Traditional in Hawaii with a 45-43 victory over No. 9 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), because the Grind Session Energy Convention member rallied from a nine-point deficit to tug out the victory. BYU-bound Mr. Basketball USA candidate A.J. Dybantsa netted 23 factors and was named tourney MVP after tallying 81 factors in 4 victories.
One more reason Prolific Prep is tabbed No. 1 is due to the groups to personal a victory over Columbus The Crew has the most effective resume, plus we won’t drop Columbus a lot if in any respect. On prime that that, each groups nonetheless have main video games looming within the coming weeks that can take a look at their present 1-2 rating place. Columbus solely drops one spot as a result of it owns a win over No. 6 Gonzaga, handed No. 7 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) its solely loss to this point, defeated No. 10 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) to win Metropolis of Palms, and in addition owns decisive wins over No. 12 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) and No. 14 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.).
It took three overtimes for Columbus to defeat Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.), which falls to No. 6 this week after taking third place on the Hoophall West occasion in Arizona. Gonzaga fell to new No. 5 Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 66-63, within the semifinals of a 8-team bracket. The Wolverines’ victory helped the profile of the California Interscholastic Federation’s (CIF) prime groups, as seven of them seem within the rankings this week.
It is a tight trio on the prime of the Cal-Hello Sports activities State Prime 25 rankings (which been round even longer than the FAB 50 going again to the 1979-80 season) with Harvard-Westlake proper on the heels of No. 3 Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.) and No. 4 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.). Season-long state No. 1 Roosevelt captured the Tarkanian Traditional and beat St. John Bosco in extra time, 56-55, to win The Traditional at Damien with uncommitted senior guard Brayden Burries capturing MVP honors at each occasions. The Mustangs are the primary program ever to win the highest division of each prestigious Vacation Tournaments in the identical yr and had been with out New Mexico-bound Issac Williamson for a overwhelming majority of the loss to No. 17 Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) on the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas.
Sure, there’s tons of motion and a few groups ranked increased than groups they misplaced to, however the nation’s finest groups have not modified a lot since earlier than the vacations. Actually, solely two of the earlier Prime 25 dropped out, as a overwhelming majority of the newcomers break in on the rear of the FAB 50. That is the place the in-depth preseason analysis comes into play.
There have been a myriad of outcomes, however the backside line is, your group must be gifted, it’s a must to play someone and this yr you finally should bounce again from a loss if you wish to be thought-about one of many nation’s finest groups.
RELATED:   Preseason 2024-25 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | “In The Paint” Podcast (Spotify) |  “In The Paint” Podcast (YouTube)Â
Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings
Powered by Ballislife.com
(third ballot of 2024-25 common season; By video games performed on Sunday, January 5; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included)
No. Prev. Excessive Faculty (Metropolis)File
13Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)16-3
21Columbus (Miami, Fla.)13-3
39Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)18-1
410St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)17-1
531Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)18-1
62Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.)12-2
7NRCIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)12-1
828Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah)15-4
97Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)12-2
108Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)8-2
1112Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.)13-1
126IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)11-2
1313Christ Faculty (Arden, N.C.)10-0
144Grayson (Loganville, Ga.)13-1
1517DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.)10-2
1615St. John’s (Washington, D.C.)11-3
1718Brennan (San Antonio, Texas)19-2
1819Allen (Allen, Texas)20-1
1921John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)11-0
2014Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah)13-4
2120Link Academy (Branson, Mo.)10-4
2223Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.)8-5
2342Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)11-0
2429St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)13-1
25NROwasso (Owasso, Okla.)8-3
2624La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)12-5
2726DME Academy (Daytona Seashore, Fla.)13-5
2827Dream Metropolis Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)16-3
2932Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)15-2
3037Hoover (Hoover, Ala.)19-0
3139Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)12-0
3222Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)13-3
3333Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.)19-5
3434Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.)18-4
35NRBishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)12-3
3630Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)11-3
3716Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.)7-3
385Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)8-3
3935Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)7-2
4036AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)6-4
4138Reidsville (Reidsville, N.C.)10-0
4244U of D Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.)8-0
4340Huntsville (Huntsville, Ala.)20-1
44NRJSerra (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.)15-3
45NRSt. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)11-1
46NRSt. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)12-1
4749De La Salle (Harmony, Calif.)14-1
48NRLawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.)8-1
49NRReynoldsburg (Reynoldsburg, Ohio)9-0
50NRDePaul School Prep (Chicago, Ailing.)15-1
Dropped Out: Earlier No. 11 Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.), No. 25 Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.), No. 41 Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.), No. 43 Kenwood (Chicago, Ailing.), No. 45 St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.), No. 46 Nice Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.), No. 47 Father Decide (Philadelphia, Pa.), No. 48 Orem (Provo, Utah), No. 50 Olentangy Orange (Lewis Middle, Ohio).
Bubble Groups: Annie Wright (Tacoma, Wash.) 10-1; Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) 9-1; Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) 6-3; Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 5-2; Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ailing.) 15-2; Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) 9-1; Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) 9-2; Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) 6-4; Cretin-Derham Corridor (St. Paul, Minn.) 9-0; De Pere (De Pere, Wis.) 7-1; DeSmet (St. Louis, Mo.) 10-1; East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.) 6-1**; Father Decide (Philadelphia, Pa.) 7-3; Ft. Bend Marshall (Missouri Metropolis, Texas) 22-2; Gibbs (St. Petersburg, Fla.) 10-4; Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 10-0; Imhotep Constitution (Philadelphia, Pa.) 8-4; Jordan (Fulshear, Texas) 21-2; Kenwood (Chicago, Ailing.) 14-1; Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.) 11-1; Lake Ridge (Mansfield, Texas) 22-2; Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 8-1; Milton (Milton, Ga.) 9-3; Montgomery (San Diego, Calif.) 16-1; Muskegon (Muskegon, Mich.) 6-0; Northwest (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 5-1; Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.) 6-1; Oak Park (Kansas Metropolis, Mo.) 9-1; Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 7-5; Olentangy Orange (Lewis Middle, Ohio); Patrick Faculty (Hackettstown, N.J.) 11-2; Reynoldsburg (Reynoldsburg, Ohio) 9-0; Richland (Richland, Wash.) 8-0; Rockford (Rockford, Mich.) 7-1; Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) 8-2; Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) 12-1; St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio) 9-3; St. Mary Prep (Orchard Lake, Mich.) 6-3; St. Peter’s Prep (Jersey Metropolis, N.J.) 7-2; St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 7-4; Timpview (Provo, Utah) 9-3; Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) 12-1; Veterans Memorial (Corpus Christi, Texas) 25-0; Waubonsie Valley (Aurora, Ailing.) 14-0; Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.) 17-2; Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.) 9-0; Woodward Academy (School Park, Ga.) 10-3.
Observe:Â The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the Nationwide Sports activities Information Service scores 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 25 years in the past.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He may be reached at ronnie@ballislife.com. Do not forget to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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