The Grind Hoops by Samad Hines

The grassroots season is over and we are closing in the month of August, which means the high school season is approaching us here soon. Over the last few months, like every spring, summer, multiple highly rated prospects announced their transfers to new homes for the 2023-2024 high school season. Rosters have been updated and teams are looking forward to begin their seasons in a couple months in October. Here we take an updated look at the projected preseason top-25 national rankings. These rankings are just based off talent on paper and are not the official preseason top-25 rankings list, which will drop before the season begins at the end of October.

1. Montverde Academy (FL)
Last Season Record: 23-3
Montverde Academy is always near the top when it comes to the national rankings list. The Eagles are back and better than ever come next season. They finished the 2022-2023 year with a 23-3 overall record and making the GEICO Nationals once again. 2024 Curtis Givens III, 2024 Cooper Flagg, 2024 Liam McNeeley, 2024 Derik Queen, 2024 Asa Newell, 2025 Bryce Heard, 2026 Dhani Miller all return from last season. 2024 Robert Wright III (Baylor), 2026 Caleb Haskins, and 2026 Kayden Allen will be the two newcomers this upcoming season. This group could be one of the better overall groups Montverde has put together.

2. Link Academy (MO)
Last Season Record: 27-1
Link Academy was the number one program in the country back in March in our way-too-early top-25 preseason national rankings and are still arguably number one as of today. The Lions have reloaded their roster after winning the 2023 GEICO Nationals last season. 2024 Tre Johnson, 2024 James Brown (UNC), 2025 T.J. Stuttley, 2025 Jasper Johnson, and 2024 Labaron Philon headline the newcomers for Link Academy next season. 2025 Aaron Rowe is also expected to return from their national championship team a year ago. The Lions are only coming into their third season as a high school program and will be one of the favorites to win another championship come next March.

3. Long Island Lutheran (NY)
Last Season Record: 23-3
The Crusaders plan on staying as one of the better programs in the country. Year after year recently, Long Island Lutheran has become a powerhouse program out of New York and finished 23-3 overall after making their debut in the NIBC last season. The Crusaders are back and will be loaded with talent once again for the 2023-2024 high school season. 2024 V.J. Edgecombe, 2024 Godswill Erheriene, 2025 Jacob Ross, 2025 Kiyan Anthony, and 2026 Dylan Mingo headline the key returners. 2025 Nigel James and 2025 Alier Maluk are the recent transfers.

4. IMG Academy (FL)
Last Season Record: 20-8
IMG Academy has been one of the more dominate national powerhouse programs over the last few years. IMG Academy finished 20-8 overall last season while making another appearance in the GEICO Nationals. 2024 Khani Rooths, 2025 Amari Allen, 2024, and 2026 Felipe Quinones should be the returnees for IMG next season. They have also added 2025 Darius Acuff Jr., 2024 Cole Certa, 2024 Donavan Freeman (Syracuse), 2025 Kareem Stagg, and 2024 Chase McCarty as the newcomers to the roster.

5. Prolific Prep (CA)
Last Season Record: 35-2
Prolific Prep should be must-see television coming into the 2023-2024 high school season and deservingly so with what they have put together with their roster. Head coach Ryan Bernardi finished 35-2 overall in his first season out West with the powerhouse program and appearing in another GEICO Nationals field. Highly rated 2026 Tyran Stokes returns to campus with additions of 2024 Aiden Sherrell, 2024 Zoom Diallo, 2024 Mikey Lewis Jr., 2025 Winters Grady, and highly rated 2026 A.J. Dybantsa for this upcoming high school season.

6. Paul VI (VA)
Last Season Record: 31-4
Glenn Farello’s club finished the 2022-2023 season with a 31-4 overall record and also making their GEICO Nationals debut. The Panthers will be bringing back some fire power once again for the 2023-2024 high school season. 2024 Darren Harris (Duke), 2024 Isaiah Abraham, 2024 Ben Hammond, 2024 Garrett Sundra, 2024 Patrick Ngongba, 2025 Jaquan Womack, and 2026 Jordan Smith will be key pieces returning for Paul VI. Harris, Abraham, Hammond, Sandra, and Ngongba are all coming off winning the 2023 Nike EYBL Peach Jam with Team Takeover (DC).

7. Wasatch Academy (UT)
Last Season Record: 15-10
Head coach Paul Peterson and staff could have their best team overall since the 2019-2020 high school season. The Tigers are coming off a season where they finished 15-10 overall while playing in the loaded NIBC. 2025 Isiah Harwell and 2024 Mallick Diallo are a couple key pieces expected to return for Wasatch Academy. 2025 Chris Nwuli, 2024 Taj Degourville (San Diego State), 2024 Anthony Nwuli, 2024 John Mobley Jr. (Ohio State), 2024 Fischer Brown, and 2024 Bhan Buom are expected to be the newcomers making their way to Utah for the 2023-2024 high school season.

8. La Lumiere (IN)
Last Season Record: 18-10
Indiana powerhouse La Lumiere is looking to be back as one of the nation’s top programs again come this season. They are expected to have an entire new roster by the time the 2023-2024 season gets underway. Head coach Pat Holmes and his staff did their work this off-season with new additions 2025 Darius Adams, 2025 Chuck Love III, 2025 Jerry Easter II, 2024 Ace Buckner, 2025 Melvin Bel, 2024 Steven Solano, and 2025 Jalen Haralson expected to make their debuts.

9. AZ Compass Prep (AZ)
Last Season Record: 24-6
AZ Compass Prep made their first ever GEICO Nationals title appearance this past season while finishing with a 24-6 overall record. Gipson has departed and that now makes Pete Kaffey the new head coach for the West Coast program. They have lost a few key contributors from last season but 2024 Jamari Phillips (Arizona) is expected to make his way back to campus alongside a few newcomers that include 2024 Sammie Yeanay, 2024 Del Jones, 2025 Jeremiah Fears, 2024 Ethan Lathan, 2026 Imahari Wooten, and 2024 Jayce Nathanial.

10. Columbus (FL)
Last Season Record: 30-4
Columbus basically had their coming out party on the national stage with the Boozer twins, 2025 Cayden Boozer and 2025 Cameron Boozer. They finished with a 30-4 overall record while playing a national schedule and secured another state championship. 2024 Malik Abdullahi and 2025 Benny Fragela will also be two key returnees next season for the Explorers and they have also added highly rated prospects 2024 Jase Richardson and 2026 Jaxon Richardson, who are sons of former NBA player Jason Richardson.

11. Sunrise Christian (KS)
Last Season Record: 22-8
The Luke Barnwell era has ended at powerhouse Sunrise Christian and now Kyle Linsted and his staff begin to take charge as the 2023-2024 high school season approaches. The Buffaloes will have an entire new roster coming into this season with 2024 David Castillo (Kansas State), 2025 Jeremiah Green, 2025 Miikka Muurinen, and Elijah Elliott (FAU) headlining their list of newcomers. Sunrise Christian should still be as good as they have been with the talent they display on paper.

12. Gonzaga HS College (DC)
Last Season Record: 26-11
Gonzaga has a chance once again to be one of the better top-25 programs in the country. The Eagles finished 26-11 overall last season and bring back just about everyone and then some. They return key pieces 2025 Nyk Lewis, 2025 Derek Dixon, 2025 Will Harper, and 2024 Blake Harper while adding 2025 Christian Gurdak to their roster. Year after year, Gonzaga has always been one of the preseason favorites to win the loaded WCAC and that should be the same narrative coming into 2023-2024.

13. Harvard-Westlake (CA)
Last Season Record: 33-2
The defending CIF Open Division state champions, Harvard-Westlake, looks to continue their success come this season. 2024 Trent Perry, 2024 Robert Hinton (Harvard), and 2025 Nikolas Khamenia should headline the Wolverines roster come 2023-2024. Harvard-Westlake are obviously the favorites right now to repeat as champions, but nothing ever comes easy in the Open Division in the state of California. They are still expected to play in a few primetime nationally known matchups this year once again.

14. Combine Academy (NC)
Last Season Record: 34-5
Head coach Mike Wright finished with an impressive 34-5 overall record last season in his first year as the head man at Combine Academy. The Goats should be a top-25 worthy program coming into the 2023-2024 high school season as they have built out their roster. 2024 Rakease Passmore and 2026 Elhadji Diallo return to campus with newcomers 2024 Jahseem Felton, 2024 Paul Jones III, 2024 Chandler Watts, 2026 Rivers Knight, 2024 Emmanuel Okitondo, and 2024 Jayan Walker.

15. Bishop O’Connell (VA)
Last Season Record: 16-14
The already loaded WCAC just got even better for the 2023-2024 high school season. The Knights shocked the country a couple weeks ago after they secured highly rated 2024 Bryson Tucker to their roster for this upcoming season. 2024 Jadyn Harris, 2026 Quincy Wadley, and 2024 A.J. Swinton (Florida State) also headline the main returnees. Bishop O’Connell should be one of the nation’s top tier programs once again and are obviously now one of the favorites to win the WCAC this upcoming season.

16. McEachern (GA)
Last Season Record: 23-7
McEachern High School shuffles their way back into the national discussion for the first time since the 2019-2020 high school season. The Indians should come in as the best team in the state of Georgia as of today. 2024 Ace Bailey (Rutgers) is must see television and will have McEachern on the national stage throughout the 2023-2024 season. 2024 Moses Hipps, 2024 Nnadozie Onyirimba, and 2024 John McQueen will be key returnees for the Indians.

17. Oak Ridge (FL)
Last Season Record: 19-10
Oak Ridge High School has been one of the top public school basketball programs under head coach Steven Reece for a long time now and that should not change come 2023-2024. 2025 Jalen Reece, 2024 Tyler Johnson, 2024 Cameron Simpson, 2025 Amari Davis, and 2024 Tyler Davis will be the main returnees for Oak Ridge. 2025 Jamier Jones and 2026 Tim Winkler has also been added to their roster for this upcoming season.

18. Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
Last Season Record: 22-10
Archbishop Stepinac plans on being one of the better teams in the country once again representing the state of New York as always. The Crusaders are the defending CHSAA “AA” city champions and look to repeat come this season. 2024 Boogie Fland and 2025 Danny Carbuccia headline Stepinac’s roster once again and will be playing another tough national schedule during 2023-2024.

19. Faith Family (TX)
Last Season Record: 32-4
One of the powerhouse programs out of the state of Texas, Oak Cliff Faith Family looks to be one of the nations top basketball programs once again. The Eagles return key pieces in 2024 Doryan Onwuchekwa, 2024 Jazz Henderson, and 2024 Isaac Williams to the program next season. The Eagles have captured the UIL 4A state title in back-to-back seasons and could see themselves as champions again once the 2023-2024 season. As of today, they are the number one team in the state of Texas.

20. John Marshall (VA)
Last Season Record: 29-1
John Marshall had one of their better seasons nationally in 2022-2023. The Justices finished the year 29-1 overall, capturing another VHSL class 2A state championship, and made their first appearance in The Throne National Championship. The Virginia public school powerhouse should be back in the mix when talking about the top teams in the country. 2024 Damon “Redd” Thompson Jr. and 2026 Latrell Allmond should headline their deep roster come the 2023-2024 high school season.

21. Southern California Academy (CA)
Last Season Record: 20-9
Southern California Academy looks to continue to climb the ladder and making their mark as one of the best programs in the country. The Rams finished last season 20-9 and is coming into 2023-2024 with a brand new roster. 2025 DeMarco Johnson makes his return, but 2024 Larry Johnson, 2025 Kellen Hampton, 2024 Miles Goodman, 2024 Naas Cunningham, 2024 Martin Somerville, and 2024 Dominick Stewart round out the list of newcomers for Southern California Academy.

22. Oak Hill Academy (VA)
Last Season Record: 21-13
Yerrick Stoneman finished 21-13 last season in just his first year as the new head coach at the powerhouse program. The Warriors will look to come back even better this upcoming high school season. 2025 Kaden Magwood and 2024 Micah Robinson come in as the main returnees this season. 2025 Francis Chukwudebelu and 2024 Christian Anderson Jr. (Michigan) headline the list of newcomers for head coach Yerrick Stoneman and staff.

23. Myers Park (NC)
Last Season Record: 28-4
The defending NCHSAA class 4A state champions, Myers Park is already looking towards repeating as state champions again come this season. The Mustangs played a national schedule last season, finishing 28-4 in route to their state championship a year ago. 2024 Bishop Boswell, 2025 Sadiq White Jr., and 2024 Sir Mohammed (Notre Dame) should headline next season’s roster for Myers Park as they look to defend their state championship. They have added a couple pieces to their roster and are planning on playing another elite national schedule.

24. Grayson (GA)
Last Season Record: 24-7
Grayson has proven to be one of the better public school basketball programs in the country. The Rams finished last season 24-7 while reaching the GHSA class 7A semifinals. They return key pieces in 2024 Gicarri Harris, 2024 Anthony Alston (Appalachian St.), 2025 Amir Taylor, and 2024 C.J. Hyland (Western Carolina). 2025 Jacob Wilkins, son of he son of Hall of Fame basketball star Dominique Wilkins, and 2024 Ahmad Clark will be added to this season’s roster as well.

25. Corona Centennial (CA)
Last Season Record: 30-5
One of the nation’s top public school basketball programs, Corona Centennial is looking to be back as one of the country’s nationally ranked teams. The Huskies finished 30-5 last season while playing a national schedule and will obviously lose some major pieces from last year’s squad. 2024 Eric Freeny (UCLA) should be the leader of this year’s team alongside new addition 2024 Carter Bryant (Arizona). Corona Centennial should be one of California’s top teams come 2023-2024.

NEXT FIVE:
26. Dream City Christian (AZ)
27. Don Bosco Prep (NJ)
28. Sidwell Friends (DC)
29. Huntington Prep (WV)
30. Word of God (NC)