On Sunday night, No. 1 Hyperlink Academy of Missouri fell to No. 5 Brewster Academy (N.H.) and because of this taking excessive spot within the newest version of the FAB 50 Nationwide Workforce Rankings powered by Ballislife.com for the 2025-26 season is No. 1 Paul VI (Va.). The Panthers play in an ultra-tough convention and must efficiently full the “Springfield Double” over MLK Weekend to defend their No. 1 rating. This week’s rankings present 4 newcomers led by No. 35 Bartow (Bartów, Fla.).
By Ronnie Flores
Attending to No. 1 isn’t just about being the very best staff within the nation, it is about constructing your program as much as the purpose you may put your self in place to be No. 1. It is also scheduling opponents that truly have an opportunity to knock off that very same program.
Until it is an amazing preseason No. 1, no staff ever will get to No. 1 within the FAB 50 Nationwide Workforce Rankings powered by Ballislife.com that does not play opponents with a sensible alternative to knock it from that perch.
When Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) rose to No. 1 after preseason No. 1 Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) faltered, it was evident the Lions have been a worthy No. 1 with a proficient roster and a monitor file to contend for the FAB 50 nationwide title. By taking part within the Nike EYBL Scholastic League, which at present incorporates 12 FAB 50 ranked golf equipment, it was evident Hyperlink Academy was going to cross many rankings landmines in its quest to stay No. 1 and seize a second FAB 50 crown in 4 seasons.
A significant take a look at passed off Sunday night on the La Porte Invitational performed on the La Porte (Ind.) Civic Auditorium. The Lions confronted No. 5 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), a staff that had solely misplaced to No. 4 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) going into the important thing league matchup. The sport was shut and got here right down to the ultimate possessions of the sport.
Hyperlink trialed by one level till roughly 30 seconds remaining within the recreation when 6-foot-9 Mississippi St.-bound heart Tristen Reed adopted up a missed area aim try with an offensive rebound putback in entrance of the rim to provide Hyperlink Academy a 60-59 lead.
Brewster Academy coach Jason Smith then drew up a play to get the ball in sophomore Michai White’s fingers. The mercurial guard drove the baseline, drew a assist defender and was capable of finding open teammate Brayden Jones, a 6-foot-8 Fairfield commit, within the painted space as he rolled to the basket. Jones’ two-hand flushed with roughly six seconds remaining turned out to be the game-winning two factors.
It was Jones’ solely area aim try of the sport.
Hyperlink Academy’s Davion Thompson (13 factors) then threw up a straight-away heave from roughly 55 toes that hit the entrance of the rim and caromed softly off, as Hyperlink Acadey dropped its first recreation of the season. Reed led Hyperlink Academy with 18 factors and eight rebounds whereas lacking just one area aim strive in 9 makes an attempt.
Brewster Academy’s backcourt of White and junior Antonio Pemberton was spectacular all through the sport and the duo is an enormous motive why the Bobcats are a serious FAB 50 title contender. White completed with 18 factors and three assists, whereas Pemberton had 17 factors and 7 assists.
New FAB 50 No. 1: Paul VI of Virginia
With Hyperlink Academy dropping its first recreation of the season, Paul VI of the highly effective Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) takes excessive spot. The Panthers have solely misplaced to No. 6 Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) in an unimaginable two extra time contest by a 74-70 margin.
Paul VI is a worthy FAB 50 No. 1, edging out new No. 2 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio), which has solely misplaced to No. 7 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.). It is a pure pecking order on the prime, as Spire Academy handed No. 3 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) its solely loss and that membership is the one one to defeat No. 4 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.).
Paul VI is a worthy No. 1 as there are lots of landmines within the WCAC on a weekly foundation in what’s the strongest conventional highschool league within the nation. Not solely that, Paul VI would additionally need to seize the WCAC Match title to stay No. 1. It’s scheduled for late February at American College.
MLK Weekend: Huge Alternative For High Groups
Over the previous 25 years, the Martin Luther King Vacation Weekend has turn into an extravaganza of big-time showcases for highschool hoops throughout the nation. None is larger than the Panini Hoophall Traditional, slated for Springfield, Mass., January 15-19.
Paul VI, which additionally reached No. 1 in the course of the 2022-23 season, will certainly be placing its new No. 1 rating to the take a look at because it executes the “Springfield Double” of taking part within the forty first Annual Bass Professional Store Match of Champions in Springfield, Mo., Jan. 15-17, and following that up by taking part in a showcase recreation on MLK Monday. This yr, Paul VI takes on St. Mary’s (Phoenix, Ariz.) in Massachusetts on MLK Monday on ESPN2 someday after touring from Missouri.
The Bass Professional TOC hosts one of many prime 8-team fields in its historical past. Paul VI takes on native membership Logan-Rogersville (Mo.) and sure faces the winner of FAB 50 No. 25 Bartlett (Tenn.) vs. No. 15 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) on its aspect of the bracket within the semifinals. On the alternative aspect, No. 9 Principia (St. Louis, Mo.) faces Kickapoo (Springfield, Mo.) and No. 13 Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) faces No. 38 St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.).
Pau VI has handed each Principia and Calvary Christian Academy its lone losses of the season, to date.
St. John Bosco can also be doing the “Springfield Double” because it battles No. 37 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) on ESPNU following the Paul VI-St. Mary’s tussle. To shut out the occasion, No. 2 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) takes on No. 4 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) on ESPNU.
The following up to date rankings might be printed after all of the MLK outcomes are compiled on Tuesday, Jan. 20.
Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Workforce RankingsPowered by Ballislife.com
(4th ballot of 2025-26 common season; By means of video games performed on Sunday, January 11; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included)
No. Prev. Excessive Faculty (Metropolis)Report
12Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)14-1
23Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio)16-1
34AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)12-1
45Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)15-1
51Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 14-1
66Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) 16-2
77CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)11-2
88Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas) 24-0
910Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)12-1
1011Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)10-0
1113Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)15-1
1215Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)17-1
1314Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)12-1
1417Redondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.)17-3
1518Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)13-3
1620Timpview (Provo, Utah)13-1
1735Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)11-0
1825Salesian (Richmond, Calif.)13-2
1931Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)18-2
2022Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas, Texas)17-5
2130Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)24-2
2226Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah)9-4
2327Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)7-5
2428Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)9-4
2529Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.)15-2
2639Benet Academy (Lisle, Ailing.)19-1
2736Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 5-6
289La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)13-1
2933IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)13-5
3021Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.) 24-7
314Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)15-2
3212Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)9-4
3324Dream Metropolis Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)12-4
3441Concord Academy (Harmony, N.C.)18-2
35NRBartow (Bartow, Fla.)16-1
3637The Villages Constitution (The Villages, Fla.)11-5
3716Columbus (Miami, Fla.)13-4
3838St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.)12-4
3947East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.)11-0
4045Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)19-2
4132Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)13-3
4243DePaul Faculty Prep (Chicago, Ailing.)15-3
4323Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) 19-3
4448Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.)10-0
4549Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio)11-0
4650North Crowley (Ft. Value, Texas)19-3
47NRNotre Dame (West Haven, Conn.)8-2
48NRSt. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)16-3
4944Our Girl of Mt. Carmel (Baltimore, Md.)17-4
50NRGainesville (Gainesville, Ga.)17-0
Dropped Out: Earlier No. 19 Forsyth Nation Day (Lewisville, N.C.), No. 40 The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.), No. 42 Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), No. 46 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.).
Bubble Groups: Atascocita (Humble, Texas) 15-6; Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.) 20-1; Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 9-1; Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 18-3; Bryant (Bryant, Ark.) 16-3; Bullis (Potomac, Md.) 11-4; Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) 15-1; Cedar Falls (Cedar Fallas, Iowa) 10-0; Chaparral (Parker, Col.) 9-2; Crespi (Encino, Calif.) 14-7; Crown Level (Crown Level, Ind.) 10-0; Curie (Chicago, Ailing.) 14-1; Decatur (Decatur, Ga.) 15-2; DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, Md.) 12-4; DME Academy (Daytona Seaside, Fla.) 14-4; East St. Louis (East St. Louis, Ailing.) 15-2; Fairfax Christian (Dulles, Va.) 17-1; Grayson (Loganville, Ga.) 15-1; Greenfield (Wilson, N.C.) 17-2; Houston (Germantown, Tenn.) 10-5; Kankakee (Kankakee, Ailing.) 13-1; La Mirada (La Mirada, Calif.) 14-6; Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) 10-1; Layton Christian (Layton, Utah) 14-2; Little Elm (Little Elm, Texas) 20-2; Lutheran East (Cleveland Heights, Ohio) 9-0; MacArthur (Decatur, Ailing.) 14-0; Male (Louisville, Ky.) 11-3; McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) 11-3; Mt. Vernon (Fortville, Ind.) 11-2; North Broward Prep (Conocut Creek, Fla.) 18-1; North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) 12-2; Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) 10-1; Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 13-6; Petersburg (Petersburg, Va.) 7-4; Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.) 9-2; Plainfield (Plainfield, N.J.) 10-1; Rainier Seaside (Seattle, Wash.) 12-1; Ralston Valley (Arvada, Col.) 9-0; Rangeview (Aurora, Col.) 7-3; Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 10-7; Rockford (Rockford, Mich.) 9-1; Sidwell Associates (Washington, D.C.) 7-4; South (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 5-0; Starkville (Starkville, Miss.) 17-1; St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.) 20-4; St. Ignatius (Chicago, Ailing.) 17-2; St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) 12-4; St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) 17-2; St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) 11-4; Tartan (Oakdale, Minn.) 9-0; The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 15-5; Warren Township (Gurnee, Ailing.) 14-1; Waukee Northwest (Waukee, Iowa) 6-1; Wayzata (Plymouth, Minn.) 12-1; West Allis Central (West Allis, Wis.) 9-0.
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 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 26 years in the past.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
