There’s loads of motion on this week’s FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com, as EYBL Scholastic League groups proceed to play a key function in motion whereas playoff upsets in California shake issues up. The playoffs are in full swing round a lot of the nation and because the strain tightens, the most effective groups have begun to separate themselves from the pack. There are six newcomers, led by No. 34 La Mirada (Calif.), which is seeking to advance to Saturday’s CIF Southern Part Open Division championship sport.
By Ronnie Flores
In lots of areas of the nation, successful a bit or league title is a big accomplishment, however championship groups should stay centered as a result of the season continues on afterwards, as group look to seize state titles.
Within the Nike EYBL Scholastic League, simply getting by way of the gauntlet of division and league play is hard sufficient. Because it stands now, FAB 50 No. 1 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) leads the West Division with a 8-0 mark, whereas FAB 50 No. 4 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) leads the East Division with a 8-0 mark with No. 2 Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio) at 7-1.
This previous weekend, earlier No. 5 Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) and No. 6 Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) each dropped video games, as Brewster Academy fell to La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.), 66-58, on the Christ College Invitational in North Carolina. Hyperlink Academy fell to Dream Metropolis Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 74-68, on the Utah Prep Traditional.
Jonathan Sanderson and Jacob Webber every scored 18 factors for LaLu in its win, whereas wing Malachi Jordan led the best way for Dream Metropolis Christian with 18 factors and eight rebounds in its large win. Dream Metropolis Christian additionally defeated earlier No. 43 Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 50-45, as guard Ikenna Alozie led the best way with 15 factors, six rebounds, and 4 assists. With these two wins, Dream Metropolis Christian is one among six newcomers this week, checking in at No. 41.
With its win over Brewster Academy, LaLu is among the quickest risers this week, because the Lakers have finished sufficient to beat its loss to now unranked and .500 Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) and soar up 19 spots to No. 20. Due to a loss to unranked Utah Prep (3-10 in convention play), the Lakers nonetheless stay behind Brewster Academy, whereas Hyperlink Academy stays in entrance of Dream Metropolis Christian. Hyperlink Academy misplaced to Brewster, however owns a win over No. 14 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.).
No. 1 AZ Compass Prep defeated No. 3 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah), 58-55, behind a mixed 38 factors from brothers Kaden and Kalek Home. Wasatch stays put within the rankings due to its win over Montverde Academy.
Historic Run For No. 6 Paul VI
The panthers of Paul VI in Virginia superior to Monday’s Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) championship sport by defeating Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), 62-54, and bubble membership Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.), 57-51. With the losses suffered by EYBL Scholastic groups, the Panthers transfer up two spots to No. 6 this week.
On Monday night, Paul VI confronted No. 50 and second-seeded St. John’s (Washington, D.C.) for the title and issues appeared bleak for the Panthers heading into the ultimate interval. However the resilient Panthers have been in a position to erase a 16-point fourth quarter deficit to finally defeat St. John’s in double extra time, 82-76.
Paul VI tied the sport on an offensive rebound put again with beneath forty seconds remaining in regulation and Mr. Basketball USA candidate and 2026 WCAC Participant of the Yr Jordan Smith Jr. willed his group to victory within the additional eight minutes of play. Within the second extra time, Smith drove the lane and made a contested lay-up to present his group the lead at 78-76 and added yet one more free throw to present him 39 factors for the sport. The Arkansas-bound energy guard completed 10-of-22 from the sphere, 18-of-25 from the free throw line and likewise collected seven assists and 7 steals as Paul VI gained its third WCAC title in a row and fourth in 5 seasons.
0:42 2OT | JORDAN SMITH JR TIME AND TIME AGAIN! 38 POINTS as he provides PVI the lead agai! pic.twitter.com/48n074c3eK
— Capitol Hoops (@CapitolHoops) February 24, 2026
“Paul VI overcame a 16 level deficit to tug off one of many best comebacks in WCAC championship historical past,” stated Marc Stern of CapitolHoops.com. “Jordan Smith Jr. confirmed why he is among the prime gamers within the nation as he willed his group to victory.
“Smith went for 39 factors and SJC had no reply for Smith after Kareem Smith-Bey, who had finished a really stable job defensively on the Arkansas commit, fouled out. Smith finishes his WCAC profession with one loss (in WCAC video games he performed in).”
The Panthers’ thirtieth win of the season might be mirrored in subsequent week’s FAB 50.
On Monday evening they celebrated the gut-check victory, however the season isn’t over. Paul VI opens play within the Virginia Unbiased Colleges Athletic Affiliation (VISAA) Division I quarterfinals on Wednesday. The semifinals and ultimate are this weekend in Richmond.
CIF Southern Semifinals Set
Loads of the motion on this week’s FAB 50 facilities across the outcomes of the CIF Southern Part Open Division playoffs. After two pool play video games, the highest two finishers in every pool have been positioned in a 8-team bracket of 4 quarterfinal video games. The swimming pools weren’t re-seeded in bracket play and since earlier No. 30 Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) misplaced in Pool “B” to then bubble membership Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), 83-62, it really needed to face prime seeded and FAB 50 No. 10 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) within the quarterfinals despite the fact that although the Eagles have been the second general seed as a result of Harvard-Westlake gained the pool.
Santa Margarita was no match for Sierra Canyon, shedding 71-47, as McDonald’s All-American Brandon McCoy Jr. had 17 factors and 7 rebounds and was a part of a hellacious defensive effort. Sophomores J.J. Sati-Greer (8 factors), Jordan Mize (10) and Josh Lowery (7) all had large moments within the simple win that helped Sierra Canyon rise 4 spots on this week’s rankings.
Santa Margarita needed to drop out, as does earlier No. 17 Redondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.), after the latter was upset by No. 12 seed (of 12 groups) La Mirada (Calif.), 73-70, within the CIFSS open quarterfinals. Within the state rankings by Cal-Hello Sports activities, La Mirada was a lot greater at No. 7 general and may have been a better seed, however not solely have been the Sea Hawks going in opposition to a foe that by no means gave up, they have been slowed however the foot damage to Pepperdine-bound guard Chace Holley. Redondo Union was outscored, 16-8, for the remainder of the sport after the Mats’ main participant Gene Roebuck fouled out.
Santa Margarita and Redondo Union now have to attend two weeks from the day of the losses to play within the SoCal D1 regional playoffs, whereas the 4 CIFSS open semifinalists might be slated for the CIF SoCal open playoffs.
We virtually positioned Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) in entrance of No. 24 St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.) within the FAB 50 because it superior to the CIFSS semifinals, however determined to maintain St. Joe’s in entrance for now. St. Joseph isn’t a part of the CIFSS playoffs and has a a lot simpler path to the SoCal or NorCal open playoffs, as groups from the CIF Central Part may be positioned in both regional. St. Joe’s is more likely to go South, offered it wins the part D1 title.
For now Notre Dame jumps up 14 spots to No. 27 after successful Pool “D”, which included La Mirada, a group it beat 76-60 in its first pool play sport. In a single CIFSS open semifinal on Tuesday, Sierra Canyon hosts Notre Dame, a group it beat as soon as through the common season, in what may be considered as a defacto Mission League title sport. That title sport was by no means performed due to a visitors accident that claimed the lifetime of a Sierra Canyon pupil the evening earlier than the sport. Within the different semifinal sport, La Mirada, the very best ranked of six newcomers this week at No. 34, might be on the highway (the upper seeds host) at Harvard-Westlake, which checks in to the FAB 50 at No. 48.
Harvard-Westlake defeated Crespi (Encino, Calif.), 49-46, in its quarterfinal contest. Sure, La Mirada defeated the upper ranked group, however Harvard-Westlake was seeded greater (at No. 7), so the Mats will hit the highway in what might be a troublesome sport to win for the customer. La Mirada is the lone semifinalist not a part of the Southern Part’s Mission League. Ought to Notre Dame upset Sierra Canyon and go on to win the CIFSS open crown, it can hop St. Joseph and be ranked No. 1 within the state of California.
The CIFSS title sport is about for six pm PT on Saturday at Toyota Area in Ontario, Calif.
After that sport, the season isn’t over, as lots of the similar groups will battle within the SoCal open playoffs for an opportunity to characterize the South within the CIF open title sport on March 15 in Sacramento. There’s a chance groups reminiscent of Santa Margarita and Redondo Union may transfer again into the FAB 50, or that the 2 semifinal losers on Tuesday may bounce again and win the CIF open title.
The rankings, nonetheless, are based mostly on what has occurred up to now and because the completion stiffens, anticipate extra motion within the coming weeks.
Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Staff RankingsPowered by Ballislife.com
(tenth ballot of 2025-26 common season; By means of video games performed on Sunday, Feb. 22; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included)
No. Prev. Excessive College (Metropolis)File
11AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)21-1**
22Spire Academy (Geneva, Ohio)26-2
33Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah)24-5
44Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)20-5
57Prolific Prep (Southwest Ranches, Fla.) 30-3
68Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)29-2
712Seven Lakes (Katy, Texas)33-0
813Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)22-0
99Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 21-1
1014Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)25-1
1111Principia (St. Louis, Mo.)23-2
125Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) 27-5
136Link Academy (Branson, Mo.)22-3
1410CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)18-4
1515Wisconsin Lutheran (Milwaukee, Wis.)23-0
1616Benet Academy (Lisle, Unwell.)30-1
1718Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.)34-2
1819Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)22-4
1920Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.)25-4
2039La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)20-4
2121Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)23-5**
2222Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)30-2
2325Oak Cliff Religion Household (Dallas, Texas)25-9
2431St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)29-2
2523Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.)23-3
2624Sunnyslope (Phoenix, Ariz.)25-2
2741Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.) 22-6
2832IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)21-8
2940Lakota West (West Chester, Ohio) 21-1
3033Rainier Seaside (Seattle, Wash.)25-1
3126North Crowley (Ft. Value, Texas)29-3
3227Concord Academy (Harmony, N.C.)28-2
3328Gainesville (Gainesville, Ga.)27-0
34NRLa Mirada (La Mirada, Calif.)24-7
3534Salesian (Richmond, Calif.)25-3
3635Columbus (Miami, Fla.) 23-6
3736St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, Md.)33-6
3838Southeastern Prep Academy (Orlando, Fla.) 38-8
3944DePaul Faculty Prep (Chicago, Unwell.)27-3
4042East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.)21-1
41NRDream Metropolis Christian (Glendale, Ariz.)18-8
4245Kankakee (Kankakee, Unwell.)26-1
4346Curie (Chicago, Unwell.)25-1**
44NRLake Highland Prep (Orlando, Fla.)28-1
4543Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)15-10
4647Heritage (Frisco, Texas)28-2
4750Richland (Richland, Wash.)24-0
48NRHarvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)25-5
49NRSilver Creek (Sellersburg, Ind.)24-1
50NRSt. John’s (Washington, D.C.)24-7
Dropped Out: No. 17 Redondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.), No. 29 Timpview (Provo, Utah), No. 30 Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.), No. 37 Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), No. 48 Archbishop Wooden (Warminster, Pa.), No. 49 East St. Louis (East St. Louis, Unwell.).
Bubble Groups: Archbishop Riordan (San Francisco, Calif.) 22-1**; Archbishop Wooden (Warminster, Pa.) 17-7; Arvada West (Arvada, Col) 21-2; Atascocita (Humble, Texas) 26-6; Bearden (Knoxville, Tenn.) 31-1; Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.) 25-3; Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.) 21-9; Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 21-1; Brennan (San Antonio, Texas) 28-3; Bryant (Bryant, Ark.) 24-4; Cathedral Prep (Erie, Pa.) 22-1; Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 20-0; Chaparral (Parker, Col.) 21-2; Crown Level (Crown Level, Ind.) 18-1; DME Academy (Daytona Seaside, Fla.) 22-8; East Kentwood (Kentwood, Mich.) 19-2; East St. Louis (East St. Louis, Unwell.) 26-4; Father Decide (Philadelphia, Pa.) 15-10; Forsyth Nation Day (Lewisville, N.C.) 27-3; Houston (Germantown, Tenn.) 18-7; Layton Christian (Layton, Utah) 21-6; Little Elm (Little Elm, Texas) 31-2; Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) 11-11; Millwood (Oklahoma Metropolis, Oklahoma.) 21-2; Mt. St. Joseph (Baltimore, Md.) 30-6; Mt. Vernon (Fortville, Ind.) 20-3; Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) 19-5; Our Girl of Mt. Carmel (Baltimore, Md.) 27-10; Petersburg (Petersburg, Va.) 16-4; Pike (Indianapolis, Ind.) 20-3; Windfall (Jacksonville, Fla.) 26-3; Ralston Valley (Arvada, Col.) 22-1; Rangeview (Aurora, Col.) 20-3; Redondo Union (Redondo Seaside, Calif.) 27-4; Riviera Prep (Miami, Fla.) 19-9; Rockford (Rockford, Mich.) 18-3; Santa Margarita (Rancho SM, Calif.) 27-5; Sidwell Pals (Washington, D.C.) 20-6; Silver Creek (Sellersburg, Ind.) 24-1; South (Shawnee Mission, Kan.) 18-1; Southern College of Vitality & Sustainability (Durham, N.C.) 23-3; St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) 21-9; St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) 25-4; Tartan (Oakdale, Minn.) 24-0; The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) 22-9; Timpview (Provo, Utah) 21-3; Warren Township (Gurnee, Unwell.) 28-3; West Allis Central (West Allis, Wis.) 21-2.
Notice: 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 may be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
