Since late October, MaxPreps has been previewing the 2021-22 high school basketball season from the release of national rankings to identifying the top player in all 50 states. We’ve consolidated all of that information in one place to help fans get up to speed ahead of tip-off.
Included are a look at top teams, players and events. Of note heading into this season is a split in the national rankings with the National Top 20 encompassing academy and independent programs and the MaxPreps Top 25 featuring high schools which compete for a state title as part of a recognized governing body.
Click “Full Article” links for more information on each category.
Graphic by: Ryan Escobar
Preseason MaxPreps Top 25
FULL ARTICLE
1. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.)
2. Milton (Ga.)
3. DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.)
4. Camden (N.J.)
5. Duncanville (Texas)
6. North Little Rock (Ark.)
7. Richardson (Texas)
8. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.)
9. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, N.Y.)
10. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
11. Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas)
12. Centennial (Corona, Calif.)
13. Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.)
14. Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.)
15. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.)
16. Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia)
17. Whitney Young (Chicago)
18. Centerville (Ohio)
19. Berkmar (Lilburn, Ga.)
20. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)
21. Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)
22. Knoxville Catholic (Knoxville, Tenn.)
23. Carmel (Ind.)
24. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.)
25. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)
Preseason National Top 20
1. AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)
2. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
4. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)
5. Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)
6. Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)
7. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.)
8. Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix)
9. La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)
10. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.)
11. Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
12. Real Salt Lake Academy (Herriman, Utah)
13. St. Benedict’s Prep (Newark, N.J.)
14. Donda Academy (Simi Valley, Calif.)
15. Huntington Prep (Huntington, W.Va.)
16. Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, N.Y.)
17. Denver Prep Academy (Denver)
18. Legacy Early College (Greenville, S.C.)
19. Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
20. Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.)
Preseason All-America Team
First Team
Second Team
Third Team
Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)
Honorable Mention
Underclassmen to Watch
Best player in all 50 states
California — Amari Bailey, Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth)
Colorado — Baye Fall, Denver Prep Academy (Denver)
Kansas — Mark Mitchell, Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire)
Maryland — Tyrell Ward, DeMatha (Hyattsville)
North Carolina — Jayden Epps, Combine Academy (Lincolnton)
Graphic by: Ryan Escobar
Best team in all 50 states
Alabama — Oak Mountain (Birmingham)
Rhode Island — La Salle Academy (Providence)
West Virginia — Huntington Prep (Huntington)
Tournaments and events to watch
December
2-4 — Bob Kirk Invitational (Cumberland, Md.)
2-4 — Battle at the Rock (Rock Hill, S.C.)
2-4 — Barry Pruitt Hurricane Classic (Jonesboro, Ark.)
2-4 — NIBC at Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)
2-5 — Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
3-4 — Tyler Lewis Hoopfest (Lewisville, N.C.)
3-4 — Chicago Elite Classic (Chicago)
3-4 — Red River Hoopfest (Texarkana, Texas)
2-5 — Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
4 — National Hoopfest (Hyattsville, Md.)
4 — The Chosen 1’s Invitational (Los Angeles)
4 — TOC Showcase (Marietta, Ga.)
4 — Sneakers for Santa (Brownsburg, Ind.)
6-8 — Norm Stewart Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
8-11 — Hoophall West (Phoenix, Ariz.)
9-11 — The Bash (Columbia, S.C.)
9-11 — Battle in the Bluff (Bartlett, Tenn.)
10-11 — Holiday Hoopfest (Lehi, Utah)
10 — Hoop Group Reading Tip-Off (Reading, Pa.)
9-11 — Hawks-Naismith Classic (Atlanta and Norcross, Ga.)
17-18 — Hoophall Central (Sioux Falls, S.D.)
15-21 — Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas)
17-18 — Memphis vs. the World (Eads, Tenn.)
17-21 — ‘Iolani Classic (Honolulu)
17-22 — City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)
17-22 — King of the Bluegrass (Fairdale, Ky.)
26-30 — Governors Challenge (Salisbury, Md.)
27-29 — King Cotton Holiday Classic (Pine Bluff, Ark.)
27-29 — Battle at the Villages (The Villages, Fla.)
27-29 — Slam Dunk to the Beach (Lewes, Del.)
27-30 — Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
27-30 — Chick-fil-A Classic (Lexington, S.C.)
27-30 — Les Schwab Invitational (Hillsboro, Ore.)
27-30 — John Wall Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.)
27-30 — The Holiday Classic (San Diego)
27-30 — Proviso West Holiday Tournament (Hillside, Ill.)
27-30 — The Classic at Damien (La Verne, Calif.)
27-31 — Arby’s Classic (Bristol, Tenn.)
27-31 — Jack Tosh Holiday Classic (Elmhurst, Ill.)
28-30 — Hoop City Classic (Mitchell and Sioux Falls, S.D.)
28-31 — Whataburger Tournament (Fort Worth, Texas)
January
5-8 — All State Sugar Bowl National Prep Classic (New Orleans)
6-8 — Hoophall South (Bentonville, Ark.)
6-8 — NIBC at La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.)
6-9 — Mustang Madness (Paducah, Ky.)
7-8 — Chance Harman Classic (Floyd, Va.)
7-8 — Miami Classic (Miami, Fla.)
8 — Showdown in O-Town (Orlando, Fla.)
8 — Highland Shootout (Highland, Ill.)
8-9 — The Legends Classic (Akron, Ohio)
13-15 — Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
13-17 — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
14-17 — Flyin’ to the Hoop (Dayton, Ohio)
15 — Big City Showdown (Las Vegas)
21-22 — Ascender Classic (Bradenton, Fla.)
21-22 — Quincy Shootout (Quincy, Ill.)
21-23 — Crush in the Valley 1 (Napa, Calif.)
27-29 — Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (Montverde, Fla.)
28-29 — Nike Extravaganza (Santa Ana, Calif.)
29 — Longhorn 5-star Classic (Milton, Ga.)
February
3-5 — St. James Invitational (Hagerstown, Md.
3-5 — Metro Classic (Toms River, N.J.)
4-6 — DeAndre Ayton’s Duel in the Desert (Glendale, Ariz.)
5-6 — Court XIV Classic (Charlotte, N.C.)
6 — Lehigh Valley Hoop Fest (Lehigh, Pa.)
12 — Heartland Hoops Classic (Grand Island, Neb.)
18-19 — Dr. Pepper Classic (Chattanooga, Tenn.)
19-20 — Crush in the Valley 2 (Napa, Calif.)
File photo by Michael Horbovetz
Top 10 senior prospect Cason Wallace brings high expectations to Richardson (TX).
