The first week of April is typically associated with the Final Four among basketball fans. But, in the prep and high school basketball world, It's associated with the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals. I will preview each team and a player to watch this weekend as a national champion is crowned.
#1 Montverde Academy (Florida)
It is a shock to no-one that Kevin Boyle's Eagles are in the #1 slot. Montverde dominated high school basketball all season long, having finished 8-0 against teams in the field and 30-0 overall, while boasting the EYBL scholastic's #1 offense (80.3 PPG) and #1 defense (52.9 PPG). Boyle's squad has 7 of the top 12 players in Florida's class of 2024 in #1 Cooper Flagg (Duke, #1 national), #2 Derik Queen (Maryland, #13 national), #3 Asa Newell (Georgia, #14 national), #4 Liam McNeeley (uncommitted, #16 national), #6 Rob Wright (Baylor, #25 national), and #12 Curtis Givens (LSU, #80 national), not even mentioning top 25 sophomore Caleb Gaskins. But, there are few, if not zero, players that are more impactful on the basketball court than "The Maine Event," Cooper Flagg. There is not much to be said about his game that has not been said already. The do-it-all re-class senior impacts every single facet of the game, whether it is scoring, rebounding, playmaking, or defending, the 2024 Gatorade national player of the year will have his fingerprints on it in some way or another.
#2 Paul VI (Virginia)
This season, Paul VI was heads and shoulders above every other team in the DMV, finishing with a 33-2 record and capturing another VISAA championship in a 10 point win over St. Anne's Belfield, 72-62. Paul VI was headlined by their core four of #18 Pat Ngongba (Duke), #37 Darren Harris (Duke), #85 Isaiah Abraham (UConn), and #9 junior Jordan Smith. Darren Harris has caught my eye all season long. His electric scoring and ability to get hot can be a real problem for opposing teams, having exploded for 52 points, shooting 15/20 from the field. Harris, the Virginia Gatorade player of the year, has become increasingly more comfortable scoring the ball inside the three-point arc this season, showcasing a new repertoire of floaters and inside finishes, and is comfortable shooting midranges off the dribble if needed. This Paul VI team goes as far as Darren Harris and his jumpshot can take them.
#3 Prolific Prep (California)
Ryan Bernardi assembled himself quite the roster this season, to say the least, headlined by #15 Derrion Reid (Alabama), #30 Aiden Sherrell (Alabama), #35 Zoom Diallo (Washington), #115 Mikey Lewis (St. Mary’s), #1 junior A.J. Dybantsa, and #2 sophomore Tyran Stokes. If there is any team that is built to beat Montverde, it is Prolific Prep. Having already played the Eagles twice, which were both highly competitive six point losses, it was clear that Prolific can hang with Kevin Boyle and Montverde. A.J. Dybantsa is my favorite prospect in this entire tournament. His fluidity on the offensive side of the ball is what makes him so fun to watch. An incredibly talented scorer, ball-handler, and athlete, while having a great build and an improved motor on the defensive side of the ball. Excellent at creating his shot off the dribble. I first watched Dybantsa play in December of 2021 with the St. Sebastian's school, so watching his transition from a wirey, raw athlete into arguably the most gifted scorer in the country has a blast. If anyone can match up with Cooper Flagg and try to go toe-to-toe with him, it is A.J. Dybantsa, and if anyone can go toe-to-toe and beat Montverde, it is Prolific Prep.
#4 Long Island Lutheran (New York)
Long Island Lutheran, to me, is the most entertaining team in this year's Chipotle Nationals field. A fast paced, up tempo team that epitomizes what it means to play New York basketball. Littered with elite playmaking and scoring guards, LuHi has established themselves as the premier high school basketball program on Long Island and has been arguably the best program in the state in the last five years. The only knock on this season's Crusaders' squad is that they are a little too reliant on shotmaking, but when they are kaing shots, they are a force to be reckoned with. This LuHi roster is filled with talent, most notably #5 VJ Edgecombe (Baylor), #59 junior Kiyan Anthony, #68 junior Kayden Mingo, #75 junior Alier Maluk (Florida State), #80 junior Jacob Ross, #91 junior Nigel James, and #22 sophomore Dylan Mingo. I had the opportunity to call some games for Nigel James last season, when the New York native was at Cushing Academy. James absolutely blew me away with his quickness, ball-handling, and scoring ability, which he has only improved on since arriving to John Buck's program. James looks to push the pace as often as possible, but understands when it is appropriate to get out and run or to slow it down.
#5 Christopher Columbus (Florida)
Christopher Columbus has been led by their three headed monster of #33 Jase Richardson (Michigan State), #2 junior Cameron Boozer, and #16 junior Cayden Boozer all the way to Chipotle Nationals. Simply put, Columbus will go as far as these three can carry them, especially when it comes to point guard Jase Richardson, one of my favorite guards in the country, and somewhat of an unsung hero on this Columbus squad. Most of the buzz around this team revolves around the Boozer twins, especially Cameron, but Richardson is the piece that makes this team truly elite. Richardson is an elite playmaker off the dribble and drive, being able to make the defense to collapse whenever he enters the paint, and finds the open man, but also has the athleticism to finish at the rim over/around defenders. Extremely quick first step and is almost always able to blow by the man in front of him. Creative and crafty playmaker and ball-handler. Although, Christopher Columbus has a tough draw in the 4/5 game in Long Island Lutheran, Richardson's ability to push the pace will make it an exciting watch and will make it a very close game.
#6 Link Year (Missouri)
The defending champs have one of the most talented rosters in this year's Chipotle Nationals field. When you take a look at this roster and when you watch them play, you'll find yourself blown away by how athletic this team is, a hallmark trait of Link Year's program. Their national team (not including postgraduates) boasts 6 247 ranked players in #6 ranked Tre Johnson (Texas), #32 Labaron Philon (Kansas), #72 Jalen Shelly (Arkansas), #108 James Brown (North Carolina), #140 T.O. Barrett (Missouri), and #10 junior Jasper Johnson. Jaden Shelly is the most intriguing prospect of the bunch. Shelly, right now, is somewhat unpolished compared to his teammates Tre Johnson and Labaron Philon, but has arguably a higher upside than both. His quickness and fluidity for his frame is what really stands out. Shelly currently stands at 6'8" and 190 pounds, but moves more like a guard, is an elite cutter off the ball, and an elite finisher at the rim, as well as being a great rebounder.
#7 IMG Academy (Florida)
It's the sixth Chipotle Nationals appearance in school history for the IMG Academy Ascenders and perhaps their "weakest" of those six teams. However, this IMG team is a sleeper. They ranked #3 in the EYBL scholastic in offense, scoring 69.3 points per game, an offense that is led by and ran through #4 junior Darius Acuff Jr., who averages 21.3 points per game and 5.3 assists per in league play. If you are able to slow Acuff Jr. down, your chances of winning increase significantly. While this IMG team is talented, boasting multiple other nationally ranked players such as #23 ranked Donnie Freeman (Syracuse), #36 Khani Roots (uncommitted), #80 Curtis Givens (Houston), and #99 Cole Certa (Notre Dame), if Acuff Jr. has a down game, it could be rough sailing for the Ascenders. However, if he is on his game, I like the Ascenders as an upset candidate over #2 Paul VI.
#8 AZ Compass Prep (Arizona)
At first glance, you'd think this Compass Prep team was a college team when they walk into the gym. This is a HUGE team. Often times, their shortest player on the court is #44 ranked junior and Illinois commit, Jeremiah Fears, who is 6'3, and the second shortest is his guard partner, #60 ranked and Oregon commit, Vyctorius Miller. Miller is an elite leader for Compass, often acting as a coach on the floor for Pete Kaffey. Has a great frame and is an explosive athlete who can blow right by defenders, but he is also a very dangerous scoring threat who is capable of heating up incredibly quickly. Fears and Miller have an impressive surrounding cast, including #89 Sammie Yeanay and #133 Luke Bamgboye, but I do not think it will be enough to hang with Montverde in round 1.