SBLive/Sports Illustrated Power 25: Berkmar debuts after beating No. 21 Pebblebrook in 7A Georgia state semifinals

The Power 25 national boys basketball rankings, sponsored by Discount Tire, is a collaboration between SBLive and Sports Illustrated.

With the national schedule largely wrapped up, all eyes are on SBLive/SI Power 25 teams competing for high school basketball state championships. 

Two Power 25 teams won state titles last week and many more fell short as state tournaments continue across the country. 

Gregg Glenn scored 19 points to lead Calvary Christian (Florida) past Jackson for its second straight FHSAA 4A state title on Saturday. St. Paul VI (Virginia) followed up beating Bishop McNamara at the buzzer for a WCAC championship by sweeping its way to a VISAA Division I title.

Both teams should qualify for consideration for the four-team State Champions Classic, a new national culminating event for NFHS member schools that win state championships.

Now out of contention are Richardson (Texas), which dropped one spot to No. 7 in the rankings after losing in the 6A UIL playoffs, and Pebblebrook, Georgia’s top team, which lost to Berkmar in the GHSA Class 7A state semifinals. Dr. Phillips (Florida) also lost in a 45-44 thriller to Columbus in the FHSAA 7A title game.

In California, Corona Centennial and Sierra Canyon will play Tuesday in the CIF Open Division regional finals, with a berth in the state championship game on the line.

Find the complete breakdown of the SBLive/SI Power 25 below:

The Power 25, sponsored by Discount Tire, is a collaboration between SBLive and Sports Illustrated. Power 25 rankings are compiled by SBLive reporter Andy Buhler and SI Director of Basketball Recruiting Jason Jordan based on observations and conversations with an extensive network of coaching and media sources across the country. You can reach Andy on Twitter @AndyBuhler or email him at andy@scorebooklive.com.

Watch their weekly Power 25 breakdowns on Mondays live on Instagram at 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time @SBLiveSports and @SIAllAmerican.

---

SBLIVE/SI POWER 25 NATIONAL BOYS BASKETBALL RANKINGS

March 7, 2022

1. Sunrise Christian (Bel Aire, Kan.) (25-1)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 1

Did not play.

2. Duncanville (Duncanville, Tex.) (33-1)

Up next: Mar. 11 vs. Humble Atascocita (Tex.) (UIL Class 6A Semifinals)

Last ranking: No. 2

Beat DeSoto 48-35 in the regional quarterfinals, beat Cypress Ranch in the regional semifinals, 72-59, then beat Garland, 61-38, in the UIL 6A Regional Playoff.

3. IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.) (21-4)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 3

Did not play.

4. Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (19-4)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 4

Did not play.

5. Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) (30-1)

Up next: March 4 vs. Lake Norman Christian (N.C.)

Last ranking: No. 5

Beat Lake Norman Christian (N.C.) 73-37 in the Southeast Invitational in Charlotte, N.C.

6. Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) (24-2)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 7

Repeated as 4A FHSAA state champions after beating Andrew Jackson, 74-58.

7. Richardson (Richardson, Tex.) (32-2)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 6

Dropped a stunner to McKinnney on a game-winning layup with 1.3 seconds left by SMU signee Alex Anamekwe — its path toward a UIL 6A state playoff rematch with No. 2 Duncanville corroded.

8. La Lumiere School (La Porte, Ind.) (21-4)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 8

Did not play.

9. Camden (Camden, N.J.) (27-2)

Up next: Mar. 7 vs. Haddonfield (N.J.) (South Jersey Group 2 Tournament finals)

Last ranking: No. 9

Defeated Seneca 88-44 and Bishop Eustace Prep, 82-44, to head into NJSIAA state tournament.

10. Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (32-7)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 10

Head coach Steve Smith coached his last home game after 37 years at Oak Hill — and went out on a win. Beat First Love Christian (Pa.), 81-65.

• Smith joined SI’s Jason Jordan to reflect on storied career

11. Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.) (24-2)

Up next: Mar. 7 vs. Morris Catholic (N.J.) (NJSIAA Non-Public B semifinals)

Last ranking: No. 12

Five players scored in double figures led by Jamarques Lawrence's 18 in a lopsided quarterfinal win over Wardlaw-Hartridge, setting up a semifinal meeting with Morris Catholic Monday.

12. North Little Rock (Little Rock, Ark.) (27-3)

Up next: Mar. 10 vs. Bentonville (AAA regional tournament)

Last ranking: No. 13

Another win over Litter Rock Central (Ark.) — this time in the AHSAA 6A semifinals on Saturday. Bid to repeat as 6A champs comes down to final stage, Thursday's championship game.

13. Dr. Phillips (Orlando, Fla.) (26-6)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 11

Panthers fell short of defending its FHSAA 7A state title on Saturday, losing two-seeded Columbus in the championship game, 45-44.

14. Corona Centennial (Corona, Calif.) (31-1)

Up next: Mar. 8 vs. Sierra Canyon (CIF Open Division regional finals)

Last ranking: No. 14

Cleared Bishop Montgomery in the CIF Open Division regional semifinals, setting up a long-awaited matchup with Sierra Canyon in the regional finals Tuesday.

• SBLive California Podcast: 2022 SoCal high school basketball dream teams and coach of the year nominations

15. Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.) (23-4)

Up next: Mar. 11-13 - Phenom HoopState Championship

Last ranking: No. 15

Combine Academy defeated Liberty Heights to win the Phenom HoopState Championship last year. Will it do it again this weekend?

16. Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) (30-1)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 16

Nine-straight 5A Nevada state title run ended with a 63-62 overtime loss to Liberty (Nev.) in the state championship, eliminating the Gaels from contention for upstart GEICO Nationals spinoff State Champions Invitational.

17. St. Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) (29-4)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 19

Won its first WCAC title since 2014 at the buzzer thanks to freshman Jaquan Womack, then swept its way to a VISAA Division I state championship, concluding with a 56-52 win over St. Stephen's & St. Agnes on Saturday — the Panthers' second in a row, sixth since 2009.

18. Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) (26-4)

Up next: Mar. 8 vs. Corona Centennial (CIF Open Division regional final)

Last ranking: No. 17

Exacted revenge on Harvard-Westlake, 72-55 in the CIF Open Division regional semifinals. A long-awaited showdown with Corona Centennial — the two Power 25 teams from California — is next. Are the Trailblazers finally clicking?

19. Glenbard West (Glen Ellyn, Ill.) (34-1)

Up next: Mar. 7 vs. Elgin (IHSA 4A super-sectional)

Last ranking: No. 18

Beat Wheaton in the sectional finals. Hilltoppers' IHSA Class 4A title bid alive and well.

20. Centerville (Centerville, Oh.) (26-0)

Up next: Mar. 9 vs. Lakota West (OHSAA Division I - regional semifinal)

Last ranking: No. 20

Defeated Lakota West 80-53 for a district championship, win No. 42 in a row and a regional semifinal showdown with Kettering Fairmont on Wednesday.

21. Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) (32-4)

Up next: Season completed

Last ranking: No. 22

Lost to No. 1 Carmel Christian in the NCISAA 4A state championship 71-66 despite Jaydon Young’s 22 points.

22. Wasatch Academy (Mount Pleasant, Utah) (14-10)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 23

Did not play.

23. Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.) (21-4)

Up next: TBD

Last ranking: No. 24

Lost to St. Paul VI at the buzzer in the WCAC championships, 43-42.

24. Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.) (24-3)

Up next: CHSAA 'AA' semifinals

Last ranking: 25

Will Stepinac win a CHSAA title this week? First it must get past Bishop Loughlin in the semis on Wednesday. Sophomore Boogie Flannd's 33 points fueled a blowout win over St. Raymond Boys to get there.

25. Berkmar (Lithburn, Ga.) (26-4)

Last ranking: NR

Playing for a GHSA Class 7A state title after handling No. 21 Pebblebrook in the semifinals — a run led by 6-foot-10 senior Ole Miss commit Malique Ewin and senior point guard Jamal Rideout. After finishing Class 7A runners-up last year, Patriots have another shot when they play Norcross Saturday in the championship.

—

Who qualifies for the Power 25?

In order to qualify, programs must be either affiliated with the state high school athletic association in the state it resides in or recognized by the association and allowed to play member high schools in its home state.

— Andy Buhler, SBLive – @AndyBuhler

— Jason Jordan, SI – @JasonJordanSI