AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25 — January 13: AZ Compass Prep makes its move to No. 1

Kendall Webb

AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25 — January 13: AZ Compass Prep makes its move to No. 1 image

Jan 2, 2026; Mesa, AZ, USA; Arizona Compass Prep guard Jimmie Haywood III (2) against Spire Institute (OH) during the HoopHall West Tournament at Skyline High School. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Jimmie Haywood III is one of the stars for the nation's new No. 1 team – the AZ Compass Prep Dragons of Chandler, Arizona.

The Brewster Academy [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats' 61-60 win last weekend over the previous No. 1 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions led to a reshuffle at the top of AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25 rankings this week.

The last-second loss was Link Academy's first of the season, and it came on a neutral court Sunday afternoon at the La Porte Invitational in Indiana. Brewster Academy only had one loss headed into that game so the win vaults the Bobcats up the rankings all the way to the No. 2 position while dropping Link Academy to No. 3.

Taking over the top spot then is the only team to beat Brewster Academy so far this year – yet another one loss team in the AZ Compass Prep National [Chandler, AZ] Dragons. The Dragons' only defeat came in a one-sided 72-50 loss to a Top 50 SPIRE Academy National squad from Geneva, Ohio. While the loss was substantial, it's also the anomaly so far for a Dragons' team that has two wins over teams currently ranked in the top six. That includes a 63-59 win over the No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista [Phoenix, AZ] Bears in the game immediately following the loss to SPIRE.

MORE: AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Preseason Top 25

And as luck would have it, this week's No. 1 will take on last week's No. 1 when AZ Compass Prep and Link Academy meet this coming Sunday.

The No. 4 Prolific Prep [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Crew  are the only other team to have two wins so far over teams in the Top 6, having also beaten that CIA-Bella Vista program to go along with a win over the Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers.

AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25 rankings

1. AZ Compass Prep National [Chandler, AZ] Dragons

2025-26 record: 12-1
Previous ranking: No. 4

Upcoming games: 1/17 — vs. Long Island Lutheran; 1/18 — vs. No. 3 Link Academy

As noted above, AZ Compass Prep has a bad loss on its resume, but that's canceled out by the fact that the Dragons also have the two best wins of the season so far over current No. 2 Brewster Academy and No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista.

2. Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats

2025-26 record: 15-1
Previous ranking: No. 12

Upcoming games: 1/14 — vs. Central Catholic; 1/16 — Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy

Brewster Academy's only loss is to the new No. 1 AZ Compass Prep, but their biggest win is over the previous No. 1 Link Academy, giving the Bobcats one of the top resumes in the country.

3. Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions

2025-26 record — 14-1
Previous ranking — No. 1

Upcoming games: 1/17 — vs. No. 13 Montverde Academy; 1/18 — vs. No. 1 AZ Compass Prep National

After a 14-0 start, the Link Academy Lions dropped their first game of the season. They are still firmly in the national title conversation, though, and they get a chance to square off against the team that replaced them at No. 1 this week when they meet AZ Compass Prep on Sunday.

4. Prolific Prep [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Crew

2025-26 record: 20-2
Previous ranking: No. 2

Upcoming games: 1/19 — vs. No. 7 Dynamic Prep

Prolific Prep gets a full week off to prepare for its meeting with Dynamic Prep next Monday in a battle of two Top 7 heavyweights.

5. Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers

2025-26 record: 14-1
Previous ranking: No. 3

Upcoming games: 1/15 — Logan-Rogersville; 1/16 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

Paul VI will head to Springfield, Missouri, Thursday for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions where they'll open against one of the two local schools competing in the event.

STREAM: High school boys basketball, live on NFHS Network

6. CIA-Bella Vista Prep [Scottsdale, AZ] Bears

2025-26 record: 12-2
Previous ranking: No. 5

Upcoming games: 1/18 — vs. No. 23 IMG Academy

CIA-Bella Vista's only two losses are to the current No. 1 AZ Compass Prep and No. 4 Prolific Prep. That's the best two-loss resume in the country, but the Bears also have a Top 10 win over No. 7 Dynamic Prep.

7. Dynamic Prep [Irving, TX]

2025-26 record: 14-1
Previous ranking: No. 6

Upcoming games: 1/19 — vs. No. 4 Prolific Prep

Dynamic Prep's record contains just a single blemish – a 65-61 loss to CIA-Bella Vista back on December 16. But they have an opportunity next Monday to state their case for moving ahead of the Bears if they can beat No. 4 Prolific Prep – one of only two teams to beat the Bears so far.

8. Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers

2025-26 record: 15-1
Previous ranking: No. 7

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Loyola; 1/15 — vs. Bishop Alemany; 1/17 — vs. No. 22 Columbus

Sierra Canyon has a busy week planned with three games on the schedule, including a Saturday tussle with the No. 22 Columbus Explorers of Miami, Florida.

9. Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers

2025-26 record: 12-1
Previous ranking: No. 8

Upcoming games: 1/15 — vs. Kickapoo; 1/16-17 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

Principia will head west down I-44 this coming Thursday to take part in Springfield, Missouri's, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. They'll take on one of the two local teams playing in the event in the opener when they tip off against Kickapoo.

10. Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles

2025-26 record: 12-1
Previous ranking: No. 20

Upcoming games: 1/15 — vs. St. John Bosco; 1/16-17 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

Calvary Christian Academy will meet St. John Bosco in Springfield, Missouri, Thursday in the opening day of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. If they win, it could set up a second-round meeting with No. 9 Principia.

11. Dream City Christian National [Glendale, AZ] Eagles

2025-26 record: 5-1
Previous ranking: No. 11

Upcoming games: 1/17 — vs. CATS Academy

Dream City's light schedule so far didn't include any games last week, but they'll be back in action Saturday against CATS Academy of Boston, Massachusetts.

12. Wasatch Academy [Mt. Pleasant, UT] Tigers

2025-26 record: 9-4
Previous ranking: No. 14

Upcoming games: 1/17 — vs. St. Ignatius; 1/19 — TBD

Wasatch Academy has been idle since December 29 when they throttled Roman Catholic of Philadelphia in a lopsided 74-41 blowout. They'll get the 2026 portion of their schedule under way Saturday against St. Ignatius.

13. Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles

2025-26 record: 7-4
Previous ranking: No. 15

Upcoming games: 1/16 — vs. Oak Hill Academy; 1/17 — vs. No. 3 Link Academy; 1/18 — vs. Long Island Lutheran

Montverde Academy has been slow out of the gate in 2025-26, but two wins last week have them pointed int he right direction. They get three huge opportunities this week to make a statement with games against Oak Hill Academy, No. 3 Link Academy, and Long Island Lutheran.

14. Sunnyslope [Phoenix, AZ] Vikings

2025-26 record: 17-1
Previous ranking: No. 21

Upcoming games: 1/16 — vs. Corona del Sol

Sunnyslope is somewhat quietly sneaking up the Top 25 after starting the season 17-1. Next up is a Friday night date with a 2-12 Corona del Sol squad that figures to be in over their heads.

15. Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders

2025-26 record: 9-4
Previous ranking: No. 17

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Holy Cross

Archbishop Stepinac inches up a couple of spots in the Top 25 this week, heading into a Tuesday night tilt with Holy Cross.

16. Bartlett [TN] Panthers 

2025-26 record: 15-2
Previous ranking: No. 18

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Collierville; 1/15 — vs. No. 17 Wheeler; 1/16-17 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

Bartlett has put forth a pretty good case for being the best team in Tennessee so far with their only two losses coming against out-of-state foes. They'll be on the road to Springfield, Missouri, later this week to play in the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions where they could run into one of the two teams to beat them so far in No. 9 Principia. That wouldn't come until the finals on either side of the bracket, but in the meantime, their Thursday night tip with No. 17 Wheeler of Georgia could be one of the best public-school matchups of the entire season.

17. Wheeler [Marietta, GA] Wildcats

2025-26 record: 13-3
Previous ranking: No. 22

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Etowah; 1/15 — vs. No. 16 Bartlett; 1/16 — Bass Pro Tournament of Champions

As noted directly above, Wheeler will take on No. 16 Bartlett Thursday in the opening round of the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri. It promises to be a legendary event, and the winner of that game will likely face No. 5 Paul VI of Virginia in the second round.

18. Salesian College Prep [Richmond, CA] Pride

2025-26 record: 13-2
Previous ranking: No. 23

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Jesse M. Bethel; 1/16 — vs. Pinole Valley; 1/17 — SPXSMA; 1/9 — vs. Modesto Christian

Salesian has a full slate this week with four games on tap through next Monday. They'll be the favorite in all of them, and they'll have to win all of them to keep climbing the ranks here after moving up five spots this week.

19. Webb [Knoxville, TN] Spartans

2025-26 record: 19-2
Previous ranking: No. 24

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Sevier County; 1/15 — vs. Chattanooga Christian

If Bartlett is the best in the west when it comes to Tennessee prep basketball, then Webb has established itself so far as the beast of the east. Just as Bartlett has only two losses so far this season against out-of-state opponents, the Spartans have also gone undefeated against in-state competition with their only setbacks coming against St. Frances Academy of Maryland and Wheeler of Georgia – the team Bartlett will take on this Thursday in Springfield, Missouri.

20. Bishop O'Connell [Arlington, VA] Knights

2025-26 record: 12-2
Previous ranking: No. 25

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. DeMatha; 1/15 — vs. Bishop Ireton; 1/18 — vs. St. John's

Bishop O'Connell has three games scheduled this week, including a tough Tuesday matchup against DeMatha to get the week started. The Knights have to keep winning to hang onto their spot here in the national Top 25.

21. St. Thomas Aquinas [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Raiders

2025-26 record: 16-3
Previous ranking: Unranked

Upcoming games: 1/14 — vs. Pembroke Pines Charter; 1/17 — vs. Olympia; 1/19 — vs. Pine Crest

St. Thomas Aquinas got a big win last week against Columbus, and now the Raiders look to build on their resume with three winnable games starting Wednesday night against Pembroke Pines Charter.

22. Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers

2025-26 record: 13-4
Previous ranking: No. 9

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Riviera Prep; 1/17 — vs. No. 8 Sierra Canyon; 1/19 — vs. St. John Bosco

The defending national champions have already lost four times this year, heading into what will likely be one of the most difficult stretches of the entire season with three straight games against Top 50 competition.

23. IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders

2025-26 record: 13-5
Previous ranking: Unranked

Upcoming games: 1/17 — vs. St. James Prep; 1/18 — vs. No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista

IMG climbs back into the Top 25 this week despite losing a lopsided contest to No. 15 Montverde Academy in an 83-62 blowout last Wednesday. That's because the Ascenders rallied to win back-to-back games against two other Top 25 squads at the La Porte Invitational, taking down Sunrise Christian Academy and Southeastern Prep Academy on Saturday and Sunday.

24. Southeastern Prep Academy [Orlando, FL] Falcons

2025-26 record: 23-7
Previous ranking: No. 10

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. The Rock National; 1/17 & 1/19 — Flying to the Hoop Classic

Southeastern Prep takes a tumble this week all the way from No. 10 to No. 24. Nobody in the Top 25 has played as often as the Falcons with 30 games under their wings, but they've also come up short in many of their biggest games, losing to six teams currently ranked ahead of them in the Top 25.

25. Seven Lakes [Katy, TX] Spartans

2025-26 record: 24-0
Previous ranking: Unranked

Upcoming games: 1/13 — vs. Cinco Ranch

Seven Lakes lacks the kinds of opportunities on their schedule that would earn them national acclaim, but at 24-0 playing in Texas' highest classification, it's impossible to ignore those two numbers that matter the most at this point when evaluating the Spartans. As long as they keep winning, they deserve to be here.

The next 25 teams on the "bubble"

Here are the best of the rest — teams under consideration for the SN Top 25.

Archbishop Carroll [DC] Lions — 16-5

Bartow [FL] Yellow Jackets — 14-1

East Lansing [MI] Trojans — 8-0

Fishers [IN] — 10-0

Grayson [Loganville, GA] Rams — 13-1

Greensboro [NC] Day School Bengals — 22-2

Harvard-Westlake [Studio City, CA] Wolverines — 17-2

La Lumiere [La Porte, IN] Lakers — 4-1

Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders — 5-6

Millenium [Goodyear, AZ] Tigers — 14-2

Notre Dame SO [Sherman Oaks, CA] Knights — 13-4

Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy [Dallas, TX] Eagles — 15-4

Oak Hill Academy [Mouth of Wilson, VA] Warriors — 13-4

Redondo Union [Redondo Beach, CA] Sea Hawks — 16-3

Riviera Prep [Miami, FL] Bulldogs — 10-7

Santa Margarita [Rancho Santa Margarita, CA] Eagles — 19-2

SPIRE Academy [Geneva, OH] — 2-3

St. Frances Academy [Baltimore, MD] Panthers — 20-4

St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves — 11-4

St. Thomas More [Oakdale, CT] Chancellors — 10-3

Sunrise Christian Academy [Bel Aire, KS] Buffaloes — 6-4

Tennessee Collegiate Academy [Millington, TN] Spartans — 9-5

Timpview [Provo, UT] Thunderbirds — 12-1

The Villages [FL] Charter Buffalo — 11-4

Wisconsin Lutheran [Milwaukee, WI] Vikings — 9-0

MORE HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL

Editorial Team