Natoinal High school rankings

National Prep Basketball Poll – Final

By Jamie DeMoney and Jeremy Plowman

The National Prep Basketball Poll is compiled by national high school sports experts Jamie DeMoney and Jeremy Plowman and a panel of sportswriters. The national Top 25 and regional Top 10's follow with final won-loss records:

Complete Final 2002-03 National Prep Basketball Poll

1. Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary (25-1)-x, won third state title in four years

2. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei (35-2) , earned Division II state championship

3. Indianapolis, Pike (29-0) , won third state title in six seasons

4. Memphis, Tenn., White Station (36-2) , won third state championship since 1999

5. Los Angeles, Westchester (33-3) , back-to-back Division I state titlist

6. Baton Rouge, La., Woodlawn (39-0) , repeat 5A state champ

7. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dillard (32-1) , won fourth straight 6A state crown

8. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick (27-4) , top dog in N.J. by winning Tournament of Champions title

9. Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln (31-4) , first State Federation title since 1995

10. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian (20-1) , only setback a one-point loss to No. 21 Fairfax in December

11. Seattle, Rainier Beach (26-3) , earned second straight 3A state title

12. Fort Worth, Texas, Dunbar (37-1) , won first state title in 10 years

13. Springfield, Mo., Kickapoo (30-1) , captured first-ever state championship

14. Seattle, Franklin (25-2) , ended season with 20-game winning streak and 4A state title

15. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (31-4) , most losses since 1996-97 season

16. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict's (24-3) , N.J. Prep School state champ

17. North Las Vegas, Nev., Cheyenne (31-1) , Class 4A state champ

18. Fort Washington, Md., Friendly (25-1)-x, won 3A state championship

19. Peoria, Ill., Central (31-1) , won Class AA state title

20. Rochester, N.Y., McQuaid (27-1) , only loss of season in Class A State Federation semis to No. 9 Lincoln

21. Los Angeles, Fairfax (28-4) , all losses to nationally or regionally ranked teams

22. Birmingham, Ala., John Carroll (36-0) , 6A state titlist

23. Orlando, Fla., Edgewater (34-2) , four of top six return next year from 6A state runner-up squad

24. Grand Rapids, Mich., South Christian (27-0) , Class B state champion

25. Minneapolis, Henry (26-6) , ended year with fourth straight 3A title and 25-game win streak

x-only loss a forfeit

Northeast

1. Elizabeth, N.J., St. Patrick, 27-4

2. Brooklyn, N.Y., Lincoln, 31-4

3. Rochester, N.Y., McQuaid, 27-1

4. Newark, N.J., St. Benedict's, 24-3

5. Bronx, N.Y., St. Raymond, 26-4

6. Philadelphia, Saint Joseph's Prep, 30-2

7. Cherry Hill, N.J., Camden Catholic, 28-2

8. Mount Vernon, N.Y., 26-1

9. Middle Village, N.Y., Christ the King, 26-8

10. Oradell, N.J., Bergen Catholic, 24-4

East Coast

1. Rockville, Md., Montrose Christian, 20-1

2. Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill, 31-4

3. Fort Washington, Md., Friendly, 25-1-x

4. Gaffney, S.C., 28-0

5. Mount Ulla, N.C., West Rowan, 31-0

6. Washington, Gonzaga, 27-5

7. Arlington, Va., O'Connell, 25-5

8. Highland Springs, Va., 27-3

9. Oxon Hill, Md., 22-3

10. Newark, Del., Glasgow, 24-2

x-only loss a forfeit

Southeast

1. Memphis, Tenn., White Station, 36-2

2. Fort Lauderdale, Fla., Dillard, 32-1

3. Baton Rouge, La., Woodlawn, 39-0

4. Orlando, Fla., Edgewater, 34-2

5. Birmingham, Ala., John Carroll, 36-0

6. Monroe, La., Ouachita, 35-4

7. Marietta, Ga., Wheeler, 30-2

8. Melbourne, Fla., Florida Air, 29-0

9. Maysville, Ky., Mason County, 35-2

10. Jackson, Miss., Provine, 26-5

Midwest

1. Akron, Ohio, St. Vincent-St. Mary, 25-1-x

2. Indianapolis, Pike, 29-0

3. Peoria, Ill., Central, 31-1

4. Grand Rapids, Mich., South Christian, 27-0

5. Rockford, Mich., 28-0

6. Cincinnati, Moeller, 23-4

7. Columbus, Ohio, Brookhaven, 25-2

8. Milwaukee, King, 23-0-xx

9. Indianapolis, Chatard, 22-2

10. Detroit, De Porres, 27-1

x-only loss a forfeit

xx-includes one forfeit victory

Midlands

1. Springfield, Mo., Kickapoo, 30-1

2. Minneapolis, Henry, 26-6

3. Minneapolis, North, 28-3

4. Waterloo, Iowa, East, 25-1

5. Sandy, Utah, Alta, 23-2

6. Highlands Ranch, Colo., ThunderRidge, 22-2

7. Litchfield, Minn., 30-2

8. Minnetonka, Minn., Hopkins, 26-5-xx

9. Wichita, Kan., Southeast, 21-4

10. Lincoln, Neb., 19-3

xx-includes one forfeit victory

Southwest

1. Fort Worth, Texas, Dunbar, 37-1

2. North Las Vegas, Nev., Cheyenne, 31-1

3. Beaumont, Texas, Ozen, 33-1

4. DeSoto, Texas, 33-6

5. Fort Bend, Texas, Hightower, 36-3

6. Houston, Westbury Christian, 33-7

7. Tulsa, Okla., Memorial, 26-3

8. Oklahoma City, John Marshall, 25-4

9. Pine Bluff, Ark., 25-5

10. Gilbert, Ariz., 31-3

West Coast

1. Santa Ana, Calif., Mater Dei, 35-2

2. Los Angeles, Westchester, 33-3

3. Seattle, Rainier Beach, 26-3

4. Seattle, Franklin, 25-2

5. Los Angeles, Fairfax, 28-4

6. San Diego, Horizon, 33-1

7. Oceanside, Calif., El Camino, 32-3

8. Bakersfield, Calif., Garces Memorial, 35-2

9. Honolulu, Iolani, 31-2

10. Redmond, Ore., 25-3

FEATS OF THE WEEK: For the first time, the National Prep Poll champion hails from the state of Ohio. Coach Dru Joyce II's Akron, St. Vincent-St. Mary Fighting Irish, featuring NBA-bound superstar LeBron James, started the season ranked No. 8 and finished No. 1. Their unbeaten-on-the-court season included convincing wins over two teams ranked in the final Top 5 (Mater Dei and Westchester) and two others that were ranked in the Top 10 (Oak Hill and Brookhaven) for much of the season. The only blemish on the 25-1 Irish's record was a court-ordered forfeit related to eligibility questions surrounding James that remained unresolved at season's end. Along with James, SV-SM also featured University of Akron signees Romeo Travis and Dru Joyce III as well as 300-pound post Sian Cotton, an Ohio State football recruit . . . Previous National Prep Poll champions with records and coaches: 1990--Chicago, King (32-0), Landon Cox; 1991--Philadelphia, Simon Gratz (27-1), Bill Ellerbee; 1992--Baltimore, Dunbar (29-0), Pete Pompey; 1993--Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (30-0), Steve Smith; 1994--Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (30-1), Steve Smith; 1995--New Orleans, St. Augustine (37-1), Bernard Griffith; 1996--Jersey City, N.J., St. Anthony (31-0), Bob Hurley; 1997--Peoria, Ill., Manual (31-1), Wayne McClain; 1998--Frederick, Md., St. John's at Prospect Hall (25-0), Stu Vetter; 1999-Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (31-0), Steve Smith; 2000-Compton, Calif., Dominguez (35-2), Russell Otis; 2001-Mouth of Wilson, Va., Oak Hill (32-1), Steve Smith; 2002-Dallas, Lincoln (40-0), Leonard Bishop.