By Ronnie Flores

As we stated in the preseason, the teams that made up the back end of the FAB 50 National Team Rankings?powered by?www.ebooksnet.com have plenty to prove and work to do in order to move up into the top half of the nation's longest-running national rankings. The gap between the majority of the Top 25 and the bottom 25 is growing wider each year and the teams at the top of the rankings generally play tough schedules and tend to beat up each other.

These two rankings factors are especially true for teams that belong to the newly-announced Nike EYBL Scholastic League, a 14-team loop previously called the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference (NIBC). One of its members, preseason No. 23 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), pulled off the first upset of the 2023-24 regular season when it took down previous No. 3 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), 75-73, in one of the marquee games of the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta, Ga.

The Tigers shot the ball well from the outside, canning 12-of-31 3-pointers, while the Explorers made 5-of-24 in a two point game. Coach Paul Peterson got a big game from 6-foot-8 2024 (senior) forward Bhan Buom with 19 points, six rebounds and 4 assists. Junior guard Isiah Harwell also played well, scoring 15 points and canning 3-of-7 3-pointers, while 6-foot-4 senior Fischer Brown nailed four 3-pointers and finished with 12 points for a team that moves up 17 spots in the first rankings update of the regular season.

The reason the Tigers are able to move up (despite a 65-56 loss to Dream City Christian of Arizona at the Holiday Hoopsgiving) is they have plenty of landmines upcoming in league play, plus Columbus can't fall too far in the rankings (falling four spots to No. 7) as it owns victories over previous No. 21 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 86-59, and over previous No. 6 Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), 81-78 in overtime. On top of that, Columbus will get its crack on the road at top-ranked Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) on December 1 (5:30 pm ET, ESPN2). That game will feature last year's Mr. Basketball USA, junior Cameron Boozer of Columbus, and this year's preseason front-runner, Duke-bound senior forward Cooper Flagg of Montverde Academy.

Boozer, the only sophomore to ever earn a production-based national player of the year honor, had 26 points, 12 rebounds and six assists in a losing effort versus Wasatch. Incredibly, in the overtime victory over Prolific Prep, Boozer fouled out with 55.9 seconds remaining in regulation and with the Explorers trialing 68-61. That's when his twin brother Cayden Boozer, a 6-foot-4 junior point guard, spark the comeback. Columbus cut its deficit to 70-69 on his 3-pointer with 7.1 seconds remaining, then Prolific Prep's Winters Grady put his team up three after two made free throws. Columbus' Jase Richardson then sprinted to the 3-point line and threw in a banked 3-point shot as time expired to send the game into overtime and the Columbus faithful into a frenzy.

Richardson, a Michigan St. pledge who began his career at Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), finished with 19 points, including five in overtime after going for 17 points and seven rebounds in the close loss to Wasatch Academy. Cayden Boozer finished with 25 points, while top-rated junior A.J. Dybansta scored 35 points for Prolific Prep.

Prolific Prep will look to rebound from the loss this Saturday in Louisville, Ky., when The Crew takes on No. 2 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) at the Derek Smith Shootout. Link Academy will take on top-ranked Montverde Academy on December 8 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

This week, four University Interscholastic League (UIL) teams fell from the rankings, but Lone Star State hoop fans shouldn't fret. There are many fine teams in Texas and two that were on the preseason FAB 50 bubble and in the Southwest Region Top 20 moved in as unbeaten clubs: No. 30 Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) and No. 43 Plano East (Plano, Texas). Texas' preseason top-ranked teams have also played many more games already than many teams from other regions in the country and started off playing tough schedules, particularly at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas. We envision a scenario where some of the UIL's top state title contenders can and will move back in after the rest of the country begins to play games. Some of the teams with 0-0 records at this point, and those that remain in the rankings that don't play high-powered schedules, are susceptible to being hopped down the line by those that took on tough teams early or play a schedule more national in scope.

We nearly decided to keep Texas power Duncanville (Texas) in the FAB 50, but eventually decided the margin of defeat versus Stony Point was a bit too large (90-65). We also had to make room for Alta (Sandy, Utah), which defeated preseason No. 14 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), 75-56, at the 5 for The Fight Hoopfest in Utah on Nov. 20.

Alta will take on No. 46 Corner Canyon (Draper, Utah) on December 5. That club dropped an early season contest to still unbeaten and newcomer Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), which jumps into the FAB 50 at No. 28 after starting out two spots outside of the FAB 50 at No. 11 in the preseason Southeast Region Top 20.

The next FAB 50 update is scheduled for Monday, December 11.

RELATED:??Preseason 2023-24 FAB 50 National Rankings | Preseason 2023-24 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker | | ??

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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By Ronnie Flores

They say everything in Texas is big, and University Interscholastic League (UIL) teams in the Lone Star State have definitely recorded the biggest wins in high school basketball so far in the 2021-22 season. With COVID-19 travel restrictions easing across the country for elite teams, there are enough results to publish the first regular season FAB 50 National Team Rankings?powered by?www.ebooksnet.com?even though a handful of states have not yet started their season.

No where was the results bigger than at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas, which along with the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Snellville, Ga., has developed into a must-see Thanksgiving showcase over the past few years.

Making the biggest splash was Richardson (Richardson, Texas), which opened up at No. 7 in the preseason Southwest Regional Top 20. The Eagles showed they are much more than a regional power, making a national statement by downing AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), 61-38, at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, as Alabama commit Rylan Griffen netted 25 points while his backcourt mate, Kentucky-bound Cason Wallace, added 22 points. Some ratings compilers (who mainly focus on where prospects on top teams are headed to college and using the rankings to promote events) felt as is AZ Compass Prep was the top independent team in the country. Even though the Dragons wouldn't be that high in the FAB 50 if eligible, it was still a big win for Richardson considering the margin of victory and AZ Compass Prep's recent track record.

That win helps propel the Eagles up to No. 14 in the FAB 50 as this week's highest newcomer, one spot in front of North Little Rock (Ark.), another team that performed well at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest. The Charging Wildcats move up seven spots this week after downing regionally-ranked Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy of Dallas (79-63) and No. 30 Kimball (72-70). Arkansas-bound Nick Smith Jr. hit a driving, straight-away pull-up jumper from 14 feet out with three seconds remaining to clinch the win over Kimball. Smith finished with 15 points and five assists in the big win, while Oregon-bound center Kel'el Ware had 23 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks for the Charging Wildcats.

Richardson takes on North Little Rock on December 11 at the Battle in the Bluff in Memphis, Tenn.

Richardson takes on Coppell (Texas) before leaving for Memphis and speaking of Coppell, its top player from last season is now eligible at Duncanville (Texas). That player is 6-foot-7 wing Anthony Black, who was granted a court-issued injunction on November 19 to be able to suit up for the Panthers after initially being ruled ineligible by the UIL in October. Black teams up with junior forward Ron Holland to give Duncanville one of the best 1-2 punches in high school basketball. The Panthers move up two spots from the preseason and are putting itself in position to challenge for the FAB 50 mythical national title by remaining unbeaten against a rugged schedule. The Panthers' last four wins have come against FAB 50 ranked foes, including California's top two clubs at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest.

Coach David Peavy's club downed previous No. 14 Centennial (Corona, Calif.), 75-70, as Holland had 28 points and Black 17 to offset a 29-point performance from junior guard Jared McCain of Centennial. The next night Duncanville downed California's top ranked club, No. 9 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 80-73. The Panthers used balanced scoring to hold off a Trailblazers team that made a spirited fourth quarter comeback after trailing big after three quarters. Holland, Davion Sykes and Aric Demings each scored 16 points, with C.J. Ford adding 12 and Black 11.

Sierra Canyon continues to play without UCLA-bound guard Amari Bailey, who came in No. 2 in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker behind Westtown School (West Chester, Pa.) Duke-bound big man Dereck Lively II. Sierra Canyon still has a terrific team and remains at No. 9 in the FAB 50. There is no timetable for Bailey's return, and eventually if his absence is reflected in the results, Sierra Canyon will be ranked accordingly.

Before the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Duncanville easily downed previous No. 43 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), 73-54, and previous No. 42 Kimball (84-82). Duncanville's FAB 50 title candidacy will have two more big tests in the next two weeks when it faces No. 38 Carver (New Orleans, La.) at the Red River Hoopfest on December 4 and top-ranked Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) on December 9 at Hoophall West in Phoenix, Ariz.

Despite losing three games, Kimball was able to move up 12 spots in the rankings because of its strength of schedule and the nature of those losses. Kimball not only lost to North Little Rock in the closing seconds, it lost to Duncanville by only two points on a game-winning lay-up by Holland at the RJ Hampton Showcase. In its second game at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, the Knights were downed by No. 13 Centennial, 67-59. Centennial was able to actually move up a spot because of that bunch back win and the closeness of the game with Duncanville the previous evening.

The teams that have already played games currently get the benefit of the doubt in the latest FAB 50, so keep it in mind because two teams that haven't yet played dropped out to make room for teams that already have games under its belt. Teams that have yet to play will have ample opportunity to move up or into the nation's longest-running weekly rankings.

There isn't a state that has reported a push back to its official start dates because of COVID-19 positive case rates. Holiday tournaments and showcases are back en masse, but it doesn't mean we are out of the woodwork just yet with regards to the pandemic. Teams that lose players as a result of any COVID-19 protocol, but still play a sanctioned game, will have that game counted toward their overall record. Missed games as a result of COVID-19 will be looked at as any other player injury. The player personnel loss will be taken into consideration with regards to a team's ranking position. Any game not played as a result of COVID-19 protocol will be considered a default or "no-contest".

The next FAB 50 update is scheduled for Monday, December 6.

RELATED:??Preseason 2021-22 FAB 50 National Rankings?| Preseason 2021-22 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker |

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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By Ronnie Flores

In a normal season, only a selected number of state would have games played by now. Despite the affects of COVID-19 around the country, there are still enough results to put out the first regular season FAB 50 National Team Rankings?powered by?www.ebooksnet.com? for the 2020-21 season. Although there isn't much movement, there is plenty to explain with regards to how results with be factored by the nation's longest-running weekly high school basketball rankings.

Two power states, Texas (University Interscholastic League) and Florida (Florida High School Athletic Association), caused most of the change in this week's FAB 50. The lone newcomer is from the Peach State: Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.), which enters the week 4-1 and checks in at No. 49. The Falcons are the fifth GHSA team in the FAB 50 and the No. 3 team from the Class 7A ranks behind No. 42 Milton (Milton, Ga.) and No. 27 Grayson (Loganville, Ga.).

Pebblebrook's only defeat is to No. 10 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 71-62, at last weekend's Thanksgiving Hoopfest. At the event, the FAB 50's No. 10 team (and one of two among the current top 10 that has played an official game so far) also defeated Grayson, 75-72, in overtime. The Rams move up 17 spots in this week's rankings, despite the close loss to Wasatch Academy, because they are the top ranked team in Georgia's highest classification and own a 66-54 victory over No. 37 Sandy Creek (Tyrone, Ga.). Jabari Smith-led Sandy Creek, the top-ranked Class 3A club in the state, defeated previous No. 26 Pace Academy (Atlanta, Ga.), 63-59, to open its season at the On The Radar Tip-Off Classic. As a result of the four-point loss, coach Sharman White's club, the top-ranked in Class 2A, drops 20 spots in the updated rankings.

Besides the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Snellville, Ga., the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas has become appointment Thanksgiving basketball in the past few years. For the second consecutive season the event held games at American Airlines Arena, and this time around fans were treated to a victory by the local team in the marquee game. Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas) showed why its once again the front-runner to capture the UIL Class 6A title with a big 79-65 victory over Ypsi Prep (Ypsilanti, Mich.), which is led by Emoni Bates, the spectacular junior forward who came in as the fourth highest vote-getter in the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker. Bates finished with 28 points, but Duncanville's defensive effort (led by senior guard Juan Reyna) forced him to work hard for his point total. Duncanville got a big performance from sophomore forward Ron Holland (18 points, 16 rebounds) and was able to pull away down the stretch.

Coach David Peavy's club also owns wins over preseason Southwest Region ranked iSchool of Lewisville, Texas (77-70), Wagner of San Antonio, Texas (69-49) and Westlake of Austin, Texas (77-67). As a result of those quality wins, Duncanville is up seven spots to No. 16 in this week's rankings.

The teams that have already played games currently get the benefit of the doubt, so keep it in mind when viewing the latest FAB 50. The rankings will balance out from a geographical standpoint once more state associations (based on local government regulations and recommendations) allow their teams to begin playing. Already some states have delayed the beginning of practice and pushed back official start dates because of COVID-19 positive case rates.

Because of COVID-19, it's important to review how the myriad of results from around the country will impact this year's rankings.

??Games played before the official start date of the season will not count towards the FAB 50. We don't live in a vacuum, so we can see the results of fall league games and they could have an impact in how we position teams. One example is "Air Nado," a fall league outfit representing the roster at Coronado (Henderson, Nev.). Coach Jeff Kaufman's club has fared well so far, and as a result move up 13 spots in the new FAB 50. Its record is still reflected as 0-0 since the Nevada Interscholastic Activities Association (NIAA) still has not given winter sports the green light.

? Teams don't get to choose when they start the season and coaches don't get to choose or dictate which results count. Games after the official start date count in our won-loss records. A great showing at a fall league or unsanctioned event doesn't count in the same manner a poor showing doesn't. We've seen too often over the years where coaches claim victories, but wouldn't claim the same game to count towards their record if the result was a loss.

? Teams that lose players as a result of COVID-19 protocol, but still play a sanctioned game, will have that game counted toward their overall record. Missed games as a result of COVID-19 will be looked at as any other player injury. The player personnel loss will be taken into consideration with regards to a team's ranking position. A game not played as a result of COVID-19 protocol will be considered a default or "no-contest". It will not result in a loss for the team that had to cancel the game and/or a win for the team that was ready to play but was unable to because its opponent couldn't make the tip as a result of its COVID-19 situation.

? Teams will remain in the rankings as long as the governing body it belongs to or is associated with hasn't officially canceled its season. Already we've heard rumblings of a few associations that may cancel winter sports altogether, but until that happens a team will remain in the rankings at 0-0, unless we feel a team with games under its belt is deserving to go in and takes it place. Only after a state association cancels its season will a preseason ranked team be removed. If a state association decides to cancel the remainder of the season after it has begun, we will make the determination if the ranked team has enough game results to keep its spot in the FAB 50.

We hope all 50 states get their seasons in and complete them. The more realistic situation is all states getting at least its conference or league games in and having a version of its playoff tournament. The less than ideal situation is having the season coming to an abrupt halt and having to rank all the teams with a limited number of results.

The next FAB 50 update is scheduled for Monday, December 14.

RELATED:??Preseason 2020-21 FAB 50 National Rankings?| Preseason 2020-21 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker |

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at?[email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter:?@RonMFlores

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In Episode No. 48 of our In The Paint Show,"  co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland go hard on some of the early tournament and showcase results around the country and dish on NBA ratings and the USC football situation and how it relates to reporters striving to be first instead of accurate.

Dev goes in on how fans consume content and how that has changed over the years and how it has contributed to a 20 percent drop in NBA TV ratings. What is the main reason for the drop? Injuries to star players and the decline of the Golden State Warriors? Anthony Davis and Kawhi Leonard playing for West Coast teams? Consuming of NBA highlights on social media and the expense of watching full games?

With social media and the gradual decline of traditional newspaper coverage and journalism standards,  reporters are in such a hurry to be "first" with breaking news that sometimes accuracy takes a backseat. That appears to be the case with USC football coach Clay Helton, as it was announced on December 4 that he would be retained after social media posts from "reporters" surfaced over the weekend that he would be released of his duties. What can be done to change this reckless reporting and why do people continue to uses these "sources" of information?

Ron and Dev also go hard in the paint on the updated FAB 50 National Rankings and how the results from the Thanksgiving HoopFest in Dallas (Nov. 29-30), the BattleZone Tournament in SoCal and other tournaments affected the first regular season update. Preseason No. 21 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.) fell twice at the BattleZone Tourney and is the highest-rated among six teams to drop from the preseason poll. Can Rancho Christian bounce back? Will the Santa Clarita Christian team give No. 6 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) just as tough a game?

Speaking on Sierra Canyon, California's top-ranked club played at American Airlines Arena in front of over 12,000 fans when it defeated No. 25 Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas), 66-63. Based on how easily No. 2 Monverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) defeated Texas' top-ranked club, can Sierra Canyon play with any team in the country? Can Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.), which won the BattleZone Tourney, stay with the Trailblazers this year? Is Sheldon, the highest ranked newcomer at No. 36, better than it was last season?

Speaking of Sierra Canyon, many of the 12,000 plus fans wanted to see Bronny James and the hoopla surrounding this Sierra Canyon team. Will Bronny one game this season play in front of more fans (12,819) than his dad did when his St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) team visited SoCal in 2003 to take on state power Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)? Or will the novelty wear off?

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

The post "In The Paint" Podcast GOES IN on NBA TV Rantings, Big HSBB Games! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

By Ronnie Flores

Although some states have not yet opened up their 2019-20 campaign, Thanksgiving has become a must-see-hoops weekend across the country. Compiling the rankings 10 years ago, the results over Thanksgiving weekend were sporadic and not crucial. That's clearly not the case anymore, so it's a must to update the FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com for the first time during the regular season.

The interest in high school hoops over the holiday reached its crescendo this year, as over 12,000 fans piled into American Airlines Arena in Dallas on Saturday evening to see four-time FAB 50 champion Monteverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), the nation's preseason No. 2 ranked team, and star-studded Sierra (Canyon, Chatsworth, Calif.), the No. 6 team, do battle as part of the Thanksgiving Hoopfest.

Montverde played twice at the two-day event (with a majority of the games played at Sandra Meadows Arena in Duncanville) and came away with two impressive victories. On November 29, the Eagles downed preseason No. 28 Duncanville (Duncanville), 84-51, as four players scored in double figures, including 17 for Mr. Basketball USA candidate Day'Ron Sharpe and 15 for Oklahoma St.-bound Cade Cunningham, one of the leading national player of the year candidates who was playing in his hometown for the first time in a Montverde uniform. The next night at American Airlines Arena, No. 33 Yates proved to be no match for Montverde Academy without its full strength lineup and fell, 98-46.

The Yates-Montverde Academy game was a bit anti-climatic as the last game of the event following the matchup between Duncanville and Sierra Canyon. Sure, many curious onlookers wanted to get a glimpse of Sierra Canyon freshman reserve Bronny James, the son of the Los Angeles Lakers' superstar LeBron James, and the other celebrities in tow, but the added bonus was a terrific game that came down to the wire. Sierra Canyon pulled out a 66-63 victory behind 24 points and 10 rebounds from senior transfer B.J. Boston and 12 points from sophomore Amari Bailey.

The demand was great enough to see James and Sierra Canyon, plus Cunningham and Montverde against a Texas power, that Thanksgiving Hoopfest tournament director Glenn Smith moved the event's final four games to the home of the Dallas Mavericks after tickets sold out in 48 minutes when first available. It's easy to see that where ever Sierra Canyon plays this season, it will draw an overflow crowd and that it's going to take a special effort to knock off Montverde Academy.

Sharife Cooper went OFF for 52 points tonight!! @CooperSharife pic.twitter.com/xK0C7Z3TMS

— www.ebooksnet.com (@Ballislife) December 1, 2019

Despite the two losses, Duncanville moves up three spots in the first regular season rankings, as it took No. 6 Sierra Canyon down to the wire and also owns a 85-78 victory over The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) at the Cornerstone Shootout. The Rock is this week's highest ranked newcomer at No. 30. The Rock's second loss is to No. 15 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.), which also owns a 64-61 victory over the West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.) club that the Lions defeated in Sunshine Independent Athletic Association (SIAA) play.

Georgia On My Mind

There are over 20,000 programs playing high school basketball day in and day out, which gives one an idea of just how tough it is to crack the FAB 50 and just how tough it is for even ranked clubs to defeat the very best teams such as Montverde Academy and defending FAB 50 champ IMG Academy. Among the top 20 preseason ranked teams, there has only been one loss so far: a 76-74 overtime setback by preseason No. 8 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) to Combine Academy (Matthews, N.C.). The Warriors, who drop to No. 16 in the first regular season update, get their rematch with Combine Academy on December 11.

The Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta is the other event that has really took Thanksgiving weekend to the next level and Georgia teams continue to fare well versus regional and national competition. Not every state has played games, but if early results are any indication Peach State hoops is among the highest level of ball being played night in and night among various state ranked teams.

There are five Georgia teams in the new FAB 50, as Class AAAAAAA No. 1 Tri-Cities (East Point, Ga.) and Class AAAA No. 1 Woodward Academy (College Park, Ga.) join the mix. Woodward Academy defeated preseason No. 45 Millennium (Goodyear, Ariz.), 67-62, in the title game of the Kevin Brown Memorial Tournament of Champions in Washington, Ill. Millennium, which takes on Sierra Canyon this Saturday at Hoophall West in Scottsdale, Ariz., drops two spots in the updated rankings.

McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) is now riding a 38-game winning streak and is up to No. 9 in the FAB 50. The Indians, which finished No. 2 in the final rankings last year in a close call behind IMG Academy, got 44 points from returning first five All-American Sharife Cooper in a 87-79 win over state ranked Mayfair (Lakewood, Calif.). In his next game, a 99-75 triumph over Windsor Forest (Savannah, Ga.), the Auburn-bound point guard finished with 52 points, 13 assists and 10 rebounds.

The next FAB 50 update is scheduled for Monday, December 16 before the big holiday tournament tip-off around the country.

RELATED:  Preseason 2019-20 FAB 50 National Rankings | Preseason 2019-20 Mr. Basketball USA Tracker 

Updated FAB 50 National Team Rankings
Powered by www.ebooksnet.com

(First poll of 2019-20 regular season; Through games played on Sunday, December 1; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included)

Dropped Out: Previous No. 21 Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.); No. 24 Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.); No. 26 Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.); No. 33 Yates (Houston, Texas); No. 46 Faith Family Academy (Dallas, Texas); No. 50 Marion (Marion, Ark.).

Bubble Teams:  Beaumont United (Beaumont, Texas) 4-0; Beecher (Flint, Mich.) 0-0; Benton Harbor (Benton Harbor, Mich.) 0-0; Bloom (Chicago Heights, Ill.) 4-0; Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.) 0-1; Brooklyn Collegiate (Brooklyn, N.Y.) 2-0; Camden (Camden, N.J.) 0-0; Christian Brother’s (St. Louis, Mo.) 1-1; First Love Christian Academy (Washington, Pa.) 4-1; Gill St. Bernard’s (Gladstone, N.J.) 0-0; Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) 7-1; Guyer (Denton, Texas) 4-0; Lancaster (Lancaster, Texas) 2-2; Madison Prep (Baton Rouge, La.) 1-0; Madisonville-North Hopkins (Madisonville, Ky.) 0-0; Male (Louisville, Ky.) 1-0; Marion (Marion, Ark.) 2-2; Marshall County (Benton, Ky.) 1-0; Meridian (Meridian, Miss.) 6-1; Mount Si (Snoqualmie, Wash.) 0-0; Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 1-0; Overland (Aurora, Col.) 0-0; North Little Rock (North Little Rock, Ark.) 3-1; North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.) 4-0; Poly (Baltimore, Md.) 0-0; Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, Md.) 2-0; Sanford School (Hockessin, Del.) 0-0; Salesian (Richmond, Calif.) 0-0; Shadow Creek (Pearland, Texas) 8-0; St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio) 0-0; St. Raymond (Bronx, N.Y.) 0-0; Tampa Catholic (Tampa, Fla.) 0-0; Wildwood Catholic (North Wildwood, N.J.) 0-0; Windward (Los Angeles, Calif.) 5-0; Yates (Houston, Texas) 3-4.

Note: The FAB 50 powered by www.ebooksnet.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 20 years ago.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

The post 1st UPDATED Regular Season FAB 50 Rankings! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

In Episode No. 47 of our In The Paint Show,"  co-hosts Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland break down some of the top early-season high school basketball tournaments across the country and which players you can see at those respective events. The guys welcome special guest Glenn Smith, the Tournament Director of the Thanksgiving HoopFest in Dallas (Nov. 29-30), who gives an inside look at how his event went from a small-time local tournament to the big-time in the 11 years since its inception.

Ron and Dev also go hard in the paint on the preseason Mr. Basketball USA Tracker voting for National Player of the Year in high school hoops. Ronnie, the award's curator, opens up on the voting process, including how it all started and who is on the panel. Seven-foot forward Evan Mobley of FAB 50 No. 21 Temecula (Calif.) Rancho Christian is the early front-runner, leading second-leading vote-getter Cade Cunningham of No. 2 Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) by five points, 95-90, in the first preseason poll. Is Jalen Green of Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) too low? Who was snubbed? Who should be higher? Will Mobley be the wire-to-wire winner? Listen in to find out!

The guys close out with a look at the NBA and, in particular, if statistics are still the main barometer we should use when considering the top players in the history of the game. We're currently in the triple-double era of the league, with elite players like LeBron James, James Harden, Luka Doncic and many others turning in eye-popping stat lines each and every night. How much of that is just pure skill and how much can be attributed to the evolution of the game, especially from a defensive standpoint. Ron and Dev go into major detail on that in Episode 47!

To learn more about our hosts, Ronnie Flores and Devin Ugland, and to get more information about what "In The Paint" is all about, check out our intro below!

The post "In The Paint" Podcast GOES IN on Top Tourneys, Players! appeared first on www.ebooksnet.com.

By Ronnie Flores

Although some states have not yet opened up their 2018-19 campaign, there were enough big games and showcases in the past two weeks to update FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by www.ebooksnet.com for the first time in the regular season.

As hoops has tipped-off sooner around the country to be more aligned with schools' academic calendars, savvy tournament directors have made Thanksgiving weekend must-see hoops, particularly the Thanksgiving Hoopfest in Dallas and the Holiday Hoopsgiving in Atlanta. The big news from a rankings perspective came at the Thanksgiving Hoopfest, as preseason FAB 50 No. 17 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) upped its record to 4-0 with a big 71-55 victory over preseason No. 15 Guyer (Denton, Texas), the preseason top-rated team from the Lone Star State. Despite 21 points from Oklahoma-bound De'Vion Harmon, Guyer just didn't have enough inside to keep up with the talented Buffaloes. Power forward Jalyn Turner, a 6-foot-6 senior, had 12 points, while UCLA-bound Grant Sherfield had 11 points and seven rebounds. Sunrise Christian also got a impactful performance from elite 2020 big man N'Faly Dante, who finished with 11 points and could big the difference-maker in the Buffaloes' big games this season.

Unfortunately, Sunrise Christian Academy couldn't celebrate too long as tragedy struck Sunday evening after the team returned to the Wichita area. Bryce Cook, a 5-foot-7 dynamo headed to SMU who provides a big spark off the bench, reportedly suffered a stroke. He was found unresponsive, but was rushed to Wesley Medical Center in Wichita and is now recovering. According to reports, he has use of his extremities but coach Luke Barnwell wasn't available for further information on Monday.

?? Prayers up for BRYCE COOK!

The SMU commit was reportedly taken to a hospital after suffering a stroke #HeartOverHeight

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Sunrise Christian Academy Cracks Top 10

With its big win, the Buffaloes moved up nine spots into the Top 10 after preseason No. 5 University School (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.) opened up its season with a 92-82 setback to The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.). University School fell 12 spots in this week's rankings to a spot right behind Guyer, which only falls one spot from its preseason positioning because Sunrise Christian Academy may be that good. Besides, the talented unit now will be motivated to keep up the positive on-court play as Cook looks to recover off-the-court.

Two Georgia teams fell out of the FAB 50 and two bubble teams from the state move in, including No. 35 Meadowcreek (Norcross, Ga.) as the highest rated of the four newcomers to the first FAB 50 update of the regular season. Meadowcreek opened up its season with a 70-54 victory over No. 50 Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.), which handed preseason No. 11 Norcross (Nocross, Ga.) one of its two losses and also defeated preseason No. 35 Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta, Ga.) in overtime at the UA Hard In The Paint Classic. Norcross' 79-69 loss to Southwest DeKalb (Decatur, Ga.) is the one that knocked the Blue Devils from the FAB 50.

At the Holiday Hoopsgiving, Meadowcreek fell to No. 10 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah), 75-67, as guard Tre Wlliams scored 22 points for the talented independent club that is eyeing a berth in GEICO Nationals at the end of the season. Wheeler defeated Greater Atlanta Christian at the Holiday Hoopsgiving, 76-66, behind 20 points apiece from Charles Smith IV and Roscoe Eastmond.

Wasatch Academy and Sunrise Christian Academy will tangle on February 9 at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Nebraska, but in rankings terms, that is eons away and there will be plenty of results to digest between now and then as both teams play tough schedules.

Our next FAB 50 rankings update will be December 10 after some terrific showcase games the weekend of December 7-8.

RELATED:  Preseason 2018-19 FAB 50 National Rankings 

Updated FAB 50 National Team Rankings
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(First poll of 2018-19 regular season; Through games played on Sunday, November 25; Preseason ranking in parentheses; *Indicates forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Indicates forfeits and defaults not included

Dropped Out: Previous No. 11 Norcross (Norcross, Ga.), No. 35 Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta, Ga.), No. 40 Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.), No. 50 Independence (Charlotte, N.C.).

Bubble Teams:  Atascocita (Humble, Texas) 5-0; Bartlett (Bartlett, Tenn.) 6-0; Benton Harbor (Benton Harbor, Mich.) 0-0; Blue Valley Northwest (Overland Park, Kan.) 0-0; Callaway (Jackson, Miss.) 4-1; Carmel (Carmel, Ind.) 1-0; Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) 1-0; Cedar Falls (Cedar Falls, Iowa) 0-0; Central Plains (Claflin, Kan.) 0-0; Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.) 0-0; Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.) 0-0; Clark (Las Vegas, Nev.) 0-0; Creighton Prep (Omaha, Neb.) 0-0; Evanston (Evanston, Ill.) 4-0; Fairfax (Los Angeles, Calif.) 4-0; Grandview (Aurora, Col.) 0-0; Grandview (Grandview, Mo.) 0-0; Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) 4-1; Hall (Little Rock, Ark.) 2-1; Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.) 6-1; Hopkins (Minnetonka, Minn.) 0-0; Jefferson (Portland, Ore.) 0-0; Kennedy Catholic (Hermitage, Pa.) 0-0; La Crosse Central (La Crosse, Wis.) 0-0; Legacy Charter (Greenville, S.C.) 3-1; Maria Goretti (Hagerstown, Md.) 2-0; Memorial (Tulsa, Okla.) 3-1; Mission Bay (San Diego, Calif.) 0-0; Morgan Park (Chicago, Ill.) 1-0; Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) 0-0; Olympus (Salt Lake City, Utah) 0-0; Omaha Central (Omaha, Neb.) 0-0; Patrick School (Elizabeth, N.J.) 0-0; Pickerington Central (Pickerington, Ohio) 0-0; Pinnacle (Phoenix, Ariz.) 4-0; Rayville (Rayville, La.) 2-1; San Joaquin Memorial (Fresno, Calif.) 2-0; Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) 0-0; St. Benedict's (Newark, N.J.) 0-0; Teas Valley Christian Prep (Scott Depot, W. Va.) 5-0; Trinity (Louisville, Ky.) 0-0; Trinity Christian (Fayetteville, N.C.) 6-0; Washington (Milwaukee, Wis.) 1-0; Wesley Christian (Allen, Ky.) 5-2; Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) 0-0; West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.) 8-1.

Note: The FAB 50 powered by www.ebooksnet.com is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 19 years ago.

Ronnie Flores is the national Grassroots editor of www.ebooksnet.com. He can be reached at [email protected]. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores

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Vashon over South Garland 62-59

Cam'Ron Fletcher - 22pts, 9rebs, 2blks

Donyae McCaskill - 12pts

Kobe Clark finished - 10pts 5rebs

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Javonte Smart's father passed away when he was only 7-years old. Today would have been his birthday, and in his honor, Javonte wanted to score 44 points, which was the age of his father when he passed. He was on pace, scoring 23 points at the half, hitting 5 three's in the 1st quarter. But his hot hand just kept going in the second half and just went off for 60 points, breaking the Thanksgiving Hoopfest scoring record.

This was honestly one of the best offensive shows we've ever seen at Ballislife. Javonte torched Little Elm's defense and got the FT Line at will. After the game, the official book said 59 points but the Scotlandville book keeper had 64. I looked at both and wasn't sure which stats to go off of.

Not to be forgotten was the young cat RJ Hampton, who had 32 of his 40 points the 2nd half......my camera was burning from this heat. Enjoy

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LEADING SCORERS
Trae Young-33Pts
Marcus Garrett-18Pts (All in 2nd Half)

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LEADING SCORERS
PJ Washington-24Pts
Keonte Kennedy-30Pts
Lamine Diane-23PTs
Brock Cunningham-20Pts

Day1 of The Thanksgiving Hoopfest is in the books, with a surprise Overtime Game against Prep Powerhouse Findlay Prep. Austin Westlake is filled with Juniors, who let everyone in the gym know they're not scared of anyone...Also them boys can shoot! Here's the Raw Footage Game Recap.
 

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FINAL STATS
MacArthur 97-93 Norman North

Andrew Jones
37Pts (12-23FG),(3-7)3-Ptr,10Reb,7Ast,2Stl

Trae Young
33Pts (13-23FG),(6-11)3-Ptr,4Reb,6Ast,4Stl

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