ESPNHS Boys' Basketball

This year's ESPNHS Mr. Basketball USA debate had three worthy contenders -- UCLA-bound seniors Shabazz Muhammad of Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and Kyle Anderson of St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), plus junior Jabari Parker of Simeon (Chicago).

When the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel tallied its final expanded ballot, Muhammad led Parker by an 11-point margin.

Every year, there are many factors to consider, and it's always fun to look back on the picks as the college, and likely pro, careers of the top candidates plays out.

You've seen the numbers. Now read the opinions of the Mr. Basketball USA Tracker panel, and other prep basketball experts, about this year's national player of the year race.

Experts' Take

"With Jabari Parker we are talking about a very unique player and person. On the court, he influences every possession with his physical tools, versatile skills and basketball IQ. He has led his Simeon team to a state championship and a city title... They played a national schedule and only lost to Findlay Prep. As a young man, he is special because of his humbleness and work ethic on the floor. Off the court, he takes care of his school work and gives back to his community. Can be a difference maker in his next stop at the collegiate level with the ability and traits to be in the NBA."
-Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Director of Basketball Recruiting

"I'm a firm believer that the POY has to have a body of work to go with his pro potential. There are three candidates in my mind that have the combination of those two attributes in Shabazz Muhammad, Nerlens Noel and Kyle Anderson. No doubt that Noel is the top pro prospect of the trio with his ability to dominate the paint defensively. Anderson (is) the most versatile and a true winner at the high school level who players love to play with as he can really deliver the rock. But my choice for 2012 has to be Shabazz Muhammad. He competes at a close to 100 percent level in almost every game he performed in for Bishop Gorman. He's an explosive scorer who has blossomed offensively with the addition of a solid jumper from the arc, but it may be his approach to the game defensively, where he takes special pride in making big plays, that gives him the overall edge and makes him the top individual performer night in and night out. It is that consistency that sets him above the rest."
-Van Coleman, hot100hoops.com Editor

"I think Shabazz Muhammad earned that honor. We're talking about a guy every time he hits floor, he works harder than everyone else."
-Evan Daniels, Scout.com National Recruiting Analyst

"There are plenty of talented players in the 2012 senior class but nobody is as complete a player as Shabazz Muhammad. He's done it against all-comers and at all levels. He's simply the best player in the country."
-Jody Demling, Louisville Courier-Journal

"Shabazz has been dominant. If anyone starts to question him, he goes out and totally dominates. He doesn't take any prisoners."
-Clark Francis, Hoop Scoop Editor & Publisher

"Shabazz Muhammad is consistently the most productive player on the court. I have watched him progress since he first played at my TOC as a freshman. At that age he was playing up with rising seniors and showed no fear. He's competitive and confident and proved that year after year. His intensity level and desire is right there with guys like Michael Jordan and LeBron James."
-Bob Gibbons, All-Star Sports

"Every time I see Shabazz Muhammad, not only is he the most talented guy, but most competitive. He's focused and I love his energy."
-Jonathan Givony, Draftexpress.com President

"It's a tough call, but I give it to Shabazz (Muhammad). He's the top talent in the class, led his team to a state championship, put up numbers and met expectations. Kyle Anderson does great things for an unbeaten team, but nobody has passed Shabazz."
-Jerry Meyer, Rivals.com National Recruiting Analyst

"I know what a defensive game changer Nerlens Noel is, and he has been rapidly adding to his offensive skill package, but my vote for the class of 2012 POY goes to Shabazz Muhammad. Muhammad has dominated his class since he was a freshman. He is an elite athlete with a matching motor. A highlight waiting to happen on the break and finishes above the rim on all clear paths to the rim or in traffic. He is a big-time scorer off the bounce with powerful slashes from the wing and has improved as a 3-point shooter. Muhammad is also a multiple position defender and rebounds in and out of his area. He reminds me of Arkansas and NBA great Sidney Moncrief. Muhammad is the player other players in the class get up to play against and he still dominates. He plays extremely hard on both ends and has been productive on a consistent basis not for months, but years."

-Reggie Rankin, ESPN Recruiting

"To me, the two best players in the country are Jabari Parker and Shabazz Muhammad. It's hard to separate them, but they are the two best high school players right now."
-Don Showalter, Mid-Prairie (Wellman, Iowa) & 2011-12 USA Men's Developmental National Team coach.

"This was a tough year to pick a player of the year. Would love to give it to Muhammad or Noel, but I don't know how you give those two player of the year. When you talk about taking advantage of opportunity, Tyler Lewis is the most effective player in America. Lewis did it on a big stage, he's the best passer out there and did a good job of maintaining egos on Oak Hill's team."
-Patrick Stanwood, Patrick Stanwood Basketball

"My first inclination is to go with Kyle Anderson because he hasn't lost a high school game in two years and for most of the year, actually until this vote, I had him No. 1. I was swayed in a different direction after the week at McDonald's because of the sheer dominating effort and focus Shabazz Muhammad arrived in Chicago with. Combine that with his state championship and I could make the argument in his favor. Muhammad won and was sensational on a number of big stages and that doesn't take anything away from Anderson, whom I had been leaning toward the entire season."
-Dave Telep, ESPN Senior Basketball Recruiting Analyst

BETHESDA, Md. -- Instant analysis from No. 2 seed Montrose Christian’s (Rockville, Md.) 64-48 win over No. 7 seed Ravenscroft (Raleigh, N.C.) in the quarterfinals of the National High School Invitational at Georgetown Prep Thursday:

Overview: Montrose Christian, ranked No. 9 in the POWERADE Fab 50, caught fire early, draining three 3-pointers in the first quarter to claim an early 16-7 lead. Montrose forward Justin Anderson had two of his own and ramped up the defensive pressure to help the Mustangs force eight turnovers and keep the Ravens at bay for much of the first half.

Montrose shot 60 percent from the 3-point line in the first half. Then Mustangs went on a 9-0 run midway through the third that devastated Ravenscroft.

The Ravens started forcing tough, contested threes and folding under the Mustangs’ intense defensive pressure.

“We had to get our rhythm back because we hadn’t played in a long time,” said Montrose coach Stu Vetter. “But these guys are strong and they really battled. Our defensive intensity was the difference in the game. We picked up our momentum defensively and that’s what got it done.”

Turning Point: Up just 36-32 midway through the third quarter, Montrose forward Ishmail Wainright caught Yuri Togashi’s missed three off the rim and flushed it with authority, sending the Montrose-heavy crowd into a frenzy. On the next play, the Mustangs forced a turnover and found Anderson in the right corner for the three. Then, after another Ravenscroft turnover, Togashi threw Anderson an alley-oop in transition.

That sequence of events seemed to take the Ravens’ heart.

“Their physicality hurt us,” Ravenscroft coach Kevin Billerman said. “We’d cut it to four, but then they went on that explosion and that made it really tough for us.”

Key Player: Anderson was a matchup problem for the Ravens all night. When they sagged off he drained threes and when they pushed up on him he drove the lane and made plays. Anderson finished with 21 points, four rebounds and three assists.

“Justin’s one of the best players in the country,” Vetter said. “I’ve coached a lot of great players and he’s one of the best players I’ve ever coached. I think a lot of people have overlooked him as far as McDonald’s and Jordan All-American games. He’s one of the best players in the country without question.”

Ravenscroft guard Anton Gill drained two 3-pointers in the loss, tying the Ravenscroft record for career 3-pointers at 106, which had been held by Corwin Davis, who starred at Ravenscroft from 1997-2001.

Key Stat: The Ravens shot just 4 of 21 (19 percent) from the 3-point line in their loss. During the regular season they shot 34 percent and broke a school record for 3-pointers made with 138. The old record was 130.

“We haven’t played a game in 32 days,” Billerman said. “We’ve only had seven practices over that time so that’s rough. We had good looks, but we just couldn’t get them to fall.”

Up Next: The Mustangs will face No. 3 seed Montverde (Fla.) Friday (11:30 a.m. ET on ESPN2) in the semifinals. Montverde, ranked No. 12 in the POWERADE FAB 50, knocked off La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) 62-54 Thursday in the quarterfinals.

“They’re a great team,” Wainright said of Montverde. “They really play hard, and I’m looking forward to playing against them.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

Ever wonder what it’s like to be an elite high school basketball player? To be the object of affection for the country’s top-tier college programs? To be bombarded after games by autograph seekers and grant interviews several times a week to recruiting analysts who are dying to know what school you’re leaning toward?

What is that world really like?

ESPNHS has summoned the help of a highly rated recruit and granted him anonymity in order to bring you a raw and real account of just what goes on in their lives that doesn’t make the press clippings.

As told to Jason Jordan.

What's good, y'all.

You already know by now it’s Recruit X, and this time I want to talk about all of the perks that we, as star players, get.

I know a lot of people out there already believe that we’re treated a little better than the regular students, so that’s nothing new. All I’m gonna do is talk about exactly what we get.

People think they know things, but all they’re really doing is guessing. Most of the things people think we get are a little over the top.

I’ll say this, though; sometimes I am shocked at how nice people are to me just because I am good at basketball. I mean I’m a nice guy, too, but I know most of it is because I’m a good basketball player.

I remember one time I went to the store to get groceries, and the clerk didn’t make me pay for any of it. It was a good amount of groceries, too, but they said “it was already taken care of” and for me not to worry about it.

That kind of stuff happens at clothing stores, too, here where I’m at. It’s like everyone wants to be down with you because of who you are. In school it’s even worse.

The teachers definitely look out for me with my schoolwork. I’m already a pretty smart guy, but I definitely get even better grades from some teachers.

And I can’t tell you how many times people ask to do my homework for me. It’s crazy because it’s like they won’t take no for an answer. The thing you have to be careful about is to learn the work because you still have to take the SATs.

It’s like everyone in my city wants a piece of me.

I definitely know why and don’t consider those people real friends, but it’s hard not to take advantage of all of the attention.

Girls get me stuff all the time. Anything. They just want to be associated with me because I have a name. It’s crazy.

I’m not bragging, it just is what it is. A lot of people want to know about the perks of being in my position, and these are the basic perks.

Well, that’s all for this one, guys.

I know there are some people who hate on me being honest, but I don’t care. It’s just something I wanted to do to give the fans a real look at our lives.

If you can’t respect that, that’s on you.

Check y’all later.

Rodney Purvis | Senior | Shooting Guard | Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)

Purvis Blog 1 | Purvis Blog 2 | Purvis Blog 3 | Purvis Blog 4 | Purvis Blog 5 | Purvis Blog 6 | Purvis Blog 7 | ESPNHS - North Carolina

Rodney Purvis is the No. 6 shooting guard in the ESPNU 100. Purvis, a senior at Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), ended one of the hottest recruitments of the summer in late September by picking North Carolina State. He's agreed to give ESPNHS exclusive access to his life and chronicle his thoughts in a monthly blog.

What’s up world.

It’s your boy Rodney Purvis again, and as you probably already know by now I’m a Jordan Brand All-American! I’m really excited about making this game because it’s been a dream of mine for a long time now.

My bro John Wall played in this game and my bro Dezmine Wells did, too. When I told them about making the game they both said that they were proud of me and that they wanted to see me do my thing.

I’m honored and blessed to be a part of this game. Michael Jordan is the greatest so I’m looking forward to meeting him.

I was at school when I got the text from one of the Nike guys saying that I was picked for the game. I was so excited for the rest of the day I couldn’t even think straight.

I was shocked. I’ve never been the type of player to think I automatically will be given things because I’ve always had to work for it. I just thanked him and called my mom immediately. Of course she was excited too.

I’m looking forward to seeing all of the guys down there at Jordan. I haven’t really seen most of the guys since the summer in AAU. I know we’ll have a good time together.

My bros Kyle Anderson and Shabazz Muhammad are coming so I already know we’re gonna be buggin’ out the whole time.

I know that a lot of people will come out to watch the game and I’m hoping a lot of N.C. State fans can make the game too. I would love to see guys who have played in this game in the past like John and Kemba Walker come back and watch us. That would be cool.

I don’t really have any expectations about stats or anything like that. I just want to make an impact on the game and leave my mark.

That’s it.

As always, thanks for reading my blog and check back soon for my next entry.

Take care y’all.

Don't forget to follow Rodney Purvis on Twitter: @RPurvis_5

Ever wonder what it’s like to be an elite high school basketball player? To be the object of affection for the country’s top-tier college programs? To be bombarded after games by autograph seekers and grant interviews several times a week to recruiting analysts who are dying to know what school you’re leaning toward?

What is that world really like?

ESPNHS has summoned the help of a highly rated recruit and granted him anonymity in order to bring you a raw and real account of just what goes on in their lives that doesn’t make the press clippings.

As told to Jason Jordan.

What’s up, world!

It’s Recruit X again.

A lot of people want to know why I agreed to do this, and it’s to give you all a look inside of our lives and let you see what’s really going on. I can’t give my name for obvious reasons.

I was shocked at how hard it was for people to believe the first blog about recruiting visits. That happens on almost every visit.

A lot of people ask me about my school list, and they always want to know if players are offered money while they’re being recruited. That’s something that everyone wonders about.

Well, I’m getting recruited by a lot of top schools and I can tell you that not every school offers players money. But, in all honesty, I was offered money once by a coach over the phone.

It was a regular call and he was saying what all coaches say, stuff like “we really want you here” and “we want to use you in our offense in a big way,” and so I just kept listening like I always do.

I don’t know if the coach didn’t think I was really feeling the school or that I wasn’t really listening, but out of nowhere he said that he’d be willing to pay to get me. I thought it was a joke and I didn’t respond, but then he said it again and I could tell that he was serious.

He said he would be willing to pay if I was ready to make a commitment to the school and that there were ways to do that. I was honestly a little shocked. I had heard that this kind of stuff went on, but this was the first and only time that it had happened to me.

It was really awkward because I just didn’t know what to say. I was quiet for a while on the phone, then finally I just told him that I didn’t want to do that and I was still weighing my options out and I wasn’t ready to give a commitment to any school.

He never said how much money or anything like that.

I know that some of my friends have told me similar stories and it’s not hard to believe anymore. I can’t say that all schools offer money, but some schools definitely do.

I don’t think that I would’ve taken the money, but I can’t knock other players whose families need the money if they take it knowing that that’s the school that they want to go to anyway. I know what the rules say, but it happens every year.

Anyway, that’s all I’ve got for now. Check back next time.

Recruit X is out!

Rodney Purvis | Senior | Shooting Guard | Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.)

Purvis Blog 1 | Purvis Blog 2 | Purvis Blog 3 | Purvis Blog 4 | Purvis Blog 5 | Purvis Blog 6 | ESPNHS - North Carolina

Rodney Purvis is the No. 5 shooting guard in the ESPNU 100. Purvis, a senior at Upper Room Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.), ended one of the hottest recruitments of the summer in late September by picking North Carolina State. He's agreed to give ESPNHS exclusive access to his life and chronicle his thoughts in a monthly blog.

What’s up world, it’s your boy Rodney Purvis and I’m back with my latest blog entry.

Right now we’re well in to our season and things are going great because we’re winning. We’re in a good spot right now. Everyone’s playing together as a team and we’re really starting to click.

We had one of the biggest wins in our history recently against Ravenscroft here in Raleigh. I was really proud of the way that we played. We were really well prepared for that game because we watched a lot of film on them coming into the game and we really executed our game plan perfectly.

I had 25 in the game and I’m averaging 27 points, six rebounds and five assists this year. I feel like I’m playing well, but I’m never satisfied. I want to raise my level of play from this point on out.

I know the McDonald’s Nominees list came out recently and I just feel so honored to even be nominated. That’s a historic game that every high school player wants to be a part of so I’d feel really honored if I’m picked to play in that game.

That goes for the Jordan Brand Classic too. That’s right here in my state and it’s grown so much over the last few years. It’s a game that John (Wall) was a part of and I told him that I want to have the chance to play in every game that he was a part of. It would be an honor to play in a game that’s endorsed by the greatest player to ever play the game.

Of course I’ve been watching my boys at N.C. State play this season a lot and I feel like they’re playing great. I think they’ve all bought in to what Coach (Mark) Gottfried is trying to do. The one thing that I notice when I go to games and when I watch is that the chemistry is at a high level. All the guys love playing together and that’s helped out a lot.

Another big reason that we’re playing better is that Lorenzo Brown has really transitioned to the point guard position well and he’s got the team rolling. He just does whatever we need him to do in order to get the win.

That’s the kind of attitude you need from your point guard.

I’m excited about where we can finish this year in the ACC. I think that we can definitely finish in the top three and I’m predicting that this is definitely the year that we get to the NCAA Tournament.

I truly think that we’ve got a chance to win the conference this year, and you just never know what happens when you get to the NCAA Tournament. I wouldn’t overlook my boys though, I’ll tell you that.

Of course we’re still trying to add to our class for next year and at the top of that list is Amile Jefferson. I think we’re close with him and I know that a lot of good schools are trying to get him so we’ll have to wait and see.

I don’t really talk to him regularly. I’m the guy who gives recruits their space to make their own decision. I hope he comes to join the Pack though.

Of course by now you know that I made it to the ESPNHS Fans’ Choice Final Four and I’m going head-up with Nerlens Noel.

I need you guys to click here and vote for me as many times as you can.

I love that my other two bros Julius Randle and Shabazz Muhammad are in the other bracket. It’s hard to decide who I’m throwing my support behind. I know that Julius will definitely be in the running again next year though.

I kind of want to go against Shabazz anyway. Plus we’re both seniors and it would be cool to see two seniors go head-to-head to see who wins it all in their last year.

If it comes down to me and Shabazz, I don’t know who wins that one. We’ll just have to see.

But again go vote for me here.

Of course I try to catch my NBA games when I can. I love watching my bro John, of course, Chris Paul, Mo Williams and Derrick Rose.

I think the Miami Heat have the best chance to be the champs in the end though.

Well, that’s all I’ve got for now everyone. Thanks, as always, for reading my blog and be sure to check back soon for my next entry.

Take care.

Don't forget to follow Rodney Purvis on Twitter: @RPurvis_5

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- There are so many things that make Kyle Anderson a typical 18-year-old high school basketball player: He’s an avid hip hop fan, he’s a social media junkie and he rocks Beats by Dre headphones prior to games.

The one thing that makes him a bit different is that he doesn’t pay attention to rankings of any kind.

Seriously.

“I’m telling you, man,” Anderson said, “I don’t look at that kind of stuff.”

It's obvious the St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) senior point guard knows that statement might raise a few eyebrows, so he adds a quick follow-up to reinforce his claim.

“I swear I don’t get in to all that stuff,” said Anderson, a UCLA signee who is ranked No. 5 in the ESPNU 100. “That’s for other people to decide. All we do is go out there and play as hard as we can. We stay focused on that.”

The Friars, ranked No. 4 in the POWERADE FAB 50, will need that focus today when they face No. 34 Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., at 11 a.m. ET on ESPNU.

“We look at the polls at the end of the year,” St. Anthony coach Bobby Hurley Sr. said. “Other than that, I don’t really put any thought into where we’re ranked and things like that. It doesn’t matter to me.”

That said, Hurley was “aware” that fresh off of an undefeated (33-0) season and a No. 1 final ranking in the 2010-11 FAB 50, his Friars began this season ranked No. 9. After some digging, Anthony fessed up to “not really understanding” how they were ranked so low after a perfect season.

“I didn’t really get it,” Anderson said. “But that’s what I mean, that’s why I don’t really keep up with those things because it’s someone’s opinion. I’m sure that there are some teams that are better than us, but eight teams? Do I agree with that? Nah.”

To be fair, St. Anthony lost Myles Mack, an ESPNHS first team All-American who averaged 15.2 points and 3.6 assists per game last season. Mack is now a freshman at Rutgers averaging 10.2 points and 2.1 assists per game for the Scarlet Knights.

Still, you get the sense that Anderson has drawn the conclusion that the eight-spot drop in the preseason was the voters’ way of saying that he alone wasn’t enough, even if he is putting up 17.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists per game for the Friars.

“Kyle is the most versatile player in the country,” said Miller Grove coach Sharman White. “He’s the guy and he’s been the guy. If we’re not able to slow him down or stop him from getting into a groove, then it’s going to be a long day. I’m not sure why St. Anthony was slighted in the rankings from the beginning, but I know that Kyle and Coach Hurley will only use that as motivation.”

White is exactly right. Anderson said he and the Friars have come to relish the role of the underdog.

“It’s a new situation for us, but we love it,” Anderson said. “A lot of people are overlooking us, and that’s fine. It’s like people don’t see us coming, but we’re definitely coming. We’re definitely coming.”

And everyone will have to pay attention to that.

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Notre Dame Prep (Fitchburg, Mass.) guard Myles Davis knew he’d have to step up.

When Steven Adams, a senior center who is signed to Pittsburgh, caught an inadvertent elbow midway through the first quarter, which sidelined him for the rest of the first half, Davis took it upon himself to fill Adams’ void.

“We knew that we’d have to step up because he was really a presence down there for us,” said Davis, a senior who is signed to Xavier. “I knew I’d have to knock down shots to separate us.”

He did.

Davis scored 24 points to lead the Crusaders past New Hampton Prep (New Hampton, N.H.) 55-49 Sunday at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Adonis Filer scored 11 points and Sam Cassell Jr. added eight for Notre Dame. Jared Terrell led the Huskies with 17.

“I thought we played pretty well considering that we were coming off of a big game against a team like Tilton just yesterday,” said Cassell, a senior. “We weren’t tired or anything, but we just came together to get this win. We wanted to get out and run.”

That was evident from the beginning.

Eight of the Crusaders’ 14 first quarter points were in transition. Cassell drained back-to-back 3-pointers to extend that lead, 17-4, early in the second quarter.

Still, Terrell knocked down two 3-pointers of his own in the second quarter to keep the Huskies within striking distance at the half, 25-17.

New Hampton shot just 23 percent from the field in the first half and committed seven turnovers.

“We wanted to turn it up even more in the second half,” Cassell said.

The Crusaders led by as many as 13 in the second half, and answered every run the Huskies threw at them. Every time they would come to within five points, Notre Dame would go on a mini-run of its own.

“That’s what we do,” Cassell said. “Sometimes we’re a little slower, but we end up getting it going when we need to.”

Adams returned in the second half, and though he was visibly playing through pain, he provided a big defensive presence for the Crusaders. He finished with five points and four rebounds.

It was Adams’ second game with Notre Dame. He moved here recently from New Zealand and is a player with 2013 NBA lottery hype.

“It’s been fun,” said Adams, who stands 6-foot-11. “I feel like I’m adjusting pretty well. I was happy to get a win.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- St. Mark’s (Southborough, Mass.) forward Nik Stauskas had an epiphany while he sat inside the Lions’ locker room at halftime of their game against Friends' Central (Wynnewood, Pa.).

“If we could just continue getting the ball inside to Kaleb (Tarczewski) things would be a lot easier,” said Stauskas, a senior who is signed to Michigan. “That’s what we focused on. That’s where I felt we’d have the best chance to win.”

Good call.

Tarczewski, a 7-foot senior, scored 22 points and grabbed six rebounds to lead the Lions past the Phoenix 67-57 Sunday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Stauskas chipped in with 16 points and Jaymie Spears added 15 for the Lions. Conrad Chambers led the Phoenix with 19 points.

“They didn’t have much size down there and we knew that working inside-out was the best plan,” said Tarczewski, an Arizona signee who is ranked No. 6 in the ESPNU 100. “Amile (Jefferson) was their tallest player (6-foot-9) and he picked up two fouls early and they left him in so he was trying not to foul out. That’s when we really started rolling.”

The Lions jumped ahead early behind the hot hand of Spears, who drained two 3-pointers in the first quarter to give St. Mark’s a 14-11 lead.

The Lions extended their matchup zone in the second quarter, which wreaked havoc on the Phoenix and Tarczewski and Stauskas combined to score 11 points in the final two minutes of the half to give the Lions a 32-24 lead.

St. Mark's forced eight first-half turnovers.

“We really buckled down defensively and forced them into situations where they weren’t as comfortable,” Stauskas said. “I felt like we would have to turn up our defensive pressure even more in the second half.”

The Lions started punishing Friends' Central in the paint in the third quarter, pumping the ball inside to Tarczewski who, often times, managed to either get fouled or finish with an easy layup or dunk.

Then midway through the fourth quarter, Spears swiped a steal from Karonn Davis and took it the other way for the score and came back on the next play and drained a three to extend the Lions’ lead to an insurmountable 13 points.

“They’re a tough team and obviously Kaleb is a big body down there,” said Jefferson, a senior forward who is ranked No. 24 in the ESPNU 100. “That gave us a lot of problems all game, but we continued to fight. We definitely could’ve played a lot better, but I was proud of my team for continuing to fight.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- St. Thomas More (Oakdale, Conn.) shook off a slow start and began clicking on all cylinders in the second half to roll past Wilbraham & Monson (Wilbraham, Mass.), 71-60, Sunday in the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

St. Thomas More’s Ky Howard led the Chancellors with 16 points and four assists. Chier Ajou added 14 points and six rebounds in the win.

Read the rest of this story here.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Kris Jenkins is used to being the little big man who’s got to contend with the human skyscrapers night in and night out.

At 6-foot-5, Jenkins, a junior forward at Gonzaga College (Washington, D.C.), isn’t going to win a jump ball or fly over his defender for a monster slam, but by the end of the game he finds different ways to outplay his man.

“I’m just really confident in my abilities on the court,” Jenkins said. “I think the game through and I find weaknesses that I’m able to expose. That’s worked for me my whole career.”

It worked again Saturday.

Jenkins scored 30 points and grabbed 11 rebounds to lead the Eagles, ranked No. 9 in the POWERADE FAB 50, past No. 50 Riverside (Reserve, La.) 77-65 at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Nate Britt chipped in with 16 points and Ricardo Gathers led Riverside with 22 points and eight rebounds.

“It’s another great win for our team,” said Britt, a junior point guard who is committed to North Carolina. “We just came out and forced the tempo and the best part was we finished even stronger than we started.”

Jenkins got going early, scoring 17 points and grabbing seven rebounds in the first half to give the Eagles a 36-29 lead at the half.

The Eagles shot 66 percent in the second half and forced 12 turnovers to secure the comfortable win over the Runnin’ Rebels.

Britt said that three years ago when the Eagles won the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference they went in to conference play undefeated.

“It’s just like our scenario this season,” Britt said. “I really feel like wins like these over great competition gives us the confidence we need to make it happen this year.”

Added Jenkins: “We really believe that this is the year that we win it. This win just builds us as a team.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. – La Verne Lutheran (La Verne, Calif.) forward Grant Jerrett had to make an adjustment.

In the first half of the Trojans’ game against St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), Jerrett couldn’t find a way through their zone double team designed to eliminate his effectiveness.

“They did a really good job,” said Jerrett, a senior who is signed to Arizona. “I knew that I had to step through better, and once I did that I was able to get it going.”

Jerrett scored 30 points and grabbed 12 rebounds to lead the Trojans past the Celtics, 68-66, in overtime Saturday at the Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

Eric Cooper Jr. added 17 points and five rebounds and Elijah Davis led St. Patrick with 25 points and 11 rebounds.

“It was a great win for our team,” said La Verne Lutheran coach Eric Cooper Sr. “Just to come out here at a quality event like this and get a win really separates us and keeps us moving toward where we want to be.”

Neither team could separate itself in the first half, but the Celtics rode the hot hand of Jared Nickens to who knocked down three 3-pointers in route to 11 first half points to give St. Patrick a 29-25 lead, despite committing 10 turnovers.

“It’s just two great teams playing,” Jerrett said. “Sometimes it’s hard to shake people. We knew that it would come down to the wire just by the way the game was going.”

Late in the fourth quarter, Cameron Osorno drained a corner 3-pointer with the shot clock winding down to give Lutheran a two-point lead. The Trojans could only increase that lead to three down the stretch and with 7.1 seconds left in the game, DeAndre Bembry drained a 3-pointer from the left corner to send the game to overtime.

Both teams traded baskets for most of the overtime period, but in the last minute Jerrett threw down a monster dunk, sent Davis’ layup flying, secured a key rebound and knocked down two free throws to secure the win.

“I knew I’d have to come up big if we were gonna get the win,” Jerrett said. “I’m just glad that I was able to make big plays down the stretch. It’s a great win.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. -- Wayne Selden can anticipate that it’s coming, and he’s prepared to be proactive in order to explain.

“You wanna talk about the loss to Brewster Academy?” he asked. “Maaan, that was a crazy game.”

Selden goes on to list the reasons Tilton (N.H.) fell in overtime, 84-78, at Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.) on Dec. 11. He reels off everything from the calls not going the Rams’ way to the fact that they were missing shooting guard Dominique Bull, a senior who has signed with Missouri.

Then there’s that whole conspiracy theory about the Rams actually winning at the end of regulation per the stat sheet. Selden said he was told by a scorekeeper that Tilton should have actually won by one after the fourth quarter.

Home cooking?

“I know it sounds like a lot of excuses,” said Selden, a sophomore shooting guard who is ranked No. 10 in the ESPNU 25. “But that really added to why we didn’t win. I admit, though, we still should’ve won the game. I cannot wait to play them again. I want to play them right now. Let’s go to the gym now.”

He won’t have to wait long.

Round 2 of the bitter, intense rivalry will commence at the Spalding Hoophall Classic on Sunday at 4 p.m. ET on ESPN.

“We definitely don’t make excuses, but that game was, let’s just say, different,” said Tilton center Nerlens Noel, a junior who is ranked No. 2 in the ESPNU 60. “I think being on a neutral court, the outcome will be a lot different. Either way, it will be very intense.”

Brewster Academy senior swingman T.J. Warren lit Tilton up for 32 points in the overtime win, and over the last month he’s heard all of the excuses that the Tilton players gave for the loss. But Warren anticipates more of the same.

“It will be another intense game with a lot of trash talking I’m sure,” said Warren, an NC State signee who is ranked No. 23 in the ESPNU 100. “I know both teams will give their best shot. The only difference this time is we want to beat them by 30. That’s just our mindset.”

The Bobcats weren’t far from that in the first meeting, leading by as many as 22 points in the first half before the Rams staged a furious comeback to force overtime. That’s all the proof Noel needed to convince himself that Tilton could come away with the win Sunday.

Noel and Selden have yet to win against Brewster in their two years at Tilton.

“We turned it on when we needed to, but then I fouled out before the end of the fourth quarter,” Noel said. “I know the game would’ve gone different had I not fouled out. I can’t remember fouling out of a game in forever, but I fouled out there. But like I said, we’ll just have to leave no doubt about who’s better this time. It’s what a rivalry is all about.”

Brewster Academy coach Jason Smith downplays the whole idea of a rivalry with Tilton, pointing out that New Hampton Prep (N.H.) is the Bobcats' true rival.

“That’s not to knock Tilton, but it’s just another game for us,” Smith said. “We’ve been fortunate enough to be ranked No. 1 all year among polls that include five-year prep schools. Tilton is obviously a great team, but we look at it as an opportunity to prove that we’re the top team in the country.”

Selden and Noel have the same goal, and the fact that they could potentially do it on national TV “is just the icing on the cake.”

“We couldn’t have asked for a better scenario,” Selden said. “This game is something that I have been so ready for after the last one. No more talking after this one. We’ll let the whole country decide who’s better.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

WHEELING, W.Va. -- Things couldn’t get any worse for Nate Britt.

Here his Gonzaga College High School (Washington, D.C.) team was lucky to be down three to Whitney Young (Chicago) at the half and Britt had contributed just one steal and one foul.

“It was my worst first half of the year I’d say,” said Britt, a junior point guard who is committed to North Carolina and ranked No. 15 in the ESPNU 60. “I knew we needed to pick it up, but I just couldn’t get it going. I’ve been in a slump the last few games. We were gonna need someone else to step up.”

Enter Kris Jenkins.

The junior forward used his quickness and relentless motor to dominate Whitney Young’s frontcourt to the tune of 21 points and seven rebounds to help Gonzaga (10-0), ranked No. 11 in the POWERADE FAB 50, roll past the Dolphins (6-4) 54-44 Saturday night at the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va.

Jordan Abdur-Ra’oof chipped in with 10 points for Gonzaga, and Jahlil Okafor, who is ranked No. 3 in the ESPNU 25, led Whitney Young with 16 points and eight rebounds.

“I definitely noticed that we needed a boost,” said Jenkins, who was named Most Valuable Player. “They were a lot bigger than me, but I felt like I could beat them with my first step and that worked for me. That was a tough win, but we found a way to get it done.”

The Dolphins jumped on Gonzaga early by pumping the ball inside to Okafor, who overpowered the Eagles' front court scoring 10 points in the first half to give the Dolphins a slim 32-29 lead at the half.

Gonzaga couldn’t get anything going offensively in the first half. They shot just 34 percent from the floor and went 1-of-8 from the 3-point line.

The lone bright spot was Jenkins whose 16 first half points kept them within striking distance.

“We couldn’t hit anything,” Britt said. “We’re usually a lot better shooting the ball so I don’t know what was going on there. Jahlil was killing us in the first half so what we really talked about was turning it up defensively in the second half. We felt like that’s where we’d have the best chance to win.”

By the end of the third quarter, Gonzaga’s intense defensive pressure had caused Whitney Young to commit 18 turnovers. The Eagles only had three.

Midway through the fourth quarter they’d turned those giveaways into a 19-6 run, a deficit the Dolphins couldn’t recover from.

“We know that Whitney Young is a great team and Jahlil is a great player,” Jenkins said. “And they play a tough schedule so we knew that their record didn’t mean anything at all. We are really happy to come away with the win. It’s huge for our program and to do it on national TV was really special.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.

Jabari Parker knows that, on the most basic level, when you’re the No. 1 team in the POWERADE FAB 50 every team who’s not you is trying to be you.

“Every team’s goal is to be No. 1,” said Parker, a junior swingman at Simeon (Chicago). “So it’s something that we’re used to at this point. We’ve had to deal with it all year.”

Still, when facing a team whose fall from grace included four straight losses and a 32-spot plunge in the rankings, Parker knows the focus and motivation will be at an immeasurable high.

“Miller Grove (Lithonia, Ga.) will be the toughest test of the season,” said Parker, the top-ranked player in the ESPNU 60. “They have a great team across the board. It will be a war.”

The two teams match up in the Cancer Research Classic in Wheeling, W.Va., at 8 p.m. ET Saturday on ESPN2. Fans can watch a live broadcast online at Watch ESPN.

The game was originally billed as the battle for the top spot, but Miller Grove, which began the season ranked No. 2, suffered a four-game skid, including losses to No. 2 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), Riverside Academy (Reserve, La.), No. 24 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) and No. 33 Lake Wales (Lake Wales, Fla.).

That dropped the Wolverines to No. 34 in the current rankings.

“Obviously, we’re not happy with dropping those games, but we’re not dwelling on it at all,” said Miller Grove coach Sharman White. “It’s behind us. We’re 100 percent focused on what we’ve got to do to beat Simeon. We’re hungry to get back on track, and what better way than against the No. 1 team in the country?”

And therein lies the key factor that concerns Simeon coach Robert Smith.

Even though every team wants to prove itself against the country’s No. 1 squad, none of those teams can say they were ranked No. 2 just 22 days ago.

“You look at them on paper and they’re definitely good enough to be No. 1,” Smith said of Miller Grove. “They’ve had a tough schedule and we know that they’re going to be ready to beat us. We need challenges like this.”

Simeon got its biggest challenge of the season on Dec. 30, pulling out a 48-47 nail-biter over Peoria Manual (Peoria, Ill.) in the Pontiac Holiday Tournament semifinals.

Parker scored 21 points, including the team’s last nine, and grabbed 12 rebounds. The Chi-Town Wolverines came up with big stops in the final two minutes to sneak away with the win.

It’s just the kind of victory Smith said his team needed headed into the Miller Grove game.

“I loved that we got that test,” Smith said. “It wasn’t something we were used to, but in the end we found a way to pull out the win. You’ve got to know how to win when you’re not clicking on all cylinders, and that’s something we accomplished with that win.”

In order to have a similar result against Miller Grove, Parker said the key is to stop Tony Parker, Miller Grove’s dominant power forward who’s averaging 18 points and 14 rebounds a game.

“We’ve got to keep him off of the offensive glass and deny the ball really well against Tony,” Jabari Parker said. “I played against him on the AAU circuit and watched him play enough to know that once he catches the ball in the paint it’s an automatic two points. So we’ve really got to key in on him.”

White has similar concerns with Jabari Parker, who’s pumping in 25 points and 11 rebounds a game, but stops short of saying his team’s defensive focus will be solely on him.

“They’ve got too many weapons with Steve Taylor and the other guys,” White said. “I feel like that hurt us in the game against Bishop Gorman. We keyed in on Shabazz Muhammad and let the role players have career nights. We will play smart defense and be aware of all of their players.”

Added Jabari Parker: “It will come down to execution on both ends. I think this will be one of those games that we’ll have to be almost flawless in our execution in order to win. So that’s what we plan to do.”

Jason Jordan is the basketball editor for ESPNHS. He can be reached at jason.x.jordan.-ND@espn.com. Don't forget to follow him on Twitter: @JayJayESPN.