After two seasons of a divided house in the MaxPreps high school basketball rankings, we are reopening the Xcellent 25 to all-comers.
While there is merit to recognizing the advantages and limitations of programs across the country, the proliferation of crossover games between teams in our Xcellent 25 and now-defunct Academy Top 10 would suggest coaches are eager to measure themselves against the best regardless of those factors.
The new-look/old-look Xcellent 25 will reflect that desire by returning to an all-encompassing approach to identifying the top high school basketball teams in the United States.
Below is a look at past MaxPreps national champions:
2013 – Xcellent 25:
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah), Academy Top 10:
Montverde Academy (Fla.)2012 – Xcellent 25:
St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), Academy Top 10:
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.)2011 – St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)2010 – Yates (Houston)2009 – Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)Click through to begin sizing up this year's contenders with in-depth previews for all the nation's elite in our
Preseason Xcellent 25 High School Basketball Rankings presented by the Army National Guard.