A detailed listing of the all-time No. 1 nationally-ranked high school basketball teams. Montverde Academy becomes the first repeat mythical national champion in the last 20 years.
Note: The Grassroots Hoops FAB 50 is a continuation of the National Sports News Service ratings that began in 1952. These were the first national high school rankings and they were compiled by the late Art Johlfs of Minnesota. They were compiled for many years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 14 years ago.
(Each school listed with win-loss record, head coach and source of ranking. Rankings key: ESPN – POWERADE/ESPN RISE FAB 50; Rivals – Rivals FAB 50; SS – Student Sports FAB 50; Fox – Fox FAB 50; USA – USA Today Super 25; NPP – National Prep Poll — The Associated Press, ESPN, The Sporting News; NSNS – National Sports News Service; BW – Basketball Weekly.)
FAB 50 ERA
2014 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (27-1*); HC-Kevin Boyle; SS-USA-NPP.–The Eagles defeated No. 3 Oak Hill Academy 71-62 in the finals of the Dick’s Sporting Goods National High School Tournament to capture their second consecutive mythical national title. Montverde Academy becomes the first repeat national champion in the FAB 50/National Prep Poll era since Oak Hill Academy in 1993-94. The Eagles’ championship at Dick’s Nationals capped off a season in which it beat 16 teams that were at some point ranked or included in the final FAB 50. That does not include Huntington Prep of West Virginia, which it defeated in the Dick’s Nationals semifinals, or Curie of Chicago, which beat the Eagles on the court only to have that game forfeited later on in the season. As it did the previous season, coach Kevin Boyle lined up a daunting schedule in late December and January and the Eagles came away 10-1 on the court playing around the country against some of the nation’s top teams. Montverde Academy also captured the tournament title at the prestigious City of Palms Classic. Boyle’s club wasn’t as strong on the interior as it 2013 club, but junior Ben Simmons had a breakout campaign. He averaged 20.3 points and 10.7 rebounds per game at the Dick’s Nationals while McDonalds’ All-American shooting guard D’Angelo Russell often took over point guard duties and led the team in crunch time. In all, Boyle’s club carried seven Division I bound seniors.
2013 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) (26-2); HC-Kevin Boyle; SS-USA-NPP.–The Eagles defeated No. 22 Oak Hill Academy of Virginia (77-71, OT), Prime Prep Academy of Dallas (57-55) and No. 2 St. Benedict’s of New Jersey (67-65) to capture the 2013 National High School Invitational (NHSI) in North Bethesda, Md. to conclude the season. Montverde Academy defeated St. Benedict’s on a last-second 3-pointer by Jalyn Patterson. In the NHSI semis, St. Benedict’s ended the 54-game winning streak of No. 3 Findlay Prep, which beat Montverde Academy at the buzzer at the Hoophall Classic. Montverde’s other loss was also at the buzzer against unranked Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) two nights before the Findlay Prep game. The Eagles are the first FAB 50 No. 1 team to lose two games in 13 years, but not many teams around the country would have taken on the daunting January schedule coach Kevin Boyle lined up for his teams and both losses came in the game’s closing seconds. Montverde Academy started off as the nation’s preseason No. 1 team in the FAB 50, the only credible outlet to start the Eagles at No. 1, and their overall schedule and key wins were enough to overcome the two close losses to become the first ever Florida to finish ranked No. 1 in the nation since the National Sports News Service began end-of-the-season ratings in 1952. It’s also the first ever mythical national title for Boyle, who had two teams at now closed St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.) open preseason No. 1 and a few others come within a buzzer beater of the No. 1 ranking.
2012 — Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (44-0); HC-Steve Smith; ESPN-USA-NPP.–On their way to setting a school record for wins and their seventh FAB 50 title, the Warriors defeated teams from 13 states and the District of Columbia and Canada, including five FAB 50 ranked teams. No. 2 Findlay Prep captured its third ESPNHS NHSI title in four years with a thrilling 86-83 overtime victory over No. 9 Montverde Academy, but it wasn’t enough for the Pilots to hop unbeaten Oak Hill. The common opponent factor (with Oak Hill easily beating La Lumiere), Findlay Prep’s inability to avenge the loss to La Lumiere, and the manner in which they defeated Montverde Academy all played a factor. Leading the way for Smith, now with a 27-year 860-53 record, were 5-foot-11 point guard and McDonald’s All-American Tyler Lewis, a North Carolina State commit, plus 6-foot-5 Jordan Adams (UCLA), 6-foot-3 D’Vauntes Smith-Rivera (Georgetown) and 7-foot A.J. Hammon (Purdue).
2011 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (33-0); HC-Bob Hurley, Sr.; ESPN-USA-NPP.–The Friars capped the school’s sixth unbeaten season with their second mythical national title in four seasons and fourth overall since 1989. Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley Sr., led the program to its 11th Tournament of Champions crown and 24th Non-Public Group B state crown. Hurley, who won his 1,000th game during the season, had a team that handed DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) its worst loss ever, 75-25, and beat four other teams ranked in the final FAB 50. Behind the stellar play of senior guard Myles Mack, a Rutgers recruit, and junior wing Kyle Anderson, the Friars defeated then No. 1 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, N.J.), 62-45, on March 9. St. Anthony’s other two No. 1 finishes in 1996 and 1989 also produced undefeated seasons.
2010 — Yates (Houston, Texas) (32-0); HC-Greg Wise; ESPN-USA-NPP.–The Lions became the first public school since 2006 to finish No. 1 and the first team from the Lone Star State since 2002. Wise’s team, with depth and a signature full-court defense that never let up, captured its second straight Class 4A title and had an average winning margin greater than 40 points per game. Led by guards Joseph Young (Providence) and Brandon Peters (Western Kentucky), Yates set a national record with 15 consecutive 100-point outings and ended the season riding a 58-game winning streak. Yates defeated three state champions, including No. 2 Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia, Pa.) by a point.
2009 — Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) (33-0); HC-Michael Peck; ESPN-USA-NPP.–In its first year as a school with strictly four-year players, Findlay Prep captured the first-ever ESPN RISE National High School Invitational with a 74-66 victory over Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.). Led by first-team all-American and Texas recruit Avery Bradley, Findlay Prep handed Oak Hill its only loss of the season after 40 wins. Bradley scored 20 points and had eight rebounds in the win over Oak Hill while other big contributors were seniors D.J. Richardson,Victor Rudd and junior Cory Joseph.
2008 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (32-0); HC-Bob Hurley, Sr.; Rivals-USA-NPP.–The Friars capped an unbeaten season with their 10th Tournament of Champions title in New Jersey. It was the fifth unbeaten season, and third national crown, for 36-year coach Bob Hurley, Sr.,who guided No. 1 teams in 1989 and 1996. The team was led by Rutgers recruit and McDonald’s All-American Mike Rosario while Hurley’s son, Danny, coached the No. 2 team in the country at St. Benedict’s in nearby Newark. Hurley Sr. was recently elected to the Naismith Hall of Fame, only the second high school coach ever selected following six-time mythical national title winning coach Morgan Wootten of DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).
2007 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (40-1); HC–Steve Smith; SS-USA-NPP.–The Warriors captured their sixth national title by recording their second straight 40-1 record season, part of winning 96 of 98 games. Using its patented three-guard offense featuring Duke recruitNolan Smith, Kentucky-bound wing Alex Legion and junior All-American Brandon Jennings, Oak Hill defeated six of seven teams ranked in the top 30 of the FAB 50, losing only to No. 5 Simeon in Chicago.
2006 — Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) (29-0); HC–Jack Keefer; SS-USA-NPP.–The Wildcats went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 ranked FAB 50 team and stamped itself among the legendary squads in the basketball-rich Hoosier State. Lawrence North became only the third Indiana team to win three consecutive state crowns by capturing the Class 4A title with an 80-56 finals’ romp over eight-time champion Muncie Central (Muncie, Ind.). Leading North was 7-foot Greg Oden, the consensus National Player of Year. Oden averaged 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and shot 74 percent from the floor.
2005 — Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, N.Y.) (28-1); HC–Dan Bazzani; SS-NPP.–The Wolverines, led by junior wing Paul Harris and sophomore point guard Jonny Flynn, won their first mythical national championship on the strength of titles at the City of Palms tourney in Florida and the tough New York Federation state playoff tourney. Two-loss Oak Hill Academy finished as the No. 1 team in the USA Today Super 25.
2004 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (33-0); HC–Steve Smith; SS-USA-NPP.–NBA all-star guard Rajon Rondo and NBA slam dunk champion Josh Smith led this club. Many consider this Oak Hill’s finest club ever, while others feel it’s the 1993 club, which amazingly wasn’t a consensus national champion.
2003 — St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) (26-0x); HC–Dru Joyce, Sr.; SS-USA-NPP; x-forfeit losses not included. — Two-time Gatorade National Player of the Year LeBron James led a team that played one of the toughest schedules ever and did not lose a game.
2002 — Lincoln (Dallas, Texas) (40-0); HC–Leonard Bishop; SS-USA-NPP.–Chris Bosh led this Texas squad to the top of the polls, the first time for a team from the Lone Star State since 1975. Oak Hill’s club was probably better in 2002 than in was the previous season, but the Carmelo Anthony-led Warriors were defeated by Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) in a stunning upset.
2001 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (33-0); HC–Steve Smith; SS-USA-NPP.–Led by three all-Americans, coach Smith’s squad regained the tile after finishing No. 2 to Dominguez the previous season.
2000 — Dominguez (Compton, Ca.) (35-2); HC–Russell Otis; Fox-USA-NPP-NSNS.–Led by junior center Tyson Chandler, the Dons solidified their status as one of the nation’s top programs with this national title. In the era of weekly polls for high school hoops, this is California’s only team to finish No. 1.
National Prep Poll Era
1999 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (31-0); HC–Steve Smith; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1998 — St. John’s (Frederick, Md.) (25-0); HC–Stu Vetter; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1997 — Manual (Peoria, Ill.) (31-1); HC–Wayne McClain; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1996 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (31-0); HC–Bob Hurley, Sr.; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1995 — St. Augustine (New Orleans, La.) (37-1); HC–Bernard Griffith; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1994 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (30-1); HC–Steve Smith; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1993 — Oak Hill (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) (30-0); HC–Steve Smith; NPP-NSNS; Philadelphia, Pa., Simon Gratz (31-0); HC–Bill Ellerbee; USA.
1992 — Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) (29-0); HC–Pete Pompey; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1991 — Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.) (27-1); HC–Bill Ellerbee; NPP; Detroit, Mi., Southwestern (26-1); HC–Perry Watson; USA-NSNS.
1990 — King (Chicago, Ill.) (32-0); HC–Landon Cox; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1989 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.) (32-0); HC–Bob Hurley, Sr.; NPP-USA-NSNS.
1988 — Tolentine (Bronx, N.Y.) (30-1); HC–John Sarandrea; NPP-USA-NSNS.
All-Time No. 1’s
1987 — Flint Hill (Oakton, Va.) (23-0); HC–Stu Vetter; NSNS-USA.
1986 — Camden (Camden, N.J.) (30-0); HC–Clarence Turner; NSNS-USA.
1985 — Spingarn (Washington, D.C.) (31-0); HC–John Wood; NSNS; Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) (28-1); HC–Bob Wade; USA.
1984 — Poly (Long Beach, Calif.) (31-2); HC–Ron Palmer; NSNS; DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (39-2); HC–Morgan Wootten; USA.
1983 — Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.) (31-0); HC–Bob Wade; NSNS-USA.
1982 — Calvert Hall (Towson, Md.) (34-0); HC–Mark Amatucci; NSNS-BW.
1981 — Quincy (Quincy, Ill.) (33-0); HC–Jerry Leggett; NSNS-BW.
1980 — Inglewood (Inglewood, Calif.) (29-0); HC–Vince Combs; NSNS-BW.
1979 — Southwest (Macon, Ga.) (28-0); HC–Don Richardson; NSNS-BW.
1978 — DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (28-0); HC–Morgan Wootten; NSNS-BW.
1977 — West Philadelphia (West Philadelphia, Pa.) (30-0); HC–Joey Goldenberg; NSNS-BW.
1976 — Dunbar (Washington, D.C.) (29-0); HC–Joe Dean Davidson; NSNS; Canarsie (Brooklyn, N.Y.) (24-0); HC–Mark Reiner; BW.
1975* — Kashmere (Houston, Texas) (46-0); HC–Weldon Drew; NSNS; Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.) (28-1); HC–George McQuarn; BW.
1974 — Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.) (30-2); HC–George McQuarn.
1973 — tie: Wheatley (Houston, Texas) (43-1); HC–Jackie Carr; Verbum Dei (Los Angeles, Calif.) (29-2); HC–George McQuarn.
1972 — Thornridge (Dolton, Ill.) (33-0); HC–Ron Ferguson.
1971 — Washington (East Chicago, Ind.) (29-0); HC–John Molodet; Schenley (Pittsburgh, Pa.) HC–Spencer Watkins.
1970 — Wheatley (Houston, Texas) (39-0); HC–Jackie Carr.
1969 — Compton (Compton, Calif.) (30-0); HC–Bill Armstrong.
1968 — Compton (Compton, Calif.) (32-0); HC–Bill Armstrong.
1967 — tie: Ambridge (Ambridge, Pa.) (27-0); HC–Charles DeVenzio; Newark (Newark, N.J.) (26-0).
1966 — DeWitt Clinton (New York, N.Y.) (21-0); HC–Robert Buckner.
1965 — DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (28-1); HC–Morgan Wootten.
1964 — Power Memorial (New York, N.Y.) (30-0); HC–Jack Donahue.
1963 — Power Memorial (New York, N.Y.) (27-0); HC–Jack Donahue.
1962 — DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.) (29-3); HC–Morgan Wootten.
1961 — Collinsville (Collinsville, Ill.) (32-0); HC–Vergil Fletcher.
1960 — McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.) (22-0); HC–Paul Harless.
1959 — McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.) (22-0); HC–Paul Harless.
1958 — McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.) (21-0); HC–Paul Harless.
1957 — Middletown (Middletown, Ohio) (27-0); HC–Paul Walker.
1956 — tie: Middletown (Middletown, Ohio) (25-0); HC–Paul Walker; Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis, Ind.) (31-0); HC–Ray Crowe.
1955 — Crispus Attucks (Indianapolis, Ind.) (31-1); HC–Ray Crowe.
1954 — Pampa (Pampa, Texas) (28-0); HC–Clifton McNeely.
1953 — Pampa (Pampa, Texas) (26-0); HC–Clifton McNeely.
1952 — Compton (Compton, Calif.) (32-0); HC–Ken Fagans.
*All selections prior to 1975 by National Sports News Service (unless noted)
National Interscholastic Tournament Finals (at University of Chicago, Bartlett Gym)
1930 — Athens (Athens, Texas) d. Jena (Jena, La.), 22-16; HC–Jimmy Kitts.
1929 — Athens (Athens, Texas) d. Classen (Oklahoma City, Okla.), 25-21; HC–Jimmy Kitts.
1928 — Ashland (Ashland, Ky)., d. Canton (Canton, Ill.), 15-10; HC–James Anderson.
1927 — Morton (Cicero, Ill.) d. Batesville (Batesville, Ark.), 18-16; HC–H. K. Long.
1926 — Fitchburg (Fitchburg, Mass.), d. Fargo (Fargo, N.D.), 25-14; HC–Clarence N. Amiott.
1925 — Wichita (Wichita, Kan.), d. El Reno (El Reno, Okla.), 27-6; HC–A. R. Young.
1924 — Windsor (Windsor, Colo.), d. Yankton (Yankton, S.D.), 25-6; HC–Joseph E. Ryan.
1923 — Kansas City (Kansas City, Kan.), d. Rockford (Rockford, Ill.), 43-21; HC–C. W. Corsant.
1922 — Lexington (Lexington, Ky.), d. Mt. Vernon (Mt. Vernon, Ohio.), 46-28; HC–John Barclay.
1921 — Washington (Cedar Rapids, Iowa) d. West Lafayette (West Lafayette, Ind.), 43-19; HC–Leo V. Novak.
1920 — Wingate (Wingate, Ind.), d. Crawfordville (Crawfordville, Ind.), 22-16; HC–Merrill Eaton.
1918-19 — not staged because of World War I.
1917 — Township (Evanston, Ill.) d. Freeport (Freeport, Ill.), 27-22, ot.; HC–James W. Bixby.
Note: Head coaches (HC) listed for championship team.
National Catholic Interscholastic Tournament Finals
(at Loyola University, Chicago; Alumni Hall)
1941–Leo (Chicago, Ill.) d. St. Francis Mission (St. Francis, S.D.), 49-41, ot.
1940–Catholic (Fort Wayne, Ind.) d. St. Michael (Santa Fe, N.M.), 35-33.
1939–Catholic (Fort Wayne, Ind.) d. Leo (Chicago, Ill.), 44-37.
1938–St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) d. Loyola (Winnetka, Ill.), 31-22.
1937–Fenwick (Oak Park, Ill.) d. Catholic (Joliet, Ill.), 30-27.
1936–De La Salle (Chicago, Ill.) d. St. Mary (Anderson, Ind.), 45-29.
1935–St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) d. St. Mel (Chicago, Ill.), 29-24.
1934–Catholic (Joliet, Ill.) d. St. Mary’s (Stockton, Calif.), 30-17.
1933–Cathedral (Indianapolis, Ind.) d. St. Rita (Chicago, Ill.), 31-10.
1932–St. Patrick (Chicago, Ill.) d. St. Mel (Chicago, Ill.), 22-20.
1931–De La Salle (Minneapolis, Minn.) d. Academy (Jasper, Ind.), 23-21.
1930–De La Salle (Chicago, Ill.) d. Academy (Jasper, Ind.), 25-14.
1929–De La Salle (Chicago, Ill.) d. St. Stanislaus (Bay St. Louis, Miss.), 25-16.
1928–De La Salle (Joliet, Ill.) d. University (St. Louis, Mo), 32-11.
1927–De La Salle (Joliet, Ill.) d. Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.), 26-11.
1926–St. Xavier (Louisville, Ky.) d. Aquinas (Rochester, N.Y.), 18-16.
1925–St. Mel (Chicago, Ill.) d. Marquette Academy (Milwaukee, Wis.), 15-7.
1924–Spalding (Peoria, Ill.) d. Marquette Academy (Milwaukee, Wis.), 21-7.
Ronnie Flores is the Publisher and Editor of GrassrootsHoops.net. He can be reached at ronlocc1977@yahoo.com. Don’t forget to follow him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
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