Will Chipotle Nationals be a coronation for the No. 1 crew within the FAB 50 Nationwide Crew Rankings? Or will one other ranked squad within the eight-team subject give the Eagles a severe run for his or her cash? We give a fast breakdown of the matchups and a few perception to Chipotle Nationals (previously generally known as GEICO Nationals).
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This system at Montverde Academy in Florida has received Chipotle Nationals, the top of-season event based in 2009 when it was generally known as the ESPN RISE Nationwide Excessive College Invitational, a report six occasions. This system, which is able to make its report thirteenth look this April, received the occasion in 2013-15, 2018, 2021-22. These years don’t coincide with the years Montverde Academy captured its six FAB 50 nationwide titles. That’s as a result of in 2020, this system put collectively its greatest crew, solely to be denied an opportunity for a coronation on the occasion as a result of the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The 2020 model of the occasion by no means came about.
In 2022, Kevin Boyle’s Eagles received the occasion for the sixth time, downing Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) within the title sport, 60-49. That season, nevertheless, MVA completed No. 2 within the FAB 50 behind Duncanville (Texas), which beat them in a head-to-head matchup on a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by Panthers junior guard Aric Demings.
Many followers and scribes felt the 2020 occasion could be a coronation for that Cade Cunningham-Scottie Barnes led membership that defeated its foes, together with 12 FAB 50 ranked groups, by 39.0 ppg, one of many largest successful margins amongst elite highschool basketball packages we’ve lined over time. This yr’s unit, which has one other terrific beginning 5 led by Mr. Basketball USA candidates Cooper Flagg (Duke) and Derik Queen (Maryland) and three different gamers who had been severe McDonalds’ All-American candidates, hasn’t been that dominant in its successful margin, however some really feel Chipotle Nationals (April 4-6 in Brownsburg, Ind.) is a coronation of types.
One side of its resume this yr’s MVA membership has over earlier title groups, even the 2019-20 unit that may go down as probably the greatest in highschool historical past, is its energy of schedule. Flagg, Queen, Liam McNeeley (Indiana) and firm defeated a whopping 21 groups which have been FAB 50 ranked in some unspecified time in the future in the course of the common season. Clearly that quantity might develop to 24 on this eight-team bracket. One attention-grabbing side of the sector is Montverde Academy has crushed all seven of its potential opponents at this occasion, outscoring the opposite seven members by almost 15 ppg (the Eagles have crushed FAB 50 No. 4 Lengthy Island Lutheran of New York and No. 6 Prolific Prep of California twice).
To reply the query, sure, Montverde Academy might be beat. There’s simply an excessive amount of expertise and familiarity inside the groups on this subject.
Will it’s straightforward? No. Wouldn’t it be an upset? Sure, however not a giant one it that occurred after its first spherical sport with FAB 50 No. 12 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), the No. 8 seed. This AZ Compass Prep crew is gritty and fearless. Led by junior (2025) guard Jeremiah Fears, it simply doesn’t have the elite scoring expertise the Eagles have throughout the board. MVA beat the Dragons, 58-46, in a December assembly in Las Vegas that was pretty aggressive.
Whoever wins the No. 4 vs No. 5 seed quarterfinal matchup between Lengthy Island Lutheran and FAB 50 No. 2 Columbus (Miami, Fla.), might doubtlessly give MVA all it might deal with within the semifinals. Columbus’ seeding actually doesn’t match the standard of wins it has, although Cameron Boozer and firm have losses to unranked Wasatch Academy and No. 17 Don Bosco Prep (Ramsey, N.J.), together with losses to No. 6 seed Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) and to Montverde Academy in a sport that wasn’t very aggressive (89-61). Columbus does have a win over No. 2 seed and FAB 50 No. 3 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) and over Lengthy Island Lutheran (which misplaced to AZ Compass Prep).
Boozer, final yr’s Mr. Basketball USA as a sophomore, his twin brother Cayden Boozer and Jase Richardson, a gifted guard headed to Michigan St., performed extra cohesively during the last month of the season and are motivated to point out the Explorers can play with Montverde, however beating Lengthy Island Lutheran a second time received’t be a straightforward activity. V.J. Edgecombe might have a breakout event and LuHi has loads of depth, together with standout juniors corresponding to Kiyan Anthony, Nigel James, Jacob Ross and Kayden Mingo. Whoever survives that first spherical sport ought to have loads of confidence vs. Montverde Academy in a possible semifinal on April 5.
Final yr, we felt Paul VI had a tricky draw towards Hyperlink Academy, the eventual Chipotle Nationals champ and FAB 50 No. 1 crew. We felt whoever received that No. 4 vs. No. 5 quarterfinal matchup had an opportunity to win the entire event and Hyperlink ran the tables after a 68-65 win over the Panthers. This yr, Paul VI is the No. 2 seed and may very well be even higher. The Panthers return most of their forged, together with Duke-bound Darren Harris, one of many higher abilities on this event. The person numbers don’t do Harris justice on this deep and balanced crew that may very well be the one that provides Montverde Academy all it might deal with within the championship sport.
Paul VI opens up with No. 7 seed IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), the bottom ranked crew within the subject (No. 14) which already has a loss to the Panthers. With junior guard Darius Acuff Jr., the Ascenders will all the time have an opportunity due to his penchant for scoring and play-making. Actually, he led the EYBL Scholastic League (which incorporates 5 Chipotle Nationals members) in scoring at 21.3 ppg. The important thing to the No. 2 vs. No. 7 seed sport will probably be if IMG Academy’s entrance court docket gamers, corresponding to Donnie Freeman, can decelerate Paul VI on the boards and preserve the Panthers from second shot alternatives.
Montverde Academy has performed in essentially the most general event video games by far (26-6 report in 12 appearances), however No. 6 seed Hyperlink Academy really has one of the best successful share within the occasion’s historical past (5-1) after advancing to the title sport in 2022 in its first yr of eligibility and successful all of it final yr. Coach Billy Armstrong may have his crew prepared in its matchup with No. 3 seed Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), a harmful membership that would win all of it if it’s wholesome and in sync. Hyperlink Academy has a legit Mr. Basketball USA candidate in Tre Johnson that would assist the Lions pull off a minor upset towards a crew it has already misplaced to, 77-76, within the first sport of the season tremendous sophomore Tyran Stokes performed for The Crew after lacking the crew’s first 9 video games. In the course of the center portion of its schedule (almost two months), McDonald’s All-American Derrion Reid was out with harm, however he’s an indispensable piece if Prolific Prep is to defeat Hyperlink Academy, doubtlessly Paul VI and probably meet Montverde Academy within the finals.
No person has performed Montverde Academy more durable than Prolific Prep. Enjoying the Eagles robust, nevertheless, and beating this yr’s crew, are two various things. Montverde Academy’s unit is aware of what’s at stake in attempting to reside as much as the lofty requirements that earlier MVA models set. The sector, nevertheless, is as gifted because it’s ever been and these groups know one another in and out. Whoever emerges will probably be a worthy champion and if that is without doubt one of the prime 4 seeds, it willl doubtless end at No. 1 within the ultimate FAB 50 on April 8.
Chipotle Nationals April 4 Lineup
No. 1 Montverde Academy (1) vs. No. 12 AZ Compass Prep (8), 8 pm ETNo. 4 Lengthy Island Lutheran (4) vs. No. 2 Columbus (5), 4 pm ETNo. 6 Prolific Prep (3) vs. No. 11 Hyperlink Academy (6), 6 pm ETNo. 3 Paul VI (2) vs. No. No. 14 IMG Academy (7), 2 pm ET
Observe: Seeds listed in parenthesis. All quarterfinal video games televised on ESPNU. The semifinals on April 5 will probably be televised on ESPN2, as will the title sport on April 6 (12 pm ET).
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He might be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to observe him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
