A detailed listing of the all-time top-rated public schools since the advent of the FAB 50 National Team Rankings in 1987-88. We take a look at the best team in the country if only public schools were involved in the rankings.
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We recently had a prominent event operator state to us that the gap between independent, academy--type programs and those belonging to state associations is "getting real noticeable". He's right, and there doesn't appear to be any end in sight by these programs recruiting players off homegrown clubs.
There are two misnomers about programs such as those belonging to the EYBL Scholastic League and similar being much stronger than parochial schools and public schools. One, the best public school teams have been able to compete with parochial and independent clubs since the advent of mainstream team rankings in the 1980s. In fact, 12 special public schools teams have finished No. 1 in the FAB 50 and the lowest the best public season at the end of the season has ever been ranked is No. 10. Second, not everyone who plays for a full-time state association member school or a public school plays for their hometown team. Talented players are recruited and pushed to play at schools all over their region once it's obvious their talents can help a program win or they are good enough to play at the next level. That recruitment is not like what we're seeing in recent years when it comes to independent clubs playing for a FAB 50 title, but it has and does exist.
With that in mind, we take a look at the highest ranked public school team for each season in the FAB 50 era (1987-88 through the present). We are just taking a look at public schools, since in many states private and public schools are separated when it comes to competing for state titles. You might be surprised how close the best public school teams are to competing for a FAB 50 national title.
FAB 50 ERA
2024 -- Plano East (Plano, Texas)
Record: 40-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: The Panthers started out No. 14 in Southwest Regional Rankings, but exceeded expectations by capturing a University Interscholastic League (UIL) state title in the highest classification (Class 6A). Coach Matt Wester’s team steadily climbed in the rankings and turned heads with a 55-50 win over Stony Point (Round Rock, Texas) in the championship game of the long-running Whataburger Tournament. That was Stony Point’s only loss of the season until the two teams once again locked horns in the state title game at the The Alamodome in front of 8,812. Plano East was in control and posted a historic 53-41 victory over the then No. 6 ranked team in the FAB 50. D.J. Hall led the way for Plano East with 18 points, while Rachard Angton, a 5-foot-10 senior, came on the bench to score 13 crucial points.
2023 -- Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 28-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: It was another remarkable season for a program that finished as the University Interscholastic League’s (UIL) best for the fifth consecutive season after starting out at No. 8 in the FAB 50. Based on its on-court results, Duncanville captured the FAB 50 title in 2021-22, but the UIL later stripped the Panthers of their Class 6A state title after ruling forfeits of all games in which an ineligible player (eventual NBA draftee Anthony Black) participated in. Last November after the preseason rankings dropped, Duncanville opted out of participating in the 2022-23 UIL playoffs, but did go on to defeat eventual Class 6A champ and No. 8 Lake Highlands (Dallas, Texas), 53-52, in November. The only loss for a Panthers club that played tough out-of-state competition was a 62-50 setback to No. 30 West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) in the championship of the Les Schwab Invitational in what was essentially a road game. That loss likely cost the Panthers back-to-back FAB 50 crowns, even if this club was a shade below the 2021-22 juggernaut. McDonald’s All-American Ronald Holland, a two-time District 11-6A Player of the Year, Holland was a key cog in Duncanville’s rise to national prominence and the team went 123-6 in his four years on the varsity.
2022 -- Duncanville (Texas)
Record: 35-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Panthers began the season No. 7 and had aspirations to compete for the FAB 50 title after finishing as Texas' top-ranked team three years running. The team got its big chance when it faced No. 1 and defending FAB 50 champ Montverde Academy (Fla.) at Hoophall West in Phoenix after it moved up to No. 5. Duncanville battled back from a 21-8 deficit after one period to win the game at the buzzer, 67-66, on a 3-pointer by junior guard Aric Demings. At that point in the season, Duncanville had beaten six FAB 50 ranked foes in 10 games. The Panthers did lose in overtime by two points (60-58) to Richardson (Texas) and that team got as high as No. 7 in the FAB 50, but the Panthers never fell behind Montverde Academy in the rankings. Duncanville was behind No. 1 Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) for the second half of the season, but when the Buffaloes were upset in the first round at GEICO Nationals and Montverde Academy went on to win the prestigious end-of-season tournament over five teams that were in the Top 10, it opened the door for the Panthers to re-gain the top position after the Richardson loss. In addition to Demings (9 ppg, 42 percent 3-point), junior forward Ashton Hardaway (9 ppg, 66 3-pointers), junior power forward Cam Barnes (6 ppg, 5 rpg, 53 percent FG) and senior forward Davion Sykes (9 ppg, 5 rpg) made first team all-district. McDonald's All-American Anthony Black (13 ppg, 58 percent FG, 5 rpg, 3.5 apg) was named District 11-6A Offensive Player of the Year and junior Ron Holland (15 ppg, 60 percent FG, 8 rpg, 2 spg) its overall player of the year.
2021 -- Camden (Camden, N.J.)
Record: 13-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Lowdown: The High was highly-regarded in the preseason (No. 15) and ended up playing just enough games to move up from its preseason perch to finish in the top five. Perhaps Camden gets the benefit of the doubt as an unbeaten team, but finishing undefeated in a power state that has produced a plethora of FAB 50 ranked teams in recent years definitely helps in the final analysis. Led by National Sophomore Player of the Year D.J. Wagner, the Panthers have gone 42-1 the past two seasons, but Wagner will enter his junior campaign still seeking a coveted NJ Tournament of Champions crown after the 2019-20 season was cut short due to COVID-19 and there was no post-season in 2020-21.
2020 -- Dorman (Roebuck, S.C.)
Record: 30-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 10
Lowdown: The Cavaliers got plenty of ink in the preseason, starting out at No. 39, but they ended up being better than expected on their way to a fourth consecutive SCHSL Class 5A state crown. Dorman was creeping its way into contention for that coveted No. 2 FAB 50 spot after winning the Beach Ball Classic with a win over No. 33 St. John’s of Washington, D.C., but when the Cadets began dropping WCAC games after the New Year’s and dropping in the rankings, it made sense Dorman be behind the Oak Hill Academy of Virginia team it lost to, 63-52, earlier in the season. Dorman was selected to participate in GEICO Nationals, and even was going to host it after the COVID-19 Pandemic broke out in New York City, but eventually the event had to be cancelled altogether. Led by Butler-bound point guard Myles Tate and Clemson-bound forward P.J. Hall, Dorman not only became the first South Carolina team to capture the Beach Ball Classic since 1986, it tied the SCHSL modern era record of four straight state titles first set by Calhoun County in 2006-09.
2019 -- McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.)
Record: 32-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: The Indians completed a magical season with a GHSA Class 7A state crown, which eluded them the previous two seasons and prevented a high final ranking. McEachern, No. 16 in the preseason, defeated No. 41 Meadowcreek in the state final, 62-54, as point guard Sharife Cooper battled foul trouble to finish with 20 points, while Auburn-bound Isaac Okoro finished with 16 points, four rebounds and four assists. McEachern’s season included titles at the City of Palms Classic and the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, not to mention eight victories over FAB 50 ranked teams. The highest ranked team it ended up beating (No. 5 Mountain Brook by a 50-29 margin) was the one team that No. 1 IMG Academy lost to. That was a significant positive in McEachern’s resume, and at least one long-time poll did move the Indians up to No. 1 after GEICO Nationals even though it didn’t play, but it wasn’t enough for them to be elevated in the FAB 50. While IMG Academy defeated No. 3 La Lumiere and No. 4 Montverde Academy and No. 8 DeMatha Catholic, the next highest ranked team the Indians beat was No. 11 Sunrise Christian Academy. McEachern beat them in overtime, while IMG beat them 65-50
2018 -- Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.)
Record: 31-3
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: This was a team seriously considered for preseason No. 1, but started out No. 2 because our hunch that all the on-court breaks not going its way as it did in 2016-17, and potential off-court distractions with regards to eligibility rulings, having some affect proved to be correct. Despite James Wiseman and Ryan Boyce missing six games because of the TSSAA’s transfer eligibility ruling and Shelby County Schools filing a lawsuit on behalf of Memphis East against the TSSAA which allowed the duo to play after an appeal was denied, the Mustangs did win their third consecutive AAA state title and only lost to other FAB 50 ranked teams. The Mustangs recorded a key win over No. 6 Findlay Prep and advanced to the City of Palms Classic title game with wins over No. 8 Oak Ridge and No. 33 Simeon before losing to No. 2 University, 77-72.
2017 -- Nathan Hale (Seattle, Wash.)
Record: 29-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Raiders played above pre-season expectations and captured the WIAA Class 3A state title with an unbeaten mark. The mythical national crown came into focus after the Raiders defeated preseason No. 9 Sierra Canyon, 67-65, to win the Les Schwab Invitational when that team was battling for a legitimate shot at No. 1. By that point in the season, Hale had already defeated Metro League rivals Rainier Beach and Garfield (both of whom started out the season FAB 50-ranked) and went on to defeat Garfield four times, including 68-51 in the state title game.
grabbed 27 points and 17 rebounds and the Mcdonald's All-American Game MVP finished his senior season with averages of 37.6 ppg, 14.5 rpg, and 5.2 apg. The Raiders edged out La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) for top rankings billing in a decision that was heightened when Hale was invited but decided not to participate in Dick's Nationals, an end-of-season tournament the Lakers won over a field that included six other FAB 50-ranked teams.
2016 -- Chino Hills (Calif.)
Record: 35-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Huskies started out as California's No. 1 ranked team and No. 9 in the FAB 50, but a national title became in reach after the Huskies defeated preseason FAB 50 No. 1 and three-time defending champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) by a point in the quarterfinals of the City of Palms Tournament in Florida and went on to win that tourney title. After that, the Huskies won the Maxpreps Holiday Classic and defeated seven preseason ranked FAB 50 teams after New Year's, including No. 36 Bishop Montgomery (Torrance, Calif.) 71-67 in one of California's most anticipated regular-season games ever. In the playoffs, the Huskies were even more dominant against the toughest playoff competition in California, defeating eight opponents by an average of 29 points in the CIF Southern Section and SoCal Open Division playoffs, including Bishop Montgomery 84-62. By finishing unbeaten with 35 wins, the Huskies tied the state record for most wins by an unbeaten team first set in 2013-14 by Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), according to Cal-Hi Sports. Led by UCLA-point
, Chino Hills averaged 98.5 points per game and tied a state record with 18 100-point games.
2015 -- Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.)
Record: 28-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 8
Lowdown: Unranked in the preseason, coach Melvin Randall's club made history as the first Broward County public school to win a FHSAA title with an unbeaten mark. Ely was then invited to Dick's Nationals and lost in the quarterfinals to No. 5 Findlay Prep, 63-50. The Class 7A champions defeated Osceola of Kissimmee in the state final, 72-60, with its big regular season win a 69-63 triumph over No. 15 Cardinal Gibbons of Ft. Lauderdale. Ely has won four state titles overall under Randall since 2007 and five overall.
2014 -- Arsenal Tech (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 27-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: On the bubble in the preseason, the toughest decision for the final FAB 50 was which team to place in the No. 4 position. We didn’t want to move up previous No. 5 Whitney Young since that team still needed to be behind dropping previous No. 2 Rainier Beach. Previous No. 14 Findlay Prep also had too many losses but had to be in front of Rainier Beach. Tech was the logical choice. There were two in-state losses to Bowman Academy and Hamilton Southeastern, but those were overcome by winning the Class 4A state title. Tech also had three wins against teams that were in the Dick’s National tourney – two over Huntington Prep and one over La Lumiere. For Tech, Kentucky-bound McDonald’s All-American Trey Lyles led the way and already has been named Mr. Basketball for Indiana.
2013 -- Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)
Record: 26-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: It was evident coming into the season Lone Peak had a special team, but it turned into a one-in-a-lifetime type season for a small state program that began at No. 5 in the FAB 50. Lone Peak played a national schedule and breezed to its third consecutive Class 5A crown. The only team coach Quincy Lewis' club couldn't handle was No. 1 Montverde Academy (66-45) in the final of the City of Palms Tournament. Guard Nick Emery and center Eric Mika drew All-America acclaim and junior guard T.J. Haws will be in line for similar honors next season. Before this team came around, the highest ever ranking for an Utah team was No. 12 by Provo for the 1997-98 season.
2012 -- Chester (Pa.)
Record: 32-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: The Clippers repeated as Class AAAA state champion with a record eighth overall crown and took a win streak of 58 games into 2012-13. With three junior starters, including 6-foot-7 all-stater Rondae Jefferson, things look bright next season for the Eastern Pennsylvania power.
2011 -- Norcom (Portsmouth, Va.)
Record: 30-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 4
Lowdown: State Player of the Year and Virginia Tech recruit Dorian Finney-Smith sparked the Greyhounds to a second straight Group AAA state championship. They also avenged their lone loss to rival Booker T. Washington (Norfolk, Va.). Victims included FAB 50 No. 14 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.).
2010 -- Yates (Houston, Texas)
Record: 34-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: En route to winning its own Class 4A state crown, coach Greg Wise's unit set a national record with 15 straight 100-point games and also established a new state record with 170 points in a single outing. Despite the high-scoring antics, Yates didn’t come close to having the best record of an unbeaten team from Houston that finished No. 1 in the nation. That total is 46-0 for Kashmere High, which the National Sports News Service (FAB 50 precursor) named the No. 1 team for 1974-75 in the end of the season poll. In this year’s Class 4A state final, the Lions swamped Lancaster, 92-73, and won their second straight title. They also extended their two-year winning streak to 58 games. A 97-96 victory over No. 2 Neumann-Goretti in the final game at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii wound up being the mythical national title decider. Key players for head coach Greg Wise’s team were senior Joseph Young (Providence), senior Brandon Peters (Western Kentucky) and senior Darius Gardner (Stephen F. Austin).
2009 -- Westchester (Los Angeles)
Record: 35-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: The Comets won their fifth CIF Division I championship since 1998 with a 49-31 victory over McClymonds (Oakland, Calif.). They have also finished ranked No. 1 in the state of California five times in that same time period. In 2004, they were the top-ranked team but unable to participate in the L.A. City Section playoffs. In 2003, Westchester won the Div. I state title, but finished No. 2 in the state behind Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.). This team, which began No. 27 in the preseason, will be dynamite in 2009-10 as it returns four starters, although dynamic point guard Dominique O'Connor must be replaced.
2008 -- North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas)
Record: 38-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: The Panthers simply dominated Lone Star State foes after starting out the season unranked and losing to Hightower of Sugar Land, 56-50, in their fourth game of the season. The year culminated with 35 consecutive wins and a Class 5A state title courtesy of a seven-point win over No. 26 Dulles. Willie Warren, the Dallas Morning News Player of the Year, led the charge all season long and he came through in the clutch, scoring 15 fourth-quarter points and finishing with a game-high 27 in the state title game. The big win along the way was the 61-57 regional semifinal victory over No. 10 Duncanville, as Warren paced the victors with 17 points. The McDonald's All-American and EA SPORTS National Player of the Year candidate ended his season averaging 24.7 points per game.
2007 -- Huntington (W. Va.)
Record: 25-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: The Highlanders became the first West Virginia Class AAA team to win three straight state titles by winning three state tournament games by an average 48-point margin. With two McDonald's All-Americans in the lineup, 6-5 National Player of Year candidate O.J. Mayo, a USC recruit, and 6-8 Patrick Patterson, Huntington rolled over in-state competition by 42-point margins and defeated FAB 50 No. 10 Artesia, No. 34 DeMatha, and split with No. 17 Scott County with Mayo not playing in the win. The other loss was in overtime to No. 2 St. Patrick. Mayo, who scored 4,113 career points in six varsity seasons in three states, averaged 28.2 points and 7.2 assists a game. Patterson averaged 17.2 points, 11.9 rebounds and 4.2 blocked shots per game. This team started out at No. 8, but should have been higher as their talent level was once in a lifetime type for a public school program from West Virginia.
2006 -- Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.)
Record: 29-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: 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 state 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. The other two teams were Marion from 1985-87 and Franklin from 1920-22. The win streak of 45 games ties the state mark set by the Oscar Robertson-led Indianapolis teams of 1955-56 at Crispus Attucks. The average winning margin was 20.3 points and victims included Ohio Division II champion Dayton Dunbar, No. 19 in the FAB 50, and defending Illinois Class AA champion Glenbrook North, No. 30 in the FAB 50. Leading North were two four-year regulars, and Ohio State recruits, who helped teams compile a 103-7 record --
, the 7-foot consensus National Player of Year honoree, and guard
Mike Conley. Oden averaged 22 points, 10.5 rebounds and shot 74% from the floor. Conley averaged 16.5 points.
2005 -- Niagara Falls (Niagara Falls, N.Y.)
Record: 28-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: Our FAB 50 national championship nod to Niagara Falls is as much a nod to how strong New York teams were this year than any other factor. The Wolverines, coached by Dan Bazzani, won their first mythical national championship on the strength of titles at the City of Palms tourney in Florida and the New York Federation state playoff tourney. In Florida, Niagara Falls defeated FAB 50-ranked Arlington Country Day of Jacksonville, Fla., the Florida 2A state champion, and Raines of Jacksonville, a 4A power. On their way to the New York Federation championship, the Wolverines defeated FAB 50-ranked New Rochelle and regionally ranked John F. Kennedy and Xaverian. The only loss for the Wolverines was to FAB 50-ranked Vashon of St. Louis, 69-66, in OT. Leading the way for Niagara Falls was junior wing Paul Harris, arguably the nation’s best on-ball defender who scored 19 points, grabbed eight rebounds and dished out four assists with a broken thumb on his shooting hand in the state title game. He averaged 19.7 points and 12.6 rebounds while sophomore point guard Johnny Flynn contributed 15.2 points, 5.6 assists and 3.4 rebounds.
2004 -- Milby (Houston)
Record: 39-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: The Buffaloes captured the state Class 5A title with a finals' victory over FAB 50 No. 10 Cedar Hill. They also defeated No. 11 Fairfax and No. 12 Montrose during the regular season after opening the season at No. 17. University of Arizona recruit and All-America honoree Jawaan McClellan led the way.
2003 -- Pike (Indianapolis)
Record: 29-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: The Red Devils sealed up the first unbeaten season in 18 years in the state's largest, or one-class, tournament with a 65-52 Class 4A title game win over 26-2 record Waterloo DeKalb. Junior Robert Vaden scored 21 points. It was Pike's third straight state final and fourth in six years. Pike is 79-7 the last three years and started out the season at No. 17. Like other good teams this season, Pike's accomplishments were dwarfed by was No. 1 St. Vincent-St. Mary (Akron, Ohio) was able to accomplish nationally.
2002 -- Lincoln (Dallas, Texas)
Record: 40-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Tigers won the Class 4A title by routing nationally-ranked and defending champion Beaumont Ozen, 71-51, in the final. Lincoln, led by center Chris Bosh (Georgia Tech recruit) and Bryan Hopkins (Southern Methodist), went unscathed against a schedule that included three other FAB 50 teams besides Ozen. An early-season win over FAB 50 ranked Midwest City (Okla.) vaulted the Tigers into the rankings and they also recorded wins over No. 23 Fort Worth Dunbar and No. 24 Cedar Hill. Coach Leonard Bishop's club took over the No. 1 spot when defending national champion Oak Hill Academy suffered its only loss versus No. 28 Mater Dei in the Golden State.
2001 -- Willowridge (Sugar Land, Texas)
Record: 39-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: T.J. Ford (who signed with Texas) and Daniel Ewing (Duke) are just two of many Willowridge players who will go on to star at the college level. That talent also led to a UIL Class 5A state crown after expectations were high in the preseason with this team starting out No. 3. Willowridge capped an unbeaten season by beating Converse Judson, 67-64, in double overtime, and Bryan, 65-58, in the state final to capture the Texas Class 5A state title. Ford, a 6-foot point guard, averaged 12.0 ppg, 9.4 apg, and 7.8 spg. Ewing also earned All-American acclaim while 6-3 Kenny Taylor is headed to Baylor. The Eagles, who finished the season riding a 61-game winning streak, got it done inside with Andre Watson (6-7) and Curtis Walker (6-9).
2000 -- Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
Record: 35-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Dons took over the No. 1 spot in the FAB 50 after a 60-47 victory in February over defending national champion Oak Hill Academy of Virginia. That 13-point victory avenged an earlier 54-50 loss to the Warriors at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii. The Dons' other loss was in their fourth game in overtime to No. 17 Clovis West of Fresno, which played in the California Div. I state final. They did not avenge that defeat, but beat No. 23 Artesia of Lakewood 72-63 in the finals of the Best of the West Tournament one day after the Pioneers defeated Clovis West in the semifinals, 72-47. The Dons capped their season by winning a fourth Division II state title in five years and finished with a 28-game win streak. The ringleader for Dominguez was 7-foot center Tyson Chandler, who dominated state and numerous national opponents as well with athletic play and shot-blocking ability. Chandler had 17 points and defended well in the return win over Oak Hill, which finished No. 2 in the FAB 50, and finished with game norms of 20.1 points, 11.3 rebounds, 4.7 blocks and 3.2 assists while earning National Junior Player of the Year honors. Steve Moore and point guard Micah McKinney were other key players although McKinney missed the state tournament final with a broken hand.
National Prep Poll Era
1999 -- Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
Record: 33-3
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: The Dons came to national prominence in 1993-94 by defeating Oak Hill Academy and this was the deepest and best defensive squad among school’s many fine teams of 1990s. Coach Russell Otis' club captured its third state Division II title in the last four years with a 72-59 victory over Grant of Sacramento. The Dons lost by only 64-60 to No. 1 Oak Hill Academy in a game that was tied late in fourth quarter after opening up the season No, 12 in the preseason. The team was led by Division II State Player of the Year Keith Kincade, senior guard Marcus Moore and super soph center Tyson Chandler.
1998 -- Miami Senior (Miami)
Record: 36-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: Seniors Udonis Haslem and Antonio Latimer, along with junior guard Steve Blake and sophomore Jernel Davila, led a club that opened at No. 9 in the FAB 50 and routed Edgewater of Orlando, 89-56, in the Class 6A state title game. The Stingarees have now won state Class 6A championship eight times in the last 12 years and 18 overall. The program also enters 1998-99 having won 65 of last 66 games and compiled 13 straight seasons with 30 or more victories. Coach Frank Martin's club only lost on-court to Provo, Utah at the Iolani Classic in Hawaii, but the team was later stripped of its Class 6A state crown for recruiting violations which basically brought an end to the Stingarees' dynasty.
1997 -- Manual (Peoria, Ill.)
Record: 31-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Illinois High School Association coined the phrase “March Madness” years ago, but this year the moniker really hit home as the Manual Rams has to survive – and win – three games within a 24-hour period to claim the mythical national title. Manual dropped an overtime game to Carver of Chicago in December and needed some divine intervention to set up a historic Class 2A semifinal showdown with Thornton on Harvey. Defending national champion St. Anthony’s of New Jersey was knocked off in overtime, 82-80, by Rice of New York after sophomore Kenny Satterfield drained a 17-footer to send the game into overtime. St. John’s Prospect Hall of Maryland was then moved up to No. 1, but the next weekend they were stunned by St. Francis of Baltimore, 75-74, at the Charm City Classic as All-American pivot Mark Karcher swished a 25-footer with 2.9 seconds left. Manual was in position to claim the mythical national title after that as it beat Chicago Public League champ Whitney Young in the quarterfinals, although a shoulder injury to emotional leader Sergio McClain put a scare in Rams’ fans. In the titanic meeting with No. 14 Thornton before 11,522 fans, the Rams fell behind 18-4, but junior Frank Williams got them back in the game and Manual led 29-26 at halftime. Thornton then took a 37-29 lead but an injured McClain led a 20-0 charge and his team took a 49-37 lead. Amazingly, Thornton made one last push before falling, 65-62. The Rams then beat West Aurora 47-41 in the final, their 24 consecutive victory and 32nd consecutive playoff win that secured an unprecedented fourth straight Class AA state title. In addition to McClain and Williams, McDonald’s All-American center Marcus Griffin contributed to the team’s historic run.
1996 -- Dominguez (Compton, Calif.)
Record: 34-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: This team eventually captured the state Division II crown with a 65-49 victory over Walnut Creek of Northgate after being shocked in the 1995 final by St. Francis of Mountain View. which will undoubtedly go down as one of the biggest upsets in state playoff history. The Dons, which opened up at No. 5 in the FAB 50, got off to a slow start because of its standouts who played on a talented football team, but they ended the season with 31 straight wins. Led by junior point guard Kenny Brunner, and Grid-Hoop stud Jason Thomas, a sophomore named D2 state Player of the Year, the Dons could be even better in 1996-97 and are a shoo-in to start out preseason No. 1.
1995 -- East Central (San Antonio)
Record: 35-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 5
Lowdown: The Hornets were expected to be terrific and they were, starting out No. 18 in the National Prep Poll (FAB 50 precursor) and ending the season with a UIL Class 5A state title courtesy of a 108-86 victory over Dallas (Carter). For a program located east of San Antonio in China Grove, it was a historic run as East Central routinely hit triple digits, including a 107-94 semifinal victory over El Paso Riverside, and suffocated teams defensively. Guards Stanley Bonewitz Jr. and Chaz Jackson led the way from the backcourt and Bonewitz, the coach's son, went bonkers in the state title game, hitting 4-of-6 3-pointers and finishing with 36 points. The Hornets' tallest player was 6-foot-3.
1994 -- Crenshaw (Los Angeles)
Record: 29-2
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: This team is considered the best of the eight Shaw clubs that captured CIF D1 state crowns. Keep in mind the 1987-88 club that spent most of the season ranked No. 1 in the country didn't win the state crown after the 1971-72 club came during in a time when there was no CIF State playoffs and was not allowed to play in the post-season that year. This Wille West-coached club had talent at each of the five traditional positions after “Tank” Davis came over from L.A. Fremont to take over the point guard duties. This club won its second straight D1 state crown even after center Leon Watson missed some games after injuring his shoulder while breaking a glass backboard at the Thousand Oaks Tournament. The team didn’t miss a beat with the junior Ronnie “Pooh” Arch inserted into the lineup. The Shaw opened up No. 1 in the nation after Kevin Garnett didn’t enroll at Oak Hill Academy and a decision by West to bench 1993 L.A. City Player of the Year Kris Johnson at the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina likely cost the Cougars the national title after the team won the City of Palms Tournament in Florida. Johnson was suspended for drinking an extra soda without permission and without him Crenshaw lost in the Beach Ball semifinals with the second loss coming the next night in a third place consolation contest. Behind Johnson and Tremaine Fowlkes, the 1994 L.A. City City Player of the Year, Crenshaw defeated Mater Dei when it was in position to climb to No. 1 in the national rankings, 71-67, in the SoCal D1 final.
1993 -- Simon Gratz (Philadelphia)
Record: 31-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: The Philly Public League champions started out No. 2 and finished No. 2 behind wire-to-wire No. 1 Oak Hill Academy of Virginia, which went 36-0 and arguably fielded its best team ever and one of the best independent clubs in U.S. high school history. Oak Hill finished No. 3 in USA Today’s Super 25 with coach Bill Ellerbee's club at No. 1. The third dominant club this season was Chicago King, which also finished unbeaten (32-0), as none of the three clubs were able to face each other. Gratz was led by Mr. Basketball USA Rasheed Wallace and was named the third best team all-time in city history by the Daily News. Simon Gratz captured the Beach Ball Classic with a 50-47 win over Shawnee (N.J.) and defeated teams from seven states, including national power DeMatha Catholic of Maryland. This team strength was its size and depth, but the backcourt contributions of junior Shawn "Reds" Smith and sophomore Terrell Stokes cannot be overstated.
1992 -- Dunbar (Baltimore, Md.)
Record: 29-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Poets went wire-to-wire as the No. 1 team and finished the season riding a 52-game winning steak against some of the finest competition in the nation. Considering No. 2 Oak Hill Academy finished with two losses, including one to the Poets, there’s no question this Dunbar team is one of the best public school teams we ever evaluated. Coach Pete Pompey's unit will always be judged against the Poets’ legendary 1983 unit, the club most veteran observers feel is the best high school team of the modern era. "With the '92 team, it was almost like 'now it's my turn to take over the game' with each of the players," explained Sam Davis of the Baltimore Sun, who followed both teams on the prep beat and traveled to see them play in showcase games. This year’s Poets faced tougher competition overall than the 1983 unit as they won a tournament in Erie, Pennsylvania, played at the KMOX Shootout in St. Louis and also played at the Beach Ball Classic in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Dunbar defeated No. 12 Simon Gratz of Philadelphia in the Beach Ball finals after Gratz had defeated No. 7 St. Joseph’s of Alameda, California in the semifinals, 60-53. Jason Kidd and company from St. Joseph’s were edged in the finals of the Great Florida Shootout by St. Raymond’s of the Bronx, but that New York club was no match for Dunbar as they beat the New Yorkers, 93-82, in the semifinals of the Charm City Classic. In finals, Pompey’s club beat No. 14 St. Anthony’s of New Jersey and also embarrassed highly regarded Vashon, 75-49, in front of that school's hometown fans at the KMOX Shootout. Leading the way for Dunbar was a pair of McDonald All-Americans in 6-foot-6 Donta Bright, the National Sophomore of the Year in 1990, and 6-foot-2 Michael Lloyd. Six-foot-6 junior Keith Booth will likely play in the McDonald’s game next year and the play of unsung hero Cyrus Jones was a main reason Dunbar was able to survive its moments of individualism.
1991 -- Simon Gratz (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Record: 27-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: The Bulldogs of coach Bill Ellerbee repeated as the Public League champion with a 47-43 victory over Franklin Learning Center at the Civic Center. A year earlier, Gratz had rolled past Franklin LC, 80-60, as then 6-foot-8 freshman Rasheed Wallace scored 23 points in the easy win. Gratz didn’t seal the win this year, however, until second team all-city guard Levan Alston (11.4 ppg.) sealed the game with two free throws after no-nonsense post presence Wilfred Kirkaldy drew an offensive foul on FLC's Faron "Meatball" Hand with eight seconds left. Alston and National Sophomore of the Year Wallace (13.8 ppg.) were the double-digit scorers in a balanced starting lineup that included forward Andre Griffin, center Calvin Wingfield and junior guard Contrell Scott. No. 4 Oak Hill Academy handed Gratz its only loss, 67-59, in the semifinals of the Great Florida Shootout. The Bulldogs, however, won the Beach Ball Classic in South Carolina with a 44-40 victory over St. Joseph’s of Cleveland and were able to move back in front of the Warriors in the polls after Oak Hill suffered an uncharacteristic 28-point loss to a Robert Hughes-coached club at Dunbar of Fort Worth, Texas. Another public school club, Detroit Southwestern was No. 1 by USA Today at 26-1.
1990 -- King (Chicago, Ill.)
Record: 32-0
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 1
Lowdown: This Chicago Public League power coached by Sonny Cox opened up the season as the National Prep Poll's and USA Today's No. 1 ranked team. King then went wire-to-wire as the nation's top team and won the Illinois Class AA state title with a 65-55 victory over cross-town Gordon Tech. In the first all-city final in state tournament history, 6-foot-4 McDonald’s All-American Jamie Brandon netted 25 points and grabbed 12 rebounds while bruising 6-foot-6 forward Johnny Selvie added 17 points and 11 rebounds. Selvie was a four-year starter as was Brandon, who ended his career with 3,174 points, second on the state's all-time career scoring list and was called the, “Money player every truly great team has,'' by veteran talent scout Bob Gibbons. Although the Jaguars played down to the competition at times, they indeed faced tough teams in the public league and during the Windy City Classic while remaining undefeated despite the distractions of Selvie’s arrest on drug charges. The IHSA also made King forfeit 13 games for using an ineligible player, a ruling that was overturned after an appeal by King. Cox had a senior-oriented team, as five of the top six players were seniors, including Brandon, Selvie, 6-foot-3 guard Ahmad Shareef, 5-foot-10 Fred Sculfield and top sub Damian Porter, a 6-foot-10 center. Sculfield backed up 6-foot-11 Rashard Griffith, the National Freshman of the Year who is expected to help keep King in the national rankings picture over the next three years.
1989 -- Miami Senior (Miami)
Record: 35-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 2
Lowdown: The FHSAA Class 4A champion lost only to FAB 50 No. 1 St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.), 68-55, in the title game of the 8th annual Great Florida shootout at Osceola High School. Coach Marcos "Shakey" Rodriguez's deep club was led by forwards Douglas Edwards and Gimel Martinez. While this team was considered the nation's second best, Edwards was widely considered the No. 2 recruit in the country behind point guard Kenny Anderson of New York City.
1988 -- Patrick Henry (Roanoke, Va.)
Record: 30-1
Final FAB 50 Rank: No. 3
Lowdown: This team started off unranked, but finished third in the first ever weekly National Prep Poll behind No. 2 St. Anthony's of New Jersey and national champ Tolentine (Bronx, N.Y.). The Patriots won a competitive Arby's Classic in Bristol, Tenn., and went on to capture the Group AAA state championship. Led by junior forward George Lynch, Patrick Henry dispatched Lee, 54-47, as Lynch, Curtis Blair and Melvin Davis each scored 12 points for a club that won its final 21 games of the season. Henry's ranking was solidified when all four Arby Classis semifinalists went on to capture state titles.
Note: The FAB 50 National Team Rankings powered by Ballislife.com 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 for the 1999-2000 season. The FAB 50 is the longest-running weekly national rankings.
