Chipotle Nationals closed out the 2024-25 season and it is now time to publish our ultimate FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com. Columbus of Florida met its season-long purpose of successful the distinguished event to cap off a season wherein it completed ranked No. 1 within the nation. The outcomes of the 10-team occasion causes some motion inside the High 20.
By Ronnie Flores
Columbus Quest Is Full
The theme of 2025 Chipotle Nationals was the hunt of FAB 50 No. 1 Columbus (Miami, Fla.) holding off a robust group of groups it was very aware of to seize the distinguished end-of-season event this previous weekend in Indiana. After dropping in final 12 months’s event to season-long FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy within the semifinals, Columbus had its eye on the prize, but additionally a bulls eye on its again after opening the 2024-25 season because the pre-season No. 1 staff within the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com.
Led by Duke-bound twin brothers Cameron Boozer and Cayden Boozer, Columbus would not be denied in 2025. The Explorers used their expertise, motivation and the big-game capacity of Cayden, a 6-foot-4 senior level guard, to propel the staff to the occasion title and end No. 1 on this season’s ultimate rankings.
After opening as preseason FAB 50 No. 1, Columbus fell from the perch after taking losses to Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.), Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.) and Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.). Coach Andrew Moran’s membership finally re-gained the highest perch in opposition to a difficult schedule, however these three golf equipment, Dynamic Prep (Dallas) and 5 others from the Nike EYBL Scholastic League joined the Explorers at Hamilton Southeastern Excessive Faculty (Fishers, Ind.).
Hyperlink Academy got here into the occasion because the No. 2 seed behind prime seed Columbus after capturing the inaugural EYBL Scholastic Event crown. The Lions’ season-long inconsistencies, nevertheless, reared their ugly head as they have been routed by No. 10 seed Dynamic Prep within the quarterfinals, 74-55, behind a 22-point, seven-rebound efficiency by SMU-bound huge man Jaden Toombs. Dynamic Prep entered the occasion because the lowest seed, however gained its play-in contest versus No. 7 seed and defending champion Montverde Academy (Fla.), 67-52, as Toombs had 18 factors and 12 rebounds.
Within the different play-in contest, FAB 50 No. 8 Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah), the occasion’s No. 9 seed, dispatched FAB 50 No. 22 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), the No. 8 seed, 75-57, as 5 gamers scored in double-digits for the Tigers. Wasatch Academy took on Columbus in its quarterfinal contest and fell to the Explorers, 76-62, as Cameron Boozer had 25 factors, 9 rebounds, seven assists, 4 blocks and two steals, whereas Cayden Boozer added 24 factors, seven rebounds, 4 assists and three steals.
Dynamic Prep met FAB 50 No. 9 Prolific Prep in its semifinal contest after The Crew, the No. 6 seed, took down FAB 50 No. 3 and third seeded Lengthy Island Lutheran in extra time, 81-80. Mr. Basketball USA candidate Darryn Peterson led the way in which for Prolific Prep with 28 factors, 12 rebounds, eight assists and two steals. The Crew’s different McDonald’s All-American, Nikola Bundalo, solely performed 5 minutes versus Lengthy Island Lutheran due to an injured groin and hip flexor and his absence got here to gentle within the semifinals.
Dynamic Prep simply proved to be an excessive amount of for The Crew, particularly with Toombs going to work in Bundalo’s absence. Dynamic Prep led 23-10 after one interval and 46-20 at halftime en path to a 83-64 victory to advance to the championship spherical as a tenth seed. Toombs had 17 factors and 14 rebounds, whereas Rutgers-bound Chris Nwuli added 20 factors.
In its semifinal, Columbus took on FAB 50 No. 5 and No. 4 seed Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.), which gained its quarterfinal contest 70-60 over No. 5 seed and FAB 50 No. 6 CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.) in a battle of two groups enjoying within the occasion for the primary time. Within the semifinals, Brewster Academy gave Columbus all it may deal with.
The sport got here all the way down to the closing seconds, and after a sequence of offensive rebounds and a faucet go, Brewster junior ahead Sebastian Wilkins (who had 22 factors and 14 rebounds within the quarterfinals) nailed a nook 3-pointer with 11.1 seconds remaining to tie the sport at 45-45, solely to see Cayden Boozer win the sport, 47-45. On the buzzer, Columbus’ level guard transformed a downhill, pull-up 17-footer wherein coach Moran did not name a timeout to let the Brewster protection arrange. Cayden Boozer completed with 9 factors and 9 assists, whereas his brother, an influence ahead, had 15 factors, 11 rebounds and 4 blocks.
Boozer’s shot arrange a Chipotle Nationals championship sport stuffed with storylines, because the No. 10 and ultimate seed enjoying within the occasion for the primary time and coached by former NBA all-star Jermaine O’Neal took on a veteran staff whose purpose all season was to seize a FAB 50 Nationwide title. For a half, the upstart membership gave Columbus a sport, trialing by one (28-27) at halftime. The third quarter, nevertheless, proved to be the distinction, as Columbus’ protection and the shot-making of Cayden Boozer led the way in which to a 67-49 victory after a 20-9 benefit within the third.
Columbus out-rebounded Dynamic Prep (which completed its season 34-5) 34-26, and made 15-of-17 free throws to Dynamic’s 3-of-4. Cayden Boozer completed with 27 factors, making all seven of his free throws, and 2-of-3 3-pointers, whereas Cam Boozer had 11 factors and eight rebounds. The nation’s prime ranked staff additionally acquired an enormous enhance from guard Marcellous Jackson, who had 12 factors and 7 rebounds, whereas Jaxon Richardson added 9 factors and 12 rebounds.
For the occasion, Cayden Boozer averaged 20 ppg and 5 apg, whereas Cameron Boozer averaged 17 ppg and 9.3 rpg.
Columbus Makes Historical past
The Explorers not solely made historical past by ending because the No. 1 staff within the FAB 50 Nationwide Staff Rankings powered by Ballislife.com, it grew to become the primary non academy-type program to seize Chipotle Nationals within the occasion’s 16-year historical past. Columbus, a Marist Catholic all-boys program, now turns into the primary parochial college to seize the FAB 50 title since now-defunct St. Anthony (Jersey Metropolis, N.J.) in 2010-11.
Columbus was anticipated to be this good and lived as much as expectations, because the Boozers led this system to 4 consecutive Class 7A state titles, one FAB 50 title, and a 117-16 four-year document in opposition to loads of nationwide competitors. Columbus was the primary non-academy program to start as preseason FAB 50 No. 1 since Simeon (Chicago, In poor health.) in 2011-12 and the primary college to be a full state affiliation member than began and completed No. 1 since Greg Oden-led Lawrence North (Indianapolis, Ind.) in 2005-06.
Brewster Academy, which proved to be Columbus’ greatest problem at Chipotle Nationals and a membership that tied for first place within the EYBL Scholastic common season league standings, strikes as much as No. 2 within the ultimate FAB 50. Prolific Prep, which knocked off earlier No. 3 Lengthy Island Lutheran at Chipotle Nationals, strikes up six spots to No. 3 proper in entrance of LuHi as a result of that membership misplaced by just one level and its latest efficiency on the Throne Nationwide Championships means it may’t drop any additional.
Due to its margin of defeat in its loss to Dynamic Prep and its total physique of labor, Hyperlink Academy drops 12 spots within the ultimate rankings to No. 14. The Lions misplaced twice to Dynamic Prep and their break up with No. 1 Columbus is offset by losses to No. 20 IMG Academy, No. 21 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) and to No. 23 Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah).
Some motion within the ultimate rankings are a results of us reviewing your complete season log for every staff that we’ll clarify in our Closing, Expanded FAB 50 Rankings with element on every staff.
Up to date FAB 50 Nationwide Staff RankingsPowered by Ballislife.com
(sixteenth and ultimate ballot of 2024-25 common season; By means of video games performed on Saturday, April 5; *Signifies forfeit wins, forfeit losses not included; **Signifies forfeits and defaults not included)
No. Prev. Excessive Faculty (Metropolis)Document
11Columbus (Miami, Fla.)30-3
25Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.)28-5
39Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.)35-6
43Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.)21-7
54Roosevelt (Eastvale, Calif.)35-2
66CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, Ariz.)21-6
77Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)19-8
88Wasatch Academy (Mt. Nice, Utah)25-6**
910Calvary Christian Academy (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)22-1
1011Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.)28-8
1112Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.)27-6
1213Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.)31-3
1314Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) 29-5
142Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) 20-9
1515St. Joseph (Santa Maria, Calif.)31-2
1616Perry (Gilbert, Ariz.) 27-2
1717John Marshall (Richmond, Va.)24-2
1818Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.)16-7
1920Highland (Warrenton, Va.) 39-6
2019IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)21-8
2121AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.)15-7
2222Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.)29-3
2323Utah Prep (Hurricane, Utah) 22-12
2424Duncanville (Duncanville, Texas)27-7
2525Jeffersonville (Jeffersonville, Ind.)24-5
2626Fishers (Fishers, Ind.)30-1
2727Hoover (Hoover, Ala.)35-0
2828Bellaire (Bellaire, Texas)26-11
2929Brennan (San Antonio, Texas)33-3
3030Bishop O’Connell (Arlington, Va.)23-10
3131Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.)26-4
3232Oak Park (Kansas Metropolis, Mo.)31-1
3333Allen (Allen, Texas)34-2
3434Webb (Knoxville, Tenn.)34-2
3535Bullis (Potomac, Md.)23-7
3636Sidwell Mates (Washington, D.C.)24-6
3737DME Academy (Daytona Seaside, Fla.)24-12
3838Our Girl of Mt. Carmel (Baltimore, Md.)34-4
3939St. Thomas Aquinas (Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.)30-2
4040North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.)30-3
4141Chris Faculty (Arden, N.C.)28-3
4242Reidsville (Reidsville, N.C.)31-0
4343Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.)35-7
4444DePaul Faculty Prep (Chicago, In poor health.)33-4
4545Thomas Jefferson (Brooklyn, N.Y.)30-2
4646Patrick Faculty (Hackettstown, N.J.)29-7
4747Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.)27-2
4848Olentangy Orange (Lewis Middle, Ohio)26-2
4949Great Crossing (Georgetown, Ky.)35-4
5050East Lansing (East Lansing, Mich.)27-1**
Dropped Out: None.
Editor’s Be aware: No bubble golf equipment are included within the ultimate FAB 50, as the ultimate 2024-25 High 20 Regional Rankings embrace all of the groups thought-about for the bubble.
Be aware: The FAB 50 powered by Ballislife.com is a continuation of the Nationwide Sports activities Information Service scores that started in 1952. These have been the primary nationwide highschool rankings and the late Artwork Johlfs of Minnesota compiled them. They have been compiled for a few years by the late Barry Sollenberger of Phoenix, who merged them into the FAB 50 25 years in the past.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He might be reached at [email protected]. Do not forget to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
