| 1. LAURINBURG INSTITUTE (N.C.) |
| Record: | 40-0 |
| Comments: | Sure, they had talent - but Chris Chaney's group lived up to the expectations, running the table. Nine guys, led by Shawne Williams (16.1), finished in double-figures. Key wins against No. 2 Hargrave, Lutheran Christian (twice), Bridgton, ND Prep, Brewsterr, St. Thomas More and Winchendon. |
| 2. HARGRAVE MILITARY ACADEMY (VA.) |
| Record: | 28-1 |
| Comments: | If not for a 95-83 loss to top-ranked Laurinburg, Kevin Keatts & Co. would be repeating as national champs. Pittsburgh-bound undersized power forward Sam Young was a warrior all year long and A.D. Vassalo (Richmond) was the team's top perimeter threat. Big wins came against St. Thomas More, South Kent, Winchendon and a pair against No. 3 Fork Union. |
| 3. FORK UNION MILITARY ACADEMY (VA.) |
| Record: | 27-2 |
| Comments: | Not too many people can even name anyone on Fletcher Arritt's roster this year - and that's a credit to the coaching job he did. The lone losses came against Hargrave - one at home and one on the road. Nine players averaged about 9 points per game on arguably the most balanced and overachieving team in America. |
| 4. BRIDGTON ACADEMY (MAINE |
| Record: | 30-6 |
| Comments: | Don't let the record fool you. Whit Lesure's team may have had six setbacks, but they finished the year on a 16-game winning streak and claimed the NEPSAC Class A crown for the first time in school history. Derick Nelson was the difference in the title game, but the success of this group was a team effort. |
| 5. PHILADELPHIA LUTHERAN CHRISTIAN (PA.) |
| Record: | 31-3 |
| Comments: | Two losses against No. 1 Laurinburg and the other came against Notre Dame Prep in February. Stefan Jackson and Marc Edgerson were the two most consistent players on the team, but forward Maurice Thomas was also key to the team's success. Darryl Schofield's group was a formidable one that put up big wins against South Kent, Winchendon and Notre Dame Prep early in the year. |
| 6. SOUTH KENT (CONN.) |
| Record: | 32-9 |
| Comments: | They had arguably the two most talented players in the prep ranks, but Raphael Chillious didn't have Rob Thomas for much of the second half of the season - and when he did return, he wasn't quite the same player. Andray Blatche was a dominant force in most games. The team got off to a slow start, but came on strong at the end and reached the Class A title game. |
| 7. NOTRE DAME PREP (MASS.) |
| Record: | 23-12 |
| Comments: | The record is extremely deceiving because Bill Barton's group played arguably the toughest schedule in the country. A quarterfinal victory in the playoffs against St. Thomas More, prior to a semifinal setback to Bridgton, gave them the nod into the No. 7 spot. Chester Frazier and Lazar Hayward were the difference for Barton, who got by without much size all season. |
| 8. WINCHENDON (MASS.) |
| Record: | 18-12 |
| Comments: | Only Notre Dame Prep can legitimately claim a more difficult schedule. Mike Byrnes & Co. started off slow, but rebounded - despite playing much of the season without Tyree Evans (Cincinnati). Justin Dentmon (Washington) came up huge after the break, but Winchendon was knocked off in the semis by an overachieving New Hampton club. |
| 9. BREWSTER ACADEMY (N.H.) |
| Record: | 18-10 |
| Comments: | It was a team that showed so much promise early, giving No. 1 Laurinburg its toughest test of the season. However, a lack of size up front caught up with them - and Jason Smith's team struggled down the stretch. Jeff Adrien (Uconn) and Harvey Perry (Washington) were the two most impressive players. |
| 10. ST. THOMAS MORE (CONN.) |
| Record: | 19-11 |
| Comments: | Jere Quinn struggled throughout much of the season, but for good reason. Injuries decimated the team at times - with key guys like Edwin Lashley (St. Joseph's) and Antonio Pena on the sidelines for a good chunk of the year. Dwayne Anderson (Villanova) stepped it up and made sure the team was more than competitive. |
Next Best:
Northfield Mount Hermon (Northfield, Mass.) - (20-6)
Others to Watch: Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.) – (13-12); Champlain St. Lambert (Montreal, Canada); Charis Prep (N.C.) - 29-7; Coastal Christian Academy - TSI (Virginia Beach, Va.); Exeter (Exeter, N.H.) – (14-7); Hill School (Pottstown, Pa.) – (16-9); Holderness (Plymouth, N.H.) – (20-10); Hun School (Princeton, N.J.) - (16-8); IMG (Bradenton, Fla.); Lawrenceville (Lawrenceville, N.J.); Maine Central Institute (Pittsfield, Maine) – (14-14); Massanutten Military Academy (Woodstock, Va.) – (20-9); Mercersburg Academy (Mercersburg, Pa.) - (10-14); National Christian (Fort Washington, Md.); New Hampton Prep (New Hampton, N.H.) – (14-19); Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.); Peddie (Hightstown, N.J.) – (16-12); Prince Avenue Prep (Pickens. S.C.) - (15-5); Proctor Academy (N.H.); St. Andrew’s (R.I.) – (15-5); St. Mark's (Southboro, Mass.) – (17-2); Stonreridge Prep (Tarzana, Calif.) – (10-2); TAPS (Toronto, Canada) - (33-9); Tilton School (Tilton, N.H.) – (10-8); Trinity-Pawling (Pawling, N.Y.) – (12-4); Worcester Academy (Worcester, Mass.) – (13-6)