MaxPreps final 2018-19 Top 100 high school boys basketball rankings

For the first time, IMG Academy is home to high school basketball's national champions.

The Ascenders featured one of the most talented starting lineups of the past decade — boasting a record three McDonald's All-Americans and two high-major guards.

Villanova signee Jeremiah Robinson-Earl made the biggest offensive impact in the GEICO Nationals title game, finishing with 18 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Frontcourt running mate, North Carolina signee Armando Bacot Jr., made his impact on the defensive end, anchoring the paint and holding highly touted Isaiah Stewart to 14 points and seven rebounds in the championship game.

In the backcourt, 5-star junior Jaden Springer averaged 21.3 points, 4.7 assists and three rebounds in the three-game run. Arizona signee Josh Green chipped in a game-high 19 points in the title game, and 4-star Noah Farrakhan played the role of glue guy, running point guard and providing a scrappy edge to the defensive side of the ball.

After notching the program's first GEICO win with an impressive 65-50 victory over Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), the Ascenders pulled off a comeback for the ages. Trailing by 16 to defending event champion Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) heading into the final period of play, IMG stormed back with a 17-1 run to open the fourth before pulling out the 74-73 win on a fast-break dunk hammered home by Robinson-Earl over an Eagles defender.

IMG Academy left no doubt in the GEICO Nationals championship game, jumping out to an early 5-0 lead for an impressive 66-55 wire-to-wire victory over previously unbeaten La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.). The victory replaced previous No. 1 McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.) (which dropped out of the event) for the top spot in the final rankings.

IMG Academy boasts a 6-1 record against Top 25 opponents this season, with signatures victories over DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.), along with the GEICO Nationals run. The Ascenders' lone loss came in December to Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.) at the City of Palms Classic.

Past MaxPreps National Champions
2009 — Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)

2010 — Yates (Houston)

2011 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.)

2012 — St. Anthony (Jersey City, N.J.); Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) *

2013 — Lone Peak (Highland, Utah); Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.) *

2014 — Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.)
2015 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)

2016 — Chino Hills (Chino Hills, Calif.)

2017 — Nathan Hale (Seattle)

2018 — Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)

* Recognized separate high school and independent national champions

1. (No. 4 last week) IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), 29-1

GEICO Nationals champions.

2. (1) McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.), 32-0
GHSA Class AAAAAAA state champions.

4. (3) Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), 22-3
GEICO Nationals semifinalist.

5. (6) Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.), 31-3
AHSAA Class 7A state champions.

6. (5) Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.), 32-3
CIF Open Division state champions.

7. (7) Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.), 31-3
NJSIAA Tournament of Champions winner.

OHSAA Division I state champions.

NCHSAA Class 4A state champions.

12. (20) Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), 31-5
GEICO Nationals semifinalist.

19. (18) Belleville West (Belleville, Ill.), 34-4
IHSA Class 4A state champions.

NCHSAA Class 4A state champions.

GEICO Nationals participant.