High School Preseason National Rankings (Aug. 12)
If there is one absolute about the Preseason National Rankings it is that the Top 50 is going to change significantly by the time the final rankings are released in November. One important component to compiling the initial Top 50 of the season is making sure whichever team is anointed the top spot is going to play a schedule worthy of a national champion should that program run the table and go undefeated. We saw that two seasons ago when Cathedral Catholic CA started at No. 1 and wound up going undefeated. Along the way Cathedral Catholic captured both the Durango Fall Classic title and the CA Open Division state championship. Last season’s national champion Mater Dei CA didn’t start at No. 1 and didn’t finish undefeated. However, Mater Dei did capture two major tournament titles in Volleypalooza and Durango, as well as the CA Open division state crown, making Mater Dei worthy of finishing at No. 1. That brings us to this year and the team beginning at No. 1 in Grand Oaks TX, which captured last year’s 6A state title. Though Grand Oaks isn’t scheduled to play outside the state of Texas, the Grizzlies are set to face a challenging slate. Given the depth and strength of schools in Texas, should Grand Oaks be able to navigate its tournament schedule — which includes Volleypalooza — and then repeat as 6A state champs, there’s little doubt that is a national championship campaign. Of course, Grand Oaks faces longs odds and it’s more likely than not that we’ll see another team finish the year at No. 1. There are plenty of potential candidates, including familiar ones like Mater Dei, Mira Costa CA and Prestonwood Christian TX. Others to keep close watch on are Notre Dame Academy KY and Dripping Springs TX. The season officially gets started this week with tournaments throughout Texas, as well as the Ann Kang Invitational hosted by ‘Iolani taking place in Honolulu. We’ll wait a few weeks before updating our rankings, with the next set released in early September. From there, we’ll have weekly releases for the rest of the season. You can view the full Preseason Rankings below. VBALLRECRUITER HIGH SCHOOL TOP 50 NATIONAL RANKINGS 1. Grand Oaks TX 2. Mater Dei CA 3. Prestonwood Christian TX 4. Mira Costa CA 5. Notre Dame Academy KY 6. Benet Academy IL 7. Sierra Canyon CA 8. Dripping Springs TX 9. Divine Savior Holy Angels WI 10. Blue Valley North KS *** 11. Carrollwood Day FL 12. Hamilton Southeastern IN 13. Cathedral Catholic CA 14. Byron Nelson TX 15. Assumption KY 16. Cornerstone Christian TX 17. Mill Valley KS 18. Marist IL 19. Archbishop Mitty CA 20. O’Connor AZ *** 21. Mount Notre Dame OH 22. Lovejoy TX 23. St. James Academy KS 24. Lafayette MO 25. Mercy MI 26. Plant FL 27. Southlake Carroll TX 28. Papillion-La Vista South NE 29. St. Thomas Aquinas KS 30. Casteel AZ *** 31. Harlan TX 32. Winter Park FL 33. Roncalli IN 34. Lone Peak UT 35. Cinco Ranch TX 36. Xavier Prep AZ 37. Skutt Catholic NE 38. St. Ursula Academy OH 39. Mother McAuley IL 40. ‘Iolani HI *** 41. Ankeny Centennial IA 42. Reagan NC 43. Wayzata MN 44. Oconomowoc WI 45. Bishop Gorman NV 46. Marymount CA 47. St. Pius X MO 48. Pace Academy GA 49. Kamehameha HI 50. Cleveland TN *** ON THE CUSP Alpharetta GA Ankeny IA Berkeley Prep FL Branson CA Center Grove IN Dike-New Hartford IA Doral Academy FL Dowling Catholic IA Flint Hill VA Green Hope NC Keller TX Lake Highland Prep FL Marian MI McKinney Boyd TX Millennium AZ Norris NE Northville MI Oaks Christian CA Omaha Westside NE Pope GA Prosper TX Reagan TX Redondo Union CA Seaman KS Seton OH Skyridge UT Skyview ID St. Thomas Aquinas FL Torrey Pines CA Valor Christian CO Yorktown IN