For the fifth straight week, Providence remains the top team in the Fab Five boys basketball rankings after another dominating week.
Fab Five Week 5 rankings
1 Providence (12-2)
Last ranking: 1
Last week: def. Hamilton (WI) 62-50, lost to Miami Christian 76-74 OT, def. Villages 60-58
Next: TBA (Jan 5) at MLK Classic at Jackson
Note: Stallions went 2-1 at the Battle of the Villages Tournament holding off host Villages in the third place game. Ahren Freeman led the Stallions with 22 points in the win over Villages, while Norman Haynes added 14 including two free throws with 6.1 seconds left to give the Stallions the win. A Freeman layup which tied the game at 58-58 with 30 seconds remaining and a Haynes steal set up the comeback.
2 University Christian (12-2)
Last ranking : HM
Last week: def. Covenant Prep, def. Crescent City 64-31, def. Palatka 54-53 (OT)
Next: Idle
Note: The hottest team in the area might be University Christian, who has reeled off 10 straight wins since dropping back-to-back games to Jackson and Palatka back in early December. The Christians won back-to-back holiday tournaments over the last two weekends at Fleming Island and most recently at Palatka.
3 First Coast (10-3)
Last ranking: HM
Last week: def. Ribault 58-38, def. Raines 62-49
Next: Off
Note: Seven wins in a row has moved the Bucs up into the Top 5 for the first time this season, including two straight to win the Northwest Classic. A huge reason for the success is the play of junior Tyree Saunders (11.2 p.p.g., 3.7 r.p.g.), senior James Simmons (11.7 p.p.g., 4.1 r.p.g.), junior Kevin Finley (9.1 p.p.g., 10.8 r.p.g.), senior Ronnie Blakely (7.9 p.p.g., 3.2 r.p.g.) and junior Justin Hodges (7.4 p.p.g.). The return of junior Naseem Khaalid, a Florida State commit, has been a extra bonus for coach Latroy Strong, Khaalid left First Coast to play at Legacy Charter in Greensville, SC, but recently transferred back and immediately showed why he’s one of the top juniors in the country.
4 Bolles (11-2)
Last ranking: 2
Last week: def. Harmony 62-49, def. Bishop McGuinness 60-41, fell to Bishop Moore 63-29
Next: Orange Park (Jan 4)
Note: The Bulldogs went 2-1 at the Jim Clark Classic at Bishop Moore easily winning the first two games before running into a buzz saw in host Bishop Moore in the final. Despite the stunning loss to Bishop Moore, the Bulldogs continue to thrive behind Dave Crouch (17.6 p.p.g.), Bobby Crouch (14.0 p.p.g.), Will Shepard (9.1 p.p.g.) and Richie Rosenblum (8.8 p.p.g.).
5 Impact Christian (11-1)
Last ranking: 4
Last week: def. Cape Fear 49-36, fell to Brewbaker Tech 51-43
Next: Off
Note: Eagles finished 1-1 at the Holiday Basketball Classic in Palm Beach over the weekend, after handling Cape Fear, the Eagles dropped a close one to Brewbaker Tech in the semifinals.
Dropping out: No. 3 Raines (7-2), No. 5 Palatka (8-2)
Honorable Mention: Atlantic Coast (7-4), Bishop Snyder (6-6), (Clay (7-3), Englewood (7-3), Fleming Island (9-1),Oakleaf (6-4), Palatka (8-2), Paxon (8-1), Raines (7-2)
