HS: Spring FAB 50 rankings, April 30

by Sheldon Shealer

April 30, 2019

An Illinois No. 1 vs. No. 2 girls showdown was set -- but weather had other ideas.

What could have been an epic clash of national powers, St. Charles North (St. Charles, Ill.) and Barrington (Ill.) won their way to the Naperville Invitational final through a field loaded with nationally ranked teams. But once in the final, bad weather and no make-up option shelved the contest. The two teams, with St. Charles North as the new FAB 50 No. 1, could meet in late May in the playoffs.

Action around the country last week led to a lot of change in this week's girls Top 25.

The Iowa teams are all gone after a sub-par showing at the adidas Tournament of Champions. Moving up are the Michigan teams, although many have yet to go head-to-head, which will happen in May or June, and the Carolina programs. Marian (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.) advances to FAB 50 No. 2, with Novi (Mich.) and former No. 1 Grand Blanc (Mich.) settling in at No. 4 and 5, respectively. Six Carolina teams crack the Top 25 this week -- three each from North and South Carolina. Interestingly, all three North Carolina and all three South Carolina teams are in the same playoff classification in their state, meaning four of the six are bound to lose at some point this spring.

Now, on with the rest of the rankings ...

BIG MOVERS: BOYS: Overton (Nashville, Tenn.). Overton made a nine-spot jump from No. 46 to No. 39. The undefeated team could make more significant moves once the postseason arrives. ... GIRLS: Joliet Catholic Academy (Joliet, Ill.). Joliet Catholic moves up nine spots this week to crack the Top 25 for the first time in school history. As long as this team keeps winning, it will inch higher and higher in the FAB 50.

NEWCOMERS: BOYS: No. 42 Iowa City West (Iowa City, Iowa), No. 43 Bellevue (Wash.), No. 44 Charlottesville (Va.), No. 45 Albemarle (Charlottesville, Va.), No. 46 Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), No. 48 Thunder Basin (Gillette, Wyo.), No. 49 Viewmont (Bountiful, Utah) and No. 50 McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.). ... GIRLS: No. 31 Conant (Hoffman Estates, Ill.), No. 34 T.C. Williams (Alexandria, Va.), No. 35 Stoney Creek (Rochester Hills, Mich.), No. 36 Kent Denver School (Englewood, Colo.), No. 40 Robinson (Fairfax, Va.), No. 43 Brookfield Central (Brookfield, Wis.), No. 44 James Madison (Vienna, Va.), No. 45 St. Pius X (Atlanta, Ga.), No. 46 Nerinx Hall (St. Louis, Mo.), No. 47 McIntosh (Peachtree City, Ga.), No. 48 Westminster Schools (Atlanta, Ga.), No. 49 Jefferson Academy (Broomfield, Colo.) and No. 50 Caravel Academy (Bear, Del.).