espnW 25 Power Rankings: Week 2
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Need more proof that this is the most wonderful time of the year? We present the Nike Tournament of Champions. There will be top-25 collisions galore this week in Phoenix. Not to mention some of the best players in the country, including Shakira Austin, Aquira DeCosta, Haley Jones and Azzi Fudd, battling for the title and going head-to-head.
Hamilton Heights Christian, which is not part of the Phoenix festivities, has a showdown of its own scheduled for Friday as it tries to hold on to the No. 1 ranking.
-- Dan Olson
| espnW 25 Power Rankings: Week 2 | |||
| RANK | SCHOOL/REC (CITY, STATE) | TRENDING | COMMENT |
| 1 | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (10-1) Chattanooga, TN | -- Last Week: 1 | The Hamilton Heights domination is led by Georgia Tech signee Elizabeth Balogun, who averaged 18.5 points in two wins this past week. Next up is No. 22 North Central (Indianapolis) on Friday at the Zellis Jam in Indianapolis. |
| 2 | Archbishop Mitty (5-0) San Jose, CA | -- Last Week: 2 | Mitty rolled by McClatchy (Sacramento, California) in its only game this week. The competition takes a giant step up this week at the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 3 | Paul VI (6-1) Fairfax, VA | -- Last Week: 3 | Junior Ashley Owusu (Maryland) and Tennessee signee Amira Collins have been putting up big numbers for Paul VI. Next up is a Friday game vs. Good Counsel (Olney, Maryland), which will showcase two of the top point guards in the country in Owusu and Chloe Chapman. |
| 4 | Duncanville (19-1) Duncanville, TX | -- Last Week: 4 | Tennessee signee Zarielle Green averaged 16 points in two easy wins this week for Duncanville. The team returns to the court to play host at the Sandra Meadows Classic Dec. 28-30. |
| 5 | Riverdale (10-0) Murfreesboro, TN | -- Last Week: 5 | Riverdale takes its 52-game winning streak, national championship aspirations (along with Vanderbilt signee Brinae Alexander) to the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 6 | Saint Johns College (5-0) Washington, DC | -- Last Week: 6 | St. John's has won each of its games by 20-plus points. Now freshman supreme Azzi Fudd and junior Malu Tshitenge-Mutombo take their games to Phoenix for the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 7 | Riverdale Baptist (5-1) Upper Marlboro, MD | -- Last Week: 7 | Guess where Riverdale Baptist it showing up this week? That's right: the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 8 | Southeast Raleigh (10-0) Raleigh, NC | -- Last Week: 8 | Anya Poole averaged 13 points in two easy wins this past week. Next up, on Dec. 27, is a showdown with Neuse Christian Academy (Raleigh, North Carolina) and Florida State signee Izabela Nicoletti. |
| 9 | Hoover (12-0) Birmingham, AL | -- Last Week: 9 | Hoover escaped with a 53-51 victory over St. Francis (Alpharetta, Georgia) at the Queen of the Hardwood Atlanta Classic. Hoover returns to the court Jan. 5. |
| 10 | Bishop McNamara (5-0) Forestville, MD | -- Last Week: 10 | Bishop McNamara remained perfect behind Aliyah Matharu, who averaged 28.5 points in two games this past week, and Jakia Brown-Turner, who averaged 24.5. |
| 11 | Centennial (6-0) Las Vegas, NV | -- Last Week: 11 | UNLV signee Justice Ethridge and junior Eboni Walker have Centennial primed for the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 12 | Westridge Academy (14-1) Kernersville, NC | -- Last Week: 12 | Charlotte signee Madison Moore earned MVP honors at the Under Armour Holiday Classic. Next up is the Title IX Classic in Washington D.C., on Dec. 28. |
| 13 | Mercer County (5-1) Harrodsburg, KY | -- Last Week: 13 | Northern Kentucky signee Emmy Souder joined teammates Seygan Robins and Faith Lake in the 1,000-point club. |
| 14 | Christ the King (4-0) Middle Village, NY | -- Last Week: 14 | Sophomore Natalija Marshall scored 12 points to lead Christ the King to a 47-45 win over No. 19 Long Island Lutheran for New York supremacy. |
| 15 | Detroit Edison Academy (3-0) Detroit, MI | -- Last Week: 15 | Junior Rickea Jackson scored 27 points and grabbed 11 rebounds in the Best of Michigan Classic. |
| 16 | Winter Haven (9-0) Winter Haven, FL | 2 Last Week: 18 | Winter Haven posted two in-state victories this past week on its quest for a third straight state title. |
| 17 | St. Mary's (5-0) Stockton, CA | 2 Last Week: 19 | The sensational Aquira DeCosta leads St. Mary's into the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| 18 | Southridge (4-1) Beaverton, OR | 2 Last Week: 20 | Sophomore Cameron Brink averaged 18 points, 15 rebounds 4.5 blocks and 3.5 steals in two Southridge wins this past week. The lone loss was to No. 11 Centennial. |
| 19 | Long Island Lutheran (3-2) Brookville, NY | 3 Last Week: 16 | Texas recruit Celeste Taylor had 29 points, but Long Island Lutheran fell 47-45 to No. 14 Christ the King. Next up is the Title IX Classic in Washington, D.C. |
| 20 | Hopkins (7-0) Minnetonka, MN | 1 Last Week: 21 | Sophomore Paige Bueckers has been dominant and Hopkins has yet to be challenged. |
| 21 | Princess Anne (7-1) Virginia Beach, VA | 1 Last Week: 22 | Mississippi State signee Xaria Wiggins and freshman Aziaha James led the way in two wins this past week. Wiggins and Makayla Dickens (SUNY-Albany) both earned membership in the 1,000-point club. |
| 22 | North Central (13-0) Indianapolis, IN | -- Last Week: -- | The guard trio of junior Savaya Brockington, junior Rikki Harris and Purdue signee Ajah Stallings combined for 60 points in a 66-58 win over previously ranked Carmel (Indiana). Next up is No. 1 Hamilton Heights Christian on Dec. 22 at the Zellis Jam. |
| 23 | Central Valley (4-0) Veradale, WA | -- Last Week: 23 | Stanford recruits Lexi Hull had 24 points and Lacie Hull had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five assists in a 59-48 win over Post Falls (Idaho). |
| 24 | Westlake (6-0) Atlanta, GA | -- Last Week: 24 | Texas Tech signee Taylor Hosendove led the way in Westlake's lone game this week. |
| 25 | Mesquite (11-0) Gilbert, AZ | -- Last Week: 25 | BYU signee Shaylee Gonzales and Santa Clara signee Lindsey VanAllen will look to put up big numbers at the Nike Tournament of Champions. |
| On the bubble: Greater Atlanta Christian (Georgia) Bishop Alemany (California) Wesleyan School (Georgia) Rock Creek Christian (Maryland) Manhattan (Kansas) Ursuline Academy (Louisiana) Beaver Dam (Wisconsin) Incarnate Word Academy (Missouri) | |||
| Dropped out: Carmel (Indiana) Miami Country Day (Florida) New Hope Academy (Maryland) | |||