by Alex Schwartz

The 2009-2010 high school basketball season recently came to an end with the conclusion of the second annual ESPN Rise National High School Invitational. The event, held at Coppin State, was again won by Findlay Prep (NV), as the Pilots avenged one of their two losses, defeating Montverde Academy (FL) in the championship.

A number of teams finished the season undefeated, including Ames (IA), which posted its second consecutive unblemished record en route to a state title. Yates (TX), Peabody (LA), Bishop Miege (KS), and Rickards (FL) are other squads that ended the year without a loss.

The season went differently than many expected, with the consensus top three preseason teams combining for a surprising nine losses and only one ending up in the top five. Two teams from my Pennsylvania Postseason High School Fantastic 40 and five from my New Jersey Fantastic 65 will end the season ranked in the top 25 nationally. In addition, a pair of teams from my New York Fantastic 15 will finish as honorable mentions.

Finally, without further ado, have a look at the final edition of our National High School Top 25, ranking the nation's elite teams from the 09-10 season. Check it out:

Final National High School Top 25
Rank. School (State), Last Poll, Record
1. Yates (TX), LP: 2, 34-0
2. St. Benedict's (NJ), LP: 3, 20-1
3. Neumann-Goretti (PA), LP: 4, 30-1
4. Findlay Prep (NV), LP: 6, 32-2
5. Ames (IA), LP: 7, 27-0
6. Montverde Academy (FL), LP: 8, 24-5
7. Westchester (CA), LP: 14, 32-3
8. Providence School (FL), LP: 17, 31-1
9. St. Patrick's (NJ), LP: 9, 23-3
10. Mater Dei (CA), LP: 5, 32-2
11. Bishop Gorman (NV), LP: 12, 30-2
12. Winter Park (FL), LP: 13, 29-6
13. Christ School (NC), LP: 11, 37-2
14. Northland (OH), LP: 1, 23-1
15. Oak Hill Academy (VA), LP: 13, 29-4
16. Melrose (TN), LP: 18, 37-4
17. Milton (GA), LP: 25, 29-4
18. Trenton Catholic (NJ), LP: 19, 28-3
19. Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA), LP: n/a, 30-2
20. Paterson Catholic (NJ), LP: 15, 30-2
21. St. Anthony's (NJ), LP: 20, 28-1
22. DeMatha (MD), LP: 21, 32-4
23. Mountain State Academy (WV), LP: n/a, 22-4
24. Peabody (LA), LP: HM, 41-0
25. Bishop Miege (KS), LP: 24, 25-0

Honorable Mentions: Bloomington South (IN), Bush (TX), Christ the King (NY), Columbia (GA), Detroit Country Day School (MI), Gonzaga (DC), Greater Atlanta Christian Academy (GA), Half Hollow Hills West (NY), Jackson (OH), Jesuit (OR), Kalamazoo Central (MI), Lincoln (OH), North Central (IN), Orlando Christian Prep (FL), Rickards (FL)

New to Poll: Plymouth-Whitemarsh (PA), Mountain State Academy (WV), Peabody (LA)

Out of Poll: Mt. Lebanon (PA), Half Hollow Hills West (NY), Bloomington South (IN)

Note- Prep Hoops Assist and MaxPreps used as sources for information; photo is of Brandon Peters of Yates and is from http://scouthoops.scout.com/