Montverde finishes No. 1 in final MaxPreps poll

They never had a chance to play for a national championship this year and many didn’t even get the opportunity to jump it up for a state title because of the virus, but six teams playing in the 2019 Culligan City of Palms Classic were recognized in the final MaxPreps national high school poll. To no one’s surprise, Montverde (Fla.) Academy, which won the Classic and four other prestigious national events, took the top spot with a perfect 25-0 record. It is the school’s fourth MaxPreps title since 2013. The Eagles were loaded with nine top 100 prospects, including electric senior Cade Cunningham. Three teams that played in the Signature Series bracket of the Classic, finished among the top 17, with Bel Aire (Kan.) Sunrise Christian Academy securing the No. 4 ranking with a 22-3 record. Chattanooga (Tenn.) Hamilton Heights, which won the Signature Series and finished 28-3, anchored the 11th spot. Signature Series participant Baltimore St. Frances Academy rolled into the No. 17 position with an amazing 38-4 record. Two other teams that participated in the main bracket of the Classic, also were recognized by MaxPreps. Baton Rouge (La.) Scotlandville, the Louisiana State High School Athletic Association Division I champs, locked up No. 12, while powerful Bradenton IMG Academy, which lost to Montverde in the Classic title game, took 19th.