We’re taking a look at teams #21 through #30 this time, with no B teams once again.

30. Ezell-Harding A (TN) – Surely thrilled with their finish at NAQT HSNCT, this team does return a lot of firepower but will have a hard time finishing in the single digits at a national without Griffin Ray. (8th at HSNCT)

Expected performance next season: down

29. Sidney A (OH) – Surely disappointed in their nationals finishes last year, Sidney returns 3/4 of their scoring from a very evenly distributed team last year. They’re projected as down because I feel I can confidently call for them to finish around 50th next year, but I’m less confident about the top 25 neighborhood. (41st at NSC, missed playoffs at HSNCT)

Expected performance next season: down slightly

28. St. Joseph A (IN) – While this team had some solid support, particularly from Davide, they were based around Nolan in terms of scoring. The good news for them is Nolan is back; the bad news is the rest of the A team is not. If they can fill in gaps around him, they’ll overperform my current projection of around 50th-60th for them. (34th at HSNCT)

Expected performance next season: Down

27. Bellarmine A (CA)

83. Bellarmine B (CA) – There’s really good news here for Bellarmine after a solid performance at NSC but a slightly disappointing HSNCT weekend: they return everyone from their A team and their top scorer from their B team. I don’t know if they’ll be a top 100 B team again, but their A team should be one to watch for. (A: 53rd at HSNCT, 26th at NSC. B: missed playoffs)

Expected performance next season: Up

26. duPont Manual A (KY)

99. duPont Manual B (KY) – After finishing roughly where they were expected to at HSNCT, duPont has good news/bad news: good news is they return their entire B team and their top A team player (the inverted Bellarmine, if you will). Bad news is they lose about half of their A team scoring. With that much talent back, it’d be no shock to see them improve on their HSNCT finishes. (A: 34th at HSNCT; B: 77th at HSNCT)

Expected performance next season: Up

25. Ridgewood A (NJ) – Ridgewood, who was definitely better than their HSNCT placement would indicate, returns 3/4 of their A team but lose their best scorer in Esther Sun. They’ll play very well locally next year, but likely won’t be a top 25 team nationally. (22nd at NSC)
Correction: Ridgwood of NJ did not attend HSNCT.

Expected performance next season: Down

24. Westview A (CA) – A team that returns their second and fourth scorers from their best regular season tournament, they will have a down year unless they’re able to fill the gap left behind by Assem. (no nationals)

Expected performance next season: Down

23. Adlai Stevenson A (IL) – After a great pair of finishes at nationals, Stevenson loses all of their scoring from their best regular season performance, spelling rebuilding for them. (5th at HSNCT, 10th at NSC)

Expected performance next season: Down

22. Walter Johnson A (MD) – The loss of Sameen Belal and Nathan Fredman means they’ll have a hard time match their performance last year. (21st at HSNCT, 16th at NSC)

Expected performance next season: Down

21. Dunbar A (KY) – While they return a lot of their B team, they graduate their entire A team and will face a steep climb to match flirting with the top 20 next year.. (21st at NSC, 34th at HSNCT)

Expected performance next season: Down