LOUISVILLE, Ky. — Reigning California Division 1 Southern Section champion Pacifica opens the 2024 USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 as the top-ranked team, fresh off winning the prestigious Dave Kops Tournament of Champions in Arizona.
The unbeaten (9-0) Mariners won all six games at that event, including a 6-1 triumph over defending titlist Norco in the championship game’s matchup of ranked squads. Pacifica has now won its last 16.
No. 2 Katy (20-1-1) is the new Texas team at the top of the poll to start the year, after two-time 5A state champion Lake Creek spent all but two weeks of the last two seasons in the No. 1 spot, including the last 31 weeks. The Tigers followed up Saturday’s scoreless eight-inning tie with perennial Texas power Barbers Hill by mauling Paetow 16-0 on Tuesday.
Jackson, which finished second nationally in 2023 after winning its final 14 to capture the Washington state 4A crown, is strongly positioned at No. 3 heading into its March 11 season opener at Inglemoor.
No. 4 Northwest Rankin (8-0), which returned nine starters from last year’s Mississippi state 6A championship team, hasn’t skipped a beat in the newly-created Class 7A, outscoring its eight opponents so far 78-12. Louisiana powerhouse North DeSoto (14-0), which is chasing its fourth straight state crown and sixth title since 2015, rounds out the top five.
The other three teams in the poll off to perfect starts — North Carolina’s West Stanly (2-0), Arizona’s Canyon Del Oro (14-0) and Arkansas’ Benton (2-0) find themselves grouped at Nos. 16-18 this week.
State rankings submitted by the 2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee are used to compile the USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25. Teams are chosen based on performance, roster quality and strength of schedule.
USA TODAY Sports/NFCA High School Super 25 Poll
March 7, 2024
|
Rank |
Team |
2024 Record |
|
1 |
Pacifica (Calif.) |
9-0 |
|
2 |
Katy (Texas) |
20-1-1 |
|
3 |
Jackson (Wash.) |
0-0 |
|
4 |
Northwest Rankin (Miss.) |
8-0 |
|
5 |
North DeSoto (La.) |
14-0 |
|
6 |
Marist (Ill.) |
0-0 |
|
7 |
Austintown-Fitch (Ohio) |
0-0 |
|
8 |
Basha (Ariz.) |
9-1 |
|
9 |
Desert Mountain (Ariz.) |
7-1 |
|
10 |
Norco (Calif.) |
8-2 |
|
11 |
Lemont (Ill.) |
0-0 |
|
12 |
Watkins Memorial (Ohio) |
0-0 |
|
13 |
Rockridge (Ill.) |
0-0 |
|
14 |
Red Mountain (Ariz.) |
7-1 |
|
15 |
Neshoba Central (Miss.) |
5-1 |
|
16 |
West Stanly (N.C.) |
2-0 |
|
17 |
Canyon Del Oro (Ariz.) |
11-0 |
|
18 |
Benton (Ark.) |
2-0 |
|
19 |
Ballard (Ky.) |
0-0 |
|
20 |
Roncalli (Ind.) |
0-0 |
|
21 |
Coral Springs Charter (Fla.) |
3-1 |
|
22 |
Mount Vernon (Mo.) |
0-0 |
|
23 |
Bingham (Utah) |
0-0 |
|
24 |
St. Amant (La.) |
10-3 |
|
25 |
Lake Creek (Texas) |
17-5 |
2024 NFCA High School Steering Committee
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