Boys basketball: North Jersey Top 25 rankings entering the new year
Don Bosco enters the new year as the No. 1 team in the North Jersey boys’ basketball Top 25 after winning its final game of 2023 and without its star player.
The Ironmen (5-2) defeated New York’s Cardinal Hayes on Friday at Rutgers, 68-49, with senior All-American and Rutgers commit Dylan Harper sitting out to nurse a minor knee injury.
Meanwhile, Bergen Catholic (5-1) climbed to No. 2, with its lone blemish a 67-66 loss in the Sunshine State to Florida’s Calvary Christian. Ramapo (4-2) slipped one spot to No. 3 following Friday’s 56-51 loss to Immaculate Conception of Montclair.
St. Joseph (4-1) holds at No. 4, its lone loss to Connecticut power Notre Dame, 66-60. Ramsey (6-0) climbs a spot to No. 5 thanks to a 50-33 win over No. 6 Ridgewood (7-1). St. Mary (6-0) climbs one spot to no. 7 after winning its holiday tournament.
Dumont climbs three spots to No. 17 after winning the Cohen Holiday title, 53-52, iver Dmearest. Glen Rock (4-3) joins the Top 25 at No. 19 after a 62-59 win over Pascack Valley and making Ramsey sweat in a 41-39 loss.
Here are the rankings for teams from the Big North and NJIC through games of Dec. 31:
Top 25 rankings
1. Don Bosco (5-2)
2. Bergen Catholic (5-1)
3. Ramapo (4-2)
4. St. Joseph (5-1)
5. Ramsey (6-0)
6. Ridgewood (7-1)
7. St. Mary (6-0)
8. Teaneck (4-2)
9. Eastside (2-3)
10. Paterson Charter (6-0)
11. Hackensack (4-2)
12. Wayne Hills (6-1)
13. Kennedy (2-2)
14. Wayne Valley (3-4)
15. Northern Highlands (5-1)
16. DePaul (4-3)
17. Dumont (6-1)
18. Dwight Morrow (4-2)
19. Glen Rock (4-3)
20. Fair Lawn (4-2)
21. Lyndhurst (6-1)
22. Passaic Valley (4-1)
23. Demarest (4-2)
24. Mahwah (6-2)
25. Cliffside Park (4-2)
Also considered: Dwight-Englewood (4-2), Pompton Lakes (5-1), Rutherford (6-1), Tenafly (3-2).
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Boys basketball: North Jersey Top 25 rankings entering the new year
