Which prep basketball teams ended up as best in NC? Check our final polls of the season

Christ School of Arden and North Mecklenburg High of Huntersville headline the final N.C. high school basketball rankings of the 2024-25 season.

The weekly rankings are sponsored by The Charlotte Observer and the News & Observer of Raleigh and are compiled by longtime N.C. basketball experts Rick Lewis and Alex Bass, co-hosts of The Observer’s “Talking Preps” streaming show.

Christ School, ranked No. 20 in MaxPreps’ national poll, won the N.C. Independent Schools’ 4A state championship and finished atop the state’s private school rankings.

North Meck, No. 29 nationally, won its second straight N.C. 4A state championship. The Vikings finished atop the 4A public school rankings.

Boys’ notables

▪ Victory Christian, the 1A state champ, was the one new team to make the final rankings for private schools.

▪ In 4A, state semifinalist Chambers was the only new team in the final poll. Chambers reached the N.C. 4A Western Regional championship, or state semifinal game.

▪ NCHSAA champ Ben Smith of Greensboro finished No. 1 in the 3A poll, which welcomed regional finalist Hunter Huss of Gastonia and Greensboro’s Dudley High in the final ranking.

▪ Nationally ranked and unbeaten state champ Reidsville finished No. 1 in the 2A poll. Two new teams — Southwest Onslow and Lincoln Charter — made the final rankings.

▪ First-time NCHSAA 1A champ Corvian Charter of Charlotte wins the 1A poll, moving from No. 9 to the top spot. Chatham Central was the only new team in.

Girls’ notables

▪ Grace Christian won the private school poll after winning the NCISAA state championship. Caldwell Academy was the only new school to join the poll.

▪ NCHSAA state champ Lake Norman won the 4A poll, which welcomed four new teams: Rolesville, Marvin Ridge, Richmond Senior and South Mecklenburg.

▪ Previously unranked Western Alamance wins the 3A poll after beating Stuart Cramer for the 3A state title. Also new to the final poll are Oak Grove and Wilson’s Fike High.

▪ Southeast Alamance wins the 2A poll, which welcomes Marshville’s Forest Hills and Catawba’s Bandys High School, both teams that made deep playoff runs.

▪ Finally, in 1A, state champ Cherokee finished atop the poll. Wake Prep, which won 23 games, was the only new team to join the rankings.

Boys’ statewide rankings

NCISAA

NCHSAA 4A

NCHSAA 3A

NCHSAA 2A

NCHSAA 1A

Girls’ statewide rankings

NCISAA

NCHSAA 4A

NCHSAA 3A

NCHSAA 2A

NCHSAA 1A

Langston Wertz Jr.

The Charlotte Observer

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Langston Wertz Jr. is an award-winning sports journalist who has worked at the Observer since 1988. He’s covered everything from Final Fours and NFL to video games and Britney Spears. Wertz -- a West Charlotte High and UNC grad -- is the rare person who can answer “Charlotte,” when you ask, “What city are you from.” Support my work with a digital subscription