If you’ve been hanging around any gym in Westchester or the city lately, you know the atmosphere is getting a little frantic. We are officially in the teeth of the schedule. Every January, the nys hs basketball rankings become less of a static list and more of a weekly argument in group chats across the state. Honestly, trying to pin down who is actually the best team in New York right now is like trying to guard a shifty point guard in transition. You think you’ve got them cornered, and then they cross you up.
Right now, everyone is chasing Archbishop Stepinac. They are sitting at the top of pretty much every major poll, including the latest NYSSWA release from January 13, 2026. Their record is 9-4, which might look "human" compared to some of the undefeated squads upstate, but you have to look at who they’re playing. We’re talking about a national-level schedule. When you have guys like Hassan Koureissi (a Fordham commit) and Jasiah Jervis leading the way, a few losses to out-of-state powerhouses don't really move the needle for local voters. They are the benchmark. Period.
The Chaos in Class AAA and AA
The new classification system has really shaken things up. For years, we just had "AA" as the big-school tier, but Class AAA is the new home for the heavy hitters. Behind Stepinac, the power is concentrated heavily in the PSAL and CHSAA. Eagle Academy (Bronx) and Eagle Academy (Brooklyn) have been surging. The Bronx squad is currently sitting at 14-3 and recently jumped into that #2 spot in some rankings after a monster stretch.
But let’s talk about the public schools outside the five boroughs for a second. CBA Albany is absolutely for real. They’re sitting at 8-0 and just haven't blinked. They recently took down Averill Park and Burnt Hills-Ballston Lake, proving they aren't just a "big fish in a small pond" story. Then you have Fairport out in Section V. They entered the rankings with a bang, currently 7-0 and coming off a dominant win over Penfield.
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The Class AA landscape is just as messy. Penfield was holding the top spot but recently took a hit, allowing St. John’s Prep and Suffern to creep up. Suffern is a team that doesn't get enough love down in the city, but they’re 8-0 and essentially suffocating opponents. If you want a "sleeper" team to watch in the state tournament, look at WHEELS (Washington Heights Expeditionary Learning School). They are 12-1 and play with a pace that makes most teams look like they’re stuck in mud.
Westhill and the Small School Dominance
If you want to find the most consistent winner in New York, you have to go to Class A. Westhill is 11-0. They aren't just winning; they’re dismantling people. They recently went down to a holiday tournament in Florida and came back undefeated. When you see them play, it’s basically a clinic on ball movement. They currently hold the #1 spot in Class A, ahead of Glens Falls, who is always a threat with their rich basketball history.
In the even smaller tiers, Woodlands has been the talk of Section 1. They’re 8-1 and currently ranked #1 in Class B. It’s kinda wild how they’ve managed to reload every single year. Meanwhile, out in Class C, Berne-Knox-Westerlo and Cooperstown are locked in a battle for supremacy. Cooperstown is 11-0, which is just absurd at this point in the season.
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Current Top 10 Snapshot (Mixed Classes)
- Archbishop Stepinac (9-4) - The undisputed heavyweight.
- Westhill (11-0) - The Class A kings.
- Eagle Academy Brooklyn (12-2) - Physicality personified.
- CBA Albany (8-0) - The pride of Section 2.
- Eagle Academy Bronx (14-3) - Deep, fast, and dangerous.
- St. John’s Prep (14-1) - Dominating the CHSAA AA.
- Fairport (7-0) - Section V’s biggest threat.
- Long Island Lutheran (5-6) - Don't let the record fool you; they play a pro-level schedule.
- Christ the King (9-3) - Always in the mix, never count them out.
- Holy Trinity (12-1) - A massive riser in January.
What the Computers Get Wrong
It's funny, if you look at MaxPreps or Massey Ratings, you’ll see different names at the top. Computers love margin of victory. Humans love "the eye test." Honestly, both are flawed. A computer might see Long Island Lutheran at 5-6 and think they’re mediocre, but anyone who has seen Dylan Mingo play knows that team belongs in the top five of any conversation. They just lost a heartbreaker to CIA-Bella Vista, but their talent level is through the roof.
The nys hs basketball rankings aren't just about who has the best record. They’re about who is playing their best ball in January. A team like Nottingham, who was flying high at 8-1, recently took a loss to East Syracuse Minoa. Does that mean they’re bad? No. It means the Central New York grind is brutal. Every night is a trap game.
Realities of the State Tournament
Here’s the thing people forget: the rankings don't matter once the Sectionals start. You could be ranked #1 in the state all year—just ask some of the legendary teams from Mount Vernon or Newburgh—and one cold shooting night in a high school gym with no air conditioning ends your season.
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We’re seeing huge jumps from teams like St. Francis Prep, who knocked off Archbishop Molloy recently. They’re climbing. Tappan Zee is another one. They are 9-0 and just quietly going about their business. They don't have the "stars" that Stepinac has, but they haven't lost. At some point, you have to respect the zero in the loss column.
Essential Next Steps for Fans and Recruiters
If you’re trying to keep up with this circus, don't just look at one source. The NYSSWA (New York State Sportswriters Association) is the gold standard for "expert" rankings because those guys are actually in the gyms across the state. Check their weekly Tuesday updates. Also, keep an eye on the PSAL and CHSAA league standings specifically, as those often dictate the seeding for the most competitive playoff brackets in the country.
Watch the box scores for Dylan Mingo (LuHi), Jasiah Jervis (Stepinac), and Amir Moye (Health Sciences). These are the players moving the needle. If one of them goes off for 30, their team is likely going to jump three spots by next Monday.
To stay ahead of the curve, mark your calendar for the Sectional finals in late February. That is where the rankings either get validated or blown to pieces. You should also be tracking the "points against" stats for teams like Suffern and Tappan Zee—defense is what actually wins the Federation tournament in Albany, regardless of what the January hype says.