Texas high school hoops is basically a religion. If you've ever spent a Tuesday night in a humid gym in Humble or a Friday night in a packed arena in North Crowley, you know the vibe. It is loud. It's fast. And honestly, it’s a little bit chaotic. Everyone wants to know who the best is, but the texas hs basketball rankings are rarely as simple as just looking at a win-loss record.
You’ve got the TABC (Texas Association of Basketball Coaches) putting out their lists, MaxPreps running their algorithms, and guys on Twitter—sorry, X—arguing about whether a 20-win team in 6A is actually better than an undefeated squad in 4A. It is a mess, but it’s a beautiful one.
Right now, as we hit the mid-January stretch of the 2025-26 season, the hierarchy is finally starting to settle.
The Power Struggle at the Top of 6A
Look at Seven Lakes. They are sitting at 25-0.
Perfect.
When you haven't lost a single game by the time district play is in full swing, you’re doing something right. Nasir Price is a problem for anyone trying to guard him, and the Spartans have this weird ability to just choke the life out of teams in the fourth quarter.
Then you have North Crowley. They’re 20-3, and while they have a few scratches on the record, most scouts will tell you they might be the most "complete" team in the state. They just don't have many holes. They play a brand of physical, North Texas basketball that makes you earn every single bucket.
Why Records Can Be Liars
Here is the thing about rankings: strength of schedule matters way more than people think.
Take a team like Dynamic Prep. Their record (14-1) looks good, but it's the way they play that keeps them at the top of many national and state lists. They’re playing a schedule that would break most teams. Austin Goosby, who is committed to the Longhorns, is basically a walking highlight reel. If you only look at the UIL rankings, you might miss the private and prep school powerhouses that are arguably more talented than the public school giants.
The State of the Girls' Game
The girls' side is just as intense, if not more tactical. Summer Creek is the name on everyone’s lips right now. They are 20-4 and playing like a group that expects to be in San Antonio for the state tournament. They aren't just winning; they are dominating their district.
But don't sleep on the Dallas-area schools.
Denton Ryan is 24-4 and looks absolutely terrifying. They recently took down Argyle, which was a massive statement win. It's that kind of mid-season clash that flips the texas hs basketball rankings on their head. One night you’re #1, the next morning you’re scrolling down to find your name at #5.
Small School Magic and Private School Giants
We often get obsessed with the 6A and 5A schools because they’re in the big cities, but some of the best basketball in Texas happens in places you’ve never heard of.
Ever heard of Eula?
They are 23-0 in Class 1A.
Gordon is 19-0.
These are schools where the entire town shows up. If you're looking for "pure" basketball, the 1A and 2A rankings are where you find it. There's no ego, just kids who have been playing together since the third grade.
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On the other side of the spectrum, you have the SPC and TAPPS schools.
- Houston Christian: 26-1.
- The Kinkaid School: 16-5.
- Second Baptist: 21-2.
These teams often get ignored by casual fans, but they are loaded with Division I talent. Houston Christian, specifically, is playing some of the most disciplined ball in the state. If they were in the UIL, they'd be a Top 10 team in 6A without question.
Players Who Are Breaking the Rankings
Rankings aren't just about teams; they’re about the kids who make those teams go. The 2026 class in Texas is deep.
Bryson Howard over at Frisco Heritage is a 6'5" wing who can score from basically anywhere. He's the kind of player who can carry a team through a cold shooting night.
Then you have the big men like Gavin Placide at Faith Family Academy. At 6'9", he changes the entire geometry of the court. You can't just drive the lane when he's waiting there.
The "Eye Test" vs. The Spreadsheet
The biggest mistake people make when looking at texas hs basketball rankings is trusting the computer too much. A computer doesn't know that your starting point guard had the flu, or that your star forward was in foul trouble because of a couple of questionable whistles.
Expert rankings, like the ones from the TABC, take those "human" factors into account. They know which teams are peaking at the right time. Right now, Lancaster (6A) and Argyle (5A) are teams that might have a few losses, but nobody—and I mean nobody—wants to see them in a playoff bracket.
What Happens Next?
We are heading into the most brutal part of the season. District play is where rivalries get ugly and rankings get tossed out the window. If you want to keep a pulse on who is actually the best, you have to look past the top five.
Watch the "Others to Watch" lists. Teams like Duncanville (boys) or DeSoto (girls) are always lurking. They might have a "down" year by their standards, but their "down" year is still better than 95% of the state.
If you're following the texas hs basketball rankings, your next move should be to check the UIL playoff brackets as they start to form in February. That is where the pretenders get exposed. Look for teams with high "strength of schedule" ratings rather than just high win counts. A 15-10 team that played a national schedule is often more dangerous in the playoffs than a 25-0 team that cruised through a weak district.
Stay tuned to local beat reporters and the TABC updates every Monday. The rankings will shift again by next week—that’s just Texas basketball.