All but one of the major invitationals are in the books - the Mt. SAC Invitational is still to come - and we're starting to get a clearer picture of the national landscape. Most teams have now shown their hand and their consistency, and things are beginning to take shape.
The Jesuit schools have steadily dominated the national rankings. Jesuit (Carmichael, Calif.) had a big showing, winning Clovis. Jesuit (New Orleans, La.) did the same at Nike South. Belen Jesuit (Miami, Fla.) has been dominating Florida. Jesuit (Portland, Ore.) had a big run in Washington, while Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, N.J.) took home key wins in the Northeast. In total, eight of the top 25 teams in the country fall into that classification - this year, more than ever, showing their strength.
Still, it's the returning champion, Niwot (Colo.), alongside other Southwest powers, who are holding their own - and remain the spoilers to a clean sweep by the Jesuits. Niwot has looked strong all season and has yet to unleash its true potential. We'll see if history repeats itself in Portland come December.
Here's how things are shaping up halfway through the season.