The Reno Gazette-Journal has updated their high school basketball power rankings and Reno High School, which features future Blue Devil Olek Czyz is at the top. The Reno Huskies are now 8-0 in Sierra League play. Czyz scored 21 points in Reno's 71 - 48 victory over South Tahoe on Tuesday evening.

Elliot Williams remains sidelined in Memphis with a sore knee. St. George's continues to win with Missouri recruit Laurence Bowers stepping up and handling the scoring load. Bowers scored 21 points as St. George's defeated Harding 54 - 53.

Looking at Class of 2009 prospects, DeShawn Painter scored 19 points as Booker T. Washington defeated Norview 67 - 59. The win places BTW back into first place in their district standings. Mason Plumlee led all scorers with 21 points as Christ School defeated Forsyth Country Day 76 - 50 on Tuesday.

For the Class of 2010, Brandon Knight is a Top Five rated target. He scored 10 points in Pine Crest's latest victory. Two more 2010 names have recently surfaced, Josh Hairston and Eric Atkins.

Out West, on Friday night, Reno defeated Carson 79 - 56.  Olek Czyz scored 18 points for the Huskies who were led by Austin Morgan's 28 points. On Saturday, Czyz scored 16 points as Reno defeated Wooster by 49 points, 93 – 44.

In Memphis, Elliot Williams remains sidelined nursing a sore knee. In his absence, teammate Laurence Bowers, a Missouri signee, stepped up and led St. George's to a 64 - 60 victory. The linked article contains an update on Elliot Williams’ health.

Leslie McDonald scored on a fast-break dunk to give Briarcrest Christian a 59 - 58 lead, but the Saints couldn't hold on losing to Christian Brothers 62 - 59. McDonald finished with 23 points.

In Norfolk, Churchland defeated Booker T. Washington 53 - 46. BTW made just 2 of 11 field goal attempts over the final four minutes as Churchland finished the game on a 12 - 5 run. DeShawn Painter was held to six points in the contest.

In Asheville, Mason Plumlee scored 14 points as Christ School defeated Cannon School 79 - 62 on Friday night. He also pulled down 11 rebounds. Mason's brother Miles, who has signed a LOI to attend Stanford, scored 35 points in the win. On Saturday, Mason scored eight points as Christ School defeated Rabun Gap 72 – 39. Christ School's game against Spartanburg Day on Thursday will be televised on WMYA (Channel 40) so if your cable service includes that channel check out the game and provide the Message Board a report on Mason Plumlee.

Finally, here is another article on the big American Heritage vs. Pine Crest game down in Florida.

Brandon Knight scored 34 points to lead Pine Crest to an 86 - 70 victory over American Heritage. Kenny Boynton was the game's leading scorer with 40 points. Post player Eloy Vargas and point guard Ray Taylor did not play for American Heritage.

Brandon Knight and Kenny Boynton were recognized by the Miami Herald for their performances last week. On Tuesday evening, Brandon Knight scored 15 points as Pine Crest defeated North Broward Prep 66 - 25. Kenny Boynton's game was rained out. That sounds funny for a basketball game until you know that the gym the game was scheduled to be played in has a leaky roof. The game is rescheduled for Thursday.

Adam Zagoria has wriiten an interesting article which discusses the merits of a High School National Championship.

Mason Plumlee, whose name has recently been linked with Duke recruiting efforts, receives some ink from Jody Demling at his Louisville Courier-Journal blog. Here is a brief article on Plumlee's last game from the Asheville Citizen-Times.

Have you ever wondered who picks the McDonald's All-Americans? Dick Weiss provides the answer in his blog at the New York Daily News.

Olek Czyz scored 16 points as Reno defeated Douglas 60 - 41 in Friday night action. Czyz scored 11 of his points in the second half. On Saturday, Czyz scored 15 points as Reno defeated Damonte Ranch 77 - 50.

Meanwhile, in Norfolk, on Friday night, Deshawn Painter scored 10 points as Booker T. Washington defeated Granby 62 - 59. On Saturday, BTW fell to Bethel 49 - 42. DeShawn Painter scored 13 points in the loss.

Saturday, at the Dan Finn Classic, St. Benedict's defeated Patterson Catholic 57 - 52 behind 24 points and 15 rebounds from Louisville bound Samrdo Samuels. Duke recruiting target Greg Echenique added nine points and seven rebounds for the Gray Bees.

Kenny Boynton scored 44 points, but a short-handed American Heritage lost to Monsignor Pace 94-70. Center Eloy Vargas and point guard Ray Taylor did not play for AH. Both players have been suspended for their decision to skip the nationally televised game against Pace.

Leslie McDonald scored 17 points as Briarcrest Christian defeated Memphis University School 71-54. McDonald is the most recent player to be offered a scholarship by Duke.

Duke recruiting target Greg Echenique scored 15 points and hauled in 11 rebounds as St. Benedict's Prep defeated Rice at the Nike Super Six Invitational in Madison Square Garden.

DeShawn Painter only scored 5 points in Booker T. Washington's 54-53 victory over Norcom, but he pulled down 10 rebounds and blocked 6 shots in the game. The victory broke a three way tie for first place in the district standings leaving BTW alone in the top spot.

In Detroit Country Day's latest game, DaShonte Riley scored 16 points in a 62-45 victory.

There are many games involving Duke recruits and recruiting targets this weekend so check back with the Blue Devil Nation to keep abreast all the action.

In Memphis, on Thursday night, St. George's defeated Christian Brothers 58-57. Elliot Williams was carried off the court at the 6:36 mark of the 3rd Quarter with a hurt knee. He is expected back in a couple of days. Williams scored 20 points in the first half of the game. On Friday night, sans Elliot Williams, St. George's defeate Lausanne 71-48 and Leslie McDonald scored 22 points as Briarcrest defeated St. Benedict 76-67.

Out in Reno, Olek Czyz scored 20 points as Reno defeated Hug 69-52 on Friday night. Czyz was 14-16 from the free throw line. The scouting report on Czyz has consistently discussed his rawness, specifically his lack of offensive polish, but it has become clear in following his games that he is a good free throw shooter. This is a characteristic that should serve him well at the collegiate level.

Down in Florida, Brandon Knight dished out a school record 16 assists and scored 13 points for Pine Crest High School, in his first start of the season, after recovering from off-season surgery, as Pine Crest defeated Boca Raton 73-46 at the MLK Classic.

In Norfolk, DeShawn Painter scored 23 points to lead Booker T. Washington to a 64-49 victory on Friday night.

There is much to report in this edition of High School Hoops. Starting with 2008 signee Olek Czyz who won the Slam Dunk Contest at the Wild West Shootout and has been nominated for consideration as a McDonald's All-American. Czyz scored 22 points in his most recent game for Reno High School.

In Memphis, 2008 signee Elliot Williams scored 20 and 21 points in St. George's last two games. This article has some nice verbage on Williams' abilities.

Down in Florida, Kenny Boynton has been suspended for two games due to receiving two technical fouls in a game at the McDonald's Tampa Classic. In other news, highly sought after 2010 point guard Brandon Knight is set to return to the court after missing the season's first 14 games recovering from off-season surgery.

On Wednesday evening, at the Wild West Shootout, in Reno, Olek Czyz and his Reno High School teammates defeated Edison (Stockton, CA) 99-62. Czyz scored 27 points and was perfect from the free throw line. On Thursday, RHS rolled over La Quinta (Westminister, CA) by 49 points, 72-23. The storm in the Sierra-Nevadas has impacted the tournament with games being cancelled and rescheduled.

In Florida, on Thursday night, Tyreke Evans and American Christian defeated Kenny Boynton and American Heritage by a 99-72 count. Evans scored 31 points and Boynton scored 26. It was a tight game in the first half with American Christian leading 37-31 at the break. American Christian broke it open with an 18-2 run to start the 3rd Quarter.

DeShawn Painter and Booker T. Washington High School were back in action on Friday night in Norfolk. Painter scored 17 points as BTW defeated Lake Taylor 70-33.

In Memphis, on Friday night, Leslie McDonald scored 32 points to go with 12 rebounds as Briarcrest defeated Christian Brothers 72-69 in overtime.

The Blue Devil Nation will continue to keep you abreast all the high school hoops action for Duke signees and recruiting targets so stay tuned for continuing coverage of 2008 signees Elliot Williams and Olek Czyz as well as all the 2009 targets.