Sports

NYC boys basketball rankings

This is what we call the calm before the storm.

The big boys in the PSAL have a breather now that the borough playoffs are over and their citywide postseason is a few weeks away. The CHSAA regular-season is winding down before the Diocesan and Archdiocese playoffs begin next week.

That doesn’t mean our top 10 is taking it easy. St. Raymond and Boys & Girls switched spots, Christ the King continued its rise, up to fifth, and South Shore moved into our top 10 for the first time after pushing No. 1 Lincoln.

It’s all here in The Post’s latest New York City boys basketball rankings:

1. Lincoln (24-2) (Last week: 1)

If there were any doubts where the Railsplitters stand in New York City, they were impressively quieted this week. Lincoln won four games in six days – all by at least eight points – which includes victories over PSAL rivals Thomas Jefferson and South Shore in the Brooklyn borough playoffs and Catholic power St. Raymond Sunday in the PrimeTime Shootout at Kean University. Freshman Isaiah Whitehead and senior Shaquille Stokes continue to show they are the best backcourt in the PSAL, if not the entire city.

Next: Gompers/Beach Channel, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

2. St. Raymond’s (14-9) (3)

Despite a tough loss to Railsplitters, the Ravens are still considered a team to beat in the upcoming CHSAA playoffs. That defeat, which snapped a three-game winning streak, should provide a spark entering the postseason, which begins after Tuesday’s regular-season finale against struggling St. Francis Prep.

Next: St. Francis Prep (Feb. 15. 7:30 p.m.)

3. Boys & Girls (20-6) (2)

The Kangaroos failed to reach the Brooklyn borough championship game last year, too, but won a city title, so not all is lost. More important is getting their entire team back by the time the citywide playoffs begin for them in two weeks. When at full capacity, Boys & Girls is one of the best teams in the state.

Next: Campus Magnet/Manhattan Center, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

4. Wings Academy (22-2) (4)

This may be Wings’ most complete team yet and it showed in an undefeated league season in The Bronx. It has size (Amdy Fall, Andre Chambers and Steven Gomez), excellent guard play (Deonte Houston, Gerrell Martin and Yoshimar Bernardez) and scoring punch off the bench (Justin Jenkins). The next step is getting to Madison Square Garden for the PSAL Class AA championship game, a stage the Wings have yet to set foot upon. They may not be favored to get there – Lincoln and Boys & Girls are – but Billy Turnage’s kids certainly have a shot.

Next: Curtis/Thurgood Marshall Academy, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

5. Christ the King (15-6) (5)

Omar Calhoun has the Royals, who have won six straight, rolling at the right time of the season. The Royals are sharing the ball, taking quality shots and stepping up the defensive intensity. And oh look, the playoffs are just around the corner. How convenient.

Next: Burke Catholic (Feb. 15, 7:30 p.m.)

6. Cardozo (25-1) (6)

The Judges still struggle at times offensively, but their stingy defense carried them to a remarkable regular season and second straight Queens borough crown. Cardozo’s schedule is no doubt Charmin-soft, but it has beaten all comers and that includes a 20-point win over Wadleigh and impressive non-league victory over Maryland dynamo Patterson and sensational guard Aquille Carr, one of the best sophomores in the country.

Next: Eagle Academy/Transit Tech, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

7. Rice (14-9) (7)

After back-to-back losses last weekend to Christ the King and St. Raymond’s, Rice picked up an 85-58 non-league win against Newburgh Saturday. Can the Raiders start a new streak and head into the playoffs with two straight wins? That answer comes Tuesday at Jack Curran Gymnasium.

Next: @ Archbishop Molloy (Feb. 14, 4:15 p.m.)

8. Xaverian (14-7) (9)

Though a 58-48 loss to Christ the King snapped a six-game winning streak, the Clippers are the only CHSAA team with wins against CK and St. Ray’s on their resume. That’s nothing to balk at. We expect a much better effort from Jack Alesi’s squad if the two teams meet again in the Brooklyn/Queens Diocesan tournament.

Next: @ All Hallows (Feb. 15, 4:15 p.m.)

9. Wadleigh (23-5) (10)

We feel for the Tigers and seventh-year coach Mike Crump. After their best regular season under Crump which included a fifth straight Manhattan borough title and impressive non-league wins over South Shore, Archbishop Stepinac and Robeson, they were still done no favors by the seeding committee. A possible second-round matchup with newly-crowned Staten Island High School League champion McKee/Staten Island Tech is a pitfall waiting to happen.

Next: McKee/Staten Island Tech/Thomas Edison, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

10. South Shore (15-12) (NR)

The story of the Vikings’ 64-56 loss to Lincoln in the Brooklyn borough semifinals was whether or not Kamari Murphy threw a punch at Kwanique Martin. Before the last-second fracas, it would’ve been about a thrilling game in which young and talented South Shore showed it is more than capable of going very far this postseason. Coach Mike Beckles’ club got very little out of its star sophomores – Shamiek Sheppard and Terrence Samuel – yet gave Lincoln everything it wanted as senior Danny Thompson and Martin thrived.

Next: John F. Kennedy/Martin Van Buren, PSAL Class AA second round (TBA)

New: South Shore (15-12)

Dropped out: Mount St. Michael (22-1)

On the bubble: Archbishop Molloy (13-10), Cardinal Hayes (17-5), Holy Cross (14-9), John F. Kennedy (16-9), McKee/Staten Island Tech (20-8), Midwood (23-3) and Thomas Jefferson (15-12)

zbraziller@nypost.com

dbutler@nypost.com