I think they are a good source of national HS info. I check in for both hoops and football through respective seasons. For hoops I follow the X' 25 Rankings more but both polls are useful for comparisons. Max Preps were on Chester Pa. early and they turned out to be bone crunching monsters (34-0 only and one game within 10 points in hoops-rich philly area). In DC, Paul IV was the real deal. In NC New Hanover Wilmington beat the Charlotte powers. They all recruit but I'm generally more impressed with traditional public schools- small school Baltimore Dunbar once had five NBA's ( Muggsy Bogue's Reggie Lewis Reggie Williams team) and some of NYC teams didn't have the money to travel but that is a whole 'nuther subject. I was suspicious about Marcus TX rankings all year since DC area Montrose Christian went down there and played 'em to a two point loss. Shrug. Tons of other great 2012 state teams. Do you follow HS hoops and what do you think of MaxPrep rankings ?
