High school basketball: How to watch State Champions Invitational, storylines, team breakdowns

The inaugural State Champions Invitational features three teams ranked in this week's MaxPreps Top 25 rankings with action beginning Thursday at Berkeley Prep in Miami.

First-round matchups include Calvary Christian Academy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.) taking on Sidwell Friends (Washington, D.C.) while Auburn (Wash.) battles Norcross (Ga.). The event aims to establish a foundation for a future potential national championship tournament among NFHS state champions.

The State Champions Invitational is expected to expand to an eight-team field in 2023 with hopes of more state associations allowing teams to participate in future seasons. Although the event is open to all NFHS recognized state champions, currently only teams from Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Nevada, Utah, Washington and the District of Columbia are eligible.

Streaming/TV: ESPNU (semifinals), ESPN2 (finals)

Calvary Christian Academy comes into the State Champions Invitational as overwhelming favorites to capture the inaugural crown. The Eagles are the only team ranked in the top 10 nationally and led by four players who averaged 10.5 points or more, including Taylor Hendricks (15.0) and Marvel Allen (13.8).

The back-to-back Florida champions have amassed impressive wins over North Little Rock (Ark.), Camden (N.J.), Dr. Phillips (Orlando), Greensboro Day (Greensboro, N.C.) and Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando). They have an opportunity to add two more quality wins to its resume this week.

Calvary Christian Academy faces one-loss Sidwell Friends, which enters searching for its first win over a ranked opponent this season.

The Quakers have won 27 consecutive games — the longest of any team in the field — and have an opportunity to ascend toward the national top 10 rankings with a pair of signature victories.

Sidwell Friends features a lineup composed heavily of underclassmen as just two seniors see regular minutes in their rotation. Sophomore Caleb Williams led the team in scoring this season at 12.2 points per contest.

Auburn is a senior-laden group with plenty of experience to compete at the highest level this week. Led by four senior starters, the Trojans were able to capture the program's first WIAA Class 3A state title after defeating Garfield (Seattle), Seattle Prep (Seattle) and Rainier Beach (Seattle) in the state tournament.

The state champion from the Evergreen State may be the dark horse in this event, with the most experience of any team featured in the field.

Norcross rounds out the field after capturing its first GHSA Class AAAAAAA state title since 2013. The Blue Devils avenged losses to Newton (Covington) in the semifinals and Berkmar (Lilburn) in the state title game and are winners of 12 of their last 13.

Norcross is led by Top 25 junior prospect London Johnson, who averaged 18.7 points, 5.4 rebounds and 3.0 assists. He scored a game-high 27 points with eight rebounds and four steals in the state title game.

Record: 24-2

MaxPreps Top 25: No. 3

Postseason Result: FHSAA Class 4A state champions

Marvel Allen (6-4, G) No. 18 prospect in Class of 2023

Carl Cherenfant (6-4, G) No. 124 prospect in Class of 2023

Gregg Glenn (6-7, F) No. 103 prospect in Class of 2022 | Michigan

Taylor Hendricks (6-9, F) No. 70 prospect in Class of 2022 | UCF

Brenen Lorient (6-8, F) No. 128 prospect in Class of 2022 | Florida Atlantic