High school basketball tournaments and showcase events to watch in 2014-15

This weekend's Hoops for the Cure Classic in the Atlanta area tips off another season of big time high school basketball tournaments and showcases.

There will be a national-level event every weekend through mid-February. Using our guide to the stars below, there's a good chance you can catch one in an area near you.

NOVEMBER





14-15 – Hoops for the Cure Classic (Alpharetta, Ga.)
What to watch for: Nationally-ranked St. Francis (Alpharetta, Ga.) gets early test in showcase charity event.

21-22 – Hoop Exchange Classic (Windermere, Fla.)
What to watch for: Antonio Blakeney and Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) will take a swing at SIAA power The Rock (Gainesville, Fla.) in a matchup with national implications.

25-29 – Coventry Health Tournament of Champions (Washington, Ill.)
What to watch for: Cape Henry Collegiate (Virginia Beach, Va.) and Potter's House Christian (Jacksonville, Fla.) among out-of-state attractions in arguably nation's best early-season tourney.

26-29 – Hoophall West (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
What to watch for: Several of Arizona's top teams will square off for an opportunity to play in related January event.

28-29 – Charlotte Hoops Challenge (N.C.)
What to watch for: Teams from Florida, Georgia and Tennessee supplement lineup thick with top North Carolina teams.

28-29 – Holiday Hoopsgiving (Atlanta, Ga.)
What to watch for: Teams from Alabama, North Carolina and Utah come to town to take on some of Georgia's best.



28-29 – Lighthouse Thanksgiving Classic (Corinth, Miss.)
What to watch: Malik Newman and three-time defending Mississippi champ Callaway (Jackson) will square off with six-time defending Georgia champ Miller Grove (Lithonia).

28-29 – Thanksgiving Hoopfest (Duncanville, Texas)
What to watch for: Metroplex powers DeSoto, Kimball (Dallas) and Prestonwood Christian (Plano) will be joined by teams from Arkansas, Oklahoma and Tennessee.

28-30 – Rumble on the Ridge (Forrest City, Ark.)
What to watch for: Two-time defending Arkansas state champ North Little Rock will get early test in competitive eight-team bracket.

29 – NorCal Tip-Off Classic (Newark, Calif.)
What to watch for: Blockbuster season opener pitting No. 7 Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) against No. 11 Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.).

DECEMBER





5-6 – Buckeye Elite National Showcase (Huntington, W.Va.)
What to watch for: Preseason No. 1 Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. No. 11 Plano West (Texas) should fill up Sandy Superstore Arena.

5-6 – Chicago Elite Classic
What to watch for: Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), Lancaster (Texas), Lone Peak (Highland, Utah) and Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.) make trip to take on some of Windy City's best.

5-6 – Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
What to watch for: No high school hoopaholic's life is complete without a trip to Reed Condor Gymnasium.

6 – Nike Explosion (Marietta, Ga.)
What to watch for: St. Francis vs. Miller Grove is a big time early-season clash between Georgia powers.

11-13 – FreeTaxUSA.com Shootout (Orem, Utah)
What to watch for: Out-of-state challengers Denver East (Colo.), Overland (Aurora, Colo.) and Richland (Wash.) will take on some of Beehive State's best, including Lone Peak.

12-13 – Hoop Exchange Southern Shootout (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
What to watch for: Two-day showcase loaded with Sunshine State contenders.

13 – DFW Basketball Challenge (Fort Worth, Texas)
What to watch for: Three-game slate at Wilkerson-Greines Activity Center, which will also host TCU Horned Frogs mens and womens basketball in 2014-15.



13 – Hope Classic High School Basketball Showcase (Struthers, Ohio)
What to watch for: Historical Struthers Field House hosts first-class charity event.

13-14 – National High School Hoopfest (Hyattsville, Md.)
What to watch for: Star junior Jayson Tatum and Chaminade (St. Louis) will head east to take on host DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.).

16-20 – Iolani Classic (Honolulu)
What to watch for: Bishop O'Dowd, Miller Grove and Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) among teams heading to Honolulu.

17-20 – Jerry Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas)
What to watch for: Seven defending state champions will appear in loaded Platinum Division while Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.), Prime Prep (Dallas) and newcomer Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.) join teams from Australia, Canada and New Zealand in Prep Division.

18-23 – City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)
What to watch for: Still the best tournament on the high school basketball calendar, juiciest COP storyline in 2014 will be Montverde Academy's quest for an unprecedented three-peat.

19-23 – Chick-fil-A Classic (Columbia, S.C.)
What to watch for: Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), Cape Henry Collegiate and Our Savior New American (Centereach, N.Y.) among teams headed to South Carolina hoping to make holiday statement.



19-23 – King of the Bluegrass Holiday Classic (Fairdale, Ky.)
What to watch for: Christ Presbyterian Academy (Nashville, Tenn.) gunning for third Bluegrass crown in four years.

21 – Mary Kline Winter Classic (Warminster, Pa.)
What to watch for: Philly powers Imhotep Charter and Neumann-Goretti headline Alex Kline's five-game fundraiser.

19-22 – The Kreul Classic (Coral Springs, Fla.)
What to watch for: Forty-four teams from a dozen states will slug it out in this South Florida extravaganza.

20-21 – Hoop Group Tip-Off Showcase (West Orange, N.J.)
What to watch for: First look at some of Jersey's best, including East Side (Newark), Roselle Catholic, St. Anthony (Jersey City), and The Patrick School (Elizabeth).

26-29 – Victor Oladipo Christmas Festival (Orlando, Fla.)
What to watch for: DeMatha and local power Oak Ridge join SIAA powers Arlington Country Day, Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) and West Oaks (Orlando, Fla.) in eight-team tourney.

26-31 – Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
What to watch for: Preseason Top 25 teams Bishop Gorman, North Little Rock and St. Francis will have hands full with deep field.



26-31 – Kingdom of the Sun (Ocala, Fla.)
What to watch for: J.J. Barea, Dwight Howard and Thaddeus Young all played in in the KOTS, now in its 41st year.

26-30 – HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.)
What to watch for: Best high school basketball team in North America? Thon Maker and Orangeville Prep of Canada will get a chance to show what they are made of at storied Tar Heel State tourney.

26-30 – MaxPreps Holiday Classic (Palm Springs, Calif.)
What to watch for: Preseason No. 5 Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.) and No. 14 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) headline deepest field ever in Palm Springs.

26-30 – Under Armour Holiday Classic (Torrey Pines, Calif.)
What to watch for: Centennial (Corona, Calif.), The Patrick School, Prime Prep and Redondo Union will vie for title at San Diego-area event.

27-29 – Slam Dunk to the Beach (Lewes, Del.)
What to watch for: After disappearing for over a decade, SDTTB is back with nationally-ranked Roselle Catholic and Our Savior New American in the lineup.

27-29 – Mike Miller Classic (Mitchell and Sioux Falls, S.D.)
What to watch for: Findlay Prep and La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.) among national powers headed to South Dakota.



27-30 – Les Schwab Invitational (Hillsboro, Ore.)
What to watch for: Montverde Academy, Rainier Beach (Seattle) and Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.) come to town and take on Oregon's best programs in 16-team tournament.

27-30 – Battle at the Villages (The Villages, Fla.)
What to watch for: New tournament on the calendar has impressive first-year field, including Archbishop Moeller (Cincinnati), Norland (Miami), Taylor County (Campbellsville, Ky.) and Tampa Prep (Fla.).

29-31 – Whataburger Tournament (Fort Worth, Texas)
What to watch for: The Texas Association of Basketball Coaches pegged Plano West and DeSoto 1-2, respectively, in the preseason Class AAAAAA rankings. Both are in the Whataburger field.

JANUARY



2 – Chance Harman Classic (Floyd, Va.)
What to watch for: Battle between preseason nationally-ranked Cape Henry Collegiate and Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.) is one of the more intriguing matchups on the 2014-15 slate.



2-3 – Cancer Research Classic (Wheeling, W.Va.)
What to watch for: Two days of titanic matchups featuring Montverde Academy, Huntington St. Joseph Prep (W.Va.) and La Lumiere.

2-3 – Hoophall West (Scottsdale, Ariz.)
What to watch for: Arizona defending champs Corona del Sol (Tempe) and Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) will join national names like DeMatha, Findlay Prep, Our Savior New American and Sierra Canyon to bring in the New Year.

3 – Jordan Take Flight Classic (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
What to watch for: Flashy, Jordan Brand-themed event will include nationally-ranked Bishop O'Dowd and Chino Hills (Calif.).

8-10 – Penny Hardaway's Hoop Fest (Newbern and Arlington, Tenn.)
What to watch for: Organizer Travis Haddock always loads the deck for this showcase, bringing in national powers like Oak Hill Academy, Simeon (Chicago), Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.) and Whitney Young (Chicago).

15-17 – Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
What to watch for: Last year's final was played in front of 10,000 fans and a national television audience. The 2015 edition should be no different with the likes of Bentonville (Ark.), Bishop O'Dowd, Chino Hills, Oak Hill Academy, Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.) and Wesleyan Christian battling for title.

15-19 – Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
What to watch for: Too many good teams and matchups to list. Just make plans to be at the nation's best high school basketball shootout-style event in arguably the nation's coolest setting (Blake Arena).



16-19 – Flyin' to the Hoop (Kettering, Ohio)
What to watch for: Eight five-star prospects scheduled to take the court in Buckeye State mega-showcase, including Josh Jackson of Prolific Prep, Allonzo Trier of Findlay Prep and Luke Kennard of Franklin (Ohio).

17 – Dan Finn Classic (Jersey City, N.J.)
What to watch for: Bob Hurley and St. Anthony in action against longtime nemesis The Patrick School. Enough said.

17-18 – Burger King Classic (Erie, Pa.)
What to watch for: Trevor Ariza, Ron Artest, Roy Hibbert, Felipe Lopez and Chris Webber have all taken the floor at the Classic over the years.

23-24 – ARS Rescue Rooter National Hoop Fest (Tampa, Fla.)
What to watch for: Nationally-ranked Arlington Country Day, Huntington St. Joseph Prep, Montverde Academy, Oldsmar Christian and Simeon all in action at Berkeley Prep.

24 – Pangos Dream Classic (Las Vegas)
What to watch for: Includes annual showdown between local rivals Bishop Gorman and Findlay Prep.

24 – Winter Classic Basketball Challenge (Roanoke, Va.)
What to watch for: Oak Hill Academy vs. Cape Henry Collegiate headlines all-day event at Roanoke Civic Center.



25 – Newark National Invitational (Newark, N.J.)
What to watch for: Roselle Catholic vs. host St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) will be battle for bragging rights in Garden State.

25 – Hilton Invitational (Norcross, Ga.)
What to watch for: Norcross High School-hosted event always seems to produce a matchup with national significance late in the regular season. DeMatha, Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) and Jonesboro (Ga.) among attractions in 2015.

29-31 – Montverde Academy Invitational (Montverde, Fla.)
What to watch for: Nation's top program gets to show off top-notch facilities in three-day tournament.

31 – Fairfax State Preview (Los Angeles)
What to watch for: Always a highly-anticipated event hosted by SoCal perennial power Fairfax (Los Angeles).

31 – Hoop Exchange Northern Shootout (Jacksonville, Fla.)
What to watch for: Good time to see Potter's House Christian manchild Udoka Azubuike, a 6-foot-10, 260-pound junior center.

31 – High School Hoops Showcase (BOK Arena)
What to watch for: Several of Oklahoma's top programs get to run the floor at the 20,000-seat BOK Center.



FEBRUARY



5-6 – Nike Extravaganza (Santa Ana, Calif.)
What to watch for: Oak Hill Academy makes first trip to Orange County in almost a decade for big doubleheader against Bishop O'Dowd and Sierra Canyon.

7-8 – Primetime Shootout (Roselle, N.J.)
What to watch for: Roselle Catholic will take on East Side in a battle of Garden State heavyweights.

13-14 – Metro Classic (Union, N.J.)
What to watch for: Kevin Boyle returns to the Northeast to lead Montverde Academy against Roselle Catholic in what could be huge late-season showdown.

21 – City-Suburban Showdown (Skokie, Ill.)
What to watch for: Simeon and Stevenson (Lincolnshire, Ill.) will hook it up for the second year in a row to headline the event.