The high school basketball season is officially underway with major states like Georgia and Texas already tipping off and California and Florida ready to join the mix next week. Things get off to a hot start with November featuring over 20 notable tournaments and events.
The City of Palms Classic in Fort Myers, Fla., and Spalding Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., continue to carry the torch as the premier events while many others around the nation provide a look at elite talent for high school hoops fans.
Read on for a look at over 100 of the top events from coast-to-coast scheduled for the coming months.
Top-ranked senior prospect A.J. Dybantsa of Utah Prep will likely draw big crowds at events like the Salt Lake City Hoopfest, 'Iolani Classic, Hoophall West and Spalding Hoophall Classic. (Photo: Chris M. Spears)
15-16 — Phenom Tip Off Classic (Davidson, N.C.)
Numerous top teams from the Tar Heel State are competing in the early-season event including
The Burlington School (Burlington, N.C.),
Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.),
Caldwell Academy (Greensboro, N.C.),
Combine Academy (Lincolnton, N.C.),
Millbrook (Raleigh, N.C.) and preseason top 100 programs
Christ School (Arden, N.C.) and
Davidson Day (Davidson, N.C.).
15-17 — Grind Session Miami (Miami, Fla.)
Grind Session event.
16 — On the Radar Hoops Tip-Off Classic (Norcross, Ga.)
21-23 — McDonald's Texas Invitational (Pasadena, Texas)
22-23 — Chomp City Classic (Cary, N.C.)
22-23 — George Lynch Invitational (Charlotte, N.C.)
Top North Carolina programs
1 of 1 Academy (Indian Trail, N.C.), Caldwell Academy,
Chambers (Charlotte, N.C.), Christ School, Combine Academy, Davidson Day,
Lake Norman (Mooresville, N.C.),
Providence Day (Charlotte, N.C.) and
Winston-Salem Christian (Winston-Salem, N.C.) are among the teams competing in the two-day Phenom Hoops event.
22-24 — Daytona Beach Grind Session (Daytona Beach, Fla.)
Grind Session event.
22-24 — National Prep Showcase (New Haven, Conn.)
Top prep schools converge on The Constitution State.
23 — Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic (Atlanta, Ga.)
22-23 — The Battlezone (Corona, Calif.)
23, 25-26 — Jared Cook Classic (Suwanee, Ga.)
Three-day event is headlined by a showdown between Class AAAAAAA state title favorite Grayson and Class AAAAAA state title favorite
Milton (Ga.).
25-26 —Piney Woods Hoopfest (Lufkin, Texas)
25-27 — Five for the Fight (Mt. Pleasant, Utah)
26-30 — Kevin Brown Tournament of Champions (Washington, Ill.)
Teams from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, South Carolina, Texas and Wisconsin compete in the event that features four separate fields.
29-30 — Holiday Hoopsgiving (Atlanta, Ga.)
Eleventh annual field showcases features teams from 10 states including
Bella Vista Prep (Scottsdale, Ariz.),
Columbus (Miami, Fla.), Davidson Day, Holy Innocents Episcopal,
North Tampa Christian Academy (Wesley Chapel, Fla.),
SoCal Academy (Castaic, Calif.), Tri-Cities,
Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah) and Wheeler.
29-30 — Lighthouse Classic (Corinth, Miss.)
Teams to watch in the two-day event include
DME Academy (Daytona Beach, Fla.),
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Chattanooga, Tenn.),
Hoover (Ala.),
Huntsville (Ala.) Jackson Academy (Jackson, Miss.),
Madison-Ridgeland Academy (Madison, Miss.),
Moravian Prep (Hudson, N.C.), Norcross,
Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.) and Winston-Salem Christian.
29-30 — Thanksgiving Hoopfest (Dallas, Texas)
29-30 — Grind Session Corinth (Corinth, Miss.)
Grind Session event.
29-30 — Phenom Lakesgiving (Mooresville, N.C.)
Nov. 29-Dec 1 — Grind Session Las Vegas (Grind Session, Las Vegas)
Grind Session event.
30 — Nor Cal Tip Off Classic (Dublin, Calif.)
30-1 — Mayhem on Military Road (Washington, D.C.)
December
2-5 — Ryse Williams Pac Shores Showcase (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
4-7 — Good Guys vs. Cancer Classic (Kill Devil Hills, N.C.)
Top teams from North Carolina and Virginia travel to the Outer Banks, including
Blue Ridge (St. George, Va.), Chambers, Davidson Day,
Farmville Central (Farmville, N.C.), Lake Norman,
Miller School of Albemarle (Charlottesville, Va.),
New Hanover (Wilmington, N.C.),
Northern Nash (Rocky Mount, N.C.) and
St. Anne's-Belfield (Charlottesville, Va.).
4-7 — Marshall County Hoopfest (Benton, Ky.)
5-7 — Battle in the Bluff (Memphis, Tenn.)
Calvary Baptist Academy (Shreveport, La.),
Canton (Miss.),
Owasso (Okla.) and
Springdale (Ark.) join top teams from Tennessee — Bartlett,
Briarcrest Christian (Eads, Tenn.),
Christian Brothers (Memphis, Tenn.),
Memphis University (Memphis, Tenn.) and
Southwind (Memphis, Tenn.).
6-7 — Chicago Elite Classic (Chicago, Ill.)
Out-of-state programs
Chaminade (St. Louis, Mo.),
Duncanville (Texas) and
Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.) are joined by top Prairie State teams like
Bolingbrook (Bolingbrook, Ill.),
DePaul College Prep (Chicago, Ill.),
Homewood-Flossmoor (Flossmoor, Ill.),
Kenwood (Chicago, Ill.),
Rich Township (Olympia Fields, Ill.),
Simeon (Chicago, Ill.) and
Whitney Young (Chicago, Ill.).
6-7 — Sunshine Classic (Montverde, Fla.)
6-7 — The Main Event (Miami, Fla.)
The top-ranked teams in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 face off as No. 1 Columbus takes on No. 2
Gonzaga (Washington, D.C.) in a showdown with massive implications.
6-8 — National High School Hoops Festival (Hyattsville, Md.)
Preseason Top 100 schools participating include
Archbishop Carroll (Radnor, Pa.),
Bishop McNamara (Forestville, Md.), Brennan, Bullis, DeMatha, Highland, IMG Academy, Georgetown Prep,
Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.), Sidwell Friends and St. John's.
6-8 — Xaverian Classic (Olney, Md.)
7 — Tournament of Champions Super Saturday (Marietta, Ga.)
Heavyweight showdown of Grayson vs. Wheeler will determine the early-season favorite in the Class AAAAAAA state title race.
7-8 — Take Flight Challenge (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
11-13 — Norm Stewart Classic (Columbia, Mo.)
The unique event gives us an early look at Missouri contenders with 48 consecutive hours of basketball over the course of this special three-day event.
12-14 — The Bash (Columbia, S.C.)
13 — LuHi Holiday Invitational (Brookville, N.Y.)
Long Island Lutheran hosts Sierra Canyon in headlining game of one-day event.
13-14 — Ish Smith Showcase (Harrisburg, N.C.)
13-14 — Salt Lake City Hoopfest (Salt Lake City, Utah)
13-14 — Turnkey Hardwood Classic (Knoxville, Tenn.)
Preseason Top 100 programs Huntsville and St. Anne's-Belfield match up at the two-day event featuring teams from Alabama, Kentucky, North Carolina, Tennessee and Virgnia.
14 — Hawks-Naismith Holiday Classic (Norcross, Ga.)
One-day event features five games headlined by a showdown between Milton and Norcross.
13-15 — Gonzaga DC Classic (Washington, D.C.)
8-team tournament bracket features
Archbishop Spalding (Severn, Md.), Gonzaga, Chaminade,
Coolidge (Washington, D.C.),
Lane Tech (Chicago, Ill.),
Maret (Washington, D.C.),
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia, Pa.) and
St. Ignatius (Cleveland, Ohio).
13-15 — Grind Session Memphis (Memphis, Tenn.)
Grind Session event.
13-15 — Grind Session Phoenix (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Grind Session event.
13-15 — Hopkinsville Grind Session (Hopkinsville, Ky.)
Grind Session event.
13-16 — NBA Cup (Las Vegas, Nev.)
In conjunction with the Emirate NBA Cup in-season tournament, top high school teams will take the court in the days leading up to the championship game of the NBA event.
15 — Derby City Tip-Off (Ky.)
15-21 — Tarkanian Classic (Las Vegas, Nev.)
Teams from 20 different states join in-state programs along with programs from the Bahamas, Australia, Canada and New Zealand will participate in the week-long event.
17-18 — Hoopfest in Paradise (Nassau, Bahamas)
Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.),
Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.), Combine Academy, Dynamic Prep, Oak Ridge,
Sagemont (Weston, Fla.), and Wasatch Academy head to the Caribbean.
17-21 — 'Iolani Classic (Honolulu, Hawaii)
Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.),
Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia, Pa.), Oak Hill Academy, Paul VI,
University Lab (Baton Rouge, La.), Utah Prep,
Veritas Academy (Ontario, Calif.) and Wheeler join the top teams from Hawaii and one team from Japan in the 16-team tournament field.
18-22 — King of the Bluegrass (Fairdale, Ky.)
18-23 — City of Palms Classic (Fort Myers, Fla.)
Preseason ranked teams Columbus, Grayson, Great Crossing, IMG Academy, La Lumiere, Long Island Lutheran, Millennium, Montverde Academy and Oak Ridge headline the 16-team Traditional bracket of the premier tournament in high school hoops.
20-21 — Grind Session St. Louis (St. Louis, Mo.)
Grind Session event.
20-21 — Jasper Classic (Jasper, Ala.)
Bartlett,
Bartow (Fla.),
Cordova (Tenn.),
Dutchtown (Hampton, Ga.),
Lausanne Collegiate (Memphis, Tenn.) and
Springdale Prep (New Windsor, Md.) join top Yellowhammer State programs like
Buckhorn (New Market, Ala.),
Central (Phenix City, Ala.),
Enterprise, Hoover and
Huffman (Birmingham, Ala.) at the event.
20-21, 23 — Mike Gminski Classic (Concord, N.C.)
Top-ranked team from the Palmetto State Ridge View takes on a pair of tough foes from the Tar Heel State as they face Davidson Day and Burlington School on back-to-back days.
26-28 — Championship Basketball Tournament (Fort Worth and Saginaw, Texas)
26-28, 30 — John Wall Holiday Invitational (Raleigh, N.C.)
26-30 — Torrey Pines Holiday Classic (San Diego, Calif.)
26-31 — The Classic at Tennessee High School (Bristol, Tenn.)
26-30 — Governors Challenge (Salisbury, Md.)
One of the largest holiday tournaments in the country features over 140 teams at the Wicomico Civic Center and surrounding high schools.
26-30 — The Classic at Damien (La Verne, Calif.)
128 teams are dispersed across eight divisions of 16 teams. Bracket pairings will be announced on Dec. 1.
27-28 — Iverson Classic Blackout Series Tennessee (La Vergne, Tenn.)
27-29 — Grind Session Hilo (Hilo, Hawaii)
Grind Session event.
27-29 — Jordan Holiday Classic (New York, N.Y.)
Field has yet to be announced for the event, but Columbus vs. Long Island Lutheran is expected to be among the headlining contests.
27-28, 30 — Hoop City Classic (Mitchell, S.D.)
Intriguing Midwest event features the top teams from the Dakotas along with
Coronado (Henderson, Nev.),
Houston (Germantown, Tenn.),
Orlando Christian Prep (Orlando, Fla.),
Orono (Long Lake, Minn.),
St. George's (Collierville, Tenn.) and
Totino-Grace (Fridley, Minn.).
27-30 — Beach Ball Classic (Myrtle Beach, S.C.)
27-30 — Kingdom of the Sun (Ocala, Fla.)
Featured teams in the 16-team tournament field include
Evans (Orlando, Fla.),
Edgewater (Orlando, Fla.),
Gibbs (St. Petersburg, Fla.),
Green Tech (Albany, N.Y.),
Notre Dame (West Haven, Conn.) and
St. Thomas Aquinas (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.).
27-30 — Les Schwab Invitational (Hillsboro, Ore.)
Out-of-state teams Gonzaga, La Lumiere and
Owyhee (Meridian, Idaho) join the top teams from the Beehive State in the 28th annual tournament field.
27-28, 30 — Junior Orange Bowl (Miami, Fla.)
January
2-4 — Hoophall West (Gilbert, Ariz.)
Chaminade,
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.), De La Salle, Duncanville, Gonzaga, Harvard-Westlake, Perry and Sunyslope make up a new-look, eight-team tournament field. Other teams to watch participating in the showcase portion of the event include preseason ranked programs AZ Compass Prep, Link Academy, Montverde Academy,
Notre Dame (Sherman Oaks, Calif.), Roosevelt,
St. John Bosco (Bellflower, Calif.) and Utah Prep.
3-5 — Grind Session Louisville (Louisville, Ky.)
Grind Session event.
4 — Behan Strong Classic (Washington, D.C.)
DMV event is put on as a fundraiser for former St. John's head coach Pat Behan, who is currently battling ALS.
4 — Highland Optimist Shootout (Highland, Ill.)
Great Crossing faces off against Bellaire in the marquee game of the event that includes top teams from Missouri and Illinois.
9-11 — La Porte Invitational (La Porte, Ind.)
A pair of showdown between National Top 10 teams spotlight the event as Link Academy faces IMG Academy and Brewster Academy takes on host La Lumiere in the Nike EYBL Scholastic event.
10-11 — Iverson Classic Blackout Series New Jersey (Newark, N.J.)
Out-of-state programs Bishop McNamara, Dynamic Prep, Oak Cliff Faith Family, Roman Catholic, RWG Stem Academy (Texas), Utah Prep,
Western Reserve Academy (Hudson, Ohio) and
Woodmere Academy (Woodmere, N.Y.) join top Garden State teams like
Arts (Newark, N.J.),
Bergen Catholic (Oradell, N.J.),
Camden (N.J.),
College Achieve (Asbury Park, N.J.),
Patrick School (Hillside, N.J.) and
St. Rose (Belmar, N.J.).
10-12 — Grind Session Paducah (Paducah, Ky.)
Grind Session event.
11 — IAC-MAC challenge (North Bethesda, Md.)
Showdown between Preseason MaxPreps Top 25 teams Sidwell Friends and Bullis headlines the cross-conference challenge.
16-18 — Bass Pro Shops Tournament of Champions (Springfield, Mo.)
16-20 — Spalding Hoophall Classic (Springfield, Mass.)
Loaded five-day event is the premier showcase in high school basketball with nine contests matching up teams ranked in the Preseason National Top 10 or MaxPreps Top 25. Top games include Paul VI vs. St. John Bosco, Montverde Academy vs. Utah Prep, Gonzaga vs. Roosevelt, Columbus vs. Perry and Long Island Lutheran vs. La Lumiere.
17-19 — Grind Session Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.)
Grind Session event.
17-20 — Flyin' to the Hoop Invitational (Dayton, Ohio)
Showdown between National Top 10 programs Prolific Prep and AZ Compass Prep takes center stage Friday night. Top teams from the Buckeye State — Archbishop Moeller,
Brunswick (Ohio),
Garfield Heights (Ohio),
Lima Senior (Lima, Ohio),
Louisville (Ohio),
Olentangy Orange (Lewis Center, Ohio),
Reynoldsburg (Ohio), St. Ignatius and
Whitmer (Toledo, Ohio) are also participating in the invitational.
18-19 — Hoophall Invitational (Springfield, Mass.)
Forty-eight teams from multiple states the Northeast Region including Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island are participating in the two-day event.
20 — Dream Classic (Washington, D.C.)
Event to watch in the DMV area celebrates the Martin Luther King holiday with elite hoops.
20 — De La Salle MLK Classic (Concord, Calif.)
23-25 — Alaska Airlines Classic (Anchorage, Alaska)
Columbia (Decatur, Ga.),
Heritage Christian (Northridge, Calif.) and Hoover join Alaska programs
Bettye Davis East Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska),
Colony (Palmer, Alaska),
Ketchikan (Alaska),
Service (Anchorage, Alaska) and
West Anchorage (Anchorage, Alaska) to form the eight-team tournament bracket.
24-25 — Nike Extravaganza (Santa Ana, Calif.)
24-25 — Quincy Shootout (Quincy, Ill.)
Bishop O'Connell,
Booker T. Washington (Tulsa, Okla.), Chaminade,
Father Tolton (Columbia, Mo.), Millard North, Modesto Christian,
Oak Park (Kansas City, Mo.),
Quincy Notre Dame (Quincy, Ill.).
Quincy (Quincy, Ill.),
Shawnee Mission Northwest (Shawnee Mission, Kan.), Simeon,
Phelps (Malvern, Pa.) and
Vashon (St. Louis, Mo.) make up the participant list.
24-26 — Grind Session San Pablo (San Pablo, Calif.)
Grind Session event.
25 — Dan Cummins Classic (Georgetown. Ky.)
25 — Nike Elite Classic (Mableton, Ga.)
Pebblebrook hosts event that features a matchup between Georgia state title contenders as Milton faces Wheeler.
Jan 30-Feb. 1 — Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament (Montverde, Fla.)
Montverde Academy hosts to be announced 8-team tournament field.
31-Feb. 2 — Grind Session Phoenix (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Grind Session event.
February
1 — Longhorn Showcase (Milton, Ga.)
Host Milton faces off against Whitney Young in the late-season Peach State event.
1 — Melo Classic (Towson, Md.)
Field is yet to be announced.
7-8 — Air Capital Hoopfest (Wichita, Kan.)
Field is yet to be announced for the Nike EYBL Scholastic event hosted by Sunrise Christian Academy.
6-8 — Metro Classic (Toms River, N.J.)
National Top 10 programs Montverde Academy and La Lumiere are expected to be participating in the to be announced field that annually features the top teams from the Garden State.
7-9 — Grind Session Atlanta (Atlanta, Ga.)
Grind Session event.
14-15 — Bob McKilliop Classic (Brookville, N.Y.)
Long Island Lutheran hosts Oak Hill Academy and IMG Academy in the two-day Nike EYBL Scholastic event.
14-16 — Grind Session Jamaica (Jamaica)
Grind Session event.
15 — Heartland Hoops Classic (Grind Island, Neb.)
21-23 — Grind Session Philadelphia (Philadelphia, Pa.)
Grind Session event.
Feb. 28-March 2 — Grind Session Napa (Napa, Calif.)
Grind Session event.
Feb. 28-March 2 — Grind Session Washington (Washington, D.C.)
Grind Session event.
