High school baseball: National High School Invitational among top tournaments in 2026

Sponsored by Team USA Baseball and held in Cary, N.C., the National High School Invitational annually features 16 of the top teams in the country, but this year's group may be the most competitive yet. Along with defending champion Venice (Fla.), the event also has potential state champions Jesuit (Tampa, Fla.) and Trinity Christian Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.) scheduled to play.

California will send four of its top teams in St. John Bosco (Bellflower), Orange Lutheran (Orange), Harvard-Westlake (Studio City) and Aquinas (San Bernardino). St. John Bosco and Orange Lutheran are currently ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in the MaxPreps Top 25 and Harvard-Westlake has reached the final of the NHSI on multiple occasions.

At least six other participants have been pegged by MaxPreps as potential champions in their respective states, including Baylor (Chattanooga, Tenn.), Trinity (Louisville, Ky.), Delbarton (Morristown, N.J.), Gloucester Catholic (Gloucester City, N.J.), Regis Jesuit (Aurora, Colo.) and Edmond Memorial (Edmond, Okla.). The rest of the formidable lineup includes Casteel (Queen Creek, Ariz.), Nolensville (Tenn.) and Wakefield (Raleigh, N.C.).

A total of seven teams participating in the NHSI are currently ranked in the MaxPreps Top 25. Scheduled to run March 25-28, the event figures to have a huge impact on the rankings.

Among the other tournaments that could shake up the rankings over the next month include the Bishop Gorman Invitational, the IMG National Classic, the Southern California Boras Classic, the Perfect Game Showdown and the Five Tool Festival. Read on for a glance at each. Bishop Gorman Invitational
Dates: March 16-19, Bishop Gorman High School (Las Vegas) | Schedule
MaxPreps Top 25 teams: Stoneman Douglas (Parkland, Fla.), Columbus (Miami), Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.), Brother Rice (Chicago)
Other top teams: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), T.C. Roberson (Asheville, N.C.), Faith Lutheran (Las Vegas), American Fork (Utah), Santa Margarita (Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif.)

Southern California Boras Classic
Dates: April 7-10, Orange County | Schedule
MaxPreps Top 25 teams: Corona (Corona, Calif.), Orange Lutheran, St. John Bosco
Other Top Teams: JSerra Catholic (San Juan Capistrano, Calif.), Mater Dei (Santa Ana, Calif.), Aquinas (San Bernardino), Huntington Beach (Calif.), Patrick Henry (San Diego, Calif.)

Perfect Game Showdown
Dates: Feb. 26-28 at Hoover (Ala.) | Schedule
MaxPreps Top 25 teams: South Walton (Santa Rosa Beach, Fla.), Etowah (Woodstock, Ga.)
Other top teams: Hoover (Ala.), Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.), The Bennett School (Houston), North Broward Prep (Coconut Creek, Fla.), Hartselle (Ala.)

Five Tool Festival
Dates: Feb. 26-28 at Dallas (Texas) | Schedule
MaxPreps Top 25 teams: Magnolia Heights (Senatobia, Miss.), Grapevine (Texas)
Other top teams: The Woodlands (Texas), Westlake (Austin, Texas), Southlake Carroll (Southlake, Texas), Rockwall (Texas), Rockwall-Heath (Rockwall, Texas), Prosper (Texas), Lake Travis (Austin, Texas), Dallas Jesuit, JSerra Catholic, Memorial (Houston), Highland Park (Dallas), Marcus (Flower Mound, Texas), Allen (Texas)

IMG National Classic
Dates: March 23-27 at IMG Academy Schedule
MaxPreps Top 25 teams: IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.)
Other top teams: Georgetown Prep (North Bethesda, Md.), Poly Prep Country Day (Brooklyn, N.Y.), North Cobb Christian (Kennesaw, Ga.), South Dade (Homestead, Fla.), Merritt Island (Fla.), Landon (Bethesda, Md.)