Four teams featured in MaxPreps.com's Xcellent 25 will take the floor Thursday at Coppin State University in Baltimore, Md., for opening-round action in the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational.
The eight-team, single-elimination tournament runs through Saturday with all seven contests to be broadcast on ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU.
Winston Shepard and Findlay Prep will be looking for the three-peat this weekend at the National High School Invitational.
File photo Lonnie Webb
No. 5
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) is the event's top seed and owns wins over two of the other heavyweights in the field – No. 11
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) and No. 18
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.). The Maryland program is 22-1 on the season and takes on
John Carroll (Bel Air, Md.) in Thursday's opener.
Oak Hill Academy and Findlay Prep should have plenty of motivation. Steve Smith's Oak Hill squad was ranked No. 1 nationally for much of the season until a rough patch in mid-January resulted in back-to-back losses, including one to fellow NHSI participant and first-round opponent
United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.). A tournament victory in Baltimore would shoot the Warriors back up in the rankings and end a good season on a great note.
Findlay Prep is the event's two-time defending champion and it's hard to imagine the Pilots aren't eyeing Montrose Christian, who handed them the worst loss in program history during a 63-37 February beatdown.
The fourth ranked team is No. 6
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens), Florida's Class 5A state champion. The Panthers swept their last 19 games of the season, beating 16 of those opponents by 20 points or more. They face Findlay Prep in the opening round.
There is plenty of intrigue among the unranked teams rounding out the field. Florida Class 6A champion
Winter Park brings MaxPreps National Player of the Year candidate (award will be announced next Tuesday)
Austin Rivers. The Wildcats reached the second round of the NHSI last year and meet New York City powerhouse
Boys & Girls (Brooklyn) on Thursday.
Thursday's quarterfinal schedule (click for bracket, all games on ESPNU)2 p.m. –
Montrose Christian (Rockville, Md.) vs.
John Carroll (Bel Air, Md.)4 p.m. –
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.) vs.
Dwyer (Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.)6 p.m. –
Winter Park (Fla.) vs.
Boys & Girls (Brooklyn, N.Y.)8 p.m. –
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) vs.
United Faith Christian Academy (Charlotte, N.C.)
