Featuring the best high school basketball talent in the country, The DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals returns to New York City for the third-consecutive year. For the first time in tournament history, all eight of the boys teams and all four of the girls teams selected to play in the eighth-annual high school basketball tournament are ranked in the USA Today Super 25 Expert Rankings. This year's pool will also include five state champions.
In the boys field, three-time defending champion Montverde Academy (FL) will attempt to win an unprecedented fourth title, while Oak Hill Academy (VA) will look to win their first ever DICK'S Nationals. Also, two teams that won state titles will participate in the tournament this year including Miller Grove High School (GA) and Providence Day School (NC).
The girls field includes three different state champions as well: Seton Catholic Prep (AZ), Ribault High School (FL) and St. Francis High School (GA). Riverdale Baptist (MD) will have the opportunity to become the first three-time champion on the girls side.
"At DICK'S, we believe that sports matter and serving as the title sponsor of this great event for the third-straight year gives us the chance to provide these players, their families and their fans with a first-class experience," said Mark Rooks, Vice President of Sports and Community Marketing, DICK'S Sporting Goods. "This year's tournament features an impressive field of teams from across the country, and we're excited to watch them compete in the coming weeks in New York City."
The three-day, single-elimination tournament begins Thursday, March 31, at 12 p.m. (boys quarterfinals on ESPNU) and continues on Friday, April 1, at 11 a.m. from Christ the King High School (girls semifinals on
ESPNU and boys semifinals on ESPN2). On Saturday, April 2, competition shifts to Madison Square Garden, where a girls (ESPN2 at 10 a.m.) and boys champion (12 p.m. on ESPN) will be crowned.
Tickets are available now at dicksnationaltournament.com. For games played at Christ the King High School, general admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for games played at Madison Square Garden start at $15.
Both the boys and girls field will have a McDonald's All-American representative, with Alterique Gilbert of Miller Grove (GA) and Kaila Charles of Riverdale Baptist (MD).
To be eligible to be selected to the tournament, participating schools must be four-year high school, independent or public, and have their respective governing body's permission to participate. Tournament teams were chosen by a selection committee.
Image courtesy of
ESPN Press
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