Video: 2018 GEICO Nationals preview
Zack Poff breaks down a 2018 field that includes seven Top 25 teams.
The 10th annual GEICO High School Nationals (formerly known as Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals) are set for March 29-31 at Christ the King High School in New York City. All games will be broadcast across the ESPN family of networks.
GEICO Nationals will feature some of the nation's top talents as Top 10 prospects R.J. Barrett, Bol Bol and Vernon Carey Jr., will be in action trying to lead their respective teams to a national title.
MaxPreps has your look at the field, players to watch and what it took for teams to get to the Big Apple.
Team Bios
No. 1 seed Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.)2017-18 record: 32-0
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 1
GEICO appearances: 8
Record: 16-4 (winners in 2013, 2014 and 2015)
Players to WatchR.J. Barrett6-7 | Forward | Senior | Duke
Filip Petrusev6-10 | Forward | Senior | Gonzaga
Makhi Mitchell6-9 | Forward | Junior | Maryland
Andrew Nembhard6-4 | Guard | Senior | Florida
Mike Devoe 6-4 | Guard | Senior | Georgia Tech
Tournament resume: Montverde Academy is the team to beat after an undefeated regular season that included wins over Xcellent 25 opponents Findlay Prep, DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.), La Lumiere, Simeon (Chicago) and Roselle Catholic (Roselle, N.J.). Led by MaxPreps Player of the Year frontrunner Barrett (28.7 points, 8.5 rebounds, 4.5 assists per game), the Eagles have a balanced starting five and a deep bench that features 7-foot-1 C Balsa Koprivica. Look for the most dominant program in event history to continue its success and compete for a tournament record fourth title.
No. 2 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.) 2017-18 record: 43-1
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 2
GEICO appearances: 9
Record: 11-7 (winners in 2016)
Player to WatchDavid McCormack6-9 | Center | Senior | Kansas
Keldon Johnson6-6 | Guard | Senior | Kentucky
Keyontae Johnson6-5 | Guard | Senior | Florida
Will Richardson6-4 | Guard | Senior | Oregon
Tournament resume: Oak Hill Academy enters with all the pieces to win its second event title. The Warriors won titles at the Chick-Fil-A Classic, Les Schwab Invitational and Bass Pro Tournament of Champions. They possess three wins over teams in the eight-team field (Lone Peak, La Lumiere and University). Oak Hill has a balanced attack that features four high-major seniors, Keldon Johnson (20.5 points, 6.3 rebounds per game), Keyontae Johnson (14.8 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.8 assists), McCormack (13.4 points, 9.6 rebounds) and Richardson (14.8 points, 7.8 assists).
No. 3 University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)2017-18 record: 33-1
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 3
GEICO appearances: First
Player to WatchVernon Carey6-10 | Forward | Junior | Uncommitted, No. 2 overall player in 247Sports Composite
Scott Barnes6-8 | Forward | Sophomore | Uncommitted, No. 7 overall player in 247Sports Composite
Trey Doomes6-3 | Guard | Senior | West Virginia
Drue Drinnon6-0 | Guard | Senior | New Mexico
Tournament resume: Florida's 5A state champions have an impressive body of work, including regular season tournament titles at the City of Palms Classic and John Wall Invitational. The Sharks are led by highly touted junior forward Carey (26 points, 10.4 rebounds per game). University is looking to continue its best season in school history and avenge its only loss along the way in a potential semifinal battle with Oak Hill Academy.
No. 4 Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.)2017-18 record: 31-4
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 6
GEICO appearances: 10
Record: 13-6 (winners in 2009, 2010 and 2012)
Players to WatchBol Bol7-4 | Center | Senior | Oregon
Nathan Mensah6-10 | Forward | Senior | San Diego State
Reggie Chaney6-7 | Forward | Senior | Arkansas
Kyler Edwards6-4 | Guard | Senior | Texas Tech
Tournament resume: Findlay Prep is the only team to participate in every GEICO Nationals tournament dating back to the 2009 inaugural event, which it won. Led by Bol (20.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, 2.4 blocks per game), the Pilots will look to make a run at their fourth title. The Las Vegas-area program has big wins over Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.), Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Shadow Mountain (Phoenix) and IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.).
No. 5 La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.)2017-18 record: 23-3
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 9
GEICO appearances: 6
Record: 5-4 overall (winners in 2017)
Players to WatchIsaiah Stewart6-8 | Forward | Junior | Uncommitted, No. 25 overall prospect in 247Sports Composite
Emmanuel Miller6-6 | Forward | Junior | Uncommitted
Paxson Wojcik6-4 | Guard | Junior | Uncommitted
Tyger Campbell6-0 | Guard | Senior | UCLA
Tournament resume: La Lumiere is looking to reach its third consecutive title game at GEICO Nationals. The Lakers will try and defend their title featuring a much different lineup this season and will rely heavily on Stewart and Campbell to carry the load offensively. La Lumiere has big wins over Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia) and Brentwood Academy (Brentwood, Tenn.).
No. 6 Shadow Mountain (Phoenix)2017-18 record: 25-1
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 4
GEICO appearances: 2
Record: 0-1
Players to WatchImmanuel Allen6-5 | Forward | Senior | Uncommitted
Antonio Reeves6-4 | Guard | Senior | Uncommitted
Jaelen House6-2 | Guard | Junior | Arizona State
Jovan Blacksher6-1 | Guard | Junior | Uncommitted
Tournament resume: Arizona's three-peat state champions showed off their resilience in the state championship showdown with Salpointe Catholic, erasing a 22-point third quarter deficit. The Matadors are led by the dynamic backcourt duo of House (18.8 points, 5.3 rebounds per game) and Blacksher (15.7 points, 5.7 assists).
No. 7 Garfield (Seattle) 2017-18 record: 28-1
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: No. 12
GEICO appearances: First
Players to WatchJ'Raan Brooks6-9 | Forward | Senior | USC
Marjon Beauchamp6-6 | Guard | Sophomore | Uncommitted, No. 19 overall prospect in 247Sports Composite
PJ Fuller6-4 | Guard | Junior | Uncommitted, No. 46 overall prospect in 247Sports Composite
Pierre Crockrell Jr.6-2 | Guard | Junior | Uncommitted
Tournament resume: Brandon Roy is now 57-1 as a head coach, guiding Nathan Hale to an undefeated 29-0 mark last season and leading his alma mater to a 28-1 record this year. The former NBA all-star has plenty to work with again this season, led by first team All-Metro League selection Fuller (17.7 points, 6.8 rebounds, 5.0 assists per game) and Metro League Co-Defensive Player of the year Brooks (13.4 points, 11.3 rebounds). League rival Rainier Beach participated in the event in 2014.
No. 8 Lone Peak (Highland, Utah)2017-18 record: 23-3
MaxPreps Xcellent 25 rank: Not Ranked
GEICO appearances: First
Players to WatchJackson Brinkerhoff6-7 | Center | Senior | Uncommitted
Max Brenchley6-5 | Forward | Senior | Uncommitted
Steven Ashworth6-1 | Guard | Senior | Lone Peak
Chantry Ross5-10 | Guard | Senior | Westminster College
Tournament resume: Lone Peak was the only major surprise in this year's field, getting the nod over several highly-ranked schools in this week's Xcellent 25. Utah's 6A state champs will rely heavily on their guard play to keep pace with bigger, more athletic Montverde Academy. Look for Ross (17.5 points, 4.1 assists, 3.7 steals per game) and Ashworth (16.6 points, 7.6 assists) to lead the charge for Lone Peak if the Knights have any chance to upset the top-seeded Eagles.
Schedule:Thursday, March 29 (All times are EST)
No. 4 Findlay Prep vs. No. 5 La Lumiere, Noon, ESPNU
No. 3 University vs. No. 6 Shadow Mountain, 2 p.m., ESPNU
No. 2 Oak Hill Academy vs. No. 7 Garfield, 4 p.m., ESPNU
No. 1 Montverde Academy vs. No. 8 Lone Peak, 6 p.m., ESPNU
Friday, March 30Semifinal 1, 3 p.m., ESPN2
Semifinal 2, 5 p.m., ESPN2
Saturday, March 31Championship Game, noon, ESPN2
