Video: Top 25 high school boys basketball rankings See where teams land heading into a busy holiday tournament season.
The holiday season is in full swing and for high school basketball that means one of the most important stretches of the year.
Many top teams will see their first real tests of the season over the Christmas break, and capturing a title at a top holiday event can be nearly as valuable, if not as valuable, as postseason titles in some instances.
Next week, the City of Palms Classic and 'Iolani Classic take center stage as the two prestigious events will combine to showcase eight of the top 10 teams in this week's Xcellent 25 — meaning three of the current top 10 teams will remain unbeaten by Christmas Eve.
Follow along for live coverage and read on for a quick preview of the top 10 holiday events (in alphabetical order) through the new year.
Top 10 high school basketball tournaments of the holiday season
IMG Academy will participate in several holiday tournaments.
File photo by David Rosenblum
Date: Dec. 14-15
Location: Waxahachie, Texas
Teams to Watch: DeMatha (Hyattsville, Md.),
Guyer (Denton, Texas),
Huntington St. Joseph Prep (Huntington, W. Va.),
IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.),
Pearce (Richardson, Texas),
Simeon (Chicago),
South Garland (Garland, Texas),
Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.),
Waxahachie (Texas) Event Breakdown: The second National Hoopfest of the year will feature showdowns between No. 2 IMG Academy and Waxahachie, No. 9 DeMatha and Guyer, and No. 22 Sunrise Christian vs. South Garland. The first Hoopfest event didn't disappoint with dynamite match-ups and an excellent atmosphere to boot. Expect much of the same in the Lone Star State this weekend.
Beach Ball Classic
Date: Dec. 26-31
Location: Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Teams to Watch: Archbishop Stepinac (White Plains, N.Y.),
Bishop O'Connell (Arlington, Va.),
Christ the King (Middle Village, N.Y.),
Cox Mill (Concord, N.C.),
Florence (Miss.),
North Crowley (Fort Worth, Texas),
North Little Rock (Ark.),
North Mecklenburg (Huntersville, N.C.),
Scott County (Georgetown, Ky.),
St. Edward (Lakewood, Ohio),
Westchester (Los Angeles, Calif.) Event Breakdown: While this features just one team (No. 23 Scott County) ranked in this week's Xcellent 25, a wide-open field features a deep and talented crop of teams that will compete in the Palmetto State. Along with previously mentioned Scott County — Archbishop Stepinac, Bishop O'Connell, Cox Mill, North Crowley, St. Edward and Westchester will all enter this event with a strong opportunity to capture a big-time event title.
Chick-fil-A Classic
Date: Dec. 26-29
Location: Columbia, S.C.
Teams to Watch: Hillcrest Prep (Phoenix),
Holy Spirit Prep (Atlanta),
Independence (Charlotte, N.C.),
Keenan (Columbia, S.C.),
Memphis East (Memphis, Tenn.),
Norcross (Ga.),
Roman Catholic (Philadelphia),
Salesian Prep (Richmond, Calif.),
St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.),
St. Frances Academy (Baltimore), Sunrise Christian Academy
Event Breakdown: Split into two brackets, the 2018 edition of this event is loaded across both divisions. The American Division bracket will feature Independence, Norcross, Roman Catholic and Salesian, while the National Division bracket will showcase Hillcrest Prep, Memphis East, St. Frances Academy and No. 22 Sunrise Christian Academy. No clear favorite in either bracket should make this event a fun one.
City of Palms Classic
Date: Dec. 17-22
Location: Fort Myers, Fla.
Teams to Watch: Glens Falls (N.Y.), IMG Academy,
Imhotep Charter (Philadelphia),
Immaculate Conception (Montclair, N.J.),
La Crosse Central (La Crosse, Wis.),
McEachern (Powder Springs, Ga.),
Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.),
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.),
Olive Branch (Miss.),
Paul VI (Fairfax, Va.),
University (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.),
Vashon (St. Louis),
West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.),
Wilson (Washington, D.C.) Event Breakdown: This event features six of the top 12 teams in the nation. Stay tuned for an in-depth event preview on Friday.
Emerald Coast 16
Date: Dec. 19-22
Location: Niceville, Fla.
Teams to Watch: Bishop O'Connell,
Carmel Christian (Matthews, N.C.),
Lanier (Montgomery, Ala.),
Marshall (Richmond, Va.) Oldsmar Christian (Oldsmar, Fla.),
Pebblebrook (Mableton, Ga.),
SPIRE Institute (Geneva, Ohio),
Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, Utah),
West Oaks Academy (Orlando, Fla.),
Wheeler (Marietta, Ga.),
Wright (New Orleans, La.) Event Breakdown: A new Sunshine State event, the inaugural Emerald Coast 16 will be split into two 8-team brackets with the Marquee Bracket featuring No. 13 Wasatch Academy, Bishop O'Connell, West Oaks, Wheeler, and Wright. The Three Stripe Life Bracket features No. 20 Carmel Christian, Lanier, Oldsmar Christian, and Pebblebrook.
LaMelo Ball and Spire Institute will also participate in the event as a part of two showcase games.
Hoop City Classic
Date: Dec. 27-29
Location: Mitchell and Sioux Falls, S.D.
Teams to Watch: Coronado (Henderson, Nev.),
De La Salle (Minneapolis),
Dominican (Whitefish Bay, Wis.),
Findlay Prep (Henderson, Nev.),
La Lumiere (LaPorte, Ind.),
John Marshall (Rochester, Minn.),
Mountain Brook (Birmingham, Ala.),
O'Gorman (Sioux Falls, S.D.),
Tea (Tea, S.D.),
Yankton (Yankton, S.D.) Event Breakdown: Formerly known as the Mike Miller Classic, this re-branded event has the same elite talent participating in 2018. The top high school basketball event of the Dakotas will feature No. 6 La Lumiere vs. No. 14 Findlay Prep, Mountain Brook and
Trendon Watford, and
Matthew Hurt and John Marshall among the headlining acts.
'Iolani Classic
Date: Dec. 18-22
Location: Honolulu, Hi
Teams to Watch: 'Iolani (Honolulu), La Lumiere,
Moanalua (Honolulu),
Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.),
Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.),
Pleasant Grove (Utah),
Sierra Canyon (Chatsworth, Calif.),
St. Francis (Honolulu), Westchester,
West Linn (West Linn, Ore.) Event Breakdown: The 'Iolani Classic has some heavy hitters as three Top 10 teams will make the trip to Hawaii. Top-ranked Montverde Academy will likely face La Lumiere in their semifinal showdown and the winner is likely to face No. 4 Sierra Canyon if they can make it through a loaded top half of the bracket that includes No. 21 Oak Ridge, Pleasant Grove and Westchester.
Jerry Tarkanian Classic
Date: Dec. 18-22
Location: Las Vegas.
Teams to Watch: Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), Coronado,
Bishop O'Dowd (Oakland, Calif.),
Chino Hills (Calif.),
Dillard (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.),
Federal Way (Wash.), Findlay Prep, Hillcrest Prep,
Lincoln Academy (Suwanee, Ga.),
Hall (Little Rock, Ark.),
Lone Peak (Highland, Utah),
Prolific Prep Academy (Napa, Calif.),
Rancho Christian (Temecula, Calif.),
Sheldon (Sacramento, Calif.),
Whitney Young (Chicago) Event Breakdown: This may be the best crop of talent in Tarkanian Classic history as this young event continues to grow into one of the premier holiday tournaments in the land. The talent will be spread across eight separate boys varsity brackets with No. 10 Rancho Christian, No. 16 Federal Way, Bishop Gorman, Chino Hills, Coronado, Sheldon, and Whitney Young among those competing in the talent-rich Platinum Division Bracket.
John Wall Holiday Invitational
Date: Dec. 26-29
Location: Raleigh, N.C.
Teams to Watch: Brewster Academy (Wolfeboro, N.H.),
Downey Christian (Orlando, Fla.),
Garner Magnet (Garner, N.C.), Prolific Prep,
Ranney (Tinton Falls, N.J.),
Trinity Academy (Raleigh, N.C.),
Virginia Episcopal School (Lynchburg, Va.),
West Charlotte (Charlotte, N.C.),
Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) Event Breakdown: An interesting field will participate in Raleigh this year as No. 15 Ranney will headline a TJ Warren Bracket that features all local schools other than the Garden State contender — including Garner Magnet, Trinity Academy and West Charlotte. The David West Bracket showcases teams from five different states including event favorites Brewster Academy, Prolific Prep, Virginia Episcopal School and Word of God.
Les Schwab Invitational
Date: Dec. 26-29
Location: Hillsboro, Ore.
Event Breakdown: Three national contenders headline the elite post-Christmas event as No. 4 Sierra Canyon, No. 5 University and Gonzaga Prep will be favorites to make deep runs in the event. While a title contest could come down to two of the top 5 teams in high school basketbal, look for Gonzaga Prep to play desperate to make a statement in the legendary Oregon event after an early season loss to drop out of the rankings.
Precious Achiuwa, Montverde Academy
Photo by Andrew Bershaw
Arby's Classic
Date: Dec. 26-31
Location: Bristol, Tenn.
Torrey Pines Holiday Classic
Date: Dec. 26-29
Location: San Diego
Slam Dunk to the Beach
Date: Dec. 27-29
Location: Lewes, Del.
Tournament of Champions Classic
Date: Dec. 15
Location: Marietta, Ga.
Whataburger Tournament
Date: Dec. 27-29
Location: Fort Worth, Texas
