7 of the Top 8 Ranked Boys Teams in the Country to Play in the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament in New York April 3-5. Live coverage on ESPN, ESPN2 & ESPNU Sixth annual tournament will feature eight boys teams and four girls teams, including six different state champions. Quarterfinal/semifinal rounds at Christ the King High School and finals at Madison Square Garden.
With a new home in New York City, the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament (formerly the National High School Invitational) announced their tournament field today, which features seven of the top eight ranked boys teams by USA Today. The boys field includes defending NHSI Champion and #1 ranked Montverde Academy (FL), as well as three different 2014 State Champions: Northside Christian Academy from North Carolina, The Sagemont School from Florida and Rainier Beach High School from Washington. The girls field features 2012 Champion and currently #10 ranked Riverdale Baptist, as well as three different 2014 state champions: #18 Miami Senior High School from Florida, Fremont High School from Utah and Edgewater High School, another state champion from Florida.
The three day, single elimination tournament begins April 3, and concludes with the crowning of a boys and girls champion on April 5. The entire tournament will be televised on either ESPN, ESPN2, or ESPNU. Three McDonald’s All- Americans will be playing in the tournament D’Angelo Russell from Montverde Academy, Kelly Oubre Jr. from Findlay Prep (NV) and Rashad Vaughn also from Findlay Prep.
ESPNU begins television coverage of the tournament on Thursday, April 3 at noon with live telecasts of all four boys quarterfinal games from Christ the King High School in Queens, NY. On Friday, April 4 at 10:30 a.m., television coverage continues from Christ the King High School with girls (ESPNU) and boys (ESPN2) semifinal games. On Saturday April 5th, competition shifts to Madison Square Garden where the girls final will be televised live on ESPN2 at 10:00 AM, and boys championship will follow at noon, live on ESPN.
“As the title sponsor of this prestigious tournament, we are thrilled to have such an outstanding field of elite teams competing next month in New York City,” said Mark Rooks, Vice President of Sports and Community Marketing at DICK’S Sporting Goods.
Tournament teams were chosen by a selection committee. To be eligible, participating schools must be four-year high schools, independent or public, and have their respective governing body’s permission to participate.
2014 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament, Participating Boys Team Guide:
School (City, State) | 2013-2014 Record | USA Today National Rankings |
Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL) | 25-0 | 1 |
Rainier Beach High School (Seattle, WA) | 29-0 | 3 |
Northside Christian Academy (Charlotte, NC) | 28-1 | 4 |
Huntington Prep (Huntington, WV) | 27-4 | 5 |
La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN) | 23-2 | 6 |
Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA) | 37-3 | 7 |
Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV) | 30-4 | 8 |
The Sagemont School (Weston, FL) | 33-0 | 18 |
Montverde Academy
Tournament History: Fourth appearance – Runner-Up 2010 and 2012. Champions 2013
Coach: Kevin Boyle
ESPN Ranked Players: D’Angelo Russell, SG – #13 on ESPN 100, Justin Bibbs, SG – #98 on ESPN 100, Ben Simmons, PF – #3 on ESPN 60, Noah Dickerson, C – #33 on ESPN 60,
Notes: Montverde is looking to defend their DICK’S High School National Tournament Championship as they will enter the tournament 25-0 and ranked #1 by USA Today. Key wins this season vs. Paul VI (VA), Lincoln (NY), Northside Christian (NC) and St. Joseph (NJ). The trip to New York marks a homecoming for Kevin Boyle as he coached St. Patrick (NJ) to five NJSIAA Tournament of Champions victories.
Rainier Beach
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Mike Bethea
ESPN Ranked Players: Shaqquan Aaron, SF – #33 on ESPN 100
Notes: Rainier Beach, the three-time defending WIAA State Champions will be the first team from the state of Washington to compete in the tournament. Coach Bethea led his team to an undefeated season including wins over nationally ranked Bishop Gorman (NV) and Whitney Young (IL) as Rainier Beach won the prestigious Les Schwab Invitational Tournament. Current NBA players Nate Robinson and Jamal Crawford played at Rainier Beach.
Northside Christian Academy
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Byron Dinkins
Notes: Northside Christian won the North Carolina Independent Schools Athletic Association 2A State Championship. With a 28-1 record and a #4 national ranking, Northside Christian will need to make the championship game to avenge their only loss of the season, which was to Montverde in the finals of the Wild Wings Hoops Classic in December. Notable wins this seasonvs. Wesleyan Christian (NC), Arlington Country Day (FL) and Lincoln (NY).
Huntington Prep
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Rob Fulford
ESPN Ranked Players: JaQuan Lyle, PG – #41 on ESPN 100, Josh Perkins. PG – #56 on ESPN 100, Jalen Lindsey, SF – #83 on ESPN 100, Thomas Bryant, PF – #14 on ESPN 60, Montaque Gill-Ceasar, SF #18 on ESPN 60
Notes: Huntington Prep has quickly become one of the premier basketball programs in the country. Despite losing Andrew Wiggins, the #1 player on the ESPN 100 list last year who went on to star for Kansas, Huntington Prep is the #5 ranked team in the country. Key wins this season vs. Our Savior New American (NY) and Prime Prep (TX)
La Lumiere School
Tournament History: Third appearance (2012, 2013 previously)
Coach: Alan Huss
ESPN Ranked Player: Jalen Coleman, SG – #58 on ESPN 60
Notes: La Lumiere has become an elite program in the basketball crazy state of Indiana and in recent years, a national power. With a 23-2 record and a #6 national ranking, they will look to break through and secure their first victory in a DICK’S High School National Tournament game. Key wins this season vs. Our Savior New American (NY) and Prime Prep (TX)
Oak Hill Academy
Tournament History: Fifth appearance (Runner-Up in 2009 and 2011)
Coach: Steve Smith
ESPN Ranked Players: Caleb Martin, SF – #62 on ESPN 100, Trevor Manual, PF – #50 on ESPN 60
Notes: Oak Hill is a historically rich basketball program that can lay claim to eight “Mythical” National Championships. Their alumni include Jerry Stackhouse, Rajon Rando, Brandon Jennings, Ty Lawson, Kevin Durant and Carmelo Anthony. With a 37-3 record and #7 national ranking, they will look to win their first DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament after close Championship game losses in 2009 and 2011.
Findlay Prep
Tournament History: Sixth appearance – Champions 2009, 2010, 2012.
Coach: Jerome Williams
ESPN Ranked Players: Kelly Oubre, SF – #11 on ESPN 100, Rashad Vaughn, SG – #18 on ESPN 100, Craig Victor, PF – #37 on ESPN 100, Horace Spencer, PF – #44 on ESPN 60, Justin Jackson, SF – #11 on ESPN 25, Derryck Thornton, PG – #24 on ESPN 25
Notes: Findlay Prep is the only team to be invited to all six DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournaments and is the most decorated team in the events history, winning three of the previous five. With a 30-4 record and #8 national ranking first year head coach Jerome Williams will look to duplicate the tremendous success of his predecessors. Findlay alums who participated in the Tournament include NBA Players Tristan Thompson, Avery Bradley, Corey Joseph and Anthony Bennett along with PAC-12 Player of the Year Nick Johnson of Arizona.
Sagemont:
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Adam Ross
Standout Players: GG Goloman, PF (Committed to UConn), Prince Ali, SG – class of 2015 (Committed to UCLA) Notes:.The Sagemont School won the Florida High School Athletic Association 3A State Championship. With a 33-0 undefeated season, Sagemont gained national attention by receiving top ten rankings in many national polls. Key wins vs. Miami Norland and Providence School (Jacksonville, FL).
2014 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament, Participating Girls Team Guide:
Riverdale Baptist
Tournament History: Fourth appearance, Runner-Up 2009. Champion 2012
Coach: Sam Caldwell
Notes: Riverdale Baptist will be making its fourth DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament appearance. They were runner up in 2009 and Champions in 2012. Riverdale Baptist is ranked #10 by USA Todaywith an impressive 27-3 record which includes winning the NACA Championship.
Miami Senior
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Sam Baumgarten
ESPN Ranked Player: Beatrice Mompremier, P – #38 on ESPN 2015 Super 60
Notes: With only one loss on the season and a #18 national ranking, Miami Senior will look to capture the title in their first DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
Fremont:
Tournament History: First invite
Coach: Lisa Dalebout
Notes: After winning the Utah High School Activities Association 5A Championship with a 24-2 record on the season, Fremont will be the first team from Utah to compete in the DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
Edgewater
Tournament History: Second appearance
Coach: Malcolm Lewis
Notes: Edgewater powered through the FHSAA 6A Playoffs winning the State Championship by an average margin of over 30 points per game. They will look to avenge a semi-final loss to Riverdale Baptist in the 2012 DICK’S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament.
School (City, State) | 2013-2014 Record | USA Today National Rankings |
Riverdale Baptist (Upper Marlboro, MD) | 27-3 | #10 |
Miami Senior (Miami, FL) | 25-1 | #18 |
Fremont High School (Plain City, UT) | 24-2 | NR |
Edgewater High School (Orlando, FL) | 26-6 | NR |
DICK’S Sporting Gods High School National Tournament Boys’ and Girls’ Television Schedule:
Network
Air Date (EST)
Start Time (EST)
Site
Game
#4 La Lumiere (IN) vs. #5 Huntington Prep (WV)
ESPNU
Thu 4/3/2014
12:00 PM
Christ the King HS
#3 Northside Christian (NC) vs. #6Oak Hill (VA)
ESPNU
Thu 4/3/2014
2:00 PM
Christ the King HS
#2 Rainier Beach (WA) vs. #7 Findlay Prep (NV)
ESPNU
Thu 4/3/2014
4:00 PM
Christ the King HS
#1 Montverde (FL) vs. #8 Prime Prep (TX)
ESPNU
Thu 4/3/2014
6:00 PM
Christ the King HS
#1 Riverdale Baptist (MD) vs. #4 Edgewater (FL)
ESPNU
Fri 4/4/2014
10:30 AM
Christ the King HS
#2 Miami Senior (FL) vs. #3 Fremont (UT)
ESPNU
Fri 4/4/2014
12:30 PM
Christ the King HS
ESPN2
Fri 4/4/2014
2:30 PM
Christ the King HS
Boys Semifinal #1
ESPN2
Fri 4/4/2014
4:30 PM
Christ the King HS
Boys Semifinal #2
ESPN2
Sat 4/5/2014
10:00 AM
Madison Square Garden
Girls Championship
ESPN
Sat 4/5/2014
12:00 PM
Madison Square Garden
Boys Championship
ESPN Broadcasters: The tandem of Mike Couzens (play-by-play) & Paul Biancardi (analyst) will call the entire boys tournament and Eamon McAnaney (play-by-play) & Brooke Weisbrod (analyst) will call the girls tournament. Tara Petrolino will be the sideline reporter for all 10 games of the tournament.