The GEICO Nationals boys basketball event is ready for one more star-studded showdown between a number of the greatest groups within the nation. Between the eight groups competing, there are 71 gamers listed on 247Sports’ recruiting rankings, which averages out to the whole beginning lineup, plus at the very least just a few guys coming off the bench.
The eight groups who will compete are Paul VI (Va.), Hyperlink Academy (Mo.), IMG Academy (Fla.), Prolific Prep (Calif.), AZ Compass Prep (Ariz.), Lengthy Island Lutheran (N.Y.), Dawn Christian (Kan.) and Montverde (Fla.).
To get you in control earlier than the celebrated event, here’s a fast rundown of every group. The quarterfinals tip off on Thursday at midday.
To get you in control earlier than the celebrated event, here’s a fast rundown of every group. The quarterfinals tip off on Thursday at midday.
Superb the GIECO Nationals schedule right here.
(Photograph: Sarasota Herald-Tribune)
Montverde
Document: 23-2
Tremendous 25 rating: No. 2
Montverde has already performed in opposition to a number of of the groups that may compete within the event. The Eagles took down IMG Academy 80-55 on Dec. 1 and adopted it with a 56-51 win over Lengthy Island Lutheran on Dec. 2; they beat Dawn Christian twice in January; they crushed Hyperlink Academy 84-58 in early February, then wrapped up the season with one other win in opposition to IMG. The one blemishes on the schedule are a season-opening 65-54 loss to AZ Compass Prep, and a one-point loss to Mount Saint Joseph (Baltimore), one other group within the Tremendous 25.
Montverde has an argument as probably the most gifted group within the nation, with 2023 five-star recruits Kwame Evans Jr. and Sean Stewart, five-star 2024 recruits Derik Queen and Liam McNeeley, and five-star 2025 recruit Cooper Flagg to go together with a trio of four-stars and a three-star participant. McNeely, the No. 14 junior, was named to the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention this season, whereas Flagg and Queen have been named to the second group.
Congratulations to the gamers who made NIBC 1st, 2nd and third group All Convention in addition to those that made the All Defensive group. Nice, nice effort all season lengthy! @NIBCOfficial @SCNext @PaulBiancardi @JasonNCJordan @paragon_mktg pic.twitter.com/kelWNggI1P
— Rashid Ghazi (@rashghazi) March 24, 2023
(Photograph: 247Sports)
Prolific Prep
Document: 35-1
Tremendous 25 rating: No. 4
With only one loss on the season coming by solely three factors, Prolific Prep has a degree differential this 12 months of greater than 700 factors. With a schedule loaded of nationwide opponents, the power of schedule is among the many highest on MaxPreps’ nationwide groups rankings, and Prolific Prep has loved wins over opponents together with Mix Academy, Bella Vista, DME Academy and Balboa Faculty.
There’s imposing expertise on Prolific Prep, similar to four-star Auburn commit Aden Halloway, who’s the No. 24 recruit of the category of 2023, and four-star Baylor commit Yves Messi, the No. 27 recruit within the class of 2024. Can the group end with out shedding one other sport?
(Photograph: The Information-Press)
Paul VI
Document: 31-3
Tremendous 25 rating: No. 6
Paul VI was making a push to be the No. 1 group within the nation on the Tremendous 25 earlier than two February losses. They’ll make their case as the perfect group within the nation on this event behind the play of four-star Maryland commit DeShawn Harris-Smith, four-star Duke commit Darren Harris, and three different gamers ranked by 247Sports.
The Panthers have beat groups across the nation this season, together with Christ the King (N.Y.), Mater Dei (Calif.), Mount St. Joseph (Baltimore), Lake Highlands (Texas) and Wheeler (Ga.). Two of their three losses have been one-possession video games, and the opposite was to back-to-back champion Sidwell Buddies. With a pair breaks this 12 months, it might have been in dialogue for No. 1 within the Tremendous 25.
(Photograph: The Information-Chief)
Hyperlink Academy
Document: 24-1
Tremendous 25 rating: No. 7
Hyperlink Academy is equally stacked with expertise. 5-star junior Eliot Cadeau is dedicated to North Carolina, whereas four-star senior Ja’Kobe Walter, the No. 21 participant within the class, is dedicated to Baylor and four-star Cameron Carr and three-star Cade Phillips are dedicated to Tennessee. It’s not simply the juniors and seniors to be afraid of, as sophomores BJ Davis-Ray and Aaron Rowe are ranked the No. 13 and 14 gamers, respectively, within the class of 2025.
With 24 wins this season, the Lions have overwhelmed Dawn Academy; they took out Christ the King, Oak Cliff Religion, Dream Metropolis and Bella Vista; the truth is, the one group they misplaced to was Montverde. Hyperlink will hope to get an opportunity for revenge on the GEICO tourney.
(Photograph: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
Lengthy Island Lutheran
Document: 22-2
Tremendous 25 rating: No. 9
Lengthy Island Lutheran has received 21 video games straight and hasn’t misplaced since Dec. 9 — greater than three and a half months in the past. LuHi took down groups like Imhotep Constitution, Oak Hill Academy, Dawn Christian and AZ Compass Prep. Its two losses are potential revenge video games, because the Crusaders might get the prospect to play IMG or Montverde.
4-star junior V.J. Edgecombe was named the Nationwide Interscholastic Basketball Convention participant of the 12 months, whereas head coach John Buck took dwelling NIBC coach of the 12 months honors. Three-star Jayden Reid was acknowledged to the NIBC second group and three-star junior Jayden Ross was chosen for the convention’s third group.
(Photograph: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
AZ Compass Prep
Document: 22-5
Tremendous 25 rating: Unranked
AZ Compass Prep had too many losses to earn a rating within the Tremendous 25, however by expertise, they stack up with the perfect of them. With 11 ranked gamers on the 247Sports checklist, they’ll sub out their total beginning unit and nonetheless have 5 ranked gamers on the courtroom.
Mookie Prepare dinner, ranked as a four-star on 247Sports and a five-star on the positioning’s composite, is dedicated to Oregon. 4-star Rayvon Griffith is dedicated to Cincinnati, Zyden Excessive to UNC and Trent Pierce to Missouri. In brief — Compass Prep expertise will likely be throughout Div. I subsequent season, they usually’ll nonetheless have expertise left over within the lessons of 2024 and 2025 with four-stars Vyctorious Miller, Jamari Phillips, Marcus Allen, Pharaoh Compton and Jayden Quaintance.
(Photograph: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports activities)
IMG Academy
Document: 18-7
Tremendous 25 rating: Unranked
Equally to AZ Compass Prep, IMG Academy had too many losses to be within the Tremendous 25, however the expertise offers them trustworthy potential to win the entire event. 247Sports lists 14 gamers who’re ranked between the lessons of 2023-25, which is realistically extra gamers than will see on the courtroom within the GEICOS. Blue Cain, a four-star Georgia Tech commit, led the best way as he was named to the NIBC first group.
IMG picked up some spectacular wins, together with over Lengthy Island Lutheran, Oak Hill Academy, twice in opposition to AZ Compass Prep and as soon as in opposition to Dawn Christian, however the schedule left one thing to be desired with the seven losses, together with as soon as to Dawn Christian and twice to Montverde. With its sturdy lineup, although, you’ll be able to by no means rely out the Ascenders.
(Photograph: The Information-Chief)
Dawn Christian
Document: 20-7
Tremendous 25 rating: Unranked
If the groups competing within the GEICO Nationals are certainly the perfect eight groups within the nation, the excellent news for Dawn Christian is that six of their seven losses have come in opposition to top-eight groups. The unhealthy information is that the Buffaloes are simply 1-6 in opposition to groups competing on this event.
That’s to not say Dawn Christian doesn’t have good wins. Along with defeating IMG, the Buffaloes have wins over Oak Hill Academy, La Lumiere, Roselle Catholic and Wasatch Academy. It’s been a really tough schedule, with MaxPreps rankings their SOS 26.4, among the many highest within the nation.
Dawn Christian is stacked, with future G League ahead Matas Buzelis, who’s ranked the No. 5 participant within the class of 2023; John Bol, a 7-foot-2 four-star middle named to the NIBC all-conference defensive group; four-star seniors Miro Little and Layden Blocker; and No. 8 senior Mikel Brown Jr. Though their file isn’t essentially glowing, they’re within the GEICO event as a result of their expertise is nice sufficient to doubtlessly win all of it.