NEW YORK, March 12, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- 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 5^th, 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:

 

Montverde AcademyTournament History: Fourth appearance - Runner-Up 2010 and 2012. Champions 2013Coach: Kevin BoyleESPN 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 BeachTournament History: First inviteCoach: Mike BetheaESPN Ranked Players: Shaqquan Aaron, SF - #33 on ESPN 100Notes: 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 AcademyTournament History: First inviteCoach: Byron DinkinsNotes: 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 PrepTournament History: First inviteCoach: Rob FulfordESPN 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 60Notes: 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 SchoolTournament History: Third appearance (2012, 2013 previously)Coach: Alan HussESPN Ranked Player: Jalen Coleman, SG - #58 on ESPN 60Notes: 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 AcademyTournament History: Fifth appearance (Runner-Up in 2009 and 2011)Coach: Steve SmithESPN Ranked Players: Caleb Martin, SF - #62 on ESPN 100, Trevor Manual, PF - #50 on ESPN 60Notes: 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 PrepTournament History: Sixth appearance- Champions 2009, 2010, 2012. Coach: Jerome WilliamsESPN 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 25Notes: 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 inviteCoach: Adam RossStandout 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 BaptistTournament History: Fourth appearance, Runner-Up 2009. Champion 2012Coach: Sam CaldwellNotes: 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 SeniorTournament History: First inviteCoach: Sam BaumgartenESPN Ranked Player: Beatrice Mompremier, P - #38 on ESPN 2015 Super 60Notes: 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 inviteCoach: Lisa DaleboutNotes: 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.

EdgewaterTournament History: Second appearanceCoach: Malcolm LewisNotes: 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.

DICK'S Sporting Gods High School National Tournament Boys' and Girls' Television Schedule:

 

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.

 

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Tickets are available now at www.dicksnationaltournament.com.  General admission is $10 for adults and $5 for students at Christ the King High School.  Tickets at Madison Square Garden start at $15.

Event History The National High School Invitational (NHSI) launched in 2009 at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md. The event was created by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a season ending platform for top nationally ranked high school basketball teams to compete against one another in a season ending tournament.The 2009 boys tournament was won by Findlay Prep (Nev.) with the girls tournament won by Seton Keough (Md.).  The second annual tournament was held at Coppin State University's Physical Education Complex in Baltimore with Findlay Prep retaining the boys title and the Peddie School (NJ) claiming the girls title. In 2011, Montrose Christian (Md.) won the boys title in double overtime while Dr. Phillips (Fla.) won the girls championship. Findlay Prep recaptured the NHSI boys title in 2012 with an overtime victory, and Riverdale Baptist (Md.) took the girls championship trophy. Last year Montverde (FL) won its first NHSI boys title, and Dr. Phillips won their second girls title.

About DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. is an authentic full-line sports and fitness specialty omni-channel retailer offering a broad assortment of high quality, competitively-priced brand name sporting goods equipment, apparel and footwear in a specialty store environment. The Company also owns and operates Golf Galaxy, LLC, a golf specialty retailer.  As of February 1, 2014, the Company operated over 550 DICK'S Sporting Goods stores in 46 states, 79 Golf Galaxy stores in 29 states and eCommerce websites and catalog operations for DICK'S Sporting Goods and Golf Galaxy.

About The Madison Square Garden CompanyThe Madison Square Garden Company is a fully-integrated sports, media and entertainment business. The Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment, which are strategically aligned to work together to drive the Company's overall business, which is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks; and Fuse, a national television network dedicated to music. MSG Networks also include high-definition channels, MSG HD and MSG+ HD, and Fuse includes its high-definition channel, Fuse HD. MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular featuring the Rockettes. MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, The Chicago Theatre, and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com.

About Paragon Marketing GroupParagon Marketing Group is a corporate consulting agency specializing in sports, entertainment and cause related sponsorships.  Paragon, owns and operates the DICK's Sporting Goods National High School Invitational and has partnered with ESPN over the past 11 years to deliver over 300 live high school football and basketball telecasts featuring many of the top teams and players in the nation.  Paragon's clients include Gatorade, Nature Valley Granola Bars, Lexus, PNC Bank, Johnson & Johnson, EA Sports, Skullcandy and Bayer.

 

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SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

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