2016-17 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase Features Top High School Programs in the Country
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11 matchups will feature 12 nationally ranked teams, 43 top recruits according to ESPN rankings
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Showcase boasts 22 commitments to top college basketball programs
ESPN, ESPN2, and ESPNU will televise 11 premier games as part of the 2016-17 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase, beginning Thursday, December 1, when two Tennessee schools – Hamilton Heights Christian Academy and No. 13 Memphis East – face off at 9 p.m. ET on ESPN2. The slate of games, which features 12 ranked teams, includes several back-to-back games from Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., on Saturday, Jan. 14, and Monday, Jan. 16.
Highlights
- Top Five Recruits in the Class of 2017: The top five players in the class of 2017 will be featured – No. 1 C DeAndre Ayton, (Hillcrest Academy, Ariz.), No. 2 SF Michael Porter Jr. (Nathan Hale, Wash.), No. 3 PF Wendell Carter (Pace Academy, Ga), No. 4 C Mohamed Bamba (Westown School, Pa.) and No. 5 PG Trevon Duval (IMG Academy, Fla.).
- No. 1 Ranked Player in Each Class: The No. 1 ranked player from each recruiting class will be featured including senior DeAndre Ayton, (Hillcrest Academy, Ariz.), junior Marvin Bagley III (Sierra Canyon, Calif.) and sophomore R.J. Barrett (Montverde Academy, Fla.).
- Ranked Teams: The Showcase features 12 nationally ranked teams in the country, including No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.), No. 2 Oak Hill Academy (Va.), No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Calif.), No. 4 IMG Academy (Fla.), No. 5 Bishop Montgomery (Calif.), No. 6 Montverde Academy (Fla.), No. 8 Wheeler (Ga.), No. 10 Patrick School (N.J.), No. 11 Westtown (Pa.), No. 13 Memphis East (Tenn.), No. 18 New Albany (Ind.) and No. 22 Nathan Hale (Wash.). Team rankings are per USA Today High School Sports as of November 2.
- Top 25 matchups: Five Monday matchups featuring ranked team against another ranked team:
- Dec. 15: No. 18 New Albany (Ind.) vs. No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.)
- Dec. 15: No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 2 Oak Hill (Va.)
- Jan 16: No. 5 Bishop Montgomery (Calif.) at No. 6 Montverde Academy (Fla.)
- Jan. 16: No. 2 Oak Hill (Va). at No. 22 Nathan Hale (Wash.)
- Jan. 16: No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.) at No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Calif.)
- National Showcase: Ten states will be represented this season: Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and Washington.
- College Commitments: The Showcase features athletes who are committed to top college basketball programs including Alabama, Arizona, Auburn, Creighton, Iowa State, Kentucky, Michigan, Michigan State, North Carolina, Louisville, Oregon State, Seton Hall, UCLA, USC, Virginia Tech and Washington.
“This year might be the strongest field of teams and talent that we have ever had,” said Paul Biancardi, ESPN National Recruiting Director. “The Showcase schedule will highlight some powerhouse programs and the most gifted players in high school basketball right now, going head-to-head in key matchups. Watching the top five prospects from the class of 2017 is exciting, but what’s even more remarkable is having the No.1 ranked player from the class of 2017, 2018 and 2019 playing on our network.”
Game action will be called by play by play commentator Ted Emrich and analyst Biancardi.
2016-17 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase Schedule
Note: All game times are ET. Team rankings are per USA Today High School Sports (Nov. 2).
Thursday, December 1
Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (Tenn.) vs. No. 13 Memphis East (Tenn.)
9 p.m. on ESPN2 from Southwind High School in Memphis, Tenn.
Thursday, December 15
No. 18 New Albany (Ind.) vs. No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.)
7 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2 from New Castle High School, New Castle, Ind.
No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Calif.) vs. No. 2 Oak Hill (Va.)
9 p.m. on ESPN or ESPN2 from New Castle High School, New Castle, Ind
Friday, January 6
No. 3 IMG Academy (Fla.) vs. Westlake (Ga.)
5:30 p.m. on ESPNU from the McDonough Center, Wheeling Jesuit University, Wheeling, W.Va.
Saturday, January 14
Hillcrest Academy (Ariz.) vs. No. 11 Westtown (Pa.)
8 p.m. on ESPN from Hoophall Classic, Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
Monday, January 16
Pace Academy (Ga.) vs. No. 10 Patrick School (N.J.)
11 a.m. on ESPNU from Hoophall Classic at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
No. 2 Oak Hill (Va.) vs. No. 22 Nathan Hale (Wash.)
1 p.m. on ESPNU from Hoophall Classic at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
No. 5 Bishop Montgomery (Calif.) vs. No. 6 Montverde (Fla.)
3 p.m. on ESPNU from Hoophall Classic at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
No. 1 La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. No. 3 Sierra Canyon (Calif.)
5 p.m. on ESPNU from Hoophall Classic at Springfield College, Springfield, Mass.
Friday, January 27
No. 22 Nathan Hale (Wash.) vs. Garfield (Wash.)
11 p.m. on ESPNU from Garfield High School, Seattle, Wash.
Friday, February 3
Pebblebrook (Ga.) vs. No. 8 Wheeler (Ga.)
5:30 p.m. on ESPNU from Wheeler High School, Marietta, Ga.
ESPN 100 Participants (Class of 2017)
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School | College Commitment* |
| No. 1 | DeAndre Ayton | C | Hillcrest Academy | Arizona |
| No. 2 | Michael Porter Jr | SF | Nathan Hale High School | Washington |
| No. 3 | Wendell Carter | PF | Pace Academy | |
| No. 4 | Mohamed Bamba | C | Westtown School | |
| No. 5 | Trevon Duval | PG | IMG Academy | |
| No. 10 | Collin Sexton | SG | Pebblebrook High School | Alabama |
| No. 12 | Nick Richards | C | The Patrick School | Kentucky |
| No. 13 | Brian Bowen | SF | La Lumiere School | |
| No. 20 | Billy Preston | PF | Oak Hill Academy | |
| No. 26 | Jaren Jackson | PF | La Lumiere School | Michigan State |
| No. 27 | Matt Coleman | PG | Oak Hill Academy, Va. | |
| No. 29 | Nickeil Alexander-Walker | SG | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy | Virginia Tech |
| No. 39 | Jordan Tucker | SF | Wheeler High School | |
| No. 40 | Brandon Randolph | SG | Westtown School | Arizona |
| No. 43 | Daejon Davis | SG | Garfield High School | Washington |
| No. 44 | Shai Gilgeous-Alexander | PG | Hamilton Heights Christian Academy | Kentucky |
| No. 45 | Cody Riley | PF | Sierra Canyon High School | UCLA |
| No. 49 | Lindell Wigginton | SG | Oak Hill Academy | Iowa State |
| No. 51 | Ethan Thompson | SG | Bishop Montgomery High School | Oregon State |
| No. 53 | Darius Perry | PG | Wheeler High School | Louisville |
| No. 56 | Jaylen Nowell | SG | Garfield High School | Washington |
| No. 58 | Jordan Poole | SG | La Lumiere School | Michigan |
| No. 63 | Myles Cale | SG | The Patrick School | Seton Hall |
| No. 64 | Ty-Shon Alexander | SG | Oak Hill Academy | Creighton |
| No. 68 | Chuma Okeke | PF | Westlake High School | Auburn |
| No. 100 | Jordan Usher | SF | Wheeler High School | USC |
ESPN 60 Participants (Class of 2018)
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School | College Commitment* |
| No. 1 | Marvin Bagley, III | PF | Sierra Canyon High School | |
| No. 2 | Romeo Langford | SG | New Albany Sr. High School | |
| No. 4 | Cameron Reddish | SF | Westtown School | |
| No. 6 | Silvio De Sousa | PF | IMG Academy | |
| No. 20 | David McCormack | C | Oak Hill Academy | |
| No. 22 | Emmitt Williams | PF | IMG Academy | |
| No. 23 | E.J. Montgomery | PF | Wheeler High School | Auburn |
| No. 32 | Rechon Black | SF | Montverde Academy | North Carolina |
| No. 37 | Jontay Porter | C | Nathan Hale High School | Washington |
| No. 44 | Jamie Lewis | PG | Westlake High School | |
| No. 59 | T.J. Moss | SG | East High School |
ESPN 25 Participants (Class of 2019)
| Rank | Player | Pos. | High School |
| No. 1 | R.J. Barrett | SF | Montverde Academy |
| No. 15 | Andrew Nembhard | PG | Montverde Academy |
| No. 18 | Chandler Lawson | PF | East High School |
| No. 19 | Terry Armstrong | SF | Wheeler High School |
| No. 23 | P.J. Fuller | SG | Nathan Hale High School |
| No. 25 | Tyger Campbell | PG | La Lumiere School |
*Please note: Some players have not signed with a school
The 2016-17 GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase is produced in conjunction with Paragon Marketing Group.
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