H.S. Basketball Tourney May Be Step To Creation Of Championship

Several of the top high school basketball teams in the U.S. will travel to the DC area in April for a postseason tournament that "could be the first step to the creation of a national high school championship in the sport," according to Josh Barr of the WASHINGTON POST. National High School Invitational organizers "believe their event -- created and organized by ESPN and Chicago-based Paragon Marketing Group -- has all of the elements needed to succeed." The inaugural tournament will be held April 3-5 at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Maryland, "with an eight-team boys' tournament and a four-team girls' tournament; both are single-elimination events, with every game televised live on one of ESPN's channels." An ESPN spokesperson said that the invitations "will be based on rankings compiled by ESPN Rise." Barr notes the "chance to play on television is a significant draw, one that other tournaments have lacked." That, along with the "cachet of playing in a national tournament affiliated with" ESPN, is "another reason organizers say they are well positioned." A source said the "plan is for the tourney to morph into a national championship." However, ESPN Rise Senior VP James Brown said that this year's invitational "won't be billed as a national championship tournament," as "many top teams will not be able to participate -- and it is likely no public schools will compete." Barr notes most state high school associations "have rules dictating that the playing season ends with their state tournaments" (WASHINGTON POST, 12/23). SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL's Tripp Mickle reports ESPN is selling four presenting sponsorships to the tourney and is "targeting several categories, including athletic apparel, isotonic beverages, sporting goods retail, insurance and wireless" (SPORTSBUSINESS JOURNAL, 12/22 issue).