The 2022 GEICO Nationals field is loaded with elite high school basketball talent as 13 of the 24 McDonald's All-American selections are in action beginning Thursday at the Suncoast Credit Union Arena in Fort Myers, Fla..
Annually the top postseason event in high school basketball, GEICO Nationals brings a true national championship feel to the Sunshine State this weekend with the top seven programs from MaxPreps National Top 20 rankings represented in the eight-team field.
The 13th annual event sees one first-time participant — Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) — joining returning national powerhouses Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), Montverde Academy (Montverde, Fla.), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, Va.), AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.), La Lumiere (La Porte, Ind.) and Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) in the field.
How to watch
When: Thursday, March 31-Saturday, April 2
Where: Suncoast Credit Union Arena, Fort Myers, Fla.
Streaming/TV: ESPNU (quarterfinals), ESPN2 (semifinals), ESPN (finals)
In what appears to be the most wide open field in event history, top-seed Sunrise Christian Academy comes in as the slight favorite based on an impressive
body of work in the regular season that includes winning the NIBC title.
The Buffaloes have never won a GEICO Nationals title, but have the capability to cap an impressive regular season with the program's first national championship behind their dynamic duo of Gradey Dick and Mark Mitchell.
Sunrise Christian opens with a first-round matchup against Prolific Prep, which is led by McDonald's All-Americans Adem Bona and M.J. Rice.
Another team with the capability of capturing the event title is second-seed IMG Academy. Despite being without five-star point guard Jaden Bradley due to injury, the Ascenders have an opportunity to put things together when it matters most this weekend behind five-star prospects Keyonte George and Jarace Walker.
IMG Academy opens with an opportunity to avenge its 91-88 double-overtime loss back in February against La Lumiere.
Although La Lumiere is the seven seed, the Lakers have proven capable of beating teams in the field, with wins over Oak Hill Academy and AZ Compass Prep along with the aforementioned victory over IMG Academy. The Hoosier State powerhouse is led by their McDonald's All-American selection J.J. Starling.
Montverde Academy comes into the event as the three seed, but the Eagles may have the most talented and deep roster of any team in the field. The most successful team in event history with five GEICO Nationals titles has an opportunity to build on that success this year led by five-star seniors Dariq Whitehead and Dillon Mitchell.
Montverde Academy has a challenging first round opponent in AZ Compass Prep, however. The Dragons qualified for GEICO Nationals for the second consecutive season and have the personnel to challenge any team in the field with elite execution on both sides of the ball.
The most intriguing matchup of the first round may be the showdown between Link Academy and Oak Hill Academy. A showdown with many storylines sees the team with the most appearances in event history facing a first-year program looking to make an historic run.
Oak Hill Academy coaching legend Steve Smith announced his retirement at the conclusion of the 2021-22 season, making this run all the more important for the Warriors. Senior leaders Chris Livingston and Judah Mintz need to play a significant role to see Smith go out on top.
Link Academy's lone loss is to Sunrise Christian Academy. The upstart
group from Missouri have an opportunity to prove they belong on the biggest stage this weekend with ample talent to compete with any team in the event.
Check out the full event schedule along with a quick look at each team below.
File photo by Pete Wright
Kentucky signee Chris Livingston (20) of Oak Hill Academy rises up for the slam over the Montverde Academy defender at the City of Palms Clasic.
Field at a Glance
Record: 25-1
National Top 20: No. 1
GEICO History: Third appearance | (2-2)
Players to watch
Cameron Corhen (6-9, C) No. 77 prospect in Class of 2022 | Florida State
Gradey Dick (6-7, W) No. 24 prospect in Class of 2022 | Kansas
Mark Mitchell (6-8, F) No. 13 prospect in Class of 2022 | Duke
Record: 20-4
National Top 20: No. 2
GEICO History: Fourth appearance | (4-2) | 2019
champions
Players to watch
Noah Batchelor (6-6, W) No. 223 prospect in Class of 2022
Eric Dailey (6-7, F) No. 44 prospect in Class of 2022
Keyonte George (6-4, G) No. 4 prospect in Class of 2022 | Baylor
Jett Howard (6-7, W) No. 37 prospect in Class of 2022 | Michigan
Jarace Walker
(6-8, F) No. 9 prospect in Class of 2022 | Houston
Record: 19-4
National Top 20: No. 4
GEICO History: 11th appearance | (23-5) | 5-time champions (2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2021)
Players to watch
Dillon Mitchell (6-7, W) No. 14 prospect in Class of 2022 | Texas
Malik Reneau (6-8, F) No. 28 prospect in Class of 2022
Dariq Whitehead (6-6, G) No. 5 prospect in Class of 2022 | Duke
Record: 32-1
National Top 20: No. 3
GEICO History: First appearance
Players to watch
Omaha Biliew (6-8, F) No. 6 prospect in Class of 2023
Trey Green (5-10, G) No. 66 prospect in Class of 2023
Tarris Reed
Jr. (6-10, C) No. 35 prospect in Class of 2022 | Michigan
Jordan Walsh (6-7, W) No. 18 prospect in Class of 2022 | Arkansas
Record: 33-7
National Top 20: No. 7
GEICO History: 12th appearance | (14-10) | 2016 champions
Players to watch
Caleb Foster (6-5, G) No. 12 prospect in Class of 2023 | Duke
Chris Livingston (6-6, W) No. 7 prospect in Class of 2022 | Kentucky
Judah Mintz
(6-3, G) No. 53 prospect in Class of 2022
Devin Ree (6-8, W) No. 82 prospect in Class of 2022
Christian Reeves (7-1, C) No. 167 prospect in Class of 2022 | Duke
Record: 25-4
National Top 20: No. 6
GEICO
History: Second appearance | (1-1)
Players to watch
Dylan Andrews (6-3, G) No. 39 prospect in Class of 2022 | UCLA
Kylan Boswell (6-1, G) No. 13 prospect in Class of 2023 | Arizona
Mookie Cook (6-7, W) No. 5 prospect in Class of 2023
Adrame Diongue (7-0, C) No. 134 prospect in Class of 2022
Chance Westry (6-6, W) No. 31
prospect in Class of 2022 | Auburn
Record: 21-4
National Top 20: No. 5
GEICO History: Ninth appearance | (7-7) | 2016 champions
Players to watch
Jeremy Fears (6-1, G) No. 26 prospect in Class of 2023 | Michigan State
Aden Holloway (6-0, G) No. 63 prospect in Class of 2023
Kebba Nije (6-8, C) No. 98 prospect in Class of 2022 | Penn State
Chisom Okpara (6-7, F)
No. 136 prospect in Class of 2022 | Harvard
J.J. Starling (6-4, G) No. 30 prospect in Class of 2022 | Notre Dame
Record: 25-6
National Top 20: No. 11
GEICO History: Second appearance | (1-1)
Players to watch
Adem Bona (6-10, C) No. 16 prospect in Class of 2022 | UCLA
Jordan Pope (6-0, G) No. 241 prospect in Class of 2022
M.J. Rice (6-5, G) No. 25 prospect in Class
of 2022 | Kansas
Tre White (6-6, W) No. 56 prospect in Class of 2022 | USC
Full schedule
Thursday, March 31
Games on ESPNU
Noon — Oak Hill Academy vs. Link Academy
2 p.m. — Montverde Academy
vs. AZ Compass Prep
4 p.m. — IMG Academy vs. La Lumiere
6 p.m. — Sunrise Christian Academy vs. Prolific Prep
Friday, April 1
Games on ESPN2
2:30 p.m. — Semifinal (Compass/Montverde winner vs. IMG/La Lu winner)
4:30 p.m. — Semifinal
(Sunrise/Prolific winner vs. Link/Oak Hill winner)
Saturday, April 2
Game on ESPN
Noon — Championship Game