The future of college - and potentially pro - basketball will be on full display this season as the 2025-26 ESPN High School Basketball Showcase tips off with a stacked 12-game slate. This year’s lineup features 38 ranked players across the ESPN 100 (Class of 2026), ESPN 60 (2027), and ESPN 25 (2028), and includes some of the most electric talent we’ve seen at the high school level in years.
These aren’t just names to watch - these are future stars already committed to powerhouse college programs like Duke, Kansas, Kentucky, UConn, Alabama, and North Carolina, among others. From blue-bloods to rising programs, the recruiting landscape is buzzing with anticipation.
What to Watch: Showcase Highlights
This year’s showcase isn’t short on star power. Six of the top 10 seniors in the country will take the floor, along with the top two juniors in the Class of 2027. On the girls’ side, eight top-25 players from the senior and junior classes will be featured, spotlighting the depth of talent across both the boys’ and girls’ games.
Let’s break down the marquee events and matchups that will headline this national stage.
City of Palms Classic (Dec. 23) - ESPN2
Held at Florida SouthWestern State College in Fort Myers, the 52nd City of Palms Classic brings together some of the most competitive teams in the country. ESPN2 will air both the Third Place and Championship Games, with programs like:
- No. 10 Christopher Columbus (FL)
- No. 12 Long Island Lutheran (NY)
- No. 13 Paul VI Catholic (VA)
- No. 14 Wheeler (GA)
- No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac (NY)
Expect high-level guard play, physical frontcourt battles, and a showcase of future McDonald’s All-Americans.
Hoophall Classic (Jan. 19) - ESPN2 & ESPNU
One of the most storied events in high school basketball returns to Springfield College’s Blake Arena in Massachusetts - fitting, given it’s the birthplace of basketball. Four games will be televised, highlighted by:
- **No. 1 Dynamic Prep (TX) vs.
No. 4 Prolific Prep (FL)**
A heavyweight clash featuring Marcus Spears Jr., the top-ranked junior, and Caleb Holt, a top-10 senior.
- **St. Mary’s (AZ) vs.
No. 13 Paul VI (VA)**
Watch out for Cameron Williams (Duke commit) battling Jordan Smith Jr., one of the top-ranked shooting guards in the class.
- **No. 19 St.
John Bosco (CA) vs. No.
10 Christopher Columbus (FL)**
A coast-to-coast clash with Christian Collins and Caleb Gaskins anchoring their respective frontcourts.
- **No. 11 Spire Academy (OH) vs.
No. 7 Brewster Academy (NH)**
Loaded with ranked wings and guards, this one should be a tempo-pushing, highlight-reel kind of game.
Nike EYBL Scholastic Matchups - ESPNU & ESPN+
The EYBL Scholastic conference continues to be a proving ground for elite talent. ESPN platforms will broadcast three key matchups featuring programs like Brewster Academy, Christ School, Spire Academy, and Wasatch Academy.
These games are less about rankings and more about development - systems, spacing, and next-level reads. Coaches and scouts will be watching closely.
Girls Showdown on Long Island (Feb. 7) - ESPN2
Don’t sleep on the girls’ game. **No.
2 Long Island Lutheran (NY)** hosts No. 12 Bullis School (MD) in a matchup featuring seven SCNext-ranked recruits, including Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, the No. 2 junior in the country.
This one has all the makings of a statement game - not just for individual stars, but for program bragging rights.
Full ESPN Showcase Schedule
Here’s a look at the full schedule, with games airing across ESPN2, ESPNU, and ESPN+:
| Date | Time (ET) | Matchup | Platform |
|---|
| Thurs, Dec 11 | 6 p.m. | Sidwell Friends (DC) vs.
Paul VI (VA) - Girls | ESPNU | | Thurs, Dec 11 | 8 p.m.
| No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac (NY) vs.
No. 13 Paul VI (VA) - Boys | ESPNU |
| Tues, Dec 23 | 7 p.m. | City of Palms Classic - Third Place Game | ESPN2 |
| Tues, Dec 23 | 9 p.m. | City of Palms Classic - Championship Game | ESPN2 |
| Fri, Jan 9 | 11:30 p.m. | Notre Dame (CA) vs.
No. 17 Sierra Canyon (CA) - Boys | ESPN2 |
| Mon, Jan 19 | 11 a.m. | No.
1 Dynamic Prep (TX) vs. No.
4 Prolific Prep (FL) - Boys | ESPN2 | | Mon, Jan 19 | 1 p.m.
| St. Mary’s (AZ) vs.
No. 13 Paul VI (VA) - Boys | ESPN2 |
| Mon, Jan 19 | 3 p.m. | No.
19 St. John Bosco (CA) vs.
No. 10 Christopher Columbus (FL) - Boys | ESPNU |
| Mon, Jan 19 | 5 p.m. | No.
11 Spire Academy (OH) vs. No.
7 Brewster Academy (NH) - Boys | ESPNU | | Sat, Feb 7 | 4 p.m.
| Wasatch Academy (UT) vs. Christ School (NC) - Boys | ESPN+ |
| Sat, Feb 7 | 6 p.m. | No.
7 Brewster Academy (NH) vs. No.
12 Long Island Lutheran (NY) - Boys | ESPNU | | Sat, Feb 7 | 8 p.m.
| No. 12 Bullis School (MD) vs.
No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (NY) - Girls | ESPN2 |
Names to Know: Boys’ Standouts from the SCNext Rankings
The talent pool is deep, but here are a few of the headline names making noise this season:
- Jordan Smith Jr. (Paul VI, VA) - A top-3 shooting guard who hasn’t committed yet, but his stock is rising fast.
- Cameron Williams (St. Mary’s, AZ) - A physical, skilled power forward headed to Duke.
- Caleb Holt (Prolific Prep, FL) - A dynamic scorer who can take over a game.
- Brandon McCoy (Sierra Canyon, CA) - One of the most polished point guards in the class.
- Dylan Mingo (Long Island Lutheran, NY) - A floor general with elite court vision.
Also keep an eye on Alex Constanza (Georgetown commit), Tarris Bouie (Alabama), and Davion Adkins (Kansas) - all capable of breakout performances on the big stage.
2027 and 2028 Classes: The Next Wave
The juniors and sophomores are already turning heads:
- Marcus Spears Jr. (Dynamic Prep, TX) - The No. 1 junior is a physical force with a polished inside-out game.
- Bruce Branch III (Prolific Prep, FL) - A long, athletic wing who plays both ends with intensity.
- Michai White & Kevin Wheatley (Brewster Academy, NH) - Two underclassmen already making noise in the 2028 class.
Final Takeaway
As ESPN’s Paul Biancardi put it, this year’s showcase is “a powerful slate of high school games with exciting head-to-head player matchups.” There’s no clear-cut favorite - not among teams, and not among the top prospects. That uncertainty is what makes this season so compelling.
Whether you're a college fan tracking your school’s next five-star commit, or an NBA scout looking down the road, the 2025-26 ESPN High School Basketball Showcase is must-see TV. These aren’t just high school games - they’re a preview of basketball’s future.