The sector is ready for 2023 GEICO Nationals, scheduled for March 30- April 1 in Ft. Myers, Fla. Seven of the eight groups are ranked within the FAB 50 Nationwide Rankings, together with high seed and FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy, the two-time defending occasion champion. The championship sport is ready for April 1 at 12 pm ET (ESPN).
GEICO Nationals, the annual end-of-season event that has topped a champion because the finish of the 2008-09 season and its winner topped FAB 50 nationwide champ seven instances, has unveiled its 2023 area.
Present FAB 50 No. 1 Montverde Academy of Florida, two-time defending GEICO Nationals champs and this system that has captured GEICO Nationals a document six instances, is the highest seed and can face fellow Nationwide Intersholastic Basketball Convention (NIBC) member and No. 14 Dawn Christian Academy (Bel Aire, Kan.), the eighth seed (3/30, 6 pm ET, ESPNU).
There are two first-time entrants to the occasion, together with No. 2 seed and FAB 50 No. 9 Lengthy Island Lutheran (Glen Head, N.Y.), which got here in second within the NIBC standings this yr at 10-2, one sport within the standings behind Montverde. LuHi will tackle No. 7 seed and FAB 50 No. 23 AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, Ariz.) at 4 pm ET (ESPNU).
Compass Prep tied for third within the NIBC standings at 8-4 with FAB 50 No. 19 IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.), which is the No. 6 seed and can tackle No. 3 seed Prolific Prep (Napa, Calif.) within the first spherical at 2pm ET (EPSNU). Prolific Prep comes into the occasion 31-1 after final yr’s look when it turned the primary No. 8 seed to knock off a No. 1 seed when it downed Dawn Christian earlier than falling within the semifinals.
Probably the most intriguing matchup is No. 4 seed and FAB 50 No. 2 Hyperlink Academy (Branson, Mo.) taking up No. 5 seed and FAB 50 No. 17 Paul VI (Chantilly, Va.) at 12 pm ET (ESPNU). Paul VI, which captured the Virginia Impartial Colleges Athletic Affiliation (VISAA) D1 title and was runner-up within the Washington Catholic Athletic Convention (WCAC) event, was at one level No. 1 within the FAB 50 through the common season after going by way of WCAC common season play unbeaten.
The Panthers are making an look in GEICO Nationals for the primary time ever. The VISAA shouldn’t be affiliated with the Nationwide Federation of State Excessive Faculty Associations (NFHS) and is among the causes Paul VI wouldn’t be eligible for the second annual State Champions Invitational, which is ready to happen this yr April 6-8 within the DMV area for eligible packages that win state championships in NFHS-affiliated state governing our bodies.
Hyperlink Academy has just one loss this season, a 84-58 loss to high seed Montverde Academy. Maybe the margin of victory performed a task in Hyperlink Academy’s No. 4 seed. Hyperlink Academy does personal a win over Dawn Christian Academy. Final yr, Hyperlink Academy superior to the championship sport earlier than falling to Montverde Academy.
The occasion has taken place 13 instances count on for in 2019-20 due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic and has had a significant affect in who finishes No. 1 within the FAB 50 and the general ultimate rankings. This yr’s occasion will probably be no totally different.
The semifinals are set for March 31 at 2:30 and 4:30 pm ET on ESPN2. The championship sport is ready for April 1 at 12 pm ET on ESPN.
Ronnie Flores is the nationwide Grassroots editor of Ballislife.com. He could be reached at [email protected]. Don’t overlook to comply with him on Twitter: @RonMFlores
