Complete Preview for the Top Spring College Basketball Recruiting Events
With the high school and college basketball seasons quickly winding down, it's time to take a look at some of the important spring all-star games and grassroots tournaments that will be on the calendar for the next few months.
The senior all-star games such as the McDonald's All-American Game, Nike Hoop Summit and Jordan Brand Classic are important for establishing the final rankings for the class of 2016, while the grassroots events during the live periods are huge for future recruiting in the classes of 2017, 2018 and 2019.
This list features the events and weekends you need to be aware in order to keep a pulse on what's happening in terms of elite recruiting.
McDonald's All-American Game
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Date: March 30
Location: United Center, Chicago
Players Involved: The premier high school all-star game features the best seniors in the country, including Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, De'Aaron Fox and Terrance Ferguson.
Why It's Important: As the most recognized senior all-star game since its inception in 1978, the McDonald's All-American Game has a tremendous history, with past players spanning from Jordan to Shaq to LeBron and beyond. The game is also the first opportunity for seniors to practice in front of NBA personnel as the league gets a look at the game's future.
Dick's Sporting Goods High School Nationals
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Dates: March 31-April 2
Location: New York City
Players Involved: Many of the nation's best high schools and prep schools play in this eight-team tournament, and this season includes powerhouses such as Montverde Academy and Oak Hill Academy.
Why It's Important: With all 10 games of high-level competition being played on live television, it's a great recruiting tool with many colleges that are finished with their seasons. Since every team in the field is talented, it's also a nice end-of-the-season scouting tool for schools as well. For the players, the chance to play in the title game in Madison Square Garden is a fun experience.
Nike Hoop Summit
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Date: April 9
Location: Portland, Oregon
Players Involved: The U.S. team features 5-stars such as Josh Jackson, Jayson Tatum, Markelle Fultz and Marques Bolden, while the international team has 5-star prospects such as DeAndre Ayton and Thon Maker.
Why It's Important: As a major showcase that also happens to represent USA Basketball, this game is important to the participants since they play in front of NBA scouts. The pride of playing for the United States is an added bonus for the American players.
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Jordan Brand Classic
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Date: April 15
Location: Barclays Center, Brooklyn, New York
Players Involved: The top senior high school all-stars who played in the Nike EYBL are mixed in with some other top seniors to form one of the other huge postseason games. With a regional game and international game as well, the Jordan Brand Classic has a lot of players.
Why It's Important: The Jordan Brand Classic has burst on the scene as one of the major all-star games to keep track of. It will feature fifth-year players and some prep school players the McDonald's All-American Game won't include.
First Spring Live Period Weekend
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Dates: April 15-17
Locations: Adidas (Dallas), Nike (New York), Under Armour (New York)
Players Involved: All of the top high school juniors, sophomores and freshmen—and some select unsigned seniors—all participate on the grassroots circuit, as all three shoe companies have events.
Why It's Important: It's the first chance that Division I college basketball coaches can attend grassroots events since high school seasons ended. They can see a lot of prospects during a limited amount of time while also being introduced to younger players.
Second Spring Live Period Weekend
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Dates: April 22-24
Location: Adidas (Atlanta), Nike (Indianapolis), Under Armour (Indianapolis)
Players Involved: The second live period weekend will include all of the same high school juniors, sophomores and freshmen playing in front of college coaches all over the country in shoe leagues and AAU tournaments.
Why It's Important: While the first live period weekend (the weekend before) is often the first impression for college coaches of a number of players, the second weekend can be a make-or-break time to earn scholarship offers for a while. This is the last time that college coaches will see many of these players until July.
Nike EYBL Hampton
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Dates: May 13-15
Location: Boo Williams Sportsplex, Hampton, Virginia.
Players Involved: The Nike EYBL's teams will all be in Hampton, Virginia, for the third session of their league as this unopposed shoe-company weekend is typically one of the best weekends of spring. Not only do Nike's top players all attend, but other shoe-company players will often run with a Nike team since many of their teams have off.
Why It's Important: With this event typically including players from other shoe companies, it's one of the few weekends of the spring that includes many of the top national players in one event. When you add in the significance of playing at Boo Williams—a historic Nike venue for years—and it should be an important event.
Memorial Day Events
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Dates: May 27-30
Locations: Adidas (regionals in Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles), Nike (Atlanta), Under Armour (Los Angeles)
Players Involved: The nation's top high school juniors, sophomores and freshmen play for the final time in the spring at high-level shoe-company events.
Why It's Important: Memorial Weekend events are typically the final league stop to get into summer playoffs like Nike's Peach Jam or the Under Armour Association Finals. It's also a final chance for players to make an impression on national scouts and national camps before the June camp circuit.
Recruiting ratings via 247Sports.
Unless otherwise noted, all quotes and information were obtained firsthand.
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