Columbus (Fla.) takes down Dynamic Prep (Texas) to win Chipotle Nationals title

After a four-year run that included a Florida Class 7A state championship four-peat, Columbus High (Fla.) capped off one of the most dominant runs in high school basketball history on Saturday at Chipotle Nationals.

Facing a red-hot Dynamic Prep squad of Texas, the Explorers used a big second-half run to pull away from the Bearcats and win their first-ever national title 67-49 at Hamilton Southeastern High School in Fishers, Indiana.

The teams were evenly matched from the start, with Columbus jumping out to a 4-0 lead before a quick 5-0 run put Dynamic Prep on top. They traded baskets over the course of the next eight minutes , with Dynamic Prep ultimately leading 15-13 after the first quarter. Dynamic’s 3-point shooting led the way early on, as they hit 3 of their first 5 attempts from behind the arc. But led by Duke signee Cayden Boozer, Columbus dominated on the glass — pulling down four offensive rebounds.

The Explorers turned the tables a bit in the second frame, hitting 50% of their attempts including a pair of 3-pointers. On the defensive end, they held Dynamic to just 5 of 14 shooting and took a 28-27 lead into the halftime break. Boozer, one of the most decorated prep players ever, as was good as advertised in the first 16 minutes. He led the way with 12 points and catalyzed the Explorers’ offense while his twin brother and five-star recruit Cameron knocked down a couple of 3-pointers.

Columbus found its rhythm early in the third quarter though, using a 10-0 lead to break the game open and take a 44-34 lead before Dynamic head coach Jermaine O’Neal called for a timeout. Cayden Boozer scored the team’s first eight points in the third quarter, helping to extend that lead and get the Explorers a bit of breathing room.

Top-25 2026 recruit Jaxon Richardson made his presence felt on the glass all night with 11 rebounds, but was particularly key in the third quarter as he grabbed a couple of key offensive boards to extend possessions. Columbus extended the lead to 12 at 48-36 heading into the fourth, and never looked back from there.

About the Chipotle Nationals

More on the major event via the Chipotle Nationals’ website:

“The National High School Invitational (NHSI) was created in 2009 by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a platform for the top, nationally ranked high school basketball teams in the country to compete against one another in a season-ending tournament.

Over the course of fifteen-years, this event (previously titled DICK’S Nationals and GEICO Nationals, taking place in DC, NYC, FL) has crowned the best high school basketball teams in the country. In 2024, the event moved to IN and became the Chipotle High School Basketball Nationals aka ‘Chipotle Nationals’.”