Preview: the 2022 GEICO High School Basketball Nationals

The Geico High School Basketball Nationals are universally thought of as the high school national championships. The event started as the National High School Invitational in 2009. In 2014 the event added Dick’s Sporting Goods as its named sponsor and was moved to New York City.

In 2018, Geico Insurance was picked up as the named sponsor, and the event was titled the Geico High School Basketball Nationals. The event was moved from New York to Fort Myers, Florida in 2021.

Montverde (FL) Academy has won this tournament an event record five times, including last season. The now-defunct Henderson (NV) Findlay Prep was the event three times.

Read along as On3 previews the storylines, the players, and matchups for the 2022 Geico High School Basketball Nationals.

The storylines On3 is watching

Can anyone do enough to contend for the No. 1 spot?

Kyle Filipowski has a pretty firm grasp of the No. 1 spot in On3’s 2022 class. He, or his team, was not selected to play in the McDonald’s All-American game or in the Geico High School Basketball Nationals. So there is a window of opportunity for some players.

Coming into McDonald’s All-American week, if On3 No. 4 Dariq Whitehead would be able to contend for the No. 2 spot. He won the prestigious game’s MVP after a 13 point, 7 rebounds, 7 assists performance. He now has the possibility of three more days at Geico.

Whitehead’s high school teammate Dillon Mitchell is currently in the No. 2 position. He was good at McDonald’s week as well. The 6-foot-8 forward came in second in the dunk contest and finished the game with 9 points, 4-4 from the field, and 4 rebounds. He was also +20 (+/-).

The conversation for No. 2 will be had; however, can either player do enough to shift the conversation for No. 1?

Will Montverde go back-to-back?

No team has won the Geico High School Basketball Nationals in back-to-back years since Montverde (FL) Academy three-peated from 2013, 2014, and 2015. Those teams featured future top-five NBA Draft picks Ben Simmons and D’Angelo Russell.

This year Montverde is trying to accomplish the same feat. They are coming into this as the three seed, with a tough opening-round matchup against Scottsdale (AZ) AZ Compass. Under head coach Kevin Boyle, Montverde has already won the tournament five times in its 12 years. This team is led by three top-ten players, No. 2 Dillon Mitchell, No. 4 Dariq Whitehead, and No. 8 Jalen Hood-Schifino in 2022 On3 150.

Steve Smith’s last game

This week will be the last game coached by Hall of Fame Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill coach Steve Smith. He has 1,232 career wins, which is third all-time in high school boys basketball.

Smith enters his final Geico High School Basketball Championships as a five seed. He plays Branson (MO) Link Academy in the first round. Oak Hill is led by 2022 On3 Consensus No. 10 Chris Livingston (Kentucky) and No. 50 Judah Mintz (uncommitted).

On3 salutes Steve Smith on everything he has done and accomplished for high school basketball.

Participating 2022 On3 Consensus Top 50

No. 3 6-6 SF Dariq Whitehead
Montverde (FL) Academy
Signed with Duke

No. 4 6-3 SG Keyonte George
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Signed with Baylor

No. 7 6-8 F Dillon Mitchell
Montverde (FL) Academy
Signed with Texas

No. 9 6-8 PF Jarace Walker
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Signed with Houston

No. 10 6-7 F Chris Livingston
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
Signed with Kentucky

No. 12 6-7 F Jordan Walsh
Branson (MO) Link Academy
Signed with Arkansas

No. 13 6-10 Adem Bona
Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep
Signed with UCLA

No. 15 6-8 SG Gradey Dick
Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian
Signed with Kansas

No. 16 6-8 SF Julian Phillips
Branson (MO) Link Academy
Uncommitted

No. 18 6-5 SF MJ Rice
Napa (Calif.) Prolific Prep
Signed with Kansas

No. 21 6-5 PG Jalen Hood-Schifino
Montverde (FL) Academy
Signed with Indiana

No. 22 6-9 F Mark Mitchell
Bel Aire (KS) Sunrise Christian
Signed with Duke

No. 23 6-2 PG Jaden Bradley
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Signed with Alabama

No. 24 6-5 SG JJ Starling
LaPorte (IN) LaLumiere
Signed with Notre Dame

No. 29 6-7 PF Malik Reneau
Montverde (FL ) Academy
Uncommitted

No. 30 6-6 SF Chance Westry
Scottsdale (AZ) AZ Compass
Signed with Auburn

No. 32 6-2 PG Skyy Clark
Montverde (FL) Academy
Uncommitted

No. 34 6-9 C Tarris Reed
Branson (MO) Link Academy
Signed with Michigan

No. 36 6-6 SF Jett Howard
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Signed with Michigan

No. 39 6-7 F Eric Dailey, Jr.
Bradenton (FL) IMG Academy
Uncommitted

No. 48 6-2 PG Dylan Andrews
Scottsdale (AZ) AZ Compass
Signed with UCLA

No. 50 6-2 SG Judah Mintz
Mouth of Wilson (VA) Oak Hill Academy
Uncommitted

Full event schedule

Thursday (3/31)
Game 1 – Noon, (4) Link Academy vs. (5) Oak Hill Academy (on ESPNU)
Game 2 – 2PM, (3) Montverde Academy vs. (6) AZ Compass (on ESPNU)
Game 3 – 4PM, (2) IMG Academy vs. (7) La Lumiere (on ESPNU)
Game 4 – 6PM, (1) Sunrise Christian vs. (8) Prolific Prep (on ESPNU)

Friday (4/1)
Game 5 – 2:30, Winner of Game 3 vs. Winner of Game 2 (on ESPN 2)
Game 6 – 4:30, Winner of Game 4 vs. Winner of Game 1 (on ESPN 2)

Saturday (4/2)
Championship – Noon, Winner of Game 5 vs. Winner of Game 6 (on ESPN)