Illinois has one of the strongest high school basketball cultures in the country. The IHSA state tournament has been held continuously since 1908 — the IHSA "Sweet 16" weekends in mid-March at State Farm Center in Champaign are tradition. The Pontiac Holiday Tournament is the state's marquee in-season event.
First held in 1942, the Centralia Holiday Tournament is one of the oldest continuously running high school holiday events in the country. Sixteen teams, three days between Christmas and New Year's, drawing 6,000+ spectators each year to the home of the Centralia Orphans.
Tournament details →Pontiac, Illinois — running since 1925, the oldest holiday basketball tournament in the country. Sixteen invited teams, played at Pontiac Township High School over five days during Christmas week.
Tournament details →Founded in 1961 as the first holiday basketball tournament in the Chicago area. Sixteen teams, 28 games over four days. Between 1964 and 2008, 95 Proviso West teams reached the IHSA state tournament the same year — 13 of which won state titles.
Tournament details →One of the largest co-ed high school holiday tournaments in the country. Sixty-four teams (32 boys, 32 girls) play for four days after Christmas across multiple Bloomington-Normal venues. Started in 1975 as the Illinois State Classic. Awards four scholarships annually.
Tournament details →Illinois's boys' state series, presented by OSF Healthcare. The 2026 finals run March 12-14 at the State Farm Center in Champaign with all four classes packed into one weekend. The IHSA dates back to 1908, making it one of the oldest state series in the country.
Tournament details →The Illinois High School Association (IHSA).
National Prep Tournament · March 6–8, 2026
National Prep Tournament in Fort Walton Beach, Florida takes both high school and post-grad programs. Applications stay open through October 31. If you want a competitive early-March slot without invitation-only barriers, this is the one to apply for.
Apply for the National Prep Tournament →