Kentucky basketball runs through the KHSAA, and the Sweet 16 state tournament at Rupp Arena in Lexington in mid-March is one of the most-attended high school events in the country. The state holds a single-class tournament — every team competes for one championship. King of the Bluegrass is the marquee holiday tournament.
Held at Fairdale High School in the Louisville area. 44th edition in 2025 (founded 1982). 16-team field, mix of top Kentucky programs and out-of-state national-tier teams. Sponsored by Chad Gardner Law since recent years. Streams on NFHS Network.
Tournament details →Three-day national showcase at Reed Conder Gymnasium in Benton, Kentucky. Pulls top high school programs from 10 states. Booker, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, Durant, Tre Johnson, and Derrick Rose all played here before the NBA. Affiliated with Nike's EYBL.
Tournament details →Hosted by Lexington Catholic across the Bueter and Alumni gyms. Forty games over five days with both boys' and girls' brackets and teams from 12 Kentucky regions plus out-of-state visitors. Travis Perry headlined the 2023 boys' field as a Kentucky commit.
Tournament details →Founded in 1947, Kentucky's oldest regular-season high school basketball tournament. Run as Louisville's biggest in-season showcase, with both boys' and girls' brackets. Has occasionally been delayed by weather (snow pushed the boys' bracket back in recent years).
Tournament details →Kentucky's all-class boys' state championship — 16 regional champions advance to Rupp Arena in Lexington for four days of single-elimination basketball. Multi-year venue deal with Rupp Arena was renewed in 2024.
Tournament details →The Kentucky High School Athletic Association (KHSAA).
The state plays a single-class tournament: 16 regional champions advance to a single-elimination bracket at Rupp Arena. One champion, one trophy.
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 →