New York high school basketball runs through NYSPHSAA for the upstate public schools and PSAL in New York City. The PSAL Boys Basketball City Championship is a marquee public-school event each March, and the city's Catholic and prep schools contribute heavily to national rankings.
Westchester County Center has hosted this since 1999 as a holiday-week showcase for Westchester and NYC-area programs. Mount Vernon vs Xaverian-type matchups are the bread and butter. Recent editions partnered with the Crusader Classic at Iona, but the County Center remains the home venue.
Tournament details →Catholic-school championship covering NYC, Long Island, Westchester and Buffalo dioceses. Stepinac and St. Raymond have owned recent finals; the 2025 game went to overtime. Realistically the highest level of New York high school basketball year over year — CHSAA-AA programs routinely beat PSAL champions in the annual Challenge.
Tournament details →After 38 straight years in Glens Falls, NYSPHSAA moved this to Binghamton starting 2025 on a contract through 2027. Six classes (AAA down to D) crown a champion across one weekend. Public-school only — the CHSAA, PSAL and NYSAISAA winners do not cross over since the Federation Tournament of Champions went on indefinite hiatus after 2024.
Tournament details →NYC public-school championship run by the Public Schools Athletic League. Borough playoffs feed into a city championship game played at a major NYC venue (historically Madison Square Garden, more recently rotating).
Tournament details →Rochester-area public-school sectional finals run on one floor over two days. Section V is one of NYSPHSAA's deepest pools in Class AAA and the AA splits — Rush-Henrietta, Fairport, Penfield and Webster Thomas are regulars. Winners advance to the NYSPHSAA state tournament.
Tournament details →Statewide public schools: NYSPHSAA. New York City public schools: PSAL. Catholic schools: CHSAA. Independent schools: NYSAIS or NEPSAC.
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 →