Slam Dunk Basketball Tournament

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.

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.

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).

Mobile, Alabama — 32 teams from Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Mississippi, and Louisiana across two college venues over three days at the back end of Christmas week. Roster-heavy on D1 prospects, which keeps college-coach traffic strong on the sidelines.

Juneau, three days between Christmas and New Year's. Hosted at JDHS since 1991, Princess Cruises is the title sponsor. The largest high school holiday tournament in Alaska. Brings teams from across Alaska plus a few Lower 48 invites willing to make the ferry/flight to Southeast.

Pine Bluff. Founded 1982 by banker Travis Creed and revived in 2018 after a long gap. Roughly half the field is Arkansas schools, half national invitees. Hosted the first regular-season high school basketball game on national prime-time ESPN (1987).

Rancho Mirage and Shadow Hills HS, the week between Christmas and New Year's. 117 teams across 11 divisions — the 16-team Open is the national-draw bracket, and the lower divisions are how regional programs actually get a competitive holiday tournament. Slam dunk and 3-point contests run during semifinal play.

Hosted at Damien High School in La Verne, CA. 9th edition in 2025. Massive field — 144 teams across 9 divisions, played at Damien plus other area gyms over five days. SoCal basketball density makes it a go-to for both California and visiting programs.

San Diego, last week of December. Five brackets played across six county high schools — National at Torrey Pines, American at St. Augustine, Senator's at Carlsbad, Governor's at Rancho Buena Vista, Mayor's at El Camino. Teams from 12 states fill the field. National Division is the showcase; lower brackets give SoCal mid-tier programs a real holiday event without being overmatched.