New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships is a tournament that has been held annually since 1978. It is one of the biggest high school basketball tournaments in the country and attracts teams from all over the state of New York.
History of the Tournament
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships was first held in 1978. The tournament was created to give high school basketball teams from all over New York State the opportunity to compete against each other in a statewide tournament. The tournament has grown to become one of the largest and most prestigious high school basketball tournaments in the country.
The first tournament was won by Carmel High School, who defeated South Park High School in the championship game. Since then, many great teams have come through the tournament, including legendary teams from New York City like Rice High School and Christ the King Regional High School, as well as schools from upstate New York like Christian Brothers Academy and Jamesville-DeWitt High School.
Format of the Tournament
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships consists of five different classifications: Class A, Class AA, Class B, Class C, and Class D. Each classification is divided into four different regions: Long Island, New York City, Western, and Central. Teams compete in their regional tournaments in order to qualify for the state tournament.
Each classification has its own bracket, with the winners of each bracket advancing to a final four. The final four is held at the Floyd L. Maines Veterans Memorial Arena in Binghamton, New York. The winners of each bracket in each classification play in the championship game at the arena.
Notable Teams and Players
Over the years, the New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships has featured many great teams and players. Some of the most notable teams include Rice High School, which won nine championships between 1988 and 2010, and Christ the King Regional High School, which has won six championships since 1989.
Some of the most notable players to come through the tournament include Kenny Anderson, who led Archbishop Molloy High School to the Class A championship in 1987, and Sebastian Telfair, who led Lincoln High School to the Class A championship in 2003.
Impact of the Tournament
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships has had a huge impact on high school basketball in New York State. The tournament has given teams from all over the state the opportunity to compete against each other and has helped to raise the profile of high school basketball in the state.
Additionally, the tournament has helped to develop many great players who have gone on to play college basketball and even professional basketball. Some of the most notable players to come through the tournament include NBA players like Kenny Anderson, Sebastian Telfair, and Ron Artest.
Conclusion
The New York State High School Boys Basketball Championships is one of the biggest and most prestigious high school basketball tournaments in the country. The tournament has a rich history and has featured many great teams and players over the years. It has had a huge impact on high school basketball in New York State and has helped to develop many great players who have gone on to achieve success at the college and professional levels.
