DICK'S High School Nationals Basketball Tournament Returns To New York City And Madison Square Garden

NEW YORK, Dec. 3, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The nation's top-ranked High School basketball teams will return to New York City and iconic Madison Square Garden for a dynamic, season-ending tournament March 31 – April 2, 2016. For the third-straight year, DICK'S Sporting Goods DKS, the largest U.S. based, full-line sporting goods retailer, will serve as the event's title sponsor and the entire event will be televised across ESPN networks.

"We are excited to continue our support of high school basketball across the country by sponsoring the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals Tournament again in 2016," said Mark Rooks, Vice President of Sports and Community Marketing, DICK'S Sporting Goods. "Last year's event was a tremendous success, and we look forward to seeing the best high school basketball teams in the country compete again next spring."

Madison Square Garden will host the boys (ESPN) and girls (ESPN2) championship games on April 2^nd. The tournament begins on March 31^st with the boys quarterfinal games (ESPNU) and continues April 1^st with the boys (ESPN2) and girls (ESPNU) semifinals from Christ the King High School in New York City.

"For over 135 years, Madison Square Garden has been host to the very best in sports and entertainment, including premier high school basketball events," said Joel Fisher, executive vice president, MSG Sports.  "We are thrilled to once again welcome the best boys and girls high school teams to The World's Most Famous Arena on April 2."

As in previous years, the boys tournament will feature eight of the top-ranked teams in the nation, while the girls field will feature four teams. Last year's boys field included seven teams that finished in the top ten of the final USA Today Super 25 Expert Rankings, including: No.1 Montverde (FL), No.2 Oak Hill (VA.), No. 4 Findlay Prep (NV), No.5 Huntington Prep (WV), No. 6 Wheeler (GA) and No. 8 Blanche Ely (FL).

Both the boys and girls fields will be announced in March, following the completion of this year's high school basketball season.

Event History

The National High School Invitational (NHSI) launched in 2009 at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, MD. The event was created by Paragon Marketing Group to provide a season-ending platform for top, nationally-ranked high school basketball teams to compete against one another in a season-ending tournament. In 2014, DICK'S Sporting Goods became title sponsor of the tournament; the event moved to New York City and became the DICK'S High School Nationals.

Past Champions (boys team followed by girls team):

• 2009 - Findlay Prep, NV & Seton Keough, MD
• 2010 - Findlay Prep, NV &  Peddie School, NJ
• 2011 - Montrose Christian, MD & Dr. Phillips, FL
• 2012 - Findlay Prep, NV & Riverdale Baptist, MD
• 2013 - Montverde, FL & Dr. Phillips, FL
• 2014 - Montverde, FL & Riverdale Baptist, MD
• 2015 – Montverde, FL & Miami Country Day, FL

About DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc.

Founded in 1948, DICK'S Sporting Goods, Inc. is a leading omni-channel sporting goods retailer offering an extensive assortment of authentic, high-quality sports equipment, apparel, footwear and accessories. As of October 31, 2015, the Company operated 645 DICK'S Sporting Goods locations, serving and inspiring athletes and outdoor enthusiasts to achieve their personal best through a blend of dedicated associates, in-store services and unique specialty shop-in-shops.  Headquartered in Pittsburgh, PA, DICK'S also owns and operates Golf Galaxy, Field & Stream, True Runner and Chelsea Collective specialty stores. For more information, visit the Press Room at DICKS.com.

About The Madison Square Garden Company

The Madison Square Garden Company (MSG) is a world leader in live sports and entertainment with a portfolio of legendary sports teams, exclusive entertainment productions and celebrated venues.  MSG Sports owns and operates some of the most widely recognized sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL) and the New York Liberty (WNBA), along with two development league teams – the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL).  MSG Sports also presents a broad array of world-class sporting events, including: professional boxing, college basketball, tennis, bull riding and e-gaming events.  MSG Entertainment features exclusive, original productions that include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Rockettes New York Spectacular, both starring the Rockettes, and presents or hosts a wide variety of live entertainment offerings, including concerts, family shows and special events, in the Company's diverse collection of iconic venues. These venues are: New York's Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall and Beacon Theatre; the Forum in Inglewood, California; The Chicago Theatre; and the Wang Theatre in Boston, MA. More information is available at www.themadisonsquaregardencompany.com

About Paragon Marketing Group

Paragon Marketing Group is a corporate consulting agency specializing in sports, entertainment and cause related sponsorships. Paragon, owns and operates the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals Basketball Tournament and has partnered with ESPN over the past 13 years to deliver over 450 live high school football and basketball telecasts featuring many of the top teams and players in the nation. Paragon's consulting clients include Bayer, EA Sports Gatorade, PNC Bank and UCHealth.

For further information on DICK'S High School Nationals and for media enquiries please contact: rkelner@paragonmarketing.biz

For further information about DICK'S Sporting Goods please contact: press@dcsg.com, or by phone: 724.273.5552

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151203/293043LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151203/293042LOGO

Logo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151203/293041LOGO

To view the original version on PR Newswire, visit:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/dicks-high-school-nationals-basketball-tournament-returns-to-new-york-city-and-madison-square-garden-300187817.html

SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods