Eight of the Top-Ranked Boys Teams and Four of the Top-Ranked Girls Teams in the Country Set to Compete in the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals Basketball Tournament in New York City

NEW YORK, March 18, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Featuring the best high school basketball talent in the country, The DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals returns to New York City for the second-consecutive year. This year, all eight of the boys teams and three of the girls teams that were selected to play in the seventh-annual high school basketball tournament are ranked in the USA Today Super 25 national rankings. This year's pool will also include a total of six state champions.

In the boys field, undefeated and No. 1 Oak Hill Academy (VA) and the defending 2014 tournament champion No. 2- Montverde Academy (FL) will both compete. Three teams that earned state titles this year, including, Ely High School (FL), Wheeler High School (GA) and Greensboro Day School (NC) along with New York City Public Schools Athletic League Champion Wings Academy (NY) will also face-off for the tournament title.

The girls field includes three different state champions, Dillard (FL), Miami Country Day (FL) and Gonzaga Prep School (WA), along with New York City Public Schools Athletic League Champion South Shore (NY).

"At DICK'S, we believe that sports make people better and serving as the title sponsor of this great event for the second-straight year gives us the chance to provide these players and their fans with a first-class experience," said Mark Rooks, Vice President of Sports and Community Marketing, DICK'S Sporting Goods. "The field of teams you'll see play this year is one of the most-talented groups in the tournament's history, and we're excited to watch them compete next month in New York City."

The three-day, single-elimination tournament begins Thursday, April 2, at 12 p.m. (boys quarterfinals on ESPNU) and continues on Friday, April 3, at 11 a.m. from Christ the King High School (girls semifinals on ESPNU and boys semifinals on ESPN2). On Saturday, April 4, competition shifts to Madison Square Garden, where a girls (ESPN2 at 10 a.m.) and boys champion (12 p.m. on ESPN) will be crowned.

Tickets are available now at dicksnationaltournament.com. For games played at Christ the King High School, general admission tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students. Tickets for games played at Madison Square Garden start at $15.

Once again the tournament is attracting the top talent in the nation, showcasing six McDonald's All-Americans: Ben Simmons from Montverde Academy, Jaylen Brown from Wheeler, Dwayne Bacon from Oak Hill, Thomas Bryant from Huntington Prep (WV), Allonzo Trier from Findlay Prep (NV), and finally Brianna Fraser on the girls side from South Shore (NY).

To be eligible to be selected to the tournament, participating schools must be four-year high school, independent or public, and have their respective governing body's permission to participate. Tournament teams were chosen by a selection committee.

2015 DICK'S Sporting Goods High School National Tournament Participating Boys Team Guide:

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 January 31, 2015, the Company operated more than 600 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 and True Runner specialty stores. For more information, visit the Press Room at DICKS.com.

About Madison Square Garden Company
The Madison Square Garden Company is comprised of three business segments: MSG Sports, MSG Media and MSG Entertainment and is built on a foundation of iconic venues and compelling content that the company creates, produces, presents and/or distributes through its programming networks and other media assets. MSG Sports owns and operates the following sports franchises: the New York Knicks (NBA), the New York Rangers (NHL), the New York Liberty (WNBA), the Westchester Knicks (NBADL) and the Hartford Wolf Pack (AHL). MSG Sports also features the presentation of a wide variety of live sporting events including professional boxing, college basketball, bull riding and tennis. MSG Media is a leader in production and content   development for multiple distribution platforms, including content originating from the Company's venues. MSG Media's television networks consist of regional sports networks, MSG Network and MSG+, collectively referred to as MSG Networks.  MSG Entertainment is one of the country's leaders in live entertainment. MSG Entertainment creates, produces and/or presents a variety of live productions, including the Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the New York Spring Spectacular, both featuring the Rockettes.  MSG Entertainment also presents or hosts other live entertainment events such as concerts, family shows and special events in the Company's diverse collection of venues. These venues consist of Madison Square Garden, The Theater at Madison Square Garden, Radio City Music Hall, the Beacon Theatre, the Forum in Inglewood, CA, 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 11 years to deliver over 350 live high school football and basketball telecasts featuring many of the top teams and players in the nation. Paragon's consulting clients include Gatorade, PNC Bank, Johnson & Johnson, EA Sports, Skullcandy and Bayer.

For further information on the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals and for media inquiries please contact: [email protected]

For further information about DICK'S Sporting Goods please contact: [email protected] or 724.273.5552

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SOURCE DICK'S Sporting Goods

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