Tenth Annual High School Basketball Nationals Tournament Returns to New York City; Adds GEICO as Title Sponsor

NEW YORK, Feb. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- In its tenth year of existence, the High School Basketball Nationals tournament (formerly DICK'S Nationals) will have a new name starting in 2018. Paragon Marketing Group is pleased to announce it has reached an agreement with GEICO to become the new title sponsor and continue the tournament's rich tradition. The partnership now provides GEICO entitlement of all three postseason High School events, that air on ESPN networks, including the GEICO High School Basketball Nationals, GEICO High School Lacrosse Nationals, and the GEICO State Champions Bowl Series. GEICO is the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States.

The GEICO High School Basketball Nationals, will be held in New York City for the fifth straight year.

The tournament begins Thursday, March 29 with the boys quarterfinal games (ESPNU), continues Friday, Mar. 30 with the boys (ESPN2) and girls (ESPNU) semifinals, and concludes Saturday, March 31 with the boys (ESPN) and girls (ESPN2) championships from Christ the King High School in New York City.

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. For the second straight year, all twelve (12) teams in the 2017 field were nationally ranked in the USA TODAY Super 25 Expert Rankings, including the No. 1 ranked team in the country, boys 2017 champion La Lumiere (IN). 2017 Boys field: No. 1 La Lumiere (IN), No. 3 Findlay Prep (NV), No. 7 Montverde Academy (FL), No. 8 Oak Hill Academy (VA), No. 9 Shadow Mountain (AZ), No. 10 Greensboro Day (NC), No. 11 IMG Academy (FL), No. 17 Wasatch Academy (UT); 2017 Girls field: No. 6 Miami Country Day (FL), No. 13 Seton Catholic (AZ), No. 15 Hamilton Heights Christian Academy (TN), No. 17 St. Frances Academy (MD).

The 2018 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 the event moved to New York City and was named the DICK'S Sporting Goods High School Nationals. In 2018 the event became the GEICO High School Basketball 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
• 2016 – Oak Hill Academy, VA & Ribault, FL
• 2017 – La Lumiere, IN & Miami Country Day, FL

Notable Tournament Alumni (player name followed by their school, year they participated and current NBA team):

• Avery Bradley, Findlay Prep (NV) 2009 – Clippers
• Tristan Thompson, Findlay Prep (NV) 2009-2010 - Cavaliers
• Justin Anderson, Montrose Christian (MD) 2009-2012 – 76ers
• Austin Rivers, Winter Park (FL) 2010-2011 - Clippers
• Joel Embiid, Montverde (FL) 2012 – 76ers
• Emmanuel Mudiay, Prime Prep (TX) 2013 – Nuggets
• D'Angelo Russell, Montverde (FL) 2013-2014 – Nets
• Kelly Oubre, Findlay Prep (NV) 2014 – Wizards
• Ben Simmons, Montverde (FL) 2013-2015 – 76ers
• Jaylen Brown, Wheeler (GA) 2015 - Celtics

About GEICO
GEICO (Government Employees Insurance Company) is a member of the Berkshire Hathaway family of companies and is the second-largest private passenger auto insurance company in the United States. GEICO, which was founded in 1936, provides millions of auto insurance quotes to U.S. drivers annually. The company is pleased to serve more than 16 million private passenger customers, insuring more than 27 million vehicles (auto & cycle).

Using GEICO's online service center, policyholders can purchase policies, make policy changes, report claims and print insurance ID cards. Policyholders can also connect to GEICO through GEICO Mobile, reach a representative over the phone or visit a GEICO local agent.  

GEICO also provides insurance quotes on motorcycles, all-terrain vehicles (ATVs), boats, travel trailers and motorhomes (RVs). Coverage for life, homes and apartments is written by non-affiliated insurance companies and is secured through the GEICO Insurance Agency, Inc. Commercial auto insurance and personal umbrella protection are also available.             

For more information, go to www.geico.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 GEICO High School Basketball Nationals and has collaborated with ESPN over the past 15 years to deliver over 500 live high school football, basketball, and lacrosse telecasts featuring many of the top teams and players in the nation. Paragon collaborates with ESPN on the following live properties:

• GEICO ESPN High School Football Kickoff & Showcase
• GEICO ESPN High School Basketball Showcase
• GEICO State Champions Bowl Series
• GEICO High School Basketball Nationals
• GEICO High School Lacrosse Nationals

About ESPN
ESPN, Inc., is the world's leading multinational, multimedia sports entertainment company featuring a portfolio of more than 50 multimedia sports assets. The company is comprised of eight U.S. 24-hour television networks and five HD simulcast services. Other businesses include ESPN Events, ESPN International (24 networks, syndication, radio, digital), ESPN Radio, ESPN Digital, ESPN The Magazine, consumer products and espnW. Based in Bristol, Conn., ESPN is 80 percent owned by ABC, Inc., which is an indirect subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company. Hearst holds a 20 percent interest in ESPN.

SOURCE Paragon Marketing Group