November is here and the 2020-2021 high school season is officially underway for the most part beginning this week. The outbreak of the coronavirus has ripped us from some elite matchups that would have happened over the next few months, but with a few guidelines in some states, some games, tournaments, and showcases will be on display this season. Below we take a look at some of the key matchups we should look forward too this season. The Grind Session bubbles, Thanksgiving Hoopfest, Spalding Hoophall Classic, and others are still scheduled to be played this season.

Sunrise Christian (KS) v. Montverde Academy (FL) – 01/18/2021
This matchup here might be the most looked forward to match up of all for this upcoming high school season. Both Montverde Academy and Sunrise Christian will begin the 2020-2021 high school season ranked at number one and two in the country and will go head-to-head in Springfield, Massachusetts as part of the loaded Spalding Hoophall Classic in January 2021. Both programs are also apart of the new elite basketball conference, the NIBC. This matchup will feature highly ranked prospects like Tennessee commit 2021 PG Kennedy Chandler, 2022 C Jalen Duren, 2021 F Caleb Houstan, Baylor commit 2021 F Kendall Brown, Kansas commit 2021 F Zach Clemence, Dayton commit 2021 F DaRon Holmes, 2022 PG Jalen Hood-Schifino, and plenty more. Both of these programs plan on making the 2021 GEICO Nationals field in March/April and this matchup will have a GEICO Nationals feel to it.

Ypsi Prep Academy (MI) v. Sierra Canyon (CA) – 11/21/2020
The matchup most of the nation has been waiting for since last season, Emoni Bates against Bronny James. Ypsi Prep Academy (MI) and Sierra Canyon (CA) will be meeting this season at the Battle Basketball Showcase which will be played in Allen, Texas near Dallas and will be hosted by NBA Champion Lakers guard Danny Green. We all know that Ypsi Academy will be led by one of the nations highly rated recruits Michigan State commit 2022 F Emoni Bates. Bates will be playing against California’s best Sierra Canyon, who will be playing as a club team “TrailBlazers”. They will feature highly rated 2022 G Amari Bailey, 2022 SG Chance Westry, 2022 F Max Allen, 2023 SG Bronny James, and others. This will certainly be an early test for both programs coming into the season and it should draw a major crowd in the state of Texas.

Lake Norman Christian (NC) @ Oak Hill Academy (VA) – 11/12/2020
Lake Norman Christian, a small school right outside of Charlotte, North Carolina, has hit the national spotlight coming into the 2020-2021 season due to their recent new addition, 2023 G Mikey Williams. The Storm will have an early test to begin the season, as they travel to powerhouse Oak Hill Academy for their season opener.  The Warriors of Oak Hill have added pieces to their newly built roster as well over the last few months. 2022 SG M.J. Rice will headline the roster, a native of North Carolina. This matchup will have a top-25 feeling to it and ESPN2 is expected to live stream the event at 7pm ET. Multiple next level prospects are going to competing in this early showdown in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia.

Prolific Prep (CA) v. West Oaks Academy (FL) – 11/08/2020
The Grind Session will host a NBA bubble type of environment throughout the season with the first session beginning in Phoenix, Arizona, which is where these two top-10 programs will meet to begin the season. Both Prolific Prep and West Oaks Academy will begin the 2020-2021 high school ranked in the top-10 nationally. West Oaks has reloaded their roster from a season ago and have added highly rated 2023 forward Ryan and Matt Bewley, 2021 PG Wesley Cardet Jr., 2021 SG Justin Neely, and 2021 SG J.J. Harris. Prolific Prep has done the same with their roster for this season, bringing in Stanford commit 2021 PG Isa Silva, Oregon commit 2021 F Nathan Bittle, 2022 F Mouhamed Gueye, and 2022 F Adem Bona just to name a few. The front court battle in this game should be fun to watch as both teams will go head-to-head in Phoenix.

Ypsi Prep Academy @ Duncanville (TX) – 11/28/2020
The 2019 UIL class 6A defending champions will host one of the nation’s most exciting high school players in the country, Michigan State commit 2022 F Emoni Bates and his new program Ypsi Prep Academy, during Thanksgiving weekend as part of the 2020 Thanksgiving Hoopfest. Duncanville will have a few key matchups during the month of November but this matchup right here stands out the most. The Panthers 2020-2021 roster will be headlined by 2023 Ron Holland and 2023 F Cameron Barnes, two of their returning stars. Ypsi Prep will also have prospects like 2022 PG Dillon Hunter and Michigan State commit 2021 PG Jaiden Akins on their roster. This game is expected to be played in the American Airlines Arena, home of the NBA’s Dallas Mavericks. 

Hamilton Heights (TN) v. La Lumiere (IN) – 01/15/2021
This preseason top-25 matchup between Tennessee powerhouse, Hamilton Heights, and Indiana powerhouse, La Lumiere, will be featured as a showcase game at the annual and famous Flyin to the Hoop event in Dayton, Ohio. Both programs finished their 2019-2020 high school season ranked in the top-10. The Hawks will have a new head coach, Steve Cook, but their competitiveness and toughness will still be displayed. Their roster includes top prospects like 2022 PG Reggie Bass and 2022 F Felix Okpara. La Lumiere will have a whole new roster coming into this season headlined by their front court 2022 F Vincent Ikechukwu and Minnesota commit 2021 C Treyton Thompson. Both programs will be apart of the newly elite basketball conference called the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference.  

Oak Hill Academy (VA) v. Millard North (NE) – 02/13/2021
Millard North, out of Omaha, Nebraska, finished their 2019-2020 season last year with a 24-5 overall record and reaching the NSAA class A championship where they lost 64-62 to Bellevue West. Their matchup next season against powerhouse Oak Hill Academy will be played at the Heartland Hoops Classic in Omaha, Nebraska on February 13th. Oak Hill Academy, out of Mouth of Wilson, Virginia, will feature some of the best prospects regardless of class on this season’s roster headlined by highly rated 2022 SG M.J. Rice. Millard North will be led by 2021 SG Hunter Sallis, who averaged 22.2 PPG last season shooting 56% from the field. The Mustangs also will have 2021 F Saint Thomas, a 6-foot-7 forward, on their roster for this season

DeMatha Catholic (MD) v. Milton (GA) – 01/23/2021
Milton High School, which is located right outside of Atlanta, Georgia, will be one of the toughest public schools in the country and will have a national schedule this season. The Eagles will matchup with national powerhouse DeMatha Catholic at the 2021 Peachtree Corners Invitational in Norcross, Georgia at Norcross High School. Milton’s backcourt of 2022 PG Bruce Thornton Jr. and 2023 G Kanaan Carlyle headline their roster and should be one of the best in the nation. The defending WCAC champions, DeMatha, will begin the 2020-2021 high school ranked in the top-10. The Stags roster will be loaded with multiple next level prospects returning to their roster which includes UConn commit 2021 SG Jordan Hawkins, 2021 PG Elijah Hawkins, and 2022 F Tyrell Ward.

Coronado (NV) v. Bishop Gorman (NV) – 01/23/2021
With the state of Nevada not allowing any youth sports to begin until January, the annual matchup between powerhouse Bishop Gorman and Coronado will have to wait a couple months. Bishop Gorman has defeated Coronado the last two seasons but both have been very competitive games. Coronado will begin the season ranked in the top-25 and will hold the number best public school in America title for now. The nation’s top scorer, 2021 SG Jaden Hardy, and Michigan commit 2021 PG Frankie Collins will headline the Cougars roster coming into this one. Bishop Gorman however, has won their class 4A state title nine seasons in a row. UNLV commit 2021 PG Zaon Collins and UCLA commit 2021 G Will McClendon headline the Gaels roster and should matchup evenly with Hardy and Collins of Coronado.

Other Major Key Matchups
All NIBC Matchups
Lake Norman Christian (NC) @ Milton (GA)
Duncanville (TX) v. iSchool Lewisville (TX)
Compass Prep (AZ) v. Sunrise Christian (KS)
Wasatch Academy (UT) v. Milton (GA)
DeMatha Catholic (MD) v. Archbishop Wood (PA)
St. Mark’s (TX) @ Duncanville (TX)
Prolific Prep (CA) v. Dream City Christian (AZ)
West Oaks Academy (FL) v. Compass Prep (AZ)
Sunrise Christian (KS) v. Legacy Early College (SC)
Dream City Christian (AZ) v. iSchool Lewisville (TX)
Compass Prep (AZ) v. iSchool Lewisville (TX)
O’Dea (WA) @ Garfield (WA)
Hillcrest Prep v. Sunrise Christian (KS)
Compass Prep (AZ) v. Dream City Christian (AZ)
Wagner (TX) @ Duncanville (TX)
Lake Norman Christian (NC) v. Sunrise Christian (KS)
Hamilton Heights (TN) v. Prolific Prep (CA)
Dream City Christian (AZ) v. St. Vincent-St. Mary’s (OH)
Oak Hill Academy (VA) v. Wasatch Academy (UT)
St. Frances Academy (MD) v. Poly Tech (MD)
Sunrise Christian (KS) v. Ypsi Prep Academy (MI)
St. Vincent-St. Mary (OH) @ Archbishop Moeller (OH)
Dream City Christian (AZ) v. West Oaks Academy (FL)
Compass Prep (AZ) v. Prolific Prep (CA)