IMG Academies, NHSCA create high school national championships

Posted Jan 25, 2010 by Nick Williams

Updated Jan 25, 2010 at 01:03 PM

Imagine the best high school baseball players from California going against the best from Florida in a national championship, or the top prep basketball players from New York going head to head with the best from Ohio.

The outcome would settle any theories of which state produces the best high school talent. 

IMG Academies and the National High School Coaches Association have a created the platform for this to happen. On Monday at IMG-Bradenton, the two organizations announced a deal to create tournament-style championships for 7-on-7 football, 7-on-7 lacrosse, boys and girls tennis and boys and girls golf this June at the Bradenton-based IMG campus with more sports to follow. 

“This is all part of our strategy to have 20 national championships for 20 high school sports,” said Bob Ferraro, executive director of the NHSCA. “We have found a great partner in IMG Academies and look forward to the creation and development of national championship events.”

NHSCA currently holds championships for football, weightlifting and wrestling.

The coaches of the top golf, lacrosse and tennis teams in each state will select players, from any high school grade level, to represent their state in the national tournament. The 7-on-7 football teams will earn a spot through national qualifiers to advance to a 32-team bracket. 

Basketball and baseball will be added in December, while cross country, hockey, softball and track and field will added at a later date.