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Montverde Academy's Joe Philon puts up a shot over Gillion Academy's Marcis Ponder in December's City of Palms Classic. Philon and the Eagles will play host to the Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament starting Thursday.
The Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament gets under way Thursday in Montverde, Florida, with two Top 25 teams on hand from the latest edition of The Sporting News Boys Basketball Top 25.
That, of course, includes the No. 14 hosts from Montverde Academy who will be in action in Thursday's nightcap against Northside Christian. Six of the eight teams hail from Florida with No. 25 Oak Cliff Faith Family of Academy of Dallas, Texas, and Virginia's Bethel Academy also participating in the event. The two out-of-state programs could run into each other in the second round if they either both win or lose on Thursday against their Sunshine State opponents.
Riviera Prep of Florida is also currently ranked in SN's Top 50, and the Bulldogs could run into the hosts as early as the semifinals. The two Florida powerhouses have yet to cross paths in the 2025-26 season, setting up what could be a major in-state clash before the tournament even gets to championship round on Saturday where Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy is expected to be waiting for the winner.
Top-ranked Class of 2026 senior prospects competing at the event include Oak Cliff's twin power forwards Gavin and Gallagher Placide, both of whom signed with Wake Forest, and Montverde Academy's Joe Philon who remains unsigned. The hosts will also feature SF Jayden Hodge (Northwestern) while The Rock National will send SG Joseph Hartman (Michigan) into the fray.
The complete schedule for the MAIT is listed below.
Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament 2026 schedule and final results
STREAM: Montverde Academy Invitational Tournament live on the NFHS Network
Thursday, January 29
- 1 p.m. EST — GAME 1: No. 25 Oak Cliff Faith Family Academy [TX] vs. Dr. Phillips [FL]
- 3 p.m. EST — GAME 2: DME Academy [FL] vs. Bethel Academy [VA]
- 5 p.m. EST — GAME 3: Riviera Prep [FL] vs. The Rock National [FL]
- 7 p.m. EST — GAME 4: Montverde Academy [FL] vs. Northside Christian [FL]
Friday, January 30
- 12 p.m. EST — GAME 5: Loser Game 1 vs. Loser Game 2
- 2 p.m. EST — GAME 6: Loser Game 3 vs. Loser Game 4
- 4 p.m. EST — GAME 7: Winner Game 1 vs. Winner Game 2
- 6 p.m. EST — GAME 8: Winner Game 3 vs. Winner Game 4
Saturday, January 31
- 1 p.m. EST — 7th PLACE GAME: Loser Game 5 vs. Loser Game 6
- 3 p.m. EST — 5th PLACE GAME: Winner Game 5 vs. Winner Game 6
- 5 p.m. EST — 3rd PLACE GAME: Loser Game 7 vs. Loser Game 8
- 7 p.m. EST — CHAMPIONSHIP GAME: Winner Game 7 vs. Winner Game 8
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