The EYBL Scholastic

The NIBC began in 2021-22 when a preeminent collection of eight established high school academic institutions committed to elite, national basketball competition came together to form a single basketball conference. The tradition and history of the eight schools combined with the expertise of Paragon created a winning formula that made the NIBC truly unique in the world of high school sports. 

Sunrise's head coach at the time, Luke Barnwell, shared this vision about the league: “The games will be intense because of the talent level, the national platform, as well as the scouting and preparation that goes into each game... The standings keep everything competitive and having a postseason championship will make it even more competitive. The NIBC will help every player have a chance at playing at the next level. There is no choice but to be ready to compete because we are playing each other multiple times with something at stake.”

There is no doubt it did just that as after a short number of years under the spotlight of ESPN, Nike came with a desire to partner with the league and create the EYBL Scholastic - starting play under the new name in 2023-24. Today, the EYBL Scholastic contains 20 programs (original NIBC members underlined): AZ Compass Prep (Chandler, AZ), Brewster Academy (Wolfeoro, NH), CATS Academy (Braintree, MA), Christ School (Arden, NC), CIA Bella Vista (Phoenix, AZ), Dream City Christian (Glendale, AZ), Faith Family Academy (Dallas, TX), Iowa United (Des Moines, IA), La Lumiere School (La Porte, IN), Link Academy (Branson, MO), Long Island Lutheran (Glen Head, NY), Montverde Academy (Montverde, FL), Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), Spire Academy (Geneva, OH), St. James Academy (Springfield, VA), Sunrise Christian Academy (Bel Aire, KS), Tennessee Collegiate (Millington, TN), Utah Prep (Hurricante, UT), Veritas Academy (Chino Hills, CA), and Wasatch Academy (Mt. Pleasant, UT).

***Original members IMG Academy (Bradenton, FL) and Legacy Early College (Greenville, SC) are no longer apart of the league.

NIBC / EYBL Scholastic Champions:

2021-22: Sunrise Christian Academy

2022-23: Montverde Academy

2023-24: Montverde Academy

2024-2025: Link Academy

Next • 20 - International Player Development

Previous • 18 - Nike Elite H.S. Partnership

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