For the first time in its 16-year history, the boys and girls Chipotle Nationals basketball tournament was held at our very own Hamilton Southeastern High School. The annual event, which features the nation’s top high school basketball teams, began on April 2 and ran through April 5, bringing elite competition and national attention to HSE and the Fishers community.
Originally known as the National High School Invitational and later GEICO Nationals, the tournament was established in 2009 to provide a competitive platform for the best high school teams in the country. Over the years, the event has moved from New York City to Florida and, most recently, to Indiana. Many future NBA stars have competed in this tournament, and this year’s edition continues that tradition with some of the biggest names in high school basketball taking the court.
Among the standout players from this year’s tournament were the Duke-committed Boozer twins from Columbus High School (FL), sons of former NBA star Carlos Boozer. Other big names included Syracuse commit Kiyan Anthony, son of former NBA star Carmelo Anthony, who plays for Long Island Lutheran, and Kansas commit Darryn Peterson, a five-star junior from Prolific Prep (CA) widely regarded as one of the top two prospects in the class of 2025. Beyond those headliners, the tournament featured 60 ESPN-ranked players, all representing the future of college and professional basketball.
Hosting an event of this caliber requires high level facilities and organization. Athletic Director, Drew Tower, emphasized that relationships played a significant role in bringing the event to the school.
“Well, I think everything is about relationships,” Tower said. “We had a prior relationship when I hosted it last year in Brownsburg, and when we transitioned over, I think it became less about the venue and more about the people. We have a great relationship with them, but there’s also tremendous opportunity at Hamilton Southeastern and in the Fishers community with all the amenities we have and the administrative support behind us.”
To ensure that HSE was ready to host a tournament of this magnitude, the school made significant upgrades to its athletic facilities.
“It was a full facelift for everything athletics-related—new paint, new signage, an upgrade to the Royal Den, and video boards in the main gym,” Tower said. “It takes a team to make all of this happen, and our facilities and maintenance staff have been incredible throughout the process.”
Other key improvements include redesigning the hardwood floors, installing new gym lights and shot clocks, and implementing advanced technology to accommodate streaming and media coverage.
Complementing the upgraded facilities, the Chipotle Nationals also provided unique learning opportunities for student media members. Southeastern Media Network’s Sports Public Relations and Sports Broadcasting classes had the unique opportunity to meet with representatives from Paragon Marketing, a group that worked alongside ESPN to operate the tournament. Students toured production facilities, spoke with professionals in sports media, and got a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to broadcast a national event.
All the preparation and planning came together in four exciting days of basketball. As the tournament concluded, Columbus High School (FL) claimed the national title, defeating Dynamic Prep (TX) 67-49 in the championship. In the girls’ bracket, IMG Academy (FL) and Montverde Academy (FL) battled to a close finish, with IMG Academy ultimately taking the win 80-78.
Beyond the competition, hosting these televised matchups brought more than just great basketball, it also highlighted the broader Fishers community. Coverage from outlets like SportsCenter Next (1 million followers) and ESPN (23 million followers) drew widespread attention to the school, packed the stands, and gave HSE a chance to shine on the biggest stage of high school basketball.
“I think it’s great for our athletic program because it’s an honor to host something of this magnitude, but it’s even bigger for the Fishers community,” Tower said. “The economic impact is huge—people from all over the country are coming here, staying in hotels, eating at restaurants, and supporting local businesses for five or six days. It’s a pride point for all of us to be chosen to host something like this.”
With the successful hosting of this year’s event, HSE may continue to be a host for major high school sports tournaments in the future.
“I think events like this set us up for more opportunities in the future,” Tower said. “Obviously, we have our eyes on next year as this tournament potentially returns.”
The upgraded facilities, increased national visibility, and unique experiences provided by Chipotle Nationals have positioned HSE as a potential future hub for hosting sporting events, leaving the community excited about what’s next.
