BOYS CALI LIVE - 175 HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL TEAMS COMPETE IN PLACER VALLEY

ROCKLIN, Calif. – High-flying dunks, long-distance three-point shots, and even the occasional no-look pass will highlight the Boys California Live 2026 tournament Friday (June 26) through Sunday (June 28) at the Hardwood Palace and two high schools in Rocklin.

The tournament is one of 30 NCAA Certified Scholastic Events for boys nationwide and, just like the 2024 Boys California Live, it has been awarded to and managed by the Bay Area Basketball Coaches Association (BABCA).

Many of the best boys’ high school basketball teams in California – including about 20 from the Sacramento region – and some of the most highly rated players in the nation will compete in the tournament, one of the largest in the nation.

About 175 teams – with a few from Arizona, Nevada and Oregon – will participate in the tournament that starts noon Friday at Hardwood Palace, 1091 Tinker Road, Suite 100, and Rocklin and Whitney high schools. Games continue 8 a.m. Saturday and Sunday and into the late evening. The final rounds are Sunday afternoon.

Admission is $12 per day, paid in cash or online through GoFan. Parking is $10 per day.

More than 2,500 athletes, including 50 of the top 200 players ranked by Cal-Hi Sports, will participate in Boys Cali Live. About 200 college coaches and recruiters will attend to watch some of the most highly ranked and recruited players in the nation.

“It’s even bigger than last time,” said event manager and BABCA president Randall Bessolo, who first brought Boys Cali Live to Placer Valley in summer 2024. “Many of the best teams and players will be playing in the tournament.”

For basketball fans hoping to watch the next NCAA super-star -- think Cameron Boozer, AJ Dybantsa or Darius Acuff Jr. – and maybe a future NBA standout, Boys Cali Live is a dream come true.

“It’s the biggest stage of the summer, there is only one place to be,” said Rocklin High School basketball coach Jeff Harter, who will work double-duty as coach and host for the tournament. “The players are primed and ready. Fans are going to see some of the top talent in the nation.”

Fans also get the chance to see some of the best-known and most successful high school programs, including Archbishop Riordan of San Francisco, Salesian College Preparatory of

Richmond, De La Salle in Concord and Sacramento’s Sheldon High. Other Sacramento-area schools playing in the tournament include Del Oro of Loomis, Destiny Christian, Folsom, Grant, Jesuit and Woodcreek high schools among others.

“You will see a high level of players and teams,” said Whitney High coach Nick French, who will also coach and help host the tournament. “There are so many good teams and players.”

More than 6,000 people – from athletes and coaches to thousands of fans – are expected over the three-day tournament, generating at least $2.5 million for the Placer Valley economy. Several hundred hotel rooms in the community are booked, and restaurants and stores will be busy from the tournament.

Placer Valley has become the home of Cali Live in Northern California, alternating every year between the boys’ and girls’ tournaments since 2023. Girls Cali Live ’27 returns to Placer Valley next summer.

“The tournaments are a big win for areas businesses, from hotels and restaurants, and the community overall,” said Kim Summers, CEO of Placer Valley Tourism and @the Grounds. “Cali Live showcases what we can host and has helped bring many other tournaments to the community.”

The California Interscholastic Federation-approved Boys and Girls California Live tournaments allow student athletes to play on their high school teams during the summer without violating rules – and the NCAA approves the events for college coaches and recruiters to watch.

The Cali Live tournaments are “designed to showcase the very best basketball players,” said Ron Noceti, Executive Director of the CIF, the governing body for high school sports in the state. “But what many people appreciate the most is they participate with their high school teams.”

The high school-only tournaments benefit the players and the schools. Players can connect with and learn more about their teammates during the summer tournaments. High school coaches can better evaluate players – from their on-court talent to leadership skills – and prepare for the upcoming season.

“Summer is the time to see if they can step into a new role, make some adjustments,” said Harter, adding that players and coaches can focus on the sport during the summer without the other demands of school. “They’re like professional athletes for a bit. And you just get be a coach.”

Of course, Boys Cali Live also has another goal beyond building camaraderie, developing and improving skills, winning games and maybe even a high-profile tournament. College coaches and recruiters, from some of the best-known programs in the nation to pint-sized colleges and junior colleges, will be on hand at the tournament.

More than 46,400 boys played high school basketball in the state in 2025, fewer than 5% -- or only about 2,300 – will continue with the sport in college at any level. Boys Cali Live gives

athletes a chance to catch the attention of a coach or recruiter who may notice often-overlooked intangibles, like being a great teammate, embracing a team-first attitude or doing many of the little things that help teams win.

“It’s a great opportunity for kids to showcase their skills,” said Whitney High’s French. “College coaches can find that diamond in the rough.”

About Placer Valley Tourism

Placer Valley Tourism is a Business Improvement District that serves South Placer County and the cities of Roseville, Rocklin and Lincoln. The BID operates to help generate incremental room night stays in hotels within Placer Valley Tourism’s geographic footprint through various conferences and youth and amateur sports events. PVT aims to coordinate community and sports events with the best hospitality options in the region. Placer Valley Tourism is a nonprofit and classified as a 501(c)6. For more information, please visit https://www.placertourism.com/.

About BABCA.org

The Bay Area Basketball Coaches Association (BABCA) is a professional organization founded with the mission to advocate for high school basketball coaches and more importantly our student athletes. While our base is high school coaches in the Bay Area, we encourage participation by all coaches and boosters of prep basketball in Northern California. We will also strive to promote the highest standards of coaching by educating, mentoring and honoring coaches who want to help their student athletes be the best they can be.

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