Dayton loves its basketball, and the opening months of the new year are peak basketball time in the region! Things heat up fast in January when one of the nation’s top high school basketball invitationals, Beacon Orthopaedics Flyin’ to the Hoop, occurs over Martin Luther King Day weekend, January 16-19, 2026.
Annually recognized as one of the Top High School Basketball Showcases in the Nation, the 2026 edition features 29 teams from eight states, playing in front of sell-out crowds, 100-plus members of the national media, and more than 100 Division I, II, & III college coaches at Kettering’s James S. Trent Arena. According to organizers, Flyin’ to the Hoop has an economic impact of $1.9 million to the Dayton economy over the event weekend!
Flyin’ to the Hoop is the brainchild of local entrepreneur Eric Horstman, owner of the sports marketing company Sports Image. Through his work with high schools, he founded Flyin’ to the Hoop in 2003. Initially held at Vandalia-Butler High School, it moved to its current home at Trent Arena in 2008. Over its 20 years, more than 90 participants have gone on to play in the NBA, NFL or Major League Baseball!
The 2026 invitational promises to be another outstanding showcase, with some of the nation's top players and teams participating, including 10 standout Southwest Ohio teams. States represented include Ohio, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Arizona, Indiana, Iowa, Florida and Utah. The lineup includes two defending state champions, 12 of Ohio's Top 20 teams, five national Top 20 teams, five 5-star players and more than 25 4-star players.
You can see a full list of participating teams and players to watch on the Flyin’ to the Hoop website.
A jam-packed weekend of hoops action kicks off on Friday, January 16, with Dream City Christian (AZ) vs. Wasatch Academy (UT) at 6:30 p.m., followed by Spire Academy (OH) vs. Reynoldsburg (OH) at 8:15 p.m. The remaining portion of the weekend begins on Saturday, January 17 at 11:30 a.m., with three full days of boys basketball action taking place through Monday.
The full schedule of games can be found here on the Flyin’ to the Hoop website.
How To Go
Advance ticket purchase is highly recommended for this popular event! Both reserved and general admission seating is available, with weekend passes and tickets for individual days being offered. Weekend passes are $65 general admission, $120 reserved. Individual day tickets are $10 general admission, $20 reserved for Friday, and $20 general admission, $35 reserved for Saturday, Sunday or Monday. Tickets may be purchased online by clicking here.
Trent Arena is located at 3301 Shroyer Road in Kettering.
If you’re traveling to Dayton from out of town, the Dayton Marriott at the University of Dayton is the event host hotel, and you can also find a full listing of area hotels here on our website. For a list of restaurants in the Dayton area, check out the dining section of our website. You can also download our Destination Dayton app to have all of our listings at your fingertips.
We’re excited to welcome high school basketball fans from around the country back to Dayton, and look forward to many more years of hosting Flyin’ to the Hoop!
Images courtesy Flyin' to the Hoop.
