The Throne National Championship teams, schedule, TV times — and more

The Throne national basketball tournament is set for its fourth annual games. From March 19 to March 21, the premier postseason event will take place in East Rutherford, New Jersey, pitting 16 of the top high school basketball teams in a single-elimination tournament.

Eight boys teams and eight girls teams will play for their respective crowns in March Madness-style brackets at American Dream Mall, put on by the National Basketball Players Association (NBPA) and Gold Level Sports and Entertainment (GLSE). The teams will play under a club program name rather than the high school name itself, but all students on each team attend the stated high school, the Throne's press release said.

Games will be aired on NBA TV and the NBA App.

The NBPA Foundation will donate $25,000 to the athletic program of both championship-winning teams.

Here are the teams, tournament club names, seedings and schedule, with USA TODAY Sports Super 25 national rankings listed, where applicable (rankings as of March 2).

The Throne Rosters

Boys high school basketball teams

1. Calvary Christian (Fort Lauderdale, FL) — Eagles (No. 4 in Super 25)
2. Sunnyslope (Phoenix) — Vikings (No. 5)
3. Rainier Beach (Seattle) — Beach (No. 21)
4. Wheeler (Marietta, GA) — Wildcats
5. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) — LuHi
6. Bergen Catholic (Oradell, NJ) — BC Crusaders
7. Columbus (Miami, FL) — Los Explorers
8. Heritage (Frisco, Texas) — Coyotes

Girls high school basketball teams

1. Etiwanda (CA) — Eagles
2. Princess Anne (Virginia Beach, VA) — Cavaliers
3. Long Island Lutheran (Brookville, NY) — LuHi
4. St. John Vianney (Holmdel, NJ) — Lancers
5. Tualatin (OR) — Timberwolves
6. St John’s College (Washington, D.C) — Cadets
7. Friends Central (Wynnewood, PA) — Phoenix
8. St Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) — Panthers

The Throne Schedule

Girls: March 19

• Game 1 (10:00 a.m.): (2) Cavaliers vs. (7) Phoenix
• Game 2 (11:40 a.m.): (3) LuHi vs. (6) Cadets
• Game 3 (1:20 p.m.): (1) Eagles vs. (8) Panthers
• Game 4 (3:00 p.m.): (4) Lancers vs. (5) Timberwolves

Boys: March 19

• Game 5 (4:40 p.m.): (1) Eagles vs. (8) Coyotes
• Game 6 (6:20 p.m.): (4) Wildcats vs. (5) LuHi
• Game 7 (8:00 p.m.): (3) Beach vs. (6) BC Crusaders
• Game 8: (9:40 p.m.): (2) Vikings vs. (7) Los Explorers

Girls bracket: March 20

• Game 9 (3:00 p.m.): Winner Game 1 vs. Game 2
• Game 10 (5:00 p.m.): Winner Game 3 vs. Game 4

Boys bracket: March 20

• Game 11: (7:00 p.m.): Winner Game 7 vs. Game 8
• Game 12 (9:00 p.m.): Winner Game 5 vs. Game 6

Girls Championship: March 21

• Game 13 (1:00 p.m.)

Boys Championship: March 21

• Game 14 (3:00 p.m.)

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY High School Sports Wire: See the full schedule for The Throne National Championship

March has suddenly snuck up on us, which means actual real baseball will begin in earnest later this month. We’ll get to experience the thrill of the World Baseball Classic once it begins in a few days, but the curtain raising on the MLB season is mere weeks away at this point. That means rosters are starting to get formed and while injuries may still have their say in which team gets assembled in what way, the basic skeleton of the Phillies is likely already in place.

Roster projections are nothing new and help us get ready for the games, so making one is something of a warm up for the year. We have done this already once this season, so now, a month later, it seems appropriate to do so one more time. Let’s take another stab at what the final 26-man roster is going to look like.

Catcher – J.T. Realmuto, Rafael Marchan

While Realmuto is entrenched at the starter’s position, it’s the backup spot that is more interesting. There has been no indication that Garrett Stubbs is an immediate threat to taking the job back from Marchan, yet it doesn’t seem implausible that it could happen. Doing so would require the team moving on from Marchan in either a trade or a waiver placement, something they might be loathe to do so as to protect whatever catching depth they might possess.

Yet there might be a tinge of merit to the idea that Stubbs’ familiarity with the incoming ABS system might be somewhat beneficial to the team. Having had a full-ish season in Lehigh Valley with the system might be attractive in a weird sort of way. Couple that with his having worked for most of the season with Andrew Painter, an increasingly important part of the 2026 Phillies, and there could be a benefit to his remaining Realmuto’s caddy. In the end, that meager “upgrade” over Marchan probably isn’t worth a roster change, but it’s at least something to pay attention to as the spring games continue.

Infield – Bryce Harper, Bryson Stott, Trea Turner, Alec Bohm, Edmundo Sosa, Otto Kemp

This group is six remains the same as nothing has changed about what may or may not happen with alignment. Outside of a surprise trade this late in the game, these will be the infielders. There is always the chance that Dylan Moore sneaks in as that 26th man that gets cut almost immediately, but he just hasn’t done much of anything this spring to warrant getting additional serious looks.

What, were you expecting Rhys Hoskins?

Outfield – Brandon Marsh, Justin Crawford, Adolis Garcia, Johan Rojas

No change here either, yet the specter of Bryan de la Cruz hovering in the corner and taking over for Rojas is very real.

Designated hitter – Kyle Schwarber

Easiest choice there is.

Starting rotation – Cristopher Sanchez, Jesus Luzardo, Aaron Nola, Taijuan Walker, Andrew Painter

Again, no changes. If anything, Rob Thomson might be chiseling this starting five in a stone tablet as opposed to writing in pencil. The reports around Painter and his re-emerging arm slot have invigorated the coaching staff and lent credence to the idea that last season was more of a rumble strip that woke him up on his path to Philadelphia. A full season of pitching after having sat out for two seasons will wear a body down, but now with a full offseason behind him and the major league coaching staff getting their hands on him, optimism is high.

Sunday’s outing helps as well.

Relief pitching – Jhoan Duran, Jose Alvarado, Brad Keller, Tanner Banks, Orion Kerkering, Zach McCambley, Kyle Backhus, Jonathan Bowlan

The reporting surrounding Kyle Backhus, coupled with the views that we have seen from him, are likely landing him the final bullpen spot. A slight uptick in velocity to go with his general funkiness on the mound are going to cause headaches for opposing batters.

McCambley is possibly teetering at this point as he either make the team or goes back to Miami thanks to Rule 5 draft rules. That return to the Marlins possibly happens whenever Wheeler is ready to return to the rotation, but if he, McCambley, can continue to get outs during spring training games, the team might lean into the idea of keeping optionable pitchers in Lehigh Valley to continue to preserve depth for the long season ahead.

Injured list – Zack Wheeler

Wheeler throwing off a mound already is good news for the team, though caution will still the rule of the day. An early May return looks like the best outcome as some minor league rehab starts will probably be needed before the team waves the green flag on his season.

The Coppa Italia is back: Inter are set to face Como away from home in the first leg of the Coppa Italia semi-final tie between the sides, with kick-off at the Stadio Giuseppe Sinigaglia scheduled for 21:00 CET on Tuesday 3 March.

The Nerazzurri reached the semi-finals after a 5-1 win over Venezia in the round of 16 in December and a 2-1 victory over Torino in the quarter-finals in February. Como, meanwhile, have had a longer road to the last four, starting their Coppa Italia campaign in the first round in August. To reach the semi-finals, the Lariani knocked out Südtirol, Sassuolo, Fiorentina, and Napoli.

The clash between Como and Inter promises to be an intriguing one, with a place in the final at the Olimpico in Rome at stake. Unlike previous rounds, the semi-finals are played over two legs. If the tie is level after 180 minutes, extra time will be played, followed by penalties if necessary.

HEAD-TO-HEAD

Inter and Como have met nine times in the Coppa Italia. The record stands at six wins for the Nerazzurri and three draws. Their first encounter dates back to 1968, while the most recent meeting in Italy's national cup competition came in the round of 16 in 1991. The first leg at San Siro ended 2-2, with Inter winning 2-1 in the return fixture in Como thanks to goals from Berti and Klinsmann. That match at the Sinigaglia remains the last time Como and Inter faced each other outside of Serie A. The two teams will meet again in the Coppa Italia 34 years and 79 days on from that encounter.

Inter have won five of the seven Coppa Italia matches they've played in Como (with two draws), including the two most recent meetings. Como will contest a Coppa Italia semi-final for only the second time in their history, following their two-legged tie against Sampdoria in the 1985/86 season.

THE NERAZZURRI'S FORM

Inter are the team from the top five European leagues that have won the most away games this season across all competitions while keeping a clean sheet: twelve times in total, including seven of their last eight (L1).

The Coppa Italia has also delivered some excellent stats for Inter. They are the only team in the tournament to have scored more than one goal from outside the box this season (two – Esposito and Thuram against Venezia). Furthermore, Como (eight) and Inter (four) are the sides with the most first-half goals so far in this edition of the competition. However, while the Lariani have conceded two in the opening 45 minutes, the Nerazzurri haven’t shipped a single goal in the first half.

The clash is also interesting when it comes to headers: Inter have scored the most headed goals in Serie A this campaign (14), while Como are one of three teams to have conceded the fewest goals in this manner in the league so far (just two, the same as Inter and Roma).

LONG-RANGE GOAL SPECIALISTS

The tie features the three Serie A players who have scored the most goals from outside the box across all competitions since August: Nico Paz (five), Piotr Zielinski (four), and Hakan Çalhanoglu (four).

UNSTOPPABLE DIMARCO

Federico Dimarco (83 – 38 shots and 45 chances created) ranks third in terms of shot participations across the top five European leagues in 2026, behind only Lamine Yamal (100) and Deniz Undav (84)

Federico Dimarco (22, seven goals and 15 assists) and Alessandro Bastoni (eight, two goals and six assists) are the two Serie A defenders who have been involved in the most goals since August across all competitions.

OPPONENTS: COMO

Fresh off a 3-1 win over Lecce (goals from Douvikas, Rodriguez, and Kempf), Cesc Fàbregas' Como have leapfrogged Juventus in the Serie A standings, moving up to fifth place with 48 points – one more than the Bianconeri. With 46 goals scored, the Larians have the third-best attack in the league behind Inter and Juventus. At the other end, they have the second-best defensive record with just 20 goals conceded, level with AC Milan and just one more than Roma.

In their last five league matches, Fabregas' side have beaten Lecce and Juventus, drawn with Atalanta and AC Milan, and lost to Fiorentina. In the Coppa Italia, Como have had a long journey, starting from the first round: they defeated Südtirol 3-1 in August (Douvikas brace, Da Cunha) before knocking out Sassuolo with a 3-0 victory thanks to a Rodriguez brace and a goal from Douvikas. The Lariani then eliminated Fiorentina in the round of 16 (3-1, goals from Sergi Roberto, Nico Paz, and Morata), followed by a 7-6 penalty shootout victory over Napoli after a 1-1 draw in the 90 minutes (Baturina scoring).

Como are known for their possession-based, attacking style, and Fabregas sets his side up in a 4-2-3-1 system that relies on the skill and imagination of his players. Greek forward Tasos Douvikas leads the scoring charts with twelve goals across all competitions, followed by Nico Paz on ten.

DISCIPLINARY SITUATION

SUSPENDED Como: -Inter: -

ONE BOOKING AWAY FROM SUSPENSION Como: Diego Carlos, Kühn, Morata, Paz, Ramón J., Roberto S., Van der Brempt Inter: Esposito, Kamate, Sucic

REFEREE

Marco Di Bello will take charge of the match at the Sinigaglia. Referee: Di Bello Assistants: Peretti - Colarossi Fourth official: Zufferli VAR: Mazzoleni AVAR: Maresca

UPDATES ON INTER TV

You'll find all the usual updates and pre-match coverage on Inter TV. Our Livematch show before Como vs. Inter will go live at 20:15 CET and also be available on the Club's official YouTube channel until 20:50 CET. After the game, stay tuned for full post-match coverage, including analysis, insights, and interviews.

Arsenal achieved the earliest ‘St. Totteringham’s Day’ in history on Sunday, but the Gunners still have one more record to try and break in the final nine games.

Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images

As covered early last week, Arsenal had the opportunity to confirm their earliest-ever finish over Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday, excluding seasons where the two clubs didn’t play in the same division.

The Gunners needed either a win over Chelsea, or for Spurs to fail to beat Fulham. In the end, Arsenal didn’t need to wait until their 16:30 kick-off, with Spurs themselves losing to confirm their failure to finish above the Gunners.

That result made March 1st the new record earliest date of ‘St. Totteringham’s Day’, the day invented by Arsenal fans for when they confirm a finish above their north London rivals.

But it also meant the Gunners achieved the feat with 10 games to play, a joint record shared with the 2003/04 ‘Invincibles’ side. Sky Sports rounded up the previous earliest dates in the graphic below:

Arsenal still have one more north London rivalry record in their sights, with the Gunners having the chance to achieve their greatest-ever points difference over Spurs at the conclusion of the season.

The current record stands at 45 points, again achieved by the 2003/04 team playing under Arsene Wenger.

Mikel Arteta’s side sit 35 points clear of Spurs, having played a game more. So it’s still possible for Arsenal to finish 46+ points ahead of Igor Tudor’s side, but both teams will need to keep picking up the same kinds of results they have been for the remainder of the campaign.

Photo by Justin Setterfield/Getty Images

Arsenal’s primary focus is obviously on winning trophies, and they’ll value a Premier League title far more than a record-breaking finish above Spurs.

But given the way to achieve those two ends is just to keep winning matches, there’s no harm in hoping for both.

'Thank you, Golden State Warriors': Hawks legend echoes fans after huge trade originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

Dominique Wilkins couldn't hold back.

Jonathan Kuminga had just thrown down a left-handed hammer slam dunk that surely made 'Nique proud, and he just had to let the whole basketball world, especially the Golden State Warriors, know about it.

Wilkins is the color commentator for Hawks broadcasts, and when Kuminga threw down his post, Wilkins went for it.

"Thank you, Golden State Warriors," Wilkins said.

It's the same thing Hawks fans were saying, and even have been chanting, lately.

Kuminga has played just three games with Atlanta. He already looks like a star after his trade from the Warriors.

Golden State never figured out how to use Kuminga.

Atlanta has simply let Kuminga be himself, and it's working wonderfully.

Dominique Wilkins qui trolle les Warriors pour le trade de Kuminga en play-by-play, c'est si doux ! pic.twitter.com/OR77TkdNbm

— Hawks Fans France 🇫🇷 (@ATLHawksFR) March 2, 2026

MORE: Rip Hamilton's son is committed to play D-I college basketball

Kuminga dropped 20 points on Sunday night, including that poster slam.

In his first game with Atlanta, he scored 27 points in just 24 minutes (9-12 FG, 3-4 3FG, 6-7 FT) while grabbing seven rebounds, dishing out four assists and snatching two steals.

In the second, Kuminga had 17 points, nine rebounds, three assists, a steal and a block.

Kuminga isn't just scoring. He's been empowered to play his game, which actually is more well-rounded than he displayed with Golden State.

The Warriors may end up regretting this one.

More NBA news:

• Knicks' unheralded forward sets all-time NBA record by not being shy
• Jonathan Kuminga looks right at home with the Hawks
• Neemias Queta makes Celtics history not done since Robert Parrish