City of La Porte invites nationally ranked basketball teams and top-ranked ESPN recruits to compete in fifth annual La Porte Invitational

It’s every basketball player’s dream to make it to the National Basketball Association (NBA) one day. While it’s nothing more than a dream for many, the top prospects in the nation are loaded with talent that will likely continue their basketball careers beyond high school. The La Porte Invitational 2026 kicked off at the La Porte Civic Auditorium on Friday, January 9. A total of 12 teams featuring a plethora of ESPN top-ranked recruits were invited to participate in this three-day weekend invitational.

This event has become an annual tradition in the La Porte community that continues to grow. Mark Schreiber, parks superintendent for the City of La Porte, believes an event of this magnitude is a great one-stop shop to see some of the top high school basketball teams in the nation all in the same setting.

“It’s an amazing event because we can entertain a lot of our local residents with some of the top talent in the country, some of which will be playing in the NBA just two years from now,” Schreiber said. “It also brings visitors into town who want to see this high-level caliber of basketball. 

The La Porte Civic Auditorium, similarly to the Hoosier Gym in Knightstown, is a very condensed arena with a stage presence and great seats all around for the action.

“Every game showcases amazing talent,” Schreiber said. “There’s not a bad seat here in the Civic Auditorium. It’s a very unique opportunity for people to come and see this talent up close. Usually, you have to pay top-dollar amounts to be courtside. A lot of these kids will be playing major college basketball next year.”

While many of these players might have played each other in summer camps or Amateur Athletic Union (AAU) teams, this invitational gives the players a chance to reconnect or meet players from other schools.

“We’ve got 11 teams, plus the host La Lumiere,” Schreiber said. “The players get to see each other and talk again. They probably reminisce about the last time they saw each other, either in camps over the summer or AAU ball. A lot of them like to stick around after the game to watch the other teams play as much as their coaches will let them, because they want to see what their challengers look like. It creates a really exciting atmosphere.”

Every year, most teams have the first date for Sectionals circled on their calendar. For these teams, this tournament holds a lot of weight when it comes to what they want to achieve by the end of the season.

“This is really about jockeying for a position,” Schreiber said. “They have a national tournament at the end of the year for the teams on this level, where the top eight get invited. Some of these games can make or break you. You could win or lose two games here, and that might change everything. There’s still a lot of basketball left to be played, but this is really important for conference positioning and what they will be playing for later in the season.”

One attendee who has been coming to this invitational for many years is Jim Kelley. As a fan of La Lumiere, Kelley enjoys checking out this high-level talent every time with his family.

“I’ve been coming to this ever since it started,” Kelley said. “I really like it, because some of these kids will go to major colleges or play in the NBA one day. I think it’s a great event that helps out the La Porte community as well.”

The first night closed with La Lumiere hosting Long Island Lutheran School, as the latter walked away with a 67-60 win. During halftime, the fans were treated with a performance by Grace Good, a fire dancer and aerial performer. 

“It’s so rewarding to bring this act to places that probably don’t see this stuff very often,” Good said. “The crowd is really great, and I could see all the smiles on so many faces.”

Good has performed her fiery hula hoop spectacle on big stages for years, including finishing as a semi-finalist for season 18 of America’s Got Talent. On Saturday, January 10, she is performing at halftime as the Detroit Pistons host the Los Angeles Clippers. While she is no stranger to the spotlight, performing at the La Porte Civic Auditorium and watching the high school basketball talent was a unique experience that she really enjoyed.

“I’ve performed for a lot of NBA halftime shows,” Good said. “I’ve done teams like the Dallas Mavericks, Indiana Pacers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Los Angeles Lakers. I’ve also done some WNBA and college games, but this is actually the first time I’ve done a high school game. I was very entertained and it’s great to see how good these kids are. It’s really sweet to see everyone in this community come together to support this national event.” 

As this annual event continues to get more eyeballs on the La Porte community, Schreiber is looking forward to how this will help the city get more national recognition.

“This is an opportunity to show off this talent and facility on national television, including Fox Sports 1,” Schreiber said. “It puts the La Porte community right in the spotlight. There’s going to be people watching sports, maybe at Buffalo Wild Wings or sitting at home, and they’re going to come across the game. Then they’re going to say, ‘Where’s La Porte?’ and go to look it up. They can see how it’s close to Chicago and South Bend, and learn more about our community. Not a lot of communities have a building like this, which is almost 100 years old. Being able to showcase it on a national level in La Porte County is pretty special.”

The La Porte Invitational will continue on Saturday, January 10, before concluding on Sunday, January 11. Games start at 12 p.m., 2 p.m., 4 p.m., and 6 p.m. on both days. Fans can come watch 12 teams compete across both days. La Lumiere plays the final game on both days, facing off against CATS Academy and Sunrise Christian Academy. Check out the full schedule here.

For more information on the City of La Porte, you can visit cityoflaporte.com.