Before the NBA Draft suits, endorsement deals and national TV spotlights arrive, the next wave of basketball stars will pass through Wichita this weekend.
It begins Friday night at Newman University, where the Sunrise Christian boys basketball program will play host to the fourth annual Air Capital Hoopfest, bringing four of the nation’s premier prep programs to town.
The event gives Wichita fans a rare chance to see future Division I standouts — and likely NBA players — before the rest of the country knows their names.
Pedigree alone hints at what’s in store as the four teams — Sunrise, Dream City Christian (from Arizona), Montverde Academy (Florida) and Veritas Academy (California) — make their local visit. Between them, these schools have produced such NBA players as Joel Embiid, Cade Cunningham, Cooper Flagg, Gradey Dick, Matas Buzelis and D’Angelo Russell.
For fans in Wichita, it’s a chance to see that caliber of talent up close without leaving the city.
“It’s always special to have the opportunity to bring something like this to Wichita,” Sunrise coach Kyle Lindsted said. “There’s so many people in this community that support basketball and support our program, so it’s a lot of fun to be able to put this kind of product right there in our backyard.”
Sunrise has intentionally turned its annual homestand into a marquee event since joining the Nike EYBL Scholastic League, widely regarded as the toughest league in high school basketball. The league sends Sunrise crisscrossing the country to face elite programs week after week, making this stop at home both a competitive opportunity and a showcase for Wichita’s basketball community.
“It’s super exciting for us just to be able to stay at home at this point in the season,” Lindsted said. “We have so much travel and such a hard schedule, so this is a nice little breath of fresh air for us. We don’t have to pack our bags this weekend.”
The schedule gives fans multiple chances to see high-level matchups. The Hoopfest opens Friday with Sunrise facing Veritas at 7 p.m., while Saturday features a doubleheader starting with Veritas vs. Dream City at 6 p.m., followed by the marquee matchup of the weekend: Sunrise vs. Montverde. The event wraps up Sunday morning with Montverde playing Veritas at 11 a.m.
Tickets are $15 for adults and $8 for kids, students and seniors, with three-day passes available for $25 and $15, respectively. Tickets can be purchased through Sunrise Christian’s website.
Saturday night’s showdown is expected to draw the most attention. Montverde is synonymous with elite talent and Sunrise enters the weekend eager to snap a three-game losing streak in league play while competing against one of the nation’s gold-standard programs. Both teams were ranked in ESPN’s national top-25 rankings earlier this month.
For Lindsted, who returned to Sunrise in 2023 after spending six years as an assistant coach at the Division I level at Wichita State and Minnesota, the event is about more than star ratings. It’s also about showing Wichita fans what elite high school basketball actually looks like when the games matter.
“It’s going to mirror high-level college basketball,” Lindsted said. “This isn’t an all-star game where we’re just out there trading baskets. These are grind-it-out games. Guys are going to play very hard. It’s going to be well-scouted. It’s going to be physical.
“I know Wichita fans love this style of basketball. They like it gritty and physical and tough. That’s what this is going to be.”
Players to watch at Air Capital Hoopfest
Lincoln Cosby, Montverde Academy (6-8 forward)
A five-star prospect ranked No. 6 nationally in the 2027 class, Cosby is one of the most coveted uncommitted players in the country and a prototype modern forward.
Ikenna Alozie, Dream City Christian (6-2 guard)
Ranked No. 54 in the 2026 class, Alozie is signed to Houston and known for his toughness, pace and ability to pressure defenses on both ends.
Malachi Jordan, Dream City Christian (6-7 forward)
A top-20 prospect in the 2027 rankings, Jordan brings size and versatility that already mirrors high-major college forwards.
Joe Philon, Montverde Academy (6-8 forward)
Ranked No. 69 nationally in the 2026 class, Philon remains uncommitted and offers another long, skilled presence on Montverde’s front line.
Boyuan Zhang, Veritas Academy (6-7 forward)
A No. 74-ranked prospect in the 2026 class, Zhang gives Veritas a high-upside wing with college-level size and skill.
Jayden Hodge, Montverde Academy (6-6 forward)
Signed to Northwestern, Hodge is ranked No. 85 in the 2026 class and plays with a physical, polished style that translates well to the next level.
Oneal Delancy, Montverde Academy (6-2 guard)
Ranked No. 57 in the 2027 class, Delancy adds speed, shot-making and defensive pressure to Montverde’s deep backcourt.
Keaundre Morris, Dream City Christian (6-1 guard)
A No. 72 prospect in the 2027 rankings, Morris is a dynamic guard capable of controlling tempo and creating off the bounce.
Mateen Cleaves Jr., Dream City Christian (6-4 guard)
Ranked No. 51 in the 2028 class, Cleaves Jr. is one of the youngest prospects in the event but already carries national attention.