What is the story about?
While several states are headed to the postseason for the 2026 high school football season, preparations for the 2026-27 high school basketball season are well underway.
In fact, Oklahoma, Indiana and South Dakota will be the first states to tip off the brand-new season on Monday, Nov. 2. Oklahoma begins the season for its smaller schools on Monday, while South Dakota and Indiana each tip off their girls basketball season at the same time college basketball begins.
Mississippi tips off its season on Tuesday, Nov. 3.
As we head through November, several states will tip off their seasons closer to Thanksgiving. However, some states do not start their seasons until
December.
Here's a look at a state-by-state look at when high school basketball tips off across the nation:
Alabama high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Nov. 5
Alaska high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Dec. 17
Arizona high school basketball
- Start Date: Wednesday, Nov. 18
Arkansas high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 9 (for football schools); Oct. 11 (for non-football schools)
California high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 16
Colorado high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Connecticut high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026 (Girls); Monday, Dec. 14 (Boys)
Delaware high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Florida high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 16
Georgia high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 6
Hawaii high school basketball
- Start Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
Idaho high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 13 (Girls); Saturday, Nov. 28 (Boys)
Illinois high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 16 (Girls); Monday, Nov. 23 (Boys)
Indiana high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 2 (Girls); Monday, Nov. 23 (Boys)
Iowa high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Kansas high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 16
Kentucky high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Louisiana high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 9 (Classes B & C); Monday, Nov. 23 (Classes 1A-5A)
Maine high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 27 (S Class); Thursday, Dec. 3 (Classes A, B, C, D)
Maryland high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Dec. 4
Massachusetts high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Dec. 10
Michigan high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30 (Boys); Monday, Dec. 7 (Girls)
Minnesota high school basketball
- Start Date: Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Girls); Wednesday, Dec. 3 (Boys)
Mississippi high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Nov. 3
Missouri high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 23
Montana high school basketball
- Start Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3
Nebraska high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Aug. 27
Nevada high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Dec. 3
New Hampshire high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Dec. 4
New Jersey high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Dec. 7
New Mexico high school basketball
- Start Date: Wednesday, Dec. 3
New York high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 20
North Carolina high school basketball
- Start Date: Wednesday, Nov. 11
North Dakota high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 27
Ohio high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 20 (Girls); Wednesday, Nov. 25 (Boys)
Oklahoma high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 2 (Classes A & B); Tuesday, Dec. 1 (2A-6A)
Oregon high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Dec. 2
Pennsylvania high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Dec. 4
Rhode Island high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Dec. 10
South Carolina high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 20
South Dakota high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 2 (Girls); Monday, Nov. 30 (Boys)
Tennessee high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 16
Texas high school basketball
- Start Date: Friday, Nov. 6 (Girls); Friday, Nov. 13 (Boys)
Utah high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17
Vermont high school football
- Start Date: Friday, Dec. 11
Virginia high school basketball
- Start Date: Monday, Nov. 30
Washington high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Nov. 24
West Virginia high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Dec. 7
Wisconsin high school basketball
- Start Date: Tuesday, Nov. 17 (Girls); Tuesday, Nov. 24 (Boys)
Wyoming high school basketball
- Start Date: Thursday, Dec. 10
Washington D.C-area high school basketball
- Start Date: Saturday, Nov. 14
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: When does high school basketball start? Here are opening dates for all 50 states, plus D.C.
