Illinois Get Down

The Carbondale Holiday Showcase

A Southern Illinois Basketball Tradition

One of the oldest boys holiday basketball tournaments in the state has returned! The Carbondale Tournament is back but has been rebranded! The Tournament has been around for more than 55 years but now it gets a new name, Carbondale Holiday Showcase – “Illinois Get Down”!

The tradition of basketball in the state of Illinois and surrounding states is rich with elite athletes. Even in a state where legends live, and storytelling is a way of life, there are tales of hardwood glory that remain unknown to most. “The Illinois Get Down” will draw iconic superstars, local legends, and thousands of fans to the state of Illinois, creating a unique destination for high-caliber basketball within a large and supportive community.

The state of Illinois has attracted top players, legends and professional stars together all for the love of basketball. The tradition includes veteran coaches, elite players and countless magical moments. The state of Illinois will now be the host for future legends and unforgettable success stories that will continue to flourish and give birth to new and undiscovered talent.

It only takes a few minutes of sitting in the stands to understand that something special is happening here. A DJ spins classic anthems, the public announcer shouts out local hoops pioneers, half-time entertainment and you hear the screams of enthusiastic fans in the crowd. A diverse mix of every ethnicity, culture and age group is a testament to the unifying power of sport and for local residents, “The Illinois Get Down” offers the remarkable opportunity to witness the athletic feats of the state and country’s top basketball players and student-athletes right in their own backyard.

2026 Field

2026 PARTICIPATING TEAMS PRESENTED BY “ONE WORLD STRONG”

Meet the confirmed 2026 field. Select a team to view its active MaxPreps boys basketball page.

Chicago, IllinoisBrother Rice High SchoolProfile unavailable

Carbondale, IllinoisCarbondale High School↗ East St. Louis, IllinoisEast St. Louis High School↗ Mt. Vernon, IllinoisMt. Vernon High School↗ Marion, IllinoisMarion High School↗ Murphysboro, IllinoisMurphysboro High School↗ Waltonville, IllinoisWaltonville High School↗ Peoria, IllinoisPeoria High School↗ Flossmoor, IllinoisHomewood-Flossmoor High School↗ Chicago, IllinoisLincoln Park High School↗ Chicago, IllinoisKing College Prep↗ Piney Woods, MississippiPiney Woods School↗ STFort Lauderdale, FloridaStranahan High School↗

Attend and Watch

Event Access

Event Leadership

Carbondale Holiday Showcase Committee

Dan Cross, Troy Hudson, Steve Bardo, Joe Cross, Gwen Poore, Tim Bleyer, Mike Curtis, Rick Moss, Terance Henry, Nija Harvey, Todd Bryson, and Jimmy Karayiannis.