Some big-time announcements were made Wednesday about the premier offseason high school basketball event in the West.

Hosted by Arizona and founded by the Arizona Basketball Coaches Association (ABCA), Section 7 now has a new partner, the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission (ASEC), according to a press release sent to media. Besides attracting national and international events to the state, the ASEC also spearheads the Arizona Sports Hall of Fame and Ed Doherty Arizona High School Football Player of the Year galas.

“What the ABCA and its operational arm, Position Sports, have created with Section 7 is nothing short of extraordinary,” said Nikki Balich, executive director of the Arizona Sports & Entertainment Commission. “At the ASEC, our sole mission is to improve the lives of others, and this partnership perfectly reflects that purpose. Section 7 is more than just an elite basketball event -- it’s a gateway to opportunity, providing student-athletes from across the country with a platform to earn scholarships and affect the trajectory of their lives. Together with the ABCA, we’re proud to further cultivate this remarkable event and increase its impact.”

Section 7 also has a new home, Mesa’s Arizona Athletic Grounds, and tournament director, Tom Burnett.

After a successful three-year run at State Farm Stadium, the 16 basketball court facility of the Arizona Athletic Grounds will host Section 7 for the first time in June.

Burnett is a former NCAA men’s basketball committee chair and former commissioner of the Southland Conference. Matt King’s leadership helped turn Section 7 into a mega event.

King, the former ABCA executive director, is now the president of men’s basketball operations at University of Arizona.

“Section 7 is a national model for high school basketball recruiting,” Burnett said. “I’m thrilled to work with the ABCA and ASEC in building on its incredible momentum.”

More than 400 high school teams and 5,000 student-athletes participate in Section 7 annually, attracting hundreds of college coaches.

“We are honored to host Section 7, a premier event that perfectly aligns with my vision for the Grounds since my arrival last year,” said Meg Stevens, president of the Arizona Athletic Grounds. “Our world-class facilities are an ideal fit for an elite event like Section 7, giving high school players the opportunity to showcase their talents in front of college coaches. We look forward to seeing the future of basketball compete on our courts in June.”

The 2025 girls Section 7 camp will be held from June 13-14, followed by the boys qualifier on June 17-18 and tournaments (June 20-22).

“We’re proud to welcome the ASEC as a co-owner of Section 7 as we take this event to new heights,” said Todd Fazio, executive director of the ABCA. “The move to the Arizona Athletic Grounds in Mesa marks an exciting new chapter, and we’re energized by what’s ahead. At the same time, we’re deeply grateful to the City of Glendale, State Farm Stadium, and Tom Sadler at the Arizona Sports and Tourism Authority for helping us build the foundation that brought us to this point.”

The nation’s state high school sports governing arms are divided into eight sections by the National Federation of State High School Associations (NFHS).

Section 7 is named after the NFHS section the Arizona Interscholastic Association is in. The AIA’s leadership helps guide the Section 7 basketball event annually.