CIA-Bella Vista Crowned 2026 Boys Basketball National Champions

Arizona prep school wins Chipotle Nationals title in debut tournament appearance

Apr. 8, 2026 at 2:39pm

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The CIA-Bella Vista Bears, a new prep school program formed just two years ago from the merger of Canyon International Academy and Bella Vista Prep, capped off a dominant postseason run by winning the 2026 Chipotle Nationals boys basketball championship in their first-ever appearance at the prestigious tournament.

Why it matters

CIA-Bella Vista's national title is a remarkable achievement for the young program, defeating several of the top-ranked high school teams in the country to claim the crown. Their success highlights the rise of Arizona as a basketball powerhouse and the growing prominence of non-traditional prep school programs on the national stage.

The details

The Bears' path to the title included wins over No. 4 Paul VI, No. 1 Dynamic Prep, and No. 6 Montverde Academy, avenging an earlier loss to the latter in the Nike EYBL championship. They dominated the Chipotle Nationals field, which featured 9 of the top 12 teams in the country.

  • CIA-Bella Vista won the Nike EYBL scholastic league championship on March 13-15.
  • The Chipotle Nationals tournament took place April 2-4 in Fishers, Indiana.

The players

CIA-Bella Vista

A new prep school program formed in 2024 from the merger of Canyon International Academy and Bella Vista Prep, making their debut appearance at the Chipotle Nationals.

Miles Sadler

The Nike EYBL player of the year, who led CIA-Bella Vista with 23 points and 9 assists in the national championship game.

Jermaine O'Neal

Former NBA All-Star whose Dynamic Prep team suffered two losses to CIA-Bella Vista, the only defeats they suffered all season.

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What they’re saying

“We knew we had a special team, but to come in and win it all in our first Chipotle Nationals is just incredible. These guys have worked so hard and deserve this moment.”

— Miles Sadler, Player

“CIA-Bella Vista proved they are one of the elite programs in the country. Their resume speaks for itself - they beat the best of the best to win this title.”

— Jermaine O'Neal, Former NBA All-Star

What’s next

CIA-Bella Vista will look to defend their national title next season, while also aiming to win a state championship in Arizona.

The takeaway

CIA-Bella Vista's national championship triumph underscores the growing strength of Arizona basketball and the ability of non-traditional prep programs to compete with traditional powerhouses on the biggest stage.