Three Weeks to Tipoff Prep: Your Section IX Basketball Preseason Checklist

October 26, 2026 · Basketball preseason · 21 days to winter practice

Three weeks from today, the winter season begins. Monday, November 16 is NYSPHSAA’s official start date. For basketball families, the next move is to confirm the school’s tryout details, find the current schedule and get team information ready.

Find your program and plan your winter

Start with the boys basketball team directory, then open the 2026–27 schedule. KOT845 currently connects 44 varsity programs and 370 fixtures. Those are published listings, not a guarantee that every school has completed its schedule. Check the school source before traveling.

• Coverage tracker: see where information is available and where help is needed.
• My Basketball Teams: follow the programs you care about.
• Girls basketball: open the girls basketball desk.
• History and records: explore the programs and performances behind the coming season.

Your three-week checklist

• This week: confirm athletics registration, required health paperwork and eligibility with your school. Find the current tryout notice; last winter’s time and gym may have changed.
• Before November 16: check the school’s practice and tryout instructions, transportation and equipment requirements. The statewide date does not set an individual school’s session time.
• When rosters are released: send a dated school roster or public school link. Include full names, jersey numbers, grades and positions when the school publishes them.

Coaches: help us put your team on the map

Send a schedule, roster or coaching update with the school, team level, season and source link. For schedule changes, include opponent, home/away, date, time and venue. Identify scrimmages separately from games.

Once games begin, use Basketball Stat Reports for the performance behind the score. Include the game date, opponent and supporting scorebook or published source. Regular contributors can apply to cover their school.

Local businesses: support a school’s season

Explore basketball team-page partnerships or contact KOT845 about coverage sponsorship. Fans can join the newsletter and follow the winter build from the start.

Calendar source: NYSPHSAA 2026–27 championship calendar, checked October 26. School tryouts and modified schedules remain school-specific. Site coverage counts reflect KOT845’s October 26 inventory.