Spire Academy in Ohio, Prolific Prep and IMG Academy in Florida, along with European basketball programs, have joined forces to create the first international high school basketball league known as ATLAS. The league will be overseen by Mike Morreale, a Canadian sports executive with experience founding and running the Canadian Elite Basketball League. The goal is to unite elite youth basketball programs from North America and Europe, providing top-level competition and cultural exchange to prepare players for college basketball, the NBA, and professional leagues overseas.

Kevin Boyle, Spire's coach with eight national championships and a resume that includes coaching multiple first-round NBA draft picks such as Kyrie Irving and Cade Cunningham, emphasized the league’s focus on world-class coaching and competition. Presented by World Stage Sports, the ATLAS league is financially supported by a mix of individual investors, venture capital, and private equity. Further details about sponsorships, media rights, and funding are expected to be released as the league establishes itself.

The ATLAS season will span from November to February, with tournaments held across North America and Europe, culminating in playoffs in March 2027. The first season will kick off at IMG Academy in Florida from November 11-13, 2026. The teams competing hail from various parts of the U.S., Canada, and Europe, including Mega Basket (Serbia), Zalgiris (Lithuania), and several top U.S. prep schools. Notably, American teams in ATLAS remain eligible to participate in established competitions like the Chipotle Nationals.

The league’s format includes high-intensity competition weekends in cities such as Bradenton, Daytona Beach, Varese, Kaunas, Geneva, Phoenix, and Toronto. Morreale highlighted the league’s role in bringing the world’s best youth talent together on one platform to compete for an international title, something unprecedented at this level in high school basketball. ATLAS aims to be a global stage showcasing future basketball stars, building bridges between continents through sport.