About
McDonald’s Texas Invitational Brings 80 Teams, 196 Games and Some of Texas’ Top Basketball Talent to Pasadena
Student crews help power the three-day tournament, which generated nearly $224,000 for local education foundations last year.
PASADENA, Texas — Some of Texas’ top high school basketball talent will take the court in Pasadena Nov. 19-21 for the 2026 McDonald’s Texas Invitational, but what happens beyond the court may be just as significant.
This year’s tournament will bring together 80 teams for 196 games across 10 venues, with 48 boys teams and 32 girls teams competing over three days. The field includes established programs from throughout Texas, including North Crowley, Atascocita, North Shore, South Grand Prairie, San Antonio Brennan, Summer Creek, Converse Judson, Aledo and many others. (View All Competing Teams)
The field also includes a deep group of players to watch across the 2027, 2028 and 2029 graduating classes, offering fans and media an opportunity to see emerging Texas basketball talent compete in one place. (2026 Players to Watch)
The McDonald’s Texas Invitational is about much more than basketball.
Throughout the tournament, Pasadena ISD students will gain hands-on experience helping bring the event to life. Student media teams and their teachers help produce tournament livestreams, working in camera operation, directing, graphics and broadcasting. Culinary students support tournament hospitality, while student photographers help document the action from courtside.
The student involvement is part of a much larger community effort. Nearly 400 volunteers from schools, businesses and the community contribute their time to the tournament, while a 30-member steering committee representing business, education and government works throughout the year to organize the event.
That work continues to make an impact long after the final buzzer.
The 2025 McDonald’s Texas Invitational generated $223,938.88, nearly $224,000, to benefit the Pasadena ISD and Deer Park ISD education foundations. Tournament proceeds help support classroom mini-grants that give teachers resources to bring innovative projects and learning opportunities to students. (View Mini-Grant Spotlights)
For teachers, those dollars can turn an idea into an experience for students. For the community, it means three days of basketball create an impact that continues in classrooms throughout the school year.
About the McDonald’s Texas Invitational
The McDonald’s Texas Invitational brings together high school basketball programs from across Texas for three days of competition in Pasadena and Deer Park. Supported by schools, businesses, community partners and hundreds of volunteers, the tournament benefits the Pasadena ISD and Deer Park ISD education foundations and helps support classroom opportunities for students and teachers.