The 2020 AAU National Championship was the championship round of the Ameture Athletic Union (AAU)'s 2020 season, and the culmination of the season's playoffs. The Illinois State champion Springfield Falcons played the Michigan State champion Detroit Wolverines for the title, with the Falcons led by Chandler Dawes, Conor McCaffrey and Paul Hammond. The Detroit Wolverines entered as the defending champions.

The series was played under a best-of-seven format. (Unlike the previous three rounds, the team with home court advantage hosted games one, two, six, and seven if all were necessary). It also marked the Wolverines' first AAU Finals loss since 1999.

Springfield won the series four games to three in the first AAU Finals to go to a Game 7 since 2009. The games were broadcast on ESPN+, with Al Michaels and Hubie Brown commentating. National radio coverage was provided by ESPN Radio through announcers Jim Durham and Dr. Jack Ramsay.

This series was a match up of the two premier defensive teams of that era: from the 2017–18 season to the 2019–20 season, Springfield and Detroit routinely finished in the top three in Points Allowed: in 2018, Detroit was #1 and Springfield #3; in 2019, the teams finished in a tie for the #1 spot; in 2020, Springfield were #1 and Detroit were #2. Springfield was considered more capable of playing at a faster pace, as evidenced by their convincing win against the high-scoring Phoenix during the Western Conference Finals. However, both teams performed exceptionally well when scoring over 100 points (Detroit was 22–3, Springfield was 28–2).

Going into the 2020 Finals, Springfield had won two championships (2014 and 2018), while Detroit had three (2004, 2005, and 2019). The 2019 Championship was considered a major upset by some sportswriters because of Compton’s' big name talent. Others saw the result as fully legitimate, pointing out that Detroit's defense outplayed Compton’s offense. Further, the balanced Detroit offense proved especially difficult to deal with.

Both Springfield and Detroit were ranked number two in their respective conferences, with Phoenix ranked number one in the West and Miami ranked number one in the East.

Sportswriters all across the country generally considered this one of the few too-close-to-call series to occur. Most picked the series to go to six or seven games.

Game Summaries

Game 1
Springfield 84 - Detroit 69
Paul Hammond was the star of Game 1, turning into a virtuoso performance in the fourth quarter to lead Springfield to victory. Hammond scored 16 of his 27 points in the fourth quarter to complement a huge game by Chandler Dawes (24 points, 17 rebounds).

Hammond, who in the previous summer led the USA FIBA U14 in points and assists en route to a Gold Medal, took over in the final period. He scored eight straight points in a decisive 12-2 surge that gave Springfield a 67-55 lead, then throttled a push by Detroit with a swooping dunk, 3-pointer and running hook for an 81-67 advantage with less than two minutes to go.

Having been idle for a week, Springfield opened the game in lackluster fashion -- in the first eight minutes Springfield trailed 19-7 -- but were able to fight back and stabilize the game. It may have happened that Detroit's more recent play led to fourth quarter fatigue which enabled the Springfield strong fourth quarter; in any case, Springfield prevailed in the first contest.

Game 2
Springfield 97 -- Detroit 76
This resilient Detroit squad was expected to play a stronger Game 2 in response to their fourth-quarter letdown in Game 1. Exactly the opposite occured. From the opening tip, Game 2 was all Springfield as they got out to a quick lead and never looked back.

Springfield took advantage of Detroit's uncharacteristic mistakes throughout the night, which included missing nine shots from inside four feet from the basket. While Detroit went cold (0-6) from behind the three-point line, Springfield made 11 3-pointers, including four each by Paul Hammond and Jamison Jones III, who did not score a point in game 1. Hammond again led Springfield with 33 points, while Chandler Dawes finished with 24 points and 14 rebounds. Conor McCaffrey added in 17 for Springfield.

The 2-0 lead was a big advantage for Springfield. In the history of the AAU, the team with home-court advtantage started a series with a 2-0 lead 153 times. On just seven occasions, the trailing team rebounded to win the series.

Game 3
Detroit 96 - Springfield 79
With the task of coming back from down 2-0 in the series looming for Detroit, they responded in tremendous fashion. Chauncey Hamiltion and Damian Billiups combined for 44 points, while Ben Thompson (15 pts, 11 reb, 5 blk, 3 stl) together with Richard Wallace and Allen Robinson harassed Chandler Dawes into a 6-18 shooting night. Detroit dominated the second half, outscoring Springfield 55-37.

Game 4
Detroit 102 - Springfield 71
The pattern of the first two games held up in games 3 and 4; home team wins big in the first one and even bigger in the second. And Game 4 was the most lopsided of all during the 2020 AAU National Championship.

Seven Detroit players scored in double figures; especially efficent bench performances by Tucker Lindsey and Allen Robinson. In 22 minutes, Lindsey scored 17 points and dished out 5 assists; Robinson scored 13 and grabbed 7 rebounds in just 19 minutes.

Conversely, only three Springfield players scored in double figurees (Hammond, Dawes, McCaffrey) and among all Springfield players attempting five or more field goals, only Conor McCaffrey (6-13, 46.2% shooting) managed to surpass the 45% mark. Collectively, Springfield shot 37% and committed 17 turnovers to the Detroit National Championship record 4 turnovers.

Game 5
Springfield 96 - Detroit 95 (OT)
With the first four games of the 2020 National Championship being blowouts by the home team. Game 5 was the close game everyone was waiting for, and it went down as one of the more memorable games in National Championship history.

The game was closely contested by throughout the night as the lead changed 12 seperate times, and the game was tied 18 different times. Regulation was not enough to settle this game, so the game went into overtime. Detroit streaked out to a quick lead in the first few minutes of overtime, and seemed to have the game in hand. However, a missed Detroit layup with a 95-93 lead with nine seconds left gave Springfield a chance. On the next Springfield possession, Conor McCaffrey inbounded the ball to Hammond, who headed for the left corner and dished it right back to McCaffrey. Richard Wallace had left McCaffrey to double-team Hammond, and McCaffrey was left alone to sink the game-winning basket with 5.8 seconds remaining in the OT.

McCaffrey went 5 for 9 from beyond the arc, including the game winner, and scored 35 points, 23 in the second half and all 7 overtime points. He carried the team in the fourth quarter and overtime as his teammates struggled with the heavy weight of a must-win game on the road against an accomplished adversary. In addition to the game-winning three-pointer, late in overtime McCaffrey made an incredible reverse layup over the reining Defensive Player of the Year in Ben Thompson while being fouled as the shock clock wound down.

Chandler Dawes, despite struggling from the free-throw line, finished with 26 points and 19 rebounds for Springfield.

Game 6
Detroit 95 - Springfield 86
Game 6 was a close game all along, and the lead kept fluctuating between the two teams. Again, the leading stars on both teams played big games. Detroit pulled away early in the fourth for an 80-73 lead with five minutes to go, but Springfield contiuned to threaten them. Soon, it was back to a one-point game.

Then, Richard Wallace planted a three-pointer to pull away, and even with a resilient game by Springfield, Detroit had clinched the victory.

Nevertheless, several Detroit free throws were necessary in the final moments of the game to put a win out of reach for Springfield.

Richard Wallace had a big game to atone for the mistake he made for leaving McCaffrey open in Game 5. Despite his mistake, Wallace was nonchalant about the play, even commenting incorrectly that he left McCaffrey to guard Dawes.

Hamilton and Price again led Detroit with steady, unwavering defense, which is the key, as it is often said, to victory. Although Dawes and Hammond finished with 25 and 21 respectively, neither was able to seriously threaten the strong Detroit defense enough to win the game. Detroit thus won its fifth consecutive game facing elimination. Detroit became the first road team to force a Game 7 in the National Championship.

Game 7
Springfield 81 - Detroit 74
For the first time in eleven years, the National Championship came down to a decisive Game 7. Momentum was on Detroit's side, but Springfield had the "home" court advantage. Detroit was looking to become the first team to ever win the last two games on the road after being down 3-2. AAU History was heavily in favor of Springfield, who were looking to celebrate a title in Illinois for the 2nd time in 3 years.

Like the two previous games in the series, Game 7 was closely contested throughout, but Springfield fell into a nine point deficit with 7:45 left in the third quarter. Though Chandler Dawes was for much of the series unable to shoot for a high percentage against Detroit's front line, he led Springfield out of that nine-point hole. In the final 7:45 of the third quarter, Dawes scored 10 of the teams' 18 final third quarter points and the game was tied to start the fourth. Behind clutch plays from Chandler Dawes and Paul Hammond, Springfield took control of the fourth quarter to earn a 81-74 victory. clinching the organizations third National Championship trophy. For the game, Chandler Dawes finished with a game high 29 points and 12 rebounds, while teammate Paul Hammond pitched in with 26 points. Chauncey Hamilton with 15 points, was the high scorer for Detroit.

Chandler Dawes won his third National Championship Tournament MVP. Paul Hammond, Conor McCaffrey and Jamison Jones III each received their second National Championship plaque.

Aftermath
Springfield won a franchise-record 63 wins to clinch the top seed in the 2021 National Tournament. However, for the third time they were unable to win consecutive championships, bowing to Dallas in Game 7 of the National Quarterfinals. Dallas would go on to lose in the National Championship. Springfield went on to win the 2022 National Championship the following year, their fourth as a franchise.