During the 2025-26 season, shot clocks were implemented by 24 state high school basketball associations. Six more states will implement shot clock mandates in 2026-27, while five states will add timed possessions over the next three seasons.
Last week, the Interscholastic University League, the governing body that Texas presides over, became the latest state to approve the use of a 35-second clock for all boys and girls basketball games starting in a phased approach over a six-year period beginning in 2028-29 for all Class 5A and Class 6 varsity competitions.
Before the National Federation of State High School Associations recommended that states adopt the shot clock in 2021, only nine states had a shot clock mandate nationwide.
Georgia became the ninth state in 2020-2021, joining California, Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota and Washington as the only states to adopt a shot clock before the NFHS mandate.
Despite the move to a universal shot clock in recent seasons, some states remain steadfast in their stance against the implementation of timed possession.
On the same day New Jersey adopted a shot clock in the spring, the Indiana High School Athletic Association Board of Directors voted 17-1 against a proposal to add a 35-second shot clock to boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball games.
The North Carolina High School Athletic Association Board of Directors also strongly opposed the implementation of the shot clock, voting unanimously 17-0.
