In about a week, I will be traveling up to Springfield, Massachusetts to attend my fifth HoopHall Classic, a loaded high school basketball event put on by the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. This year’s event will take place January 17th through January 21st and is played in Blake Arena at Springfield College.
The journey to this event each year started when two local fellow “basketball junkies” invited me to attend with them after us having discussions on events to be able to see the best high school players in the country. After my first year in attendance I decided that I would make this trip annually to watch, in my opinion, the best high school basketball event in the country (best display of individual talent, matchups, top tiered teams, and all in the ultimate high school basketball environment). This trip has evolved into much more including me planning vacation time around it and having my sports enthusiast significant other, Gina, attend the past few years with me. This trip up north also allows us an opportunity to do some of the other things that we enjoy such as visiting historic sporting sites such as the Basketball Hall of Fame, Fenway Park, TD Garden, and Harvard Stadium. January is right in the midst of the NFL playoffs and the state is usually electric around supporting their New England Patriots. In addition, as foodies, it gives us the chance to dine at some great restaurants as well as stop at some places we have watched on the Food Network (Diners Drive Ins and Dives).
Over the previous few years the amount of talent that has been on display is unreal. Below is just a few of the players that I have had the opportunity to watch who have participated within the last 4 years that have went on to have great college careers, currently playing college basketball, or are playing basketball professionally:
- Zion Williamson (Currently at Duke)
- Marvin Bagley III ( Duke/ Sacramento Kings)
- Malik Monk ( Kentucky/ Charlotte Hornets)
- Jayson Tatum ( Duke/ Boston Celtics)
- Brandon Ingram ( Duke/ Los Angeles Lakers)
- DeAndre Ayton ( Arizona/ Phoenix Suns)
- Cam Reddish (Currently at Duke)
- Derrick Jones Jr ( UNLV/ Miami Heat)
- Cheick Diallo ( Kansas/ New Orleans Pelicans)
- RJ Barrett (Currently at Duke)
- Mohamed Bamba ( Texas/ Orlando Magic)
- Thon Maker (Milwaukee Bucks)
- Michael Porter Jr ( Missouri/ Denver Nuggets)
- Bol Bol (Currently at Oregon)
- Ivan Rabb ( California/ Memphis Grizzlies)
- Bam Adebayo ( Kentucky/ Miami Heat)
- Jaylen Brown ( California/ Boston Celtics)
- Wendell Carter Jr (Duke/ Chicago Bulls)
- Keldon Johnson (Currently at Kentucky)
With the amount of talent playing each year there is no wonder why all the top college programs/coaches seem to make their way to Springfield for the event. Roy Williams (UNC), John Calipari (Kentucky), and Shaka Smart (Texas) are just a few that seem to be on hand quite regularly to check out the action and to watch some of their top recruits. The venue is also no stranger to former NBA players being on hand. Some of the notables were Brandon Roy (coaching Nathan Hale a few years back) and Shaquille O’Neal (stopping by to watch is son Shareef play).
With the loaded schedule it seems that every game during the event is a must see featuring a top player or team. Throughout the years there has been some tremendous individual performance during my time there. I believe my most memorable performance was a game between Lone Peak (UT) and St Francis (GA) that matched up two high major guards in Frank Jackson (Duke/ New Orleans Pelicans) and Kobi Simmons (Arizona/ NBA/ G League) in which Jackson scored 49 points in that double overtime game. Kobi Simmons was impressive in his own right by having 34 points, 11 rebounds, and 9 assists in the victory.
This year’s event will be no different as the matchups and talent will be one to see. The first two days (Thursday the 17th and Friday the 18th) are local games and girls games that I won’t be attending. Below I will list the matchups for the 3 days (January 19th, 20th, and 21st) that I will be in attendance for and note any notable players using the current ESPN player rankings.
SATURDAY JANUARY 19th, 2019
- Windsor HS (CT) VS Ramapo HS (NJ) AT NOON FloHoops
- East Catholics HS (CT) VS Archbishop Wood (PA) AT 1:30PM FloHoops
Archbishop Wood has a trio of 2021 guards in Rahsool Diggins, Jaylen Stinson, and Daeshon Shepherd
- Christ The King (NY) VS Vashon HS (MO) AT 3PM ESPN+
Moussa Cisse of CTK is #7 on the Class of 2021 ESPN Top 25
Cam’Ron Fletcher of Vashon is #34 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
- Gonzaga College HS (DC) VS Olive Branch HS (MS) AT 4:30PM ESPN+
PJ Jeffries of Olive Branch is #22 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Notable players for Gonzaga are 2020 F Myles Stute , 2020 F Terrance Williams, 2021 SG Malcolm Dread, & 2020 PG Chuck Harris
- Roselle Catholic (NJ) VS Norcross HS (GA) AT 6PM ESPN+
Kahlil Whitney (Kentucky commit) of Roselle is #10 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
BJ Boston of Norcross is #15 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Cliff Omoruyi of Roselle is #60 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
- Imhotep Charter (PA) VS Montverde Academy (FL) AT 7:30PM ESPN+
Precious Achiuwa of Montverde is #11 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Omar Payne (Florida commit) of Montverde is #36 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Balsa Koprivica (Florida State commit) of Montverde is #43 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Cade Cunningham of Montverde is #11 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Moses Moody of Montverde is #19 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Notable players for Imhotep are 2019 F Donta Scott (Maryland commit) and 2019 G Dahmir Bishop
- Our Savior New American (NY) VS Patrick School (NJ) AT 9PM ESPN+
Jonathon Kuminga of Our Savior is #6 on the Class of 2021 Top 25 (After recently watching him at Slam Dunk To The Beach I look for him to be #1 in the Class of 2021 after the new rankings are released)
Al-Amir Dawes of Patrick School is #96 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
SUNDAY January 20th, 2019
- Rice (VT) VS Iona Prep (NY) AT 9AM FloHoops
- Putnam Science ( CT) VS St Thomas More (CT) AT 10:45AM FloHoops
Akok Akok (UCONN commit)of Putnam is #40 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
- Brewster Academy (NH) VS Montverde Academy (FL) AT 12:30PM FloHoops
Terrence Clarke of Brewster is #2 on the Class of 2021 ESPN Top 25
Jalen Lecque (NS State commit) of Brewster is #23 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Alonzo Gaffney (Ohio State commit) of Brewster is #30 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Kai Jones (Texas commit) of Brewster is #46 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
- Northfield Mount Herman (MA) VS Woodstock Academy (CT) AT 2:15PM FloHoops
Tre Mitchell of Woodstock is #80 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
- Long Island Lutheran (NY) VS Holy Spirit (GA) AT 5:45PM FloHoops
The feature here is to get to watch Anthony Edwards of Holy Spirit who is #4 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100 and arguably the best scorer in the country. After getting the chance to watch him play earlier in the year at the National HoopFest, he is definitely worth the price of admission.
- Oak Hill (VA) VS IMG Academy (FL) AT 7:30PM on ESPN
Cole Anthony of Oak Hill is #2 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Josh Green (Arizona commit) is #9 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Armando Bacot (UNC commit) is #18 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Kofi Cockburn (Illinois commit) of Oak Hill is #32 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Jeremiah Robinson Earl (Villanova commit) of IMG is #37 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Christian Brown of Oak Hill is # 58 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Lester Quinones of IMG is #88 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Terrence Shannon Jr of IMG is #96 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Jaden Springer of IMG is #9 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Cameron Thomas of Oak Hill is #29 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Noah Farrakhan of IMG is #36 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
- Wilbraham and Monson (MA) VS MacDuffie (MA) AT 9PM FloHoops
James Bouknight of MacDuffie is #87 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
MONDAY JANUARY 21st, 2019
- Paul VI (VA) VS Shadow Mountain (AZ) AT 9AM FloHoops
Mike Bibby coaches Shadow Mountain and they have a few standout players in Malik Lamin and Jovan Blacksher
Paul VI is without their two top players, the #1 PG in the Class of 2020 Jeremy Roach and Virginia Tech commit Anthony Harris who both suffered ACL injuries. They still have a very talented team led by Trevor Keels
- Ranney School (NJ) VS Federal Way (WA) AT 11AM on ESPNU
Ranney is led by Villanova commit Bryan Antoine (#13 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100) and Florida commit Scottie Lewis (#14 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100)
Jaden McDaniels of Federal Way is #6 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
- McEachern (GA) VS Rancho Christian (CA) AT 1PM on ESPNU
Sharife Cooper of McEachern is #23 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Auburm commit Isaac Okoro also plays for McEachern and is #44 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Evan Mobley (Rancho) is #1 on the Class of 2020 Top 60
Isaiah Mobley (USC commit of Rancho) is #15 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
- Montverde Academy (FL) VS Sierra Canyon (CA) AT 3PM on ESPNU
Cassius Stanley of Sierra is #26 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Terren Frank of Sierra is #31 on the Class of 2020 ESPN Top 60
Also Sierra has two 2019 players in Kenyon Martin Jr and Scottie Pippen
- DeMatha Catholic (DC) VS La Lumiere (IN) AT 5PM on ESPNU
La Lumiere is led by Isaiah Stewart who is #5 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
Keion Brooks of Lumiere is #34 on the Class of 2019 ESPN Top 100
DeMatha Catholic is led by Villanova commit Justin Moore (#49 on ESPN 2019 Top 100) , Hunter Dickinson (#20 on ESPN 2020 Top 60) , & Earl Timberlake (#35 on ESPN 2020 Top 60).
- Springfield Central HS (MA) VS East Hartford (CT) AT 7PM on FloHoops
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