Many of the nation's top high school basketball teams will begin converging upon Springfield, Massachusetts, Thursday for a series of games that could go a long way toward determining the national championship for both the girls and the boys.
At the very least, the games that take place this weekend at the Panini Hoophall Classic will be an important factor in sorting things out at the national level, and we've already previewed the schedule of girls' action here. As exciting as that lineup is, it's hard to overstate just how impressive the lineup is on the boys' side.
Consider that the top eight teams in the latest edition of AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25 will play in the event along with nine of the Top 10 overall. In total, 13 of the teams currently ranked in that list will play at least one game in Springfield between Saturday and Monday. And, as you might expect with more than 40 high-profile boys' teams competing, many of the nation's top-ranked individual prospects will also be on the hardwood this weekend.
Suffice it to say, it's the event of the year in high school basketball. Here's everything you need to know including the full schedule, top storylines and best individual matchups.
All times are EST local.
Hoophall Classic boys basketball schedule
Below is the full day-by-day schedule along with a spotlight on the best games each day.
CLICK TO SKIP DOWN: Thursday | Saturday | Sunday | Monday
Thursday, January 15
The Panini Hoophall Classic officially tips off at 3 p.m. Thursday, and the first day of action is dedicated to teams from the New England region. The opening game will feature the East Catholic Eagles of Connecticut against the Shaker Bison of New York, and the other three opening-day contests are all head-to-head matchups between teams from Massachusetts.
The primetime matchup is probably the highlight of the first day with the hometown Springfield Central Golden Eagles taking on the Pope Francis Prep Cardinals, ranked No. 4 in Massachusetts in the latest state rankings on MaxPreps.
- 3 p.m. — East Catholic [Manchester, CT] Eagles (8-1) vs. Shaker [Latham, NY] Bison (8-2), Baller TV
- 4:45 p.m. — Chicopee [MA] Comp Colts (6-2) vs. South Hadley [MA] Tigers (0-2), Baller TV
- 6:30 p.m. — Putnam Vo-Tech [Springfield, MA] Beavers (2-6) vs. Sci-Tech [Springfield, MA] CyberCats (1-1), Baller TV
- 8:30 p.m. — Springfield [MA] Central Golden Eagles (6-2) vs. Pope Francis Prep [Springfield, MA] Cardinals (7-1), Baller TV
Saturday, January 17
Following a full day of top-ranked girls basketball action on Friday, the boys will return to the spotlight on Saturday. The action will feature two four-game sessions tipping off at 9 a.m. To get things started.
AZ Compass Prep enters the event as the nation's new No. 1 team in the latest edition of SN's top 25, and they'll immediately be tested by a Long Island Lutheran squad that was ranked in the first two editions of that list. They're still listed among the nation's Top 50 teams, and they should be motivated to try and restate their own case to rejoin the Top 25 next week. An upset win here by the Crusaders just might be enough to get that done.
Millennium is also ranked in SN's Top 50, and they'll face Christ the King in the final game of the early session.
Session 1 Schedule
- 9 a.m. — Notre Dame Prep [Fairfield, CT] Lancers (6-2) vs. Mater Dei [Santa Ana, CA] Monarchs (14-8), Baller TV
- 10:30 a.m. — Blair Academy [Blairstown, NJ] Bucs (6-1) vs. TMI-Episcopal [San Antonio, TX] Panthers (13-6), Baller TV
- 12 p.m. — Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders (5-6) vs. No. 1 AZ Compass Prep [Chandler, AZ] Dragons (12-1), Baller TV
- 1:30 p.m. — Christ the King [Middle Village, NY] Royals (9-2) vs. Millennium [Goodyear, AZ] Tigers (16-2), Baller TV
The Hoophall Classic really starts to move into high gear late Saturday afternoon with three head-to-head matchups between teams ranked in the Top 25.
Defending SN national champion and current No. 23 Columbus of Miami, Florida (alma mater of Duke freshman phenom Cameron Boozer) opens the second session against No. 8 Sierra Canyon of California in a battle of East vs. West. Then No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac of New York will take on No. 24 IMG Academy of Florida in an early evening contest tipping off at 5:30 p.m.
The final Top 25 battle of the day will feature No. 3 Link Academy of Missouri looking to rebound from its first loss of the season last week against New Hampshire's Brewster Academy. The Lions will take on the No. 14 Montverde Academy Eagles of Florida in a day that will shine a spotlight on some of the best teams from the Sunshine State.
Session 2 Schedule
- 4 p.m. — No. 23 Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers (14-4) vs. No. 8 Sierra Canyon [Chatsworth, CA] Trailblazers (16-1), NBA App/NBA.com/NBATV
- 5:30 p.m. — No. 16 Archbishop Stepinac [White Plains, NY] Crusaders (10-4) vs. No. 24 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (13-5), NBA App/NBA.com/NBATV
- 7 p.m. — Notre Dame [West Haven, CT] Green Knights (8-2) vs. Inglewood [CA] Sentinels (18-5), NBA App/NBA.com/NBA YouTube
- 9 p.m. — No. 3 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions (14-1) vs. No. 14 Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles (7-4), NBA App/NBA.com/NBA YouTube
Sunday, January 18
Another day of boys action tips off at 9 a.m. Sunday when the home state Central Catholic Raiders of Lawrence, Massachusetts, figure to have the crowd behind them against the Bergen Catholic Crusaders of New Jersey. Schools from Maryland, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, and Washington will also be featured in one of the event's most diverse offerings in terms of national geography.
Brewster Academy, now ranked No. 2 in SN's top 25 after last week's statement win over former No. 1 Link Academy, takes the court Sunday afternoon against Oak Hill, who has not played since a surprising 71-63 loss on December 28 to the Tri-Cities Christian [Blountville, TN] Eagles.
That loss was Oak Hill Academy's fourth of the season, and it cost them their own spot in the Top 25... For now. But an upset win over the nation's No. 2 team could right the ship for the Warriors in the premier matchup of Sunday's morning session.
Session 1 Schedule
- 9 a.m. — Central Catholic [Lawrence, MA] Raiders (7-1) vs. Bergen Catholic [Oradell, NJ] Crusaders (9-1), LeagueReady YouTube
- 10:30 a.m. — Imhotep Charter [Philadelphia, PA] Panthers (10-5) vs. Providence Christian [Murfreesboro, TN] Lions (14-5), LeagueReady YouTube
- 12 p.m. — No. 2 Brewster Academy [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats (15-1) vs. Oak Hill Academy [Mouth of Wilson, VA] Warriors (13-4), LeagueReady YouTube
- 1:30 p.m. — Bishop McNamara [Forestville, MD] Mustangs (8-9) vs. Rainier Beach [Seattle, WA] Vikings (13-1), LeagueReady YouTube
The Sunday evening session will feature two Top 25 matchups, including the top game of the entire event when last week's No. 1 and current No. 3 Link Academy takes on the team that replaced them at No. 1 in Arizona's Compass Prep.
Link Academy rolled off 14 straight wins to start the season before losing its first game to current No. 2 Brewster Academy last week in a 61-60 setback. Brewster's only loss, in turn, is to AZ Compass Prep which also has just a single loss to SPIRE Academy of Ohio which is also in Springfield to take on Sunrise Christian Academy of Kansas in this same evening session.
Beyond the headliner, this session top to bottom is also the deepest field of the entire week of action with all eight teams currently ranked in SN's Top 50.
Suffice it to say, a lot of these teams have already met and know each other well which adds intrigue to this matchup between the only two teams to be ranked No. 1 so far in the 2025-26 season.
Session 2 Schedule
- 4 p.m. — No. 6 CIA-Bella Vista [Phoenix, AZ] Bears (12-2) vs. No. 24 IMG Academy [Bradenton, FL] Ascenders (13-5), LeagueReady YouTube
- 5:30 p.m. — Long Island Lutheran [Brookville, NY] Crusaders (5-6) vs. No. 14 Montverde [FL] Academy Eagles (7-4), LeagueReady YouTube
- 7 p.m. — No. 10 SPIRE Academy National [Geneva, OH] (8-0) vs. Sunrise Christian Academy [Bel Aire, KS] Buffaloes (6-4), LeagueReady YouTube
- 9 p.m. — No. 3 Link Academy [Branson, MO] Lions (14-1) vs. No. 1 AZ Compass Prep [Chandler, AZ] Dragons (12-1), LeagueReady YouTube
Monday, January 19
Monday's final session of the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic will feature one extended session of five games highlighted by two Top 10 battles that could reshape the rankings next week.
First, Dynamic Prep of Texas will face off against No. 4 Prolific Prep of Florida in a game with national title implications that will feature a long list of Division I prospects. Then in the final game of the entire event, No. 10 SPIRE Academy will take on No. 2 Brewster Academy in a game that could feature the nation's next No. 1 team, depending on the outcome of the Link Academy-AZ Compass Prep game the night before.
- 9 a.m. — Newman National [Boston, MA] Cardinals (12-1) vs. Southeastern Prep Academy National [Orlando, FL] Falcons (24-7), Baller TV
- 11 a.m. — No. 7 Dynamic Prep [Irving, TX] (14-1) vs. No. 4 Prolific Prep [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Crew (20-2), ESPN2
- 1 p.m. — No. 5 Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers (14-1) vs. St. Mary's [Phoenix, AZ] Knights (11-4), ESPN2
- 3 p.m. — No. 23 Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers (14-4) vs. St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (13-4), ESPNU
- 5 p.m. — No. 10 SPIRE Academy [Geneva, OH] (8-0) vs. No. 2 Brewster Academy National [Wolfeboro, NH] Bobcats (14-1), ESPNU
Top prospects, individual matchups at Hoophall Classic 2026
The Hoophall Classic is loaded with talent. Of 247Sports.com's top 68 prospects in the Class of 2026, a whopping 46 of them play for teams participating this weekend. The event also features the top six players from the Class of 2027 and a handful of the top sophomores in the Class of 2028.
If you're looking for a far more comprehensive breakdown of the top prospect matchups, we've got you covered. Here's a quick snapshot (all times eastern):
Saturday
- 10:30 a.m.: Deron Rippey Jr. (Blair Academy) vs. Elijah Williams (TMI-Episcopal)
- Noon: Dylan Mingo, Kayden Allen (Long Island Lutheran) vs. Kaden House, Quincy Wadley, Kalek House (AZ Compass Prep)
- 4 p.m.: Caleb Gaskins (Columbus) vs. Brandon McCoy, Maximo Adams (Sierra Canyon)
- 5:30 p.m.: Jasiah Jervis, Darius Ratliff, Adonis Ratliff (Archbishop Stepinac) vs. Cole Cloer, Chase Foster, Ralph Scott, Aziz Olajuwon, Trey Beamer, Maxime Meyer (IMG Academy)
- 7 p.m.: Abdou Toure (Notre Dame-West Haven) vs. Jason Crowe Jr. (Inglewood)
- 9 p.m.: Tajh Ariza, Luca Foster, Carlos Medlock Jr., Tristan Reed (Link Academy) vs. Joe Philon, Jayden Hodge (Montverde Academy)
Sunday
- 1:30 p.m.: Qayden Samuels (Bishop McNamara) vs. Tyran Stokes (Rainier Beach)
- 4 p.m.: Miles Sadler, Vaughn Karvala (CIA-Bella Vista) vs. Cole Cloer, Chase Foster, Ralph Scott, Aziz Olajuwon, Trey Beamer, Maxime Meyer (IMG Academy)
MORE: Where to watch Tyran Stokes games this season
Monday
- 11 a.m.: Austin Goosby, DaKari Spear (Dynamic Prep) vs. Caleb Holt, Bruce Branch III, Davion Adkins (Prolific Prep)
- 1 p.m.: Jordan Smith (Paul VI) vs. Cameron Williams (St. Mary's)
- 3 p.m.: Caleb Gaskins (Columbus) vs. Christian Collins (St. John Bosco)
More high school basketball
- How to watch Jordan Smith of Paul VI [VA] basketball games
- How to watch Christian Collins of St. John Bosco [CA] basketball games
- How to watch Brandon McCoy of Sierra Canyon basketball games