While the nation's premier high school boys basketball tournament is set to get under way Thursday in Springfield, Massachusetts, another big tournament will tip off in Springfield that same afternoon.
Springfield, Missouri, that is.
While the Panini Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Massachusetts, is rightfully getting most of the national attention this week, the 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Missouri, deserves some time in the spotlight as well – especially on Thursday and Friday before any of the nationally-ranked teams take to the hardwood in the Massachusetts event. The Panini Hoophall Classic will feature 13 teams currently ranked in AllSportsPeople High School Boys Basketball Top 25, but none of those teams will play on the event's first two days.
Back in Springfield, Missouri, however, five of the nation's Top 25 teams will be in action on Thursday and Friday, including one team that will also participate in the Hoophall event on Monday. The Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers will be at the Missouri event from Thursday through Saturday before heading to Massachusetts for a Monday game against the St. Mary's [Phoenix, AZ] Knights.
St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] will also make the trek from Missouri, to Massachusetts, for a Monday game in the Hoophall event against the Columbus [Miami, FL] Explorers although the Braves aren't currently ranked in the SN Top 25.
Other Top 25 teams participating in the Missouri event include the No. 9 Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers, No. 11 Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles, No. 17 Bartlett [TN] Panthers, and the No. 18 Wheeler [Marietta, GA] Wildcats.
- Check out the offical Bass Pro Tournament of Champions website for more information
- STREAM: Springfield Public Sports Network
The 41st Annual Bass Pro Tournament of Champions schedule
The Bass Pro Tournament of Champions is guaranteed to deliver at least two head-to-head top 25 matchups, but almost certainly will produce more in the semifinals and the finals. At a minimum, however, Bartlett and Wheeler will get the tournament tipped off against each other at 4:30 p.m. Thursday, and either the winner or the loser will play Paul VI in the second round, depending on whether the Panthers win or lose their first-round matchup versus the Logan-Rogersville [MO] Wildcats.
Logan-Rogersville is one of two local teams playing in the event along with the Kickapoo [Springfield, MO] Chiefs, and Paul VI is considered a heavy favorite to advance on the winner's side of the bracket. All 12 of the tournament's games will be available for streaming on the Springfield Public Sports Network for a fee.
All times are CST local
Thursday, January 15
- 4:30 p.m. — GAME 1: No. 17 Bartlett [TN] Panthers (16-2) vs. No. 18 Wheeler [Marietta, GA] Wildcats (14-3)
- 6 p.m. — GAME 2: No. 5 Paul VI [Chantilly, VA] Panthers (14-1) vs. Logan-Rogersville [MO] Wildcats (8-0)
- 7:30 p.m. — GAME 3: No. 9 Principia [St. Louis, MO] Panthers (12-1) vs. Kickapoo [MO] Chiefs (9-1)
- 9 p.m. — GAME 4: St. John Bosco [Bellflower, CA] Braves (13-4) vs. No. 11 Calvary Christian Academy [Fort Lauderdale, FL] Eagles (12-1)
Friday, January 16
- 4:30 p.m. — GAME 5: Game 1 loser vs. Game 2 loser
- 6 p.m. — GAME 6: Game 3 loser vs. Game 4 loser
- 7:30 p.m. — GAME 7: Game 1 winner vs. Game 2 winner
- 9 p.m. — GAME 8: Game 3 winner vs. Game 4 winner
Saturday, January 17
- 2:30 p.m. — GAME 9 (7th place game): Game 5 loser vs. Game 6 loser
- 4 p.m. — GAME 10 (Consolation game): Game 5 winner vs. Game 6 winner
- 7 p.m. — GAME 11: (3rd place game): Game 7 loser vs. Game 8 loser
- 8:30 p.m. — GAME 12 (Championship game): Game 7 winner vs. Game 8 winner
MORE HIGH SCHOOL BOYS 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
Top 100 senior and junior prospects playing in the Bass Pro TOC:
Class of 2026 seniors
No. 2 — CG Jordan Smith (Paul VI)
Smith is the Class of 2026's No. 2 overall prospect, and he's expected to eventually sign with Duke.
No. 9 — PF Christian Collins (St. John Bosco)
Collins is a 6-foot-8, 200-pound forward for the Braves who is currently unsigned.
No. 21 — SF Colben Landrew (Wheeler)
Landrew signed with UConn back in October so his full focus has been on the hardwood since the season began. His Wheeler squad could run into Paul VI's Smith on the second day of the tournament if both of those teams either win or lose.
No. 84 — SF Collin Paul (Calvary Christian Academy)
Paul is a 6-7 swingman who has the handles and the passing ability to function as a guard while possessing the body of a true small forward. He'll go head-to-head with St. John Bosco's Collins in the tournament's opening round in the only guaranteed matchup between Top 100 seniors in this event.
Class of 2027 juniors
No. 14 — PG Cayden Daughtry (Calvary Christian Academy)
If Paul is the engine and the firepower for Calvary Christian Academy, then Daughtry is the ignition switch that gets things started. He and Paul will team up against St. John Bosco in the opening round with a potential matchup against Paul VI or Wheeler on the final day of the event on either side of the bracket.
No. 31 — PG Kevin Savage (Wheeler)
Savage and Calvary Christian Academy's Daughtry are the top two ranked point guards in this event, and it would be entertaining to see these two playmakers go head-to-head. That could happen on either side of the bracket, but not before the event's final day.
© Jonah Hinebaugh/Naples Daily News/USA Today Network-Florida / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
No. 32 — PG Chase Branham (Logan-Rogersville)
Branham is a tall point guard at 6-foot-4 but lanky at 175 pounds. He's committed to Indiana, and he'll try to lead the locals to an upset of Paul VI on the tournament's opening day.
No. 65 — SF Dylan Jones (Bartlett)
Jones will go up against Wheeler's duo of Landrew and Savage in the opening round in a battle between two Top 25 southern powers.
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