PANINI HOOPHALL CLASSIC ANNOUNCES SCHEDULE FOR 24TH ANNUAL SHOWCASE IN SPRINGFIELD, MASS.

– Top Two Ranked Juniors and Seniors Go Head-to-Head on MLK Day –

SPRINGFIELD, MASS. — The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame announced the field of teams and schedule for the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic, an annual basketball showcase now in its 24th year. Games will be played from January 15-19 at Blake Arena at Springfield College, the ‘Birthplace of Basketball.’ 

“We’re proud to welcome the nation’s premier high school and prep programs back to Springfield for the 24th year of Hoophall Classic,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “This year’s event marks an exciting step forward with an expanded field, new overflow sites, and the addition of Panini as title sponsor, all helping us accommodate a record number of marquee matchups and top-ranked talent. Our gratitude goes out to our fans, sponsors, and our exceptional hosts at Springfield College for continuing to make the Birthplace of Basketball the epicenter of the high school game each January.”

The nation’s premier basketball event will once again showcase the country’s elite high school basketball teams. In addition to local participants, the tournament will feature teams from 17 states: Arizona, California, Connecticut, Florida, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.

Top-Ranked ESPN Class of 2026 Prospects Featured at the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic

Top Boys Prospects (ESPN Class of 2026)

Top Girls Prospects (HoopGurlz ESPN Class of 2026)

*A full list of ESPN-ranked players participating in this year’s event can be found below.

Marquee boys matchups include Long Island Lutheran (NY) vs. Arizona Compass Prep (AZ), Christopher Columbus High School (FL) vs. Sierra Canyon School (CA), Brewster Academy (NH) vs. Oak Hill Academy (VA), CIA – Bella Vista Prep (AZ) vs. IMG Academy (FL), Dynamic Prep (TX) vs. Prolific Prep (FL), and Paul VI High School (VA) vs. Notre Dame High School (CA).

The event will feature nine women’s games this January, including marquee matchups Long Island Lutheran High School (NY) vs. Sierra Canyon School (CA) and Bishop McNamara (MD) vs. Ontario Christian School (CA). Eleven of the Class of 2026’s HoopGurlz WESPN Top 100 recruits will be featured, as well as 10 from the Class of 2027’s Super 60 and two from the Class of 2028’s Terrific 25, and multiple nationally ranked teams.

Hoophall Classic has produced 12 of the last 15 No. 1 overall picks, including 11 straight from 2011-21. This year, Panini Hoophall Classic will feature 53 players in ESPN’s Top 100 from the Class of 2026 (nine of the top 10), 18 from the Class of 2027 Top 60, and five from the Class of 2028 Top 25. 

Since 2004, 120+ Hoophall Classic participants have gone on to play in the NBA, including Kevin Durant (2006), Kyrie Irving (2010), Anthony Davis (2011), Karl-Anthony Towns (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015), Jamal Murray (2015), Bam Adebayo (2016), Jayson Tatum (2016), Zion Williamson (2018), Cade Cunningham (2020), Jared McCain (2023), and Cooper Flagg (2024). For a complete list of alumni, please visit hoophall.com/events/spalding-hoophall-classic/alumni/. In addition, Hoophall Classic has hosted a number of prominent WNBA and future WNBA players, including Tina Charles, Elena Delle Donne, Breanna Stewart, and JuJu Watkins.

Panini, who announced a multi-year partnership to be the title sponsor of Hoophall Classic and Hoophall West on Monday, is joined by other key sponsors of the event that include Nike, Springfield College, Morgan Stanley, VKTRY, and Gatorade, plus locally based partners Florence Bank, MGM Springfield and Hyundai of Western Massachusetts. 

All games will have a broadcast outlet with games scheduled to be on ESPN networks, NBA Platforms, as well as other digital platforms.  Media application information will be announced at a later date. Tickets for the 2026 Panini Hoophall Classic are on sale now at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/15428/hoophall-classic.


For the first time, the event will expand to overflow sites at Western New England University and Duggan Academy to accommodate a record number of marquee matchups on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. Separate tickets are required for games at either satellite location. Tickets for offsite games at Western New England University and the third location (TBA) can be purchased separately at https://www.etix.com/ticket/v/35217/hoophall-invitationaland are not valid at Springfield College.

About Panini America

Panini America is a subsidiary of The Panini Group, established over 60 years ago in Modena, Italy with subsidiaries throughout Europe, Latin America and the United States. Panini is the world leader in officially licensed collectibles and is the most significant publisher of collectibles in the U.S., with official licenses for NFL, NFLPA, NASCAR, FIFA, LIV Golf, the Professional Fighters League, College, Disney, and other key properties from many other licensors. Panini is also the exclusive trading card and sticker partner of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame, Elite 11 and Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.

Panini has distribution channels in more than 150 countries and employs a staff of over 1,200. For more information visit us at paniniamerica.net, paninigroup.com or blog.paniniamerica.net/. You can also follow Panini America on social media platforms Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, and Instagram.

About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame 

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving, and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors – both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame Museum is home to more than 475 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame Museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits, and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo “Court of Dreams.” Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 150 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum, and events, visit hoophall.com and follow @hoophallclassic.

2026 PANINI HOOPHALL CLASSIC SCHEDULE

SPRINGFIELD COLLEGE

THURSDAY, JANUARY 15

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 – SESSION 1

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17 – SESSION 2

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 – SESSION 1

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18 – SESSION 2

MONDAY, JANUARY 20

WESTERN NEW ENGLAND UNIVERSITY SCHEDULE

FRIDAY, JANUARY 16

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17

SUNDAY, JANUARY 18

DUGGAN ACADEMY

SATURDAY, JANUARY 17

ESPN’S TOP 100 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2026

ESPN’S TOP 60 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2027

ESPN’S TOP 25 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2028

WESPN’S TOP 100 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2026

WESPN’S SUPER 60 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2027

WESPN’S TERRIFIC 25 RECRUITS – CLASS OF 2028