With the success gained by the Spalding Hoophall Classic over the past four years, it’s hard to imagine that even more improvement could be made possible.
Yet, when the 2010 event kicks off Jan. 15 at Springfield College, it will feature arguably the best field in the event’s nine-year history.
"This field has the most potential to be the best of them all,” said Greg Procino, Manager of Events and Awards at the Basketball Hall of Fame. “On paper, we have tremendous national match-ups combined with the best that we have to offer locally.
“Finding the balance and the most competitive games can be difficult, but I think this upcoming schedule will give teams tough games and give the best players the opportunity to shine."
With ESPN Rise’s release of its national preseason rankings, the Hoophall Classic will feature 13 of the top 50 teams in the country, including six of the top seven.
Perhaps the top tournament game will be the No. 1 Findlay Prep (Henderson, NV) vs. No. 2 St. Patrick (Elizabeth, NJ) matchup on the event’s final day.
"Both Findlay and St. Patrick's are stock piled with talent at all positions and both have high expectations for the season,” Procino said. “Assuming that both teams enter on high notes, the intensity and level of play will be the best that high school basketball has to offer anywhere at anytime.
“But, this is one of many very intriguing games with highly ranked players and teams that will take place over the course of the event."
Other top contests include: No. 16 Northland (Columbus, OH) vs. No. 3 Oak Hill Academy (Mouth of Wilson, VA), No. 36 Gonzaga College HS (Washington, DC) vs. No. 41 Winter Park (FL), No. 46 Patterson Catholic (Patterson, NJ) vs. No. 27 St. Frances Academy (Baltimore, MD) and No. 7 DeMatha Catholic (Hyattsville, MD) vs. No. 19 Mater Dei (Santa Ana, CA).
With such a loaded field, there will also be a television presence at this year’s event. While details won’t be released until December, it has been confirmed that games on Saturday, Sunday and Monday will be televised by three different network platforms. According to Procino, the television presence at this year’s event will give the Hoophall Classic its greatest exposure to date.
EVENT SCHEDULE:
Friday, January 15, 2010
3:00 pm Sabis Charter School vs. High School of Commerce (GIRLS)
4:30 pm Springfield Central High School vs. Minnechaug High School (GIRLS)
6:00 pm Palmer High School vs. Quaboag High School (GIRLS)
7:30 pm Sabis Charter School vs. Hoosac Valley High School
9:00 pm Northampton High School vs. East Longmeadow High School
Saturday, January 16, 2010
11:00 am Springfield Central High School vs. Columbia High School, AL
12:30 pm Sacred Heart High School, CT vs. Half Hollow Hills West, NY
2:00 pm Kentwood High School, WA vs. Kinston High School, NC
4:00 pm #16 Columbus Northland High School, OH vs. #3 Oak Hill Academy, VA
5:30 pm #36 Gonzaga College High School, DC vs. #41 Winter Park High School, FL
7:00 pm High School of Science & Technology vs. New Britain High School, CT
9:00 pm 2010 Spalding Skills Challenge Springfield College
Sunday, January 17, 2010
10:30 am Chicopee High School vs. Bishop Hendricken High School, RI
12:00 pm Sabis Charter School vs. Groton-Dunstable High School
2:00 pm Simeon High School, IL #18 vs. Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti, PA
4:00 pm #46 Paterson Catholic High School, NJ vs. #27 St. Frances Academy, MD
5:30 pm Westfield High School vs. Wareham High School
7:00 pm Cathedral High School vs. Tantasqua High School
Monday, January 18, 2010
11:00 am #4 St. Benedict's Prep, NJ vs. Bishop O'Connell High School, VA
1:00 pm St. Anthony High School, NJ vs. #6 Westchester High School, CA
3:00 pm #2 St. Patrick High School, NJ vs. #1 Findlay College Prep, NV
5:00 pm #7 DeMatha Catholic High School, MD vs. #19 Mater Dei High School, CA
6:30 pm Springfield Central High School vs. High School Of Commerce
8:00 pm Holyoke High School vs. South Hadley High School
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