Hoophall Classic

The 24th annual Panini Hoophall Classic returned for another weekend of elite high school basketball in the "Birthplace of Basketball" at Blake Arena at Springfield College from January 15-19. As one of the premier high school basketball showcases on the basketball calendar, this year's event delivered 31 games of incredible talent, including 16 of ESPN's Top 25 Boys Programs and 9 of ESPN's Top 25 Girls Programs. 56 players from ESPN's Boys Top 100 Class of 2026 (nine of the Top 10), 12 from the WESPN Top 100 Class of 2026, and four top-ranked recruits across multiple classes participated in the event.

This year's broadcast coverage expanded across multiple platforms to reach national audiences. Eighteen games aired throughout the weekend, with ESPN broadcasting four marquee matchups, the NBA streaming six games as part of its Future Starts Now initiative, and League Ready covering Sunday's slate.

The excitement extended beyond Blake Arena with the return of the Panini Hoophall Invitational for its second year, featuring 48 boys' teams and 16 girls' teams from nine Northeastern states. The NFHS Network served as the exclusive broadcast partner, streaming all 64 games across NFHSnetwork.com and their mobile and TV apps.

Position Sports managed all communications, social media, and content operations for both events, delivering strategic content, real-time coverage, and storytelling that amplified the visibility of the Classic and Invitational while capturing the performances and moments that defined the weekend. On-site supervisors also oversaw event staff, team coordination, and overall event operations throughout the week.