Strictly BBall Newsletter 13

Previewing This Year’s Hoophall Classic!

Who is featured in the biggest HS event of the year

Photo by Catalina Fragoso

by Griffin Greenberg on January 11

The best annual high school basketball event is back once again in Springfield, MA. Hoophall Classic showcases a ton of top teams each year, and this year’s event headlines an incredible 9 of the 10 Strictly BBall top 10 teams. Check out the best matchups and players from the event, as well as our player of the week!

THIS WEEK’S TOP STORIES

Top Event Feature: Hoophall Classic in Springfield, MA

Arguably the biggest in-season high school basketball event takes place this weekend out in the birthplace of the game, Springfield, MA. Hosted at Springfield College, Hoophall Classic is an annual event at the place the game all started with many of the top teams around the country matching up. Here are the best matchups of the event

Saturday, January 13th

No. 6 Columbus (FL) vs. No. 2 Long Island Lutheran (NY) on the NBA App and NBA YT at 4:00 PM ET

Two of the most exciting teams in the nation will battle this Saturday at the event. This should be a thrilling matchup with Columbus led by the brother duo of No. 2 ranked 2025 Cameron Boozer and 5-star Cayden Boozer & 4-star Michigan State commit Jase Richardson and his brother Jaxon. They’ll face No. 5 ranked VJ Edgecombe, Florida State commit Alier Maluk, and 2025 4-stars Kayden Mingo, Kiyan Anthony and Nigel James.

Archbishop Wood (PA) vs. Corona Centennial (CA) on ESPN+ on the NBA App and NBA YT at 7:00 PM ET

An exciting 5-star matchup between Miami commit Jalil Bethea and Arizona commit Carter Bryant is one of the best games on Saturday. Both teams play a national schedule and should showcase some thrilling play this weekend.

Grayson (GA) vs. Perry (AZ) on the NBA App and NBA YT at 9:00 PM ET

Grayson is led by 4-star Georgia commit Jacob Wilkins, son of NBA legend Dominique Wilkins. Alongside him, the team from Georgia has 4-star Gicarri Harris, Anthony Alston, and CJ Hyland as they take on the nation’s No. 4 2025 recruit Koa Peat.

Sunday, January 14th

No. 1 Montverde Academy (FL) vs. No. 5 Prolific Prep (CA) on ESPN2 at 7:30 PM ET

Montverde Academy looks to maintain their perfect record as they face Prolific Prep in their third game at the event. Duke commit Cooper Flagg should draw the MA crowd, as well as his matchup No. 1 2025 recruit AJ Dybantsa for Prolific. This matchup features 10 total five-stars and is the best game of the event. Montverde enters the event at 15-0 with recent wins over Gonzaga College High School and CATS Academy.

No. 7 La Lumiere School (IN) vs. No. 9 AZ Compass Prep (AZ) on ESPN+ at 10:30 AM ET

Two top-10 teams that are both in the EYBL Scholastic league will battle at the event. La Lumiere is led by 2025 4-star Jerry Easter who is averaging 18.3 PPG in EYBL Scholastic play. Alongside him are 2025 5-stars Jalen Haralson and Darius Adams, Clemson commit Ace Buckner, 2025 4-star Chuck Love, and 4-star Steven Solano. AZ Compass is led by 2025 4-star Jeremiah Fears who averages 12.8 PPG and 2.2 SPG. The Dragons also have up-and-coming 3-star Cam Miles, 4-star Oregon commit Vyctorius Miller, Arizona State commit Sammie Yeanay, and 4-star Luke Bamgboye.

Hudson Catholic (NJ) vs. Gonzaga College HS (DC) on Baller TV at 10:30 AM ET

Gonzaga’s 2025 4-stars in Nyk Lewis and Christian Gurdak will take on 5-star Auburn commit Tahaad Pettiford and Hudson Catholic. Gonzaga has a 12-2 record and is coming off a dominant win over St. Mary’s (MD). Hudson Catholic is 8-5.

Don Bosco Prep (NJ) vs. Archbishop Stepinac (NY) on ESPN2 at 5:30 PM ET

This may be the most exciting guard matchup of the event. No. 2 ranked 5-star Rutgers commit Dylan Harper vs. 5-star Kentucky commit Boogie Fland will go head-to-head in what should be a crowd-filling matchup out east.

Monday, January 15th

No. 3 Paul VI (VA) vs. No. 6 Columbus (FL) on ESPNU at 1:00 PM ET

The top team in Virginia takes on Columbus in what should be the best game on Monday at Hoophall Classic. Paul VI is stacked from top to bottom, led by Duke commit Darren Harris, UConn commit Isaiah Abraham, Notre Dame commit Garrett Sundra and Rhode Island commit Ben Hammond. 5-star Duke commit Patrick Ngongba isn’t expected to suit up for Paul VI as he nurses a foot injury. Columbus will lead on the Boozer’s and Richardson’s, as well as Randy Smith, Malik Abdullahi and Benny Fragela.

No. 4 Link Academy (MO) vs. IMG Academy (FL) on ESPNU at 5:00 PM ET

In what should be another exciting EYBL Scholastic matchup, Link takes on IMG. Link is led by 5-star Texas commit Tre Johnson who is averaging 15.8 PPG in league play, 2025 5-star Jasper Johnson, Kansas commit Labaron Philon, Arkansas commit Jalen Shelley and North Carolina commit James Brown. IMG is led by 4-star Syracuse commit Donnie Freeman who is averaging 18.8 PPG and 7.5 RPG and 2025 5-star Darius Acuff who is averaging 20.2 PPG. They also have Michigan commit Khani Rooths, 2025 4-star Amari Allen, and Houston commit Chase McCarty.

No. 10 Harvard-Westlake (CA) vs. McEachern (GA) on ESPNU at 11:00 AM ET

Harvard-Westlake hits the road in their second week in the top-10 rankings to face McEachern at Hoophall West. HW’s only loss this season is to Columbus by 1 point. They have USC commit Trent Perry, Harvard commit Robert Hinton, and 2025 4-star Nik Khamenia. McEachern is led by 5-star Rutgers commit Ace Bailey, who has been on a tear recently.

Tune into next week’s newsletter where we recap the best from Hoophall Classic!

Strictly BBall Player of the Week

Carter Bryant of Corona Centennial (CA)

The No. 10 ranked player in the 2024 class led his squad to three wins in the past week, with the best coming against Roosevelt (CA) who is led by 2025 5-star Brayden Burries. Bryant dominated with 39 points and 11 rebounds, showcasing his versatility as a forward and all-around skillset on each end.

The Arizona commit can really knock and shoot the ball well and can do so both off the catch and off the dribble and has a high motor. He is quick for his size and can handle the ball very well.

Weekly Recruiting Update

Commitments

Class of 2025 4-star Putnam Science Academy (Putnam, CT) center Erhunmwunse Oswin has committed to Providence.

Final Schools

Class of 2025 4-star guard Jeremiah Fears is down to 5 schools … Michigan, Illinois, Ole Miss, Providence and Kansas.

Class of 2025 4-star guard Dorian Jones is down to 10 schools … Cincinnati, USC, Alabama, Oklahoma, Missouri, Houston, Illinois, Rutgers, Arkansas, and Ohio State.

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