Basketball Hall of Fame Announces Spalding Hoophall Classic High School Invitational

Springfield, MA - The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the Spalding Hoophall Classic to be held at Springfield College's Blake Arena over Martin Luther King weekend Jan. 12th – 15th. The four day event will feature nine of USA Today's Top 25 Teams and 20 of the nation's top 100 players.

Nationally ranked teams scheduled to play are #2 Norcross (GA), #3 DeMatha (MD), #4 St. Patrick (NJ), #6 St. Benedict's Prep (NJ), #8 St. Anthony (NJ), #13 Towson (MD), #14 Fairfax (CA), #16 Neumann-Goretti (PA), and #24 Mount Vernon (NY). Other national teams scheduled to play include St. Andrew's (RI), St. Mary (AZ), St. John's (DC), Bishop Loughlin (NY), Winchendon (MA), Harmony Christian (OH), Northfield Mt. Herman (MA), Hargrave (VA), and Bellaire (TX).

Three games from the Spalding Hoophall Classic will be televised nationally on CSTV including #16 Neumann-Goretti (PA) vs. #3 DeMatha (MD), #13 Towson (MD) vs. #6 St. Benedicts (NJ), and the top two 5th year prep schools Notre Dame Prep (MA) vs. Patterson School (NC).

From around New England Holy Name (Worcester, MA), Deering (Portland, ME), Lynn English (Lynn, MA), and Hillhouse (New Haven, CT) will participate in addition to Western Mass favorites Minnechaug, Longmeadow, Cathedral , Central, Commerce, Holyoke, South Hadley, Sabis, and New Leadership.

Some of the top players in the Spalding Hoophall Classic include Syracuse recruit Donte Green (Towson), Kansas State recruit Michael Beasley (Notre Dame), Arizona recruit Jerryd Bayless (St. Mary's), Florida recruit Alex Tyus (Haromony Christian), Georgetown Recruits Chris Wright (St. John's) and Austin Freemen (DeMatha), Georgia Tech recruit Gani Lawal (Norcross), and Villanova recruit Corey Fisher (St. Patrick). Three UMass recruits will participate including Marcus Matthews (Bishop Loughlin), Ousmane Lo (Winchendon), and Matt Glass (Northfield).

In girls games, Bulkley (CT), Holy Name (Worcester, MA), Granby, Lee, Northampton, Cathedral, Longmeadow, and Minnechaug will all compete.

Tickets are on sale and will be available by calling the Basketball Hall of Fame Monday-Friday between 9am-5pm at (413)781-6500. Tickets for the High School Invitational (Friday, Saturday & Monday) are $10 adult and $8 students. Tickets for the Future Stars Invitational (Sunday) are $12 adult and $10 students. Big Y World Class Market once again offers a $3 discount by calling the Hall of Fame in advance, or by showing a Big Y Super Saver Discount Card at the door.

Spalding has been the Official Ball of the Basketball Hall of Fame since 2005. They recently committed to a three-year Title sponsorship of the Spalding Hoophall Classic.

Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the birthplace of basketball, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame promotes and preserves the game of basketball at every level – professional, collegiate, men and women. For more information on these and other upcoming events, please visit our website at www.hoophall.com or call 1-877-4-HOOPLA.