HOOP EXTRAVAGANZAS: Hoophall Classic, Bass Pro Tournament of Champions will reshape Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings

BENSALEM, Pa. – One of the great weekends on the high school basketball calendar has arrived. Starting Thursday, Jan. 16, the annual Martin Luther King weekend of major events rolls out.

It’s a prep hoophead dream weekend. There are likely events in your area.

The events stretch from coast to coast with certain landing spots standing out more than others. Three of the more well known events will be contested in cities named Springfield in Massachusetts, Missouri and Virginia. There are plenty of other events with another major one played in Kettering, Ohio.

The granddaddy of the events is at the birthplace of basketball with the Hoophall Classic, a five-day bonanza of hoops and a celebration of the sport played in the iconic Blake Arena on the Springfield College campus. There are 22 teams, both boys and girls, from the Blue Star Media Elite 25 rankings.

The tickets go fast but check here.

Hoophall Schedule

 Thursday
1 PM – Boys – Newton North, Mass. vs. Albany, Calif.

3 PM – Girls – Springfield Central, Mass. vs. Holy Cross, Conn.

4:30 PM – Boys – Andover, Mass. vs. Notre Dame, Conn.

6 PM – Boys – Burke, Mass,  vs. East Catholic, Conn.

7:30 PM – Boys – Pope Francis, Mass. vs. Holyoke, Mass.

9 PM – Boys – Putnam Vocational, Mass. vs. Springfield Central, Mass.

Friday

1 PM – Boys – Ridgefield, Conn. vs. Santa Barbara, Calif.

3 PM – Girls – Christ the King, N.Y. vs. Ontario Christian School, Calif.

4:30 PM – Girls – Sidwell Friends, D.C. vs. Archbishop Mitty, Calif.

6PM  – Boys – IMG Academy, Fla.  vs. Wasatch Academy, Utah

7:30 PM – Boys – Oak Hill Academy, Va. vs. Montverde Academy, Fla.

9 PM – Boys – Springfield Central vs. Peabody Magnet, La.

Saturday, Session 1

9 AM – Girls – Sacred Heart Academy, Conn. vs. Christ the King

10:30 AM – Boys – Holy Innocents’ Episcopal, Ga. vs. St. Joseph, Calif.

12 PM – Boys – Brewster Academy, N.H. vs. IMG Academy

1:30 PM – Girls – Morris Catholic, N.J. vs. Archbishop Mitty

Session 2

4 PM – Boys – St. Paul VI Catholic, Va. vs. St. John Bosco, Calif.

5:30 PM – Boys – Columbus, Miami, Fla. vs. Notre Dame, Calif.

7 PM – Boys – Grayson, Ga. vs. Sierra Canyon School, Calif.
9 PM – Boys – La Lumiere School, Ind. vs. Wasatch Academy

Sunday, Session 1

8:30 AM – Boys – Sidwell Friends vs. Owyhee, Idaho

10 AM – Boys – DeMatha, Md. vs. Whitney Young, Chicago

11:30 PM – Boys – Archbishop Stepinac, N.Y. vs. Richmond Heights, Ohio
1 PM – Boys – Brewster Academy vs. Oak Hill Academy (on ESPN+)

Session 2

3:15 PM – Boys – Long Island Lutheran, N.Y, vs. Arizona Compass Prep, Ariz.  (ESPN+)
5 PM – Girls – Long Island Lutheran vs. IMG Academy (ESPN2)
7 PM – Boys – Montverde Academy vs. Utah Prep (ESPN2)
8:45 PM – Boys – Highland School, Va. vs. Prolific Prep, Calif.

Monday, MLK Day (All games on ESPNU)

9 AM – Girls – Incarnate Word School, Mo. vs. Etiwanda, Calif.
11 AM – Boys – Gonzaga, D.C. vs. Roosevelt, Calif.

1 PM – Boys – Columbus vs. Perry, Ariz.
3 PM – Boys – Montverde Academy vs. Arizona Compass Prep
5 PM – Boys – Long Island Lutheran vs. La Lumiere School

In Springfield, Va., it’s The St. James 2025 MLK Classic. Games will be over three days with 17 enticing matchups with several teams from the DMV.

Check out the 17-game schedule at the St. James flagship location near Washington, D.C.

One of the most attended events of the schedule is the 40^th Bass Pro Tournament of Champions in Springfield, Mo. The three-day, eight-team tournament is annually loaded with talent and Elite 25 teams. The games will be housed in Missouri State University’s Great Southern Bank Arena, running Thursday through Saturday. No. 7 Link Academy (Branson, Mo.) and No. dofkgj Oak Ridge (Orlando, Fla.) headline the field. Crowds normally reach 10,000 per session.

Get tickets here.

In Kettering, Ohio, Flyin’ To The Hoop 2025 is an event in its 22^nd year with 34 teams, 18 games over four days tipping on Friday, Jan. 17 at Kettering Trent Arena. The schedule is here. Tickets are available so buy them now because sellout crowds are expected.

This week there are no additions to the Elite 25 but should change next time around. Too many events, too many impactful games, we’re banking on it.

Okay, that’s it for the first week of January. The Blue Star Media Elite 25 boys’ basketball rankings return on Tuesday, Jan. 21, reflecting the happenings from the Dr. Martin Luther King weekend.

In Southern California, people are in need after the wildfires ravaged the area near Los Angeles.

According to published reports, there have been at least 24 deaths and more than 12,000 structures destroyed. They are forecasting the Santa Ana winds will kick up again and that’s the worst case scenario. Think about donating here to the Red Cross. No dollar amount is too small. Prayers are always appreciated.

Bye for now.

Hope to see you at a game soon. – Christopher Lawlor

Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ Basketball Rankings, Jan. 14, 2025

1. Columbus, Miami (14-3)

Previous rank: 1.

The Lowdown: Defeated Riviera Prep (Miami), 61-44. The Explorers have two games against Elite 25 teams this weekend at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

2. Montverde (Fla.) Academy (11-2)

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: The Eagles upped their mark to 5-1 in the Nike EYBL Scholastic after taking a pair of games at the La Porte (Ind.) Invitational. This upcoming weekend, they have three games at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass., two of which are in the EYBL Scholastic.

3. Roosevelt, Eastvale, Calif. (21-1)

Previous: 3.

The Lowdown: The win streak reached 17 games after defeating Etiwanda, 75-51.

4. Gonzaga, Washington, D.C. (13-2)

Previous: 5.

The Lowdown: Defeated Archbishop Carroll (Washington, D.C.), 82-54.

5. Utah Prep Academy, Hurricane, Utah (16-4)

Previous: 6.

The Lowdown: Prep makes its initial trip to the Hoophall Classic on Sunday, Jan. 19 and a date with No. 2 Montverde (Fla.) Academy.

6. Harvard-Westlake, Studio City, Calif. (18-1)

Previous: 7.

Lowdown: Idle.

7. Link Academy, Branson, Mo. (10-4)

Previous: 8.

The Lowdown: The Lions make the short trip to Springfield, Missouri for the Bass Pro Tournament of Champions, running Thursday through Saturday.

8. IMG Academy, Bradenton, Fla. (12-3)

Previous: 9.

The Lowdown: The Ascenders have two Nike EYBL Scholastic games this weekend at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

9. Dynamic Prep School, Irving, Texas (20-3)

Previous: 10.

The Lowdown: Idle. Christopher Nwuli, a 6-7, 200-pound Rutgers recruit, has transferred in from Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.).

10. Notre Dame, Sherman Oaks, Calif. (15-2)

Previous: 11.

The Lowdown: Idle.

11. Brewster Academy, Wolfeboro, N.H. (14-2)

Previous: 12.

The Lowdown: The Bobcats won both games at the Nike EYBL Scholastic at the La Porte (Indi.) Invitational and have four more this week with two at the Hoophall Classic in Massachusetts.

12. Long Island Lutheran, Brookville, N.Y. (10-5)

Previous: 14.

The Lowdown: Went 2-0 at the Nike EYBL Scholastic La Porte (Ind.) Invitational.

13. Prolific Prep, Napa, Calif. (18-3)

Previous: 15.

The Lowdown: The Crew travel to Flyin’ To The Hoop in Kettering, Ohio for a national event.

14. St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif. (17-2)

Previous: 4.

The Lowdown: Lost to Mater Dei (Santa Ana), 6-2, dropping to 1-1 in the Trinity League.

15. The Patrick School, Hackettstown, N.J. (12-3)

Previous: 13.

The Lowdown: Split two games at the Iverson Blackout Signature Series in Newark, N.J.

16. Perry, Gilbert, Ariz. (15-1)

Previous: 16.

The Lowdown: Defeated Tucson Magnet, 64-48, and Basha (Chandler), 75-61. In the latter game, D’Andre Harrison scored 25 points and Koa Peat added 18.

17. San Antonio (Texas) Brennan (21-2)

Previous: 17.

The Lowdown: Defeated San Antonio, 101-25, and San Antonio Warren, 86-37.

18. Grayson, Loganville, Ga. (16-1)

Previous: 18.

The Lowdown: The Rams play Sierra Canyon School (Chatsworth, Calif.) Saturday at the Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass.

19. Wheeler, Marietta, Ga. (13-3)

Previous: 19.

The Lowdown: With two wins, the Wildcats moved to 5-0 in Region 5-AAAAAA.

20. Owasso, Okla. (9-3)

Previous: 20.

The Lowdown: Defeated Putnam City West (Oklahoma City), 104-62.

21. Sunrise Christian Academy, Bel Aire, Kan. (10-2)

Previous: 21.

The Lowdown: Went 2-0 at the EYBL Scholastic La Porte Invitational in Indiana.

22. Fishers, Ind. (12-0)

Previous: 22.

The Lowdown: Idle.

23. St. Paul VI Catholic, Chantilly, Va. (9-3)

Previous: 23.

The Lowdown: Defeated Christ School (Arden, N.C.), 85-61. Coach Glenn Farello picked up his 600^th career win.

24. Hoover, Ala. (21-0)

Previous: 24.

The Lowdown: Defeated Oak Mountain (Birmingham), 79-41, and Vestavia Hills, 76-49, to remain unbeaten.

25. DePaul Prep, Chicago (16-1)

Previous: 25.

The Lowdown: Rashaun Porter had 19 points and 8 rebounds and Rykan Woo scored 10 when the Rams stopped Loyola Academy (Wilmette, Ill.), 43-35.

 Dropped out: None.

High-Fives by Region

East

1. John Marshall, Richmond, Va. (11-0)
2. St. Frances Academy, Baltimore (13-2)
3. Oak Hill Academy, Mouth of Wilson, Va. (13-3)
4. Archbishop Stepinac, White Plains, N.Y. (9-3)
5. Thomas Jefferson, Brooklyn, N.Y. (16-1)

Geography: Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont and Virginia.

Midwest

1. La Lumiere School, La Porte, Ind. (11-6)
2. Cretin-Derham Hall, St. Paul, Minn. (11-0)
3. Rich Township, Olympia Fields, Ill. (11-4)
4. Kenwood, Chicago (17-1)
5. Crown Point, Ind. (9-0)

Geography: Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, Ohio, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

Southland

1. Calvary Christian Academy, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (11-0)
2. Reidsville, N.C. (12-0)
3. Allen, Texas (22-1)
4. Huntsville, Ala. (22-1)
5. St. Thomas Aquinas, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. (14-1)

Geography: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas.

Far West

1. St. Joseph, Santa Maria, Calif. (16-1)
2. Redondo Union, Redondo Beach, Calif. (17-2)
3. Santa Margarita, Rancho Santa Margarita, Calif. (15-3)
4. La Mirada, Calif. (17-4)
5. Annie Wright School, Tacoma, Wash. (11-1)

Geography: Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington and Wyoming.

Records through Sunday

About: The Blue Star Media Elite 25 Boys’ High School Basketball Rankings are released weekly from December until the conclusion of the high school season in April. Criteria considered are the quality of the team and its players, strength of schedule, tradition, and quality of the team’s league, conference, region or district. The rankings are compiled by Blue Star Media’s Christopher Lawlor, who consults with a national network of coaches, talent evaluators and prep sports writers. The final rankings will be released at the conclusion of the season. Follow him on X at @clawlor.