2026 HoopHall Classic Standouts

In addition to our New England contributor, Eron Lord's, coverage of the Invitational portion of the weekend, he was able to take in an all impressive showcase of basketball talent, with multiple Top 100 High School aged prospects, showing off their unique abilities, and possible NBA potential, to packed house, over the course of three days at Springfield College, in the battle of the titans that is the, HoopHall Classic.

Written below are several of the standout athletes, Eron was able to observe, over the course of two days at this years edition of the Classic:

Day 1 - Saturday, Jan. 17th

Trey McKinney || F || 6’5”|| Millennium HS (AZ) || C/O 2028

McKinney was a force attacking the basket this game, finishing at the rim through contact for multiple and-one opportunities. His effort on the offensive and defensive boards, as well as running the floor in transition was crucial to his teams’ success. He also showed the ability to put the ball on the floor and create his own basket, with a nice crossover and left hand drive on one play. 

Adan Diggs || CG || 6’5”|| Millennium HS (AZ) || C/O 2028

Diggs showed his ability to create for himself off the dribble. He made multiple difficult shots from the midrange, including an impressive side-step jumper off a spin move to open up the game. Defensively, he was active in the passing lanes, and even held is ground against the opposing teams’ big man in the post on some possessions. 

Caleb Gaskins || F || 6’8”|| Columbus HS (FL) || C/O 2026 || Miami (FL) Signee

Gaskins was impactful on both ends of the floor for his team in this game, while also making his presence felt on the glass. Offensively, he made multiple catch and shoot threes, and attacked closeouts to get to the rim or kick out to open teammates. Defensively, he was active as a weakside defender and came up with 3 blocks in the game. 

Maximo Adams || F || 6’7”|| Sierra Canyon HS (CA) || C/O 2026 || UNC Signee

Adams ability to shoot the ball was the focal point of his game on this day. He made three pointers both off the dribble as well as off the catch, from both wings and the top of the key. He also did a good job of finding teammates, both cutting and spotting up. He had a nice right hand skip pass off the live dribble to left corner for an easy three from his teammate. 

Brandon McCoy || SG || 6’4”|| Sierra Canyon HS (CA) || C/O 2026

McCoy was dominant all-around for his team in this game. He got most of his points in transition or from putbacks on the offensive glass, to go along with some pull up jumpers. He did a good job of creating opportunities for his teammates when the defense began to focus on him more. Defensively, he was active in the passing lanes, getting multiple steals. When he did make mistakes, he took accountability for his actions and constantly hi-fived his teammates to help keep good energy on the floor. 

Chase Foster || PF || 6’8”|| IMG Academy (FL) || C/O 2026 || Pitt Signee

Foster was effective attacking the basket in this game. He showed good touch on his floater, and liked to use it after driving from the left wing. He has good size and showed his ability to use that size to draw contact and get to the free throw line. He also did a good job of finding teammates in advantageous opportunities. 

Darius Ratliff || C || 7’0”|| Archbishop Stepinac (NY) || C/O 2026 || USC Signee

Ratliff, playing without his twin brother in this game, flashed his ability to shoot the ball at his size, making numerous catch and shoot threes including one deep three from the top of the key that he got fouled on as well. Defensively, he controlled the rim with his length and finished the game with 6 blocks. 

Abdou Toure || G || 6’6”|| Notre Dame HS (CT) || C/O 2026 || Arkansas Signee

Toure was the best athlete on the floor in this game, making his presence felt on both ends with highlight worthy dunks and blocks throughout the game. Offensively, he used his strength and speed to get by defenders and finish at the rim with craftiness as well as power. On the defensive end, he was all over the floor, defending multiple positions and coming up with big stops. He finished with 6 blocks and 3 steals in this game.

Jason Crowe Jr.  || PG || 6’4”|| Inglewood HS (AZ) || C/O 2026 || Missouri Signee

Crowe was the focal point for his team offensively in this game, controlling most possessions. He was able to score from all three levels, making numerous spot up threes as well as creating for himself from both beyond the arc and from midrange. His floater was effective in this game as well and he was able to absorb contact while using it at the rim. Defensively, he showed quick hands and came up with multiple steals. For the night, he set a HoopHall record with 48 points. 

Day 3 - Monday, Jan. 19th

Preston Bollin || F || 6’6”|| The Newman School (MA) || C/O 2027

Bollin was lights-out from three point range in this game, making multiple catch and shoot threes from the left side of the floor. He also was able to put the ball on the ground and had a nice step-through reverse layup in the first quarter. He finished the game shooting 4-4 from three. 

Beckham Black || PG || 6’4”|| Southeastern Prep (FL) || C/O 2027

Black was the leader on the floor for his team, constantly encouraging his teammates and keeping a good energy and communication on the floor. He was the primary initiator for his team, routinely finding shooters and cutters off the live dribble. He was effective shooting the ball from beyond the arc this game, as well as drawing fouls when attacking the rim. Defensively, he was very vocal, and was able to switch multiple positions and hold his ground. For the game he finished with 19 points and 10 assists. 

Dakari Spear || SG || 6’5”|| Dynamic Prep (TX) || C/O 2026 || Texas Tech Signee

Spear had an efficient game scoring the ball from all three levels. He made a couple of threes, and got to his pull up jumper after the defense began to closeout aggressively. He was effective in transition and drawing contact when attacking the rim. He finished with 20 points. 

Marcus Spears Jr. || F || 6’9”|| Dynamic Prep (TX) || C/O 2027 

Spears made his presence felt on the defensive end of the floor in this game, using his length to disrupt things in the passing lanes and alter shots at the rim. He finished with 5 blocks and 3 steals. He was very effective on the offensive glass as well, finishing multiple contested putback attempts. He also did a good job of finding teammates in transition for easy baskets. 

Caleb Holt || G || 6’5”|| Prolific Prep (FL) || C/O 2026 

Holt used his strong frame well defensively, being physical at the point of attack and guarding multiple positions. He was effective in grabbing defensive rebounds and pushing the ball in transition, creating opportunities for himself and finding his teammates for alley oops. Offensively, he made multiple catch and shoot threes, some very contested, as well as a nice three in isolation from the top of the key. 

Cam Williams || PF || 7’0”|| St. Mary’s (AZ) || C/O 2026 || Duke Signee

Williams displayed his ability and touch on his jumpshot throughout this game. He was able to score in a variety of ways: stepback jumpers, turnaround jumpers from the post, a post drive into a hop-step fadeaway, one and two-dribble pull ups, as well as catch and shoot threes. Defensively, he did not have many blocks on the stat sheet, but his length definitely deterred shots at the rim. He finished with 31 points and 4-7 from three. 

Jordan Smith, Jr. || G || 6’1”|| Paul VI HS (VA) || C/O 2026 

He has a very solid frame and used it to his advantage in multiple ways this game. Defensively, he was very active and strong at the point of attack. He guarded multiple positions and was rarely caught out of position. He was active on the defensive glass and looked to push the ball in transition after grabbing the board. Offensively, he was the leader of his team this game. He used his strength to back down opposing guards in the post and routinely found his teammates, either the big in the post or a kickout to a shooter. In pick-and-roll, he was rarely sped up and played at his own pace, getting to the basket or his pull up jumper, as well as consistently finding shooters on the wings. He finished with 34 points, 8 assists, and 0 turnovers. 

Christian Collins || F || 6’9”|| St. John Bosco (CA) || C/O 2026

Collins flashed his ability to create his shot in this game, starting off the game with a pull-up three from the top of the key out of the pick and roll. That trend of creating for himself continued throughout the game. He used a jab-step to create space for a 3, and got to the midrange for a nice bump fadeaway. He looked to push the ball in transition and attack the rim after grabbing boards on the defensive end. For the game, he finished with 24 points and 9 rebounds. 

Antonio Pemberton || PG || 6’1”|| Brewster Academy (NH) || C/O 2027 

Pemberton played with good pace and got to his spots well in this game. He showed off his vertical on a nice putback finish early in the first quarter. He was able to effectively get to his pull up jumper off of one and two dribbles, and used his floater to beat contests at the rim. He was active on the defensive glass as well and looked to push the ball in transition for opportunities for his teammates. 

King Gibson || G || 6’4”|| Spire Academy (OH) || C/O 2027 

Gibson played with great intensity on the offensive end, hitting multiple big shots for his team down the stretch. He primarily made his shots from beyond the arc off of the catch, but he did have a tough turnaround jumper from the free throw line off the dribble. Defensively, he got some deflections and a crucial steal off of the inbounds during a 4th quarter run for his team.