COVID Concerns Push Elite High School Hoops Event to 2022
Springfield, Mass. — The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame announced today the cancellation of the 2021 Spalding Hoophall Classic presented by Eastbay. The annual basketball showcase entering its twentieth year at Springfield College, the birthplace of basketball, is typically played during MLK Weekend.
“We’re obviously extremely disappointed to cancel Hoophall Classic, a premiere event in the high school basketball calendar,” said Greg Procino, Vice President of Basketball Operations for the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. “The event has seen tremendous talent and success over the past two decades, with a number of sellout crowds, but ultimately the safety of our fans, student athletes and staff is of the utmost importance. We thank Springfield and our marketing partners for their support over the years and look forward to returning to Blake Arena when it’s safe to do so.”
The Basketball Hall of Fame plans to relaunch the elite high school event in 2022. For the latest updates as they become available, follow @hoophallclassic on Instagram and Twitter.
About the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame: Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame is an independent non-profit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to promoting, preserving and celebrating the game of basketball at every level – men and women, amateur and professional players, coaches and contributors, both domestically and internationally. The Hall of Fame museum is home to more than 400 inductees and over 40,000 square feet of basketball history. Nearly 200,000 people visit the Hall of Fame museum each year to learn about the game, experience the interactive exhibits and test their skills on the Jerry Colangelo "Court of Dreams." Best known for its annual marquee Enshrinement Ceremony honoring the game’s elite, the Hall of Fame also operates over 70 high school and collegiate competitions annually throughout the country and abroad. For more information on the Basketball Hall of Fame organization, its museum and events, visit www.hoophall.com, follow @hoophall, @hoophallclassic and #HHClassic or call 1-877-4HOOPLA.