– Hoophall Classic and Hall of Fame College Events Continue to Spotlight Future NBA Stars –
SPRINGFIELD, MASS. – The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame celebrates the impact of its premier basketball events on the next generation of professional stars. In the first round of last night’s 2025 NBA Draft, 14 selections—including seven of the first 10 picks—had previously competed in Hall of Fame-affiliated events, including the nationally renowned Hoophall Classic, Hoophall West, and collegiate showcases such as the Hall of Fame Series.
2025 Draft Picks and Events
#1 Cooper Flagg (2023-24 Hoophall Classic, 2025 Julius Erving Award Winner)
#2 Dylan Harper (2024 Hoophall Classic)
#3 VJ Edgecombe (2023-24 Hoophall Classic)
#5 Ace Bailey (2024 Hoophall Classic)
#6 Tre Johnson (2024 Hoophall Classic, 2024 Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas)
#7 Jeremiah Fears (2023 Hoophall West, 2024 Hoophall Classic)
#9 Collin Murray-Boyles (2022 Hoophall West)
#13 Derik Queen (2022-24 Hoophall Classic)
#14 Carter Bryant (2022-23 Hoophall West, 2023-24 Hoophall Classic, 2024 Hall of Fame Rivalry Game)
#18 Walter Clayton Jr. (2022 Basketball Hall of Fame Invitational, 2023 Hall of Fame Series Charlotte)
#23 Asa Newell (2023-24 Hoophall Classic)
#25 Jase Richardson (2023-24 Hoophall Classic)
#29 Liam McNeeley (2022-24 Hoophall Classic, 2024 Enshrinement Exhibition Game, 2024 Hall of Fame Series New York City)
#30 Yanic Konan Niederhauser (2024 Hall of Fame Series Baltimore)
“It’s rewarding to see so many athletes who’ve competed in our events reach the pinnacle of the sport,” said John L. Doleva, President and CEO of the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame. “These results are a testament to the caliber of competition we host and our commitment to celebrating the game at every level, from rising high school stars to elite collegiate programs.”
With Flagg’s selection, Hoophall Classic has produced 12 of the last 15 No. 1 overall picks, including 11 straight from 2011-21.
Since 2004, 120+ Hoophall Classic participants have gone on to play in the NBA, including Kevin Durant (2006), James Harden (2007), Kyrie Irving (2010), Anthony Davis (2011), Karl-Anthony Towns (2014), Jaylen Brown (2015), Jamal Murray (2015), Bam Adebayo (2016), Jayson Tatum (2016), Zion Williamson (2018), Cade Cunningham (2020), and Jared McCain (2023). For a complete list of Hoophall Classic alumni, please visit hoophall.com/events/spalding-hoophall-classic/alumni/.
About the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the city where basketball was born, the Naismith 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 475 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 hoophall.com and follow @hoophall.
