For those staying in town over the break, a trip to our gym this Saturday will provide some excellent basketball action before settling in for Thanksgiving meals, and football watching, as this Saturday, the Hawks and Atlanta Tipoff Club is putting on the Sixth Annual Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic in our own gym.
The event will feature 12 of Georgia's top hoops' teams, including eight boys' squads and four girls', and for the second year in a row this event has been named one of the top 90 high school basketball events in the country by Max Preps. See link below:
High school basketball: Tournaments, showcases and events to watch for the 2025-26 season
Looking at the high caliber action, below is the schedule for the day:
12:00 PM – Creekside vs. River Ridge (Girls)
1:40 PM – North Paulding vs. HIES (Girls)
3:20 PM – Cross Creek vs. Milton (Boys)
5:00 PM – Kell vs. Gainesville (Boys)
6:40 PM – Woodward vs. HIES (Boys)
8:20 PM – Tri-Cities vs. McEachern (Boys)
"We're so excited for the return of our annual Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic, which is an opportunity to celebrate the passion and love for high school basketball throughout Atlanta" said Chris Jacobs, Senior Director of Hawks Basketball Academy. "By having multiple boys' and girls' games in this one-day showcase, this event gives young athletes the chance to compete at a high level and share their love for the game."
Girls' action will begin at noon, with our girls taking on North Paulding at 1:40 p.m., following by our boys getting into the action against Woodward at 6:40 p.m. Both Golden Bear squads are coming off state championship seasons and are beginning this campaign facing some of the top teams in the state.
"This event is the ultimate way to tip off the high school basketball season in Atlanta, where the area's top talent is on display and fans are treated to a first-class event," said Eric Oberman, President of the Atlanta Tipoff Club. "Each year, the Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic continues to grow, and we're proud to showcase the next generation of athletes on such a premier stage."
Tickets for the 2025 Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic are on sale now at
HawksNaismith.com. Adults can attend for $12, students for $5 and children under six are admitted free. All fans in attendance will receive a complimentary Hawks T-shirt. Fans unable to attend in person can watch the full showcase live at
thesuvtv.com/hawksnaismithtoc.
Before the Classic, the Hawks partner and personal injury attorney Ken Nugent will host a free Jr. Hawks Youth Basketball Clinic for 100 boys and girls aged 8 to 15. Nugent is pledging $1 to the Hawks Foundation for every point scored during the showcase.
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"It's my privilege to, once again, team up with the Atlanta Hawks in support of the Hawks-Naismith Tipoff Classic," said Nugent. "As I've done in the past, I will contribute $1 for every point scored during the event, with funds going towards the Ken Nugent Law Firm Scores for Scholarships program. My strong commitment to this tournament reflects my dedication to our youth, support of our communities, and the Atlanta Hawks."
Over the past six years, the Hawks and Atlanta Tipoff Club have brought together more than 3,250 athletes from 235 high school teams through a series of showcase events.
