Wasatch Academy (Utah) takes down IMG Academy (Fla.) in wild finish at Hoophall Classic

The first true marquee matchup at the 2025 Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. delivered on Friday night, as Wasatch Academy (Utah) defeated No. 12 IMG Academy (Fla.) 59-58 in what turned out to be a dramatic showdown.

Shooting guard Mariano Manciel was the surprise hero for Wasatch, as the junior poured in a game-high 28 points. A go-ahead 3-pointer from guard Katrelle Harmon with less than 40 seconds to go turned out to be the difference, though there were plenty of chances squandered after the fact.

IMG star point guard Darius Acuff was off the mark from deep all night on Friday, missing all eight of his 3-point attempts. The Arkansas signee had a chance to win the game for the Ascenders, but his last-second running heave didn’t fall as the buzzer sounded.

The win is a monumental one for Wasatch, which entered Friday coming off a big win over Link Academy (Mo.), another nationally-ranked team. The Tigers are now 11-4 on the season and look primed for a spot in the On3 Composite Rankings top 25.

IMG drops to 13-6 on the season, though it continues to garner experience against plenty of the top teams in the nation.

Missed opportunities haunt IMG

A layup from junior guard Trey Beamer gave IMG a 56-54 lead with less than two minutes to play. Acuff had a chance to extend the lead, but missed long from deep. Wasatch then found an answer on the next possession via senior center Augustine Ekwe, who found himself free under the rim for an easy layup to tie things up once again with a minute to go.

With no fouls to give, Manciel fouled Beamer at half court, sending the guard to the line. Beamer made both free throws to put the Ascenders back up by two.

Wasatch found another answer with just over 30 seconds left, though, as Harmon nailed a catch-and-shoot 3-pointer after inbounding on the baseline, putting the Tigers ahead 59-58.

With the shot clock off, Acuff looked for Sadiq White on an alley-oop, but the pass was just out of reach. After missing a putback, IMG committed a foul, giving Wasatch possession with 11.3 seconds to play.

A turnover gave the ball right back to IMG, however. Manciel slipped after catching the inbound pass and the ball went out of bounds under the basket. With a chance to go for the win, IMG muffed its inbound pass, giving the ball right back to the Tigers, who called timeout.

Wasatch finally collected a clean pair of inbound passes, the latter of which ended with Manciel going to the line for a chance to ice the game with 3.7 seconds on the clock. More madness ensued.

The Tigers’ hot hand missed both free throws. IMG found the rebound and called timeout, giving the Ascenders one final chance to steal one in Springfield. Acuff received the inbound pass and raced down the floor, but had to force up a running, contested 3-pointer, which clanked left off the glass, giving Wasatch the win.

Wasatch’s star SG and Houston five-star signee Isiah Harwell was also off on Friday night. The Tigers received just 12 combined points from Harwell and junior four-star PG Junior County. Luckily for them, Manciel and Harmon stepped up in the clutch.

Remaining Hoophall Classic Schedule

Both teams will be back in action on Saturday. IMG will take on Brewster Academy (N.H.), while Wasatch will face off against La Lumiere (Ind.).

The boys basketball schedule for the final three days of the event can be found below:

Saturday, Jan. 18: Holy Innocents (Ga.) vs. St. Joseph (Calif.) – 10:30 a.m. ET
Saturday, Jan. 18: Brewster Academy (N.H.) vs. IMG Academy (Fla.) – Noon ET
Saturday, Jan. 18: Paul VI (Va.) vs. St. John Bosco (Calif.) – 4 p.m. ET
Saturday, Jan. 18: Columbus (Fla.) vs. Notre Dame (Calif.) – 5:30 p.m. ET
Saturday, Jan. 18: Grayson (Ga.) vs. Sierra Canyon (Calif.) – 7 p.m. ET
Saturday, Jan. 18: La Lumiere (Ind.) vs. Wasatch Academy (Utah) – 9 p.m. ET

Sunday, Jan. 19: Sidwell Friends (D.C.) vs. Owyhee (Idaho) – 8:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: DeMatha Catholic (Md.) vs. Whitney Young (Ill.) – 10 a.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: Archbishop Stepinac (N.Y.) vs. Richmond Heights (Ohio) – 11:30 a.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: Brewster Academy (N.H.) vs. Oak Hill Academy (Va.) – 1 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) vs. Arizona Compass Prep (Ariz.) – 3:15 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. Utah Prep (Utah) – 7 p.m. ET
Sunday, Jan. 19: Highland (Va.) vs. Prolific Prep (Calif.) – 8:45 p.m. ET

Monday, Jan. 20: Gonzaga (D.C.) vs. Roosevelt (Calif.) – 11 a.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 20: Columbus (Fla.) vs. Perry (Ariz.) – 1 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 20: Montverde Academy (Fla.) vs. Arizona Compass Prep (Ariz.) – 3 p.m. ET
Monday, Jan. 20: Long Island Lutheran (N.Y.) vs. La Lumiere (Ind.) – 5 p.m. ET

More on the event from the Hoophall Classic website:

“The Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame’s Hoophall Classic annually features the top high school players and teams from around the country. The event is held over the Martin Luther King Day Weekend at Springfield College’s Blake Arena and has hosted NBA Champions and All-Stars, many NBA First Round Draft Picks, College All-Americans and McDonald’s All-Americans.”