In 1891, Dr. James Naismith invented basketball at Springfield College. 135 years later, the Hall of Hope returned the next generation of student-athletes to the very campus where the game was born — Springfield investing in its own, in the city that gave the world the game.
Hosted at Springfield College, two days brought student-athletes from 20+ Springfield-area high schools — plus Denver and New York City — together with NBA, WNBA and Globetrotter Legends to innovate, train, and compete: AI workshops, financial literacy, podcasting, on-court clinics, and a Shark Tank–style pitch. The celebration moved to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame for the Gold Jacket Enshrinement, honoring the 2026 class: Nancy Lieberman, Chuck Cooper, Harold "Lefty" Williams, Mario West, and Eric Newkirk.
Students rated Hall of Hope 2026 a 4.8 out of 5. Every student said they learned something new about careers, opportunities or life skills, every student left motivated and inspired about their future, and every student said they would attend another Hall of Hope. Across eleven sessions spanning athletics, technology, money and mental performance, not one scored below 4.65.
Partner organizations rated their experience a perfect 5.00 out of 5, called the program "extremely well aligned" with their own mission, and every one of them confirmed they are returning in 2027.
