1-27-26 roundup: Pro football and basketball, College basketball, High school basketball, Middle school basketball
By Richard Walker
Charlotte Hornets’ rookie forward Kon Knueppel has been selected for the Castrol Rising Stars game during the Feb. 13-15 NBA All-Star Weekend 2026 in Los Angeles.
Knueppel is the 1st Hornets player chosen for the Rising Stars competition since Brandon Miller 2024 and the 16th player in Hornets history to be selected for the event.
Knueppel is 2nd among NBA rookies in scoring this season at 18.7 points per game is 3rd in the league for 3-pointers made (151) through 47 games.
A 2025 1st-round pick out of Duke, Knueppel has already won back-to-back Rookie of the Month awards to begin the season and is the fastest player to reach 100 career 3-pointers made on Dec. 22 (29 games).
Other Hornets rookies or 2nd-year players to be invited to the Rising Stars All-Star Weekend are the following:
1996 George Zidek
2001 Baron Davis
2002 Lee Nailon
2005 Emeka Okafor
2006 Emeka Okafor
2007 Raymond Felton, Adam Morrison
2012 Kemba Walker
2013 Michael Kidd-Gilchrist, Kemba Walker
2015 Cody Zeller
2017 Frank Kaminsky
2020 Miles Bridges, Devonte’ Graham, P.J. Washington
2021 LaMelo Ball
2022 LaMelo Ball
2024 Brandon Miller
The Charlotte Hornets full 2025-26 regular season schedule:
OCTOBER
Wednesday 22 BROOKLYN (W 136-117)
Saturday 25 at Philadelphia (L 121-125)
Sunday 26 at Washington (W 139-113)
Tuesday 28 at Miami (L 117-144)
Thursday 30 ORLANDO (L 107-123)
NOVEMBER
Saturday 1 MINNESOTA (L 105-122)
Sunday 2 UTAH (W 126-103)
Tuesday 4 at New Orleans (L 112-116)
Friday 7 at Miami* (L 108-126)
Monday 10 L.A. LAKERS (L 111-121)
Wed. 12 MILWAUKEE (W 111-100)
Friday 14 at Milwaukee* (L 134-147, OT)
Saturday 15 OKLAHOMA CITY (L 96-109)
Monday 17 at Toronto (L 108-110)
Wednesday 19 at Indiana (L 118-127)
Saturday 22 LA CLIPPERS (L 116-131)
Sunday 23 at Atlanta (L 110-113)
Wednesday 26 NEW YORK* (L 101-129)
Friday 28 CHICAGO* (W 123-116)
Saturday 29 TORONTO (W 118-111, OT)
DECEMBER
Monday 1 at Brooklyn (L 103-116)
Wednesday 3 at New York (L 104-119)
Friday 5 at Toronto (W 111-86 )
Sunday 7 DENVER (L 106-115)
Friday 12 CHICAGO (L 126-129)
Sunday 14 at Cleveland (W 119-111)
Thursday 18 ATLANTA (W 133-126)
Saturday 20 at Detroit (L 86-112)
Monday 22 at Cleveland (L 132-139)
Tuesday 23 WASHINGTON (W 126-109)
Friday 26 at Orlando (W 120-105)
Monday 29 MILWAUKEE (L 113-123)
Wednesday 31 GOLDEN STATE (L 125-132)
JANUARY
Friday 2 at Milwaukee (L 121-122)
Saturday 3 at Chicago (W 112-99 )
Monday 5 at Oklahoma City (W 124-97 )
Wednesday 7 TORONTO (L 96-97 )
Thursday 8 INDIANA (L 109-112)
Saturday 10 at Utah (W 150-95 )
Monday 12 at LA Clippers (L 109-117)
Thursday 15 at L.A. Lakers (W 135-117)
Saturday 17 at Golden State (L 116-136)
Sunday 18 at Denver (W 110-87 )
Wednesday 21 CLEVELAND (L 87-94 )
Thursday 22 at Orlando (W 124-97 )
Saturday 24 WASHINGTON (W 119-115)
Monday 26 PHILADELPHIA (W 130-93 )
Wednesday 28 at Memphis 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 29 at Dallas 8:30 p.m.
Saturday 31 SAN ANTONIO 3:00 p.m.
FEBRUARY
Monday 2 NEW ORLEANS 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 5 at Houston 8:00 p.m.
Saturday 7 at Atlanta 7:30 p.m.
Monday 9 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 ATLANTA 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 HOUSTON 7:00 p.m.
Friday 20 CLEVELAND 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 22 at Washington 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 at Chicago 8:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 at Indiana 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PORTLAND 1:00 p.m.
MARCH
Tuesday 3 DALLAS 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday 4 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 6 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 8 at Phoenix 9:00 p.m.
Tuesday 10 at Portland 10:00 p.m.
Wednesday 11 at Sacramento 10:00 p.m.
Saturday 14 at San Antonio 8:00 p.m.
Tuesday 17 MIAMI 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 19 ORLANDO 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 21 MEMPHIS 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 24 SACRAMENTO 7:00 p.m.
Thursday 26 NEW YORK 7:00 p.m.
Saturday 28 PHILADELPHIA 6:00 p.m.
Sunday 30 BOSTON 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday 31 at Brooklyn 7:30 p.m.
APRIL
Thursday 2 PHOENIX 7:00 p.m.
Friday 3 INDIANA 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 5 at Minnesota 7:00 p.m.
Tuesday 7 at Boston 7:30 p.m.
Friday 10 DETROIT 7:00 p.m.
Sunday 12 at New York 6:00 p.m.
Home games in CAPS
All times listed are Eastern
* Denotes Emirates NBA Cup Group Play game
Schedule to be announced following Emirates NBA Cup Group Play: Dec. 9, 10, 13, 16- Emirates NBA Cup Knockout Rounds, Dec. 11, 12, 14, 15- Additional regular-season games for eliminated teams
The Charlotte Hornets 2025 preseason schedule:
Sunday, Oct. 5 Oklahoma City (at N. Charleston Col.) L 114-135
Thursday, Oct. 9 at Oklahoma City L 116-122
Saturday, Oct. 11 at Dallas W 120-116
Wednesday, Oct. 15 Memphis (at First Horizon Col., Gboro) W 145-116
Friday, Oct. 17 at New York L 108-113
High school basketball
Here are the area’s high school basketball standings through Jan. 23 games.
-BOYS
(Big South 5A/6A)
Huss 7-0, 16-2
Kings Mountain 5-2, 8-10
Crest 4-3, 11-5
South Point 3-3, 7-10
Ashbrook 3-4, 7-8
Forestview 2-5, 5-12
North Gaston 0-7, 9-8
(Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A)
Burns 9-1, 9-7
Shelby 7-2, 12-3
Lincolnton 8-3, 12-7
Bessemer City 8-3, 10-8
Cramer 6-4, 10-7
Highland Tech 3-8, 6-14
East Gaston 3-8, 5-14
Cherryville 2-9, 5-12
West Lincoln 1-9, 1-17
(Others)
East Lincoln 10-1, 16-3
Gaston Christian 6-2, 22-5
Gaston Day 5-1, 14-8
Lincoln Charter 8-0, 13-3
Mtn Isl Charter 5-6, 9-7
North Lincoln 9-2, 15-3
Piedmont CC 9-2, 18-3
Thomas Jefferson 5-5, 7-9
-GIRLS
(Big South 5A/6A)
Huss 7-0, 11-5
South Point 4-2, 5-12
Ashbrook 3-4, 7-8
Kings Mountain 3-4, 6-12
Crest 3-4, 3-8
North Gaston 2-4, 8-8
Forestview 1-5, 2-15
(Southern Piedmont 2A/3A/4A)
Cramer 10-0, 17-1
Lincolnton 9-2, 13-6
Burns 8-2, 13-3
Shelby 5-4, 6-8
West Lincoln 5-5, 8-10
Highland Tech 5-6, 13-7
Bessemer City 3-8, 6-12
Cherryville 1-10, 3-14
East Gaston 1-10, 2-17
(Others)
East Lincoln 8-3, 15-4
Gaston Christian 6-2, 16-4
Gaston Day 2-4, 9-9
Lincoln Charter 8-0, 12-4
Mtn Isl Charter 6-4, 12-6
North Lincoln 10-1, 15-4
Piedmont CC 3-7, 7-14
Thomas Jefferson 8-1, 14-3
The area’s schedule/results:
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
-BOYS
Cramer 63, Bessemer City 62
Queen’s Grant 77, Piedmont Community Charter 57
South Point 85, Burns 67
-GIRLS
Cramer 66, Bessemer City 27
Queen’s Grant 84, Piedmont Community Charter 19
Burns 51, South Point 35
(Friday, Jan. 23)
-BOYS
Forestview 76, North Gaston 54
Huss 88, Ashbrook 86
Kings Mountain 95, Crest 88 (2 OT)
Cramer 85, West Lincoln 42
Cherryville 62, East Gaston 61
Bessemer City 71, Highland Tech 52
Lincolnton 76, Shelby 74
East Lincoln 58, North Lincoln 54
Lincoln Charter 77, Corvian Community 37
Mountain Island Charter 60, Sugar Creek Charter 41
Gaston Christian 72, Hickory Grove Christian 34
Gaston Day 81, Asheville Carolina Day 65
-GIRLS
North Gaston 50, Forestview 45
Huss 68, Ashbrook 44
Crest 49, Kings Mountain 45
Cramer 65, West Lincoln 28
Cherryville 47, East Gaston 32
Highland Tech 61, Bessemer City 51
Lincolnton 56, Shelby 47
North Lincoln 74, East Lincoln 43
Lincoln Charter 58, Corvian Community 22
Mountain Island Charter 55, Sugar Creek Charter 36
Gaston Christian 44, Hickory Grove Christian 23
Asheville Carolina Day 54, Gaston Day 53-
(Monday, Jan. 26)
Metrolina Christian at Gaston Christian
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Forestview at Kings Mountain
North Gaston at Huss
South Point at Ashbrook
Burns at Lincolnton
Cramer at Bessemer City
Highland Tech at Cherryville
Bunker Hill at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Hickory
Community School of Davidson at Lincoln Charter
Jackson Day at Piedmont Community Charter
Concord Academy at Gaston Day
Gaston Christian at Ambassador Christian
Langtree Charter at Mountain Island Charter
Crest at Shelby, ccd.
North Gaston at Highland Tech, ccd.
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Crest at Forestview
North Gaston at Ashbrook
South Point at Huss
Cherryville at Burns
Highland Tech at West Lincoln
Lincolnton at Cramer
Shelby at East Gaston
East Lincoln at West Iredell
Newton-Conover at North Lincoln
Langtree Charter at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Carolina International
Piedmont Community Charter at Cone Leadership
Gaston Day at Gaston Christian
(Tuesday, Feb. 3)
Crest at South Point
Huss at Forestview
Kings Mountain at North Gaston
Bessemer City at Burns
Cramer at Highland Tech
Lincolnton at East Gaston
Shelby at Cherryville
Foard at East Lincoln
North Lincoln at Bandys
Lincoln Charter at Pine Lake Prep
Piedmont Community Charter at NCSSM Morganton
Thomas Jefferson at Mountain Island Charter
Gaston Christian at SouthLake Christian
Gaston Day at Metrolina Christian
(Wednesday, Feb. 4)
Shelby at West Lincoln
(Friday, Feb. 6)
Ashbrook at Kings Mountain
Huss at Crest
North Gaston at South Point
Bessemer City at Shelby
Cramer at Cherryville
Highland Tech at Burns
West Lincoln at East Gaston
East Lincoln at Hickory
Bradford Prep at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at NCSSM Morganton
Sugar Creek Charter at Piedmont Community Charter
Gaston Christian at Westminster Catawba
SouthLake Christian at Gaston Day
(Saturday, Feb. 7)
West Lincoln at Shelby
Bessemer City at Kings Mountain
(Tuesday, Feb. 10)
Crest at North Gaston
Forestview at Ashbrook
South Point at Kings Mountain
Burns at West Lincoln
East Gaston at Bessemer City
Lincolnton at Highland Tech
Shelby at Cramer
Bunker Hill at North Lincoln
Maiden at East Lincoln
Lincoln Charter at Christ the King
Queen’s Grant at Mountain Island Charter
Westminster Catawba at Gaston Day
Piedmont Community Charter at Cherryville
Asheville School at Gaston Christian
(Thursday, Feb. 12)
Cherryville at North Gaston
(Friday, Feb. 13)
Ashbrook at Crest
Kings Mountain at Huss
South Point at Forestview
Burns at Shelby
Cherryville at Bessemer City
Cramer at East Gaston
Lincolnton at West Lincoln
North Lincoln at Foard
Lake Norman Charter at Lincoln Charter
Mountain Island Charter at Jackson Day
Carolina International at Piedmont Community Charter
Gaston Day at Concord Academy
-END REGULAR SEASON
Pro football
NFL 2025-26 playoff schedule:
-CONFERENCE QUARTERFINALS
BYES- AFC Denver (14-3), NFC Seattle (14-3)
(Saturday, Jan. 10)
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams (12-5) at No. 4 Carolina (8-9) – L.A. Rams 34-31
NFC- No. 7 Green Bay (9-7-1) at No. 2 Chicago (11-6) – Chicago 31-27
(Sunday, Jan. 11)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo (12-5) at No. 3 Jacksonville (13-4) – Buffalo 27-24
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco (12-5) at No. 3 Philadelphia (11-6) – San Francisco 23-19
AFC- No. 7 L.A. Chargers (11-6) at No. 2 New England (14-3) – New England 16-3
(Monday, Jan. 12)
No. 5 Houston (12-5) at No. 4 Pittsburgh (10-7) – Houston 30-6
-CONFERENCE SEMIFINALS
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
AFC- No. 6 Buffalo at No. 1 Denver – Denver 33-30 (OT)
NFC- No. 6 San Francisco at No. 1 Seattle – Seattle 41-6
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
AFC- No. 5 Houston at No. 2 New England – New England 28-16
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 2 Chicago – L.A. Rams 20-17 (OT)
-CONFERENCE CHAMPIONSHIP GAMES
(Sunday, Jan. 25)
AFC- No. 2 New England at No. 1 Denver – New England 10-7
NFC- No. 5 L.A. Rams at No. 1 Seattle – Seattle 31-27
SUPER BOWL
(Sunday, Feb. 8)
At Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara CA, 6:30 p.m., NBC
The Carolina Panthers’ 2025 schedule:
-Preseason
Friday, Aug. 8 Cleveland Browns (L 10-30)
Saturday, Aug. 16 at Houston Texans (L 3-20)
Thursday, Aug. 21 Pittsburgh Steelers (L 10-19)
-Regular season
Sunday, Sept. 7 at Jacksonville Jaguars (L 10-26)
Sunday, Sept. 14 at Arizona Cardinals (L 22-27)
Sunday, Sept. 21 Atlanta Falcons (W 30-0)
Sunday, Sept. 28 at New England Patriots (L 13-42)
Sunday, Oct. 5 Miami Dolphins (W 27-24)
Sunday, Oct. 12 Dallas Cowboys (W 30-27)
Sunday, Oct. 19 at New York Jets (W 13-6)
Sunday, Oct. 26 Buffalo Bills (L 9-40)
Sunday, Nov. 2 at Green Bay Packers (W 16-13)
Sunday, Nov. 9 New Orleans Saints (L 7-17)
Sunday, Nov. 16 at Atlanta Falcons (W 30-27, OT)
Monday, Nov. 24 at San Francisco 49ers (L 9-20)
Sunday, Nov. 30 Los Angeles Rams (W 31-28)
Sunday, Dec. 7 BYE WEEK
Sunday, Dec. 14 at New Orleans Saints (L 17-20)
Sunday, Dec. 21 Tampa Bay Buccaneers (W 23-20)
Sunday, Dec. 28 Seattle Seahawks (L 10-27)
Saturday, Jan. 3 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers (L 14-16)
-Playoffs
Saturday, Jan. 10 Los Angeles Rams (L 31-34)
Middle school basketball
The 2026 Gaston County Conference standings:
-BOYS
Belmont 2-0
Grier 2-0
Holbrook 2-0
York Chester 1-0
Chavis 1-1
W.C. Friday 1-1
Southwest 1-1
Stanley 0-1
Bessemer City 0-2
Cramerton 0-2
Mount Holly 0-2
-GIRLS
Belmont 2-0
W.C. Friday 2-0
Holbrook 2-0
York Chester 1-0
Bessemer City 1-1
Grier 1-1
Mount Holly 1-1
Stanley 0-1
Chavis 0-2
Cramerton 0-2
Southwest 0-2
Gaston County Conference results/schedule:
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Holbrook at Southwest
Grier at Stanley
W.C. Friday at York Chester
Cramerton at Belmont
Chavis at Bessemer City
BYE – Mount Holly
(Monday, Feb. 2)
Mount Holly at Grier
Southwest at W.C. Friday
Stanley at Cramerton
York Chester at Chavis
Belmont at Bessemer City
BYE – Holbrook
(Wednesday, Feb. 4)
Stanley at Mount Holly
York Chester at Holbrook
Belmont at Grier
Bessemer City at W.C. Friday
Chavis at Cramerton
BYE – Southwest
(Thursday, Feb. 5)
Holbrook at W.C. Friday
Cramerton at Mount Holly
Southwest at Chavis
Bessemer City at Stanley
York Chester at Belmont
BYE – Grier
(Monday, Feb. 9)
Grier at Cramerton
Holbrook at Chavis
Mount Holly at Bessemer City
Southwest at Belmont
Stanley at York Chester
BYE – W.C. Friday
(Thursday, Feb. 12)
Chavis at W.C. Friday
Bessemer City at Grier
Belmont at Holbrook
York Chester at Mount Holly
Stanley at Southwest
BYE – Cramerton
(Tuesday, Feb. 17)
Cramerton at Bessemer City
W.C. Friday at Belmont
Grier at York Chester
Holbrook at Stanley
Mount Holly at Southwest
BYE – Chavis
(Thursday, Feb. 19)
Belmont at Chavis
York Chester at Cramerton
Stanley at W.C. Friday
Southwest at Grier
Mount Holly at Holbrook
BYE – Bessemer City
(Monday, Feb. 23)
Bessemer City at York Chester
Chavis at Stanley
Cramerton at Southwest
W.C. Friday at Mount Holly
Grier at Holbrook
BYE – Belmont
(Thursday, Feb. 26)
Semifinals: No. 4 at No. 1, No. 3 at No. 2
(Tuesday, March 3)
Boys final
(Wednesday, March 4)
Girls final
College basketball
Here are the recent results/upcoming schedule for area teams:
(Saturday, Jan. 17)
Queens 87, Stetson 81
Presbyterian 92, Gardner-Webb 55
Forsyth Tech 84, Cleveland CC 71
Brunswick CC 68, Gaston College 63
Chowan 90, Belmont Abbey 69
Fayetteville State 95, J.C. Smith 83
(Sunday, Jan. 18)
Charlotte 73, East Carolina 70
(Monday, Jan. 19)
Mount Olive 64, Belmont Abbey 61
(Wednesday, Jan. 21)
Davidson 68, Fordham 63
Longwood 91, Gardner-Webb 56
Cleveland CC 90, Guilford Tech 86
Queens 87, North Alabama 62
J.C. Smith 90, Shaw 77
Gaston College 72, Caldwell Tech 62
(Thursday, Jan. 22)
Emmanuel 71, Belmont Abbey 61
(Friday, Jan. 23)
Cape Fear CC 87, Gaston College 78
Charlotte 73, Tulane 70
Gardner-Webb 67, USC Upstate 65
(Saturday, Jan. 24)
Cleveland CC at Fayetteville, ppd., no date
J.C. Smith at Livingstone, ppd., Feb. 7
West Georgia 74, Queens 66
VCU 75, Davidson 69
(Tuesday, Jan. 27)
King 77, Belmont Abbey 62
(Wednesday, Jan. 28)
Central Arkansas at Queens, 7 p.m.
Davidson at George Mason, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Temple, 7 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Winston-Salem, 7:30 p.m.
(Thursday, Jan. 29)
Gardner-Webb at UNC-Asheville, 6:30 p.m.
(Friday, Jan. 30)
Cleveland CC at Catawba Valley CC, 7 p.m.
(Saturday, Jan. 31)
Gardner-Webb at Charleston Southern, 2 p.m.
Queens at Bellarmine, 2 p.m.
Gaston College at Wake Tech, 3 p.m.
Cleveland CC at Southwest Virginia, 4 p.m.
Erskine at Belmont Abbey, 4 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Claflin, 4 p.m.
Davidson at Richmond, 4:30 p.m.
Rice at Charlotte, 6 p.m.
(Tuesday, Feb. 3)
Saint Louis at Davidson, 9 p.m.
(Wednesday, Feb. 4)
Converse at Belmont Abbey, 7 p.m.
Longwood at Gardner-Webb, 7 p.m.
Charlotte at Wichita State, 7:30 p.m.
Livingstone at J.C. Smith, 7:30 p.m.
USC Salkehatchie at Gaston College, 8 p.m.
(Thursday, Feb. 5)
Jacksonville at Queens, 7 p.m.
(Friday, Feb. 6)
Loyola Chicago at Davidson, 6 p.m.
(Saturday, Feb. 7)
Gardner-Webb at Presbyterian, 2 p.m.
Richard Bland at Gaston College, 2 p.m.
North Florida at Queens, 3 p.m.
Belmont Abbey at Francis Marion, 4 p.m.
J.C. Smith at Livingstone, 4 p.m.
Davidson-Davie CC at Cleveland CC, 7 p.m.
(Sunday, Feb. 8)
Charlotte at Memphis, 2 p.m.