Many of the top high school teams in the New York/New Jersey area will be at Rutgers University this coming weekend for the Hoop Group Showcase.
Among the schools on hand will be defending champion St. Anthony, St. Benedict’s, St. Patrick, Linden, Paterson Catholic, Bloomfield Tech, Seton Hall Prep, Plainfield, Elizabeth, Don Bosco, Christian Brothers, Mount Vernon and Neuman-Goretti (Pa.).
One thing that makes this event special each year is that a team from seemingly nowhere can come out and make a big run. Just last year Paterson Eastside, led by head coach Tommie Patterson (who is now leaving the Eastside program after a year as an assistant coach), reached the Final Four. The Ghosts jelled well over the summer and ended up reaching the Passaic County title game (losing to Paterson Catholic) and winning the North 1, Group 4 sectional title.
Keep in mind that some of the area’s top players are away this week at the NBA Top 100 Camp in Virginia: Tevin Baskin (Trinity Catholic, Uncommitted); Paris Bennett (St. Patrick/Uncommitted); Dominic Cheek (St. Anthony/Uncommitted); Michael Gilchrist (St. Patrick/Uncommitted); Myck Kabongo (St. Benedict’s/Uncommitted); Tamir Jackson (St. Benedict’s/UA
; Omari Lawrence (St. Raymond’s/Uncommitted); Lamar Patterson (St. Benedict’s/Pitt); Durand Scott (Rice/Uncommitted); and Tristan Thompson (St. Benedict’s/Texas).
Still, a year ago, Mike Rosario of St. Anthony returned from that camp on the final day of the tournament to help the Friars win the event at Seton Hall.
This year the quarters (9:40), semis (12) and finals (2:30) will take place on Sunday at the Rutgers Barn. Who knows who might make a dramatic entrance to help his team win this year’s tournament?
