This holiday weekend is a huge one for high-level high school hoops, with prestigious events at the Hoophall Classic, the Dan Finn Classic, the Big Apple Basketball Invitational and the Freedom Fighters Challenge.
I’ve linked the schedules to all four events at the bottom of this post.
I’m going to head over to Jason Curry’s Big Apple Basketball Invitational Saturday and Monday. It’s about a 15-block walk from my apartment and Jen and I are going to see ‘Avatar’ Saturday night after the games. Jason always puts on a first-class event and this year is no exception.
This year’s event features Tobias Harris, Jayvaughn Pinkston, Dion Waiters, C.J. Aiken, Jason Morris, Rakeem Christmas, Angel Nunez, LaQuinton Ross, Achraf Yacoubou and Maurice Harkless.
Personally, I’m looking forward to the Monday night game between the Tennessee-bound Harris and Half Hollow Hills West and the Villanova-bound Pinkston and Bishop Loughlin.
“Should be a great game,” Harris wrote by text.
**The Dan Finn Classic is also a great event for a good cause. Be sure to read this tremendous piece by my friend Steve Politi of The Star-Ledger about St. Peter’s Prep coach Mike Kelly, who doubles as a police officer. St. Peter’s faces Bob Hurley’s St. Anthony team Saturday night. I’ll have more on Hurley and the Friars in a Rivals story coming out later today on Rivals High.
**The Hoophall Classic features four games Monday on ESPNU, including the blockbuster game between St. Patrick and Findlay Prep, two of the best teams in the nation. As first reported here, St. Patrick junior forward Michael Gilchrist is expected to play Monday.
Jan. 15-18: HOOPHALL CLASSIC (Springfield, Mass) featuring St. Anthony, St. Benedict’s, St. Patrick, De Matha & Findlay Prep
Jan. 16: DAN FINN CLASSIC (Jersey City, NJ): featuring St. Anthony, St. Ben’s
Jan. 16 & 18: BIG APPLE BASKETBALL INVITATIONAL (NY, NY) featuring Half Hollow Hills West, Bishop Loughlin, Cardozo, St. Raymond’s & Winchendon
Jan. 18: FREEDOM FIGHTERS HOOP CHALLENGE (Paterson, NJ) featuring Hudson Catholic, Paterson Kennedy, Paterson Eastside
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