Bob Hurley remembers his St. Anthony’s team playing on the grand stage of the Hoophall Classic against Malik Monk and Bentonville (AR) a year ago.
Monk, who had signed with Kentucky, scored 22 points in a loss in front of Wildcats coach John Calipari, but it was St. Anthony’s junior guard R.J. Cole who really made a name for himself.
“It’s a big, big stage and when a kid plays on that stage and plays well, it’s something that you remember,” Hurley, whose team has won 41 straight games, said Thursday on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “Last year Malik Monk scored [22] points, R.J. Cole scored 23. R.J. scored the first 16 points of the game, and after that game he and his family knew he was going to get a scholarship because he had done that on a stage that’s even bigger than when you play in the state final.”
Cole ultimately chose Howard over Monmouth and Boston University, but a whole new crop of young New York and New Jersey stars will get a chance to impress college coaches this weekend at the Hoophall Classic.
One New York team –Archbishop Molloy — and five New Jersey teams — Roselle Catholic, Hudson Catholic, Blair Academy, St. Anthony’s and The Patrick School — will be on display at the Hoophall at Springfield College beginning Saturday.
The Patrick School has five seniors signed to Division 1 schools, including Kentucky-bound big man Nick Richards. Blair Academy has four signed players. And St. Anthony’s has Cole.
But all the teams feature uncommitted younger players who will be on a national stage in front of a slew of college coaches.
Molloy features 7-foot-1 junior big man Moses Brown, 6-6 junior wing Khalid Moore and 6-3 sophomore point guard Cole Anthony, the son of former NBA point guard Greg Anthony. All three are being recruited at the highest levels.
“I believe any time our players can play against a quality team in a great atmosphere like this, it’s a great opportunity,” Molloy coach Mike McCleary said.
The Jersey schools all have elite talent, too.
Naz Reid is a 6-11 junior big man from Roselle Catholic, who is being courted by Syracuse, UConn, Kentucky, St. John’s, Seton Hall and Rutgers, among others.
Hudson Catholic features Reid’s Sports U teammates, the junior trio of wing Louis King, point guard Jahvon Quinerly and Luther Muhammad.
In addition to its seniors, The Patrick School features sophomore guard Al-Amir Dawes, whom Calipari spotted while recruiting Richards, as well as junior guard Jordan Walker and junior big man Valdir Manuel.
St. Anthony’s, meantime, has sophomore guard Alexander Rice, the son of Monmouth coach King Rice who hit the game-winning three-pointer on Tuesday night in the win over the Ranney School, and 6-10 junior shot-blocker 6-9 Akuwovo “Savior” Ogeneyole.
“Hoophall is one of the premier events nationally every year so we are excited for the opportunity to go back and challenge ourselves against another national opponent,” RC coach Dave Boff said. “It’s a great measuring stick for us and also a chance for our guys to be seen by a ton of college coaches. These are opportunities that very few programs get so we are very appreciative of the opportunity.”
In addition to the recruiting aspect, Hurley said the whole experience of going to the Hall of Fame will leave an impression on all the kids.
“Oh, it’s amazing,” Hurley said. “When the kids all get up there, you’re staying with all the top teams. Oak Hill is there, all the top teams, they’re all staying at two hotels. You go to the Hall of Fame, you look at the history of the sport and then you go over to the college and then you walk in and you see media from all over the country. You see film crews. You see college coaches everywhere, basically every staff will be represented. It’s a big, big stage.”
Here’s the full schedule:
(Boys) Thursday, January 12
3:00PM Easthampton High School, MA vs. Ellington High School, CT 
4:30PM Hopkins High School, MA vs. Palmer High School, MA
6:00PM Sabis Charter School, MA vs. Taconic High School, MA
7:30 PM East Longmeadow High School, MA vs. Pope Francis High School, MA
9:00 PM Springfield Central High School, MA vs. Putnam High School, MA
(girls) Friday, January 13
3:00PM Granby High School, MA vs. South Hadley High School, MA
4:30PM Chicopee Comp High School, MA vs. Holyoke High School, MA
6:00PM Braintree High School, MA vs. Enfield High School, CT
7:30PM Bishop Feehan High School, MA vs. Long Beach Poly, CA
9:00PM Springfield Central High School, MA vs. Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti, PA
(BOYS) SATURDAY, JANUARY 14
12 NOON Weaver High School, CT vs. Roselle Catholic High School, NJ
1:30PM St. Anthony High School, TX vs. Hudson Catholic High School, NJ
3:00PM Archbishop Molloy High School, NY vs. Notre Dame High School, CT
4:30PM DeMatha Catholic High School, MD vs. Bishop Gorman High School, NV
6:00PM Cambridge Rindge and Latin, MA vs. Crossroads School, CA
8:00PM Westtown School, PA vs. Hillcrest Prep, AZ 
(BOYS) Sunday, JANUARY 15
9:00AM New Hampton School, NH vs. Blair Academy, NJ
10:45AM Brewster Academy, NH vs. CBD – Montverde Academy, FL
12:30PM Putnam Science Academy, CT vs. Vermont Academy, VT
2:15PM IMG Academy, FL vs. Wasatch Academy, UT
4:00PM Ss. John Neumann-Maria Goretti, PA vs. Greensboro Day School, NC
5:45PM Commonwealth Academy, MA vs. Cushing Academy, MA
7:30PM MacDuffie School, MA vs. Wilbraham and Monson Academy, MA
9:15PM Suffield Academy, CT vs. Northfield Mount Hermon School, MA
(Boys) Monday, January 16
9:00AM St. Anthony High School, NJ vs. Jemison High School, AL
11:00AM The Patrick School, NJ vs. Pace Academy, GA 
1:00PM Oak Hill Academy, VA vs. Nathan Hale High School, WA
3:00PM Montverde Academy, FL vs. Bishop Montgomery High School, CA
5:00PM LaLumiere School, IN vs. Sierra Canyon School, CA
7:00PM Springfield Central High School, MA vs. Hillhouse High School, CT
