MaxPreps Staff Report
South Orange will be the focal point for New Jersey high school basketball this weekend, as 19 of the top teams in the state and beyond will converge on Seton Hall University's Walsh Gymnasium for The Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic, Presented by The Star-Ledger.
Nationally-ranked St. Patrick (No. 2, by USA Today), St. Benedict's (No. 3), and St. Anthony (No. 6), will all be in action.
Bob Hurley's St. Anthony will play in the Saturday nightcap, taking on Plainfield, while son Dan Hurley's St. Benedict's will be in action Sunday, taking on East Side. The St. Benedict's Prep squad will face Winchendon Prep, Mass., Saturday night.
St. Patrick, No. 9 in MaxPreps' final 2005-2006 rankings, will take on Atlantic City Sunday.
Despite all the Garden State talent that will be on display, it might be an import that will be the top individual attraction.
Tyreke Evans of American Christian, Pa., is widely considered to be the top junior in the country and will lead his club against The Hun School Sunday.
Fans of Big East college basketball might want to get a glimpse of this event, as six players committed to conference schools will be in action.
There is also a four-game girls' slate Saturday at Kean University, with six group champions from a year ago battling it out - including nationally-ranked Shabazz of Newark.
Boys - Saturday (Seton Hall University, South Orange)
1 p.m. - Don Bosco Prep vs. Neptune
2:45 p.m. - Bloomfield Tech vs. St. Raymonds, N.Y.
4:30 p.m. - Linden vs. Paterson Catholic
6:15 p.m. - St. Benedict's vs. Winchendon Prep, Mass.
8 p.m. - St. Anthony vs. Plainfield
Girls - Saturday (Kean University, Union)
1 p.m. New Brunswick vs. River Dell
2:45 p.m. Teaneck vs. Trenton Central
4:30 p.m. Bloomfield Tech vs. Morris Catholic
6:15 p.m. Wilson vs. Shabazz
Boys - Sunday (Seton Hall University, South Orange)
Noon - Elizabeth vs. St. Joseph Regional
1:45 p.m. - St. Patrick vs. Atlantic City
3:30 p.m. - St. Benedict's vs. East Side
5:15 p.m. - The Hun School vs. American Christian, Pa.
7 p.m. - Seton Hall Prep vs. Columbia
For more information on The Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic, click here.