By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
High school basketball in New Jersey is off to a roaring start, with some of the top teams in the country hailing from the Garden State.
Several New Jersey teams excelled in national-level tournaments over the break, cementing the state's reputation on the national level.
St. Anthony, New Jersey's most storied program, once again headed to San Diego, where they defeated top California power Mater Dei last season. This year, in the Above- the-Rim Classic, Coach Bob Hurley's squad defeated Holy Cross, N.Y., in the championship game.
Junior A.J. Rodgers was named tournament Co-MVP, though the Friars received solid contributions from senior Miles Beatty, junior Travon Woodall, and junior Mike Rosario.
This season's St. Anthony team is one of the deeper teams Hurley has had in a long time, with a rotation of eight or nine players not uncommon.
St. Anthony will look to knock off defending Tournament of Champions winner St. Patrick, who took second place in the prestigious Academy National Invitational in Houston, Texas.
With victories over Alief Hastings, Texas and an ultra-talented squad from Norcross, Ga., St. Pat's played its way into the tournament final. Maryland powerhouse DeMatha climbed back from a halftime deficit to upend the Celtics, 58-49.
Nonetheless, St. Patrick remains one of the top teams not only in New Jersey, but in the country. With upcoming matchups against opponents like Huntington, W.V., coach Kevin Boyle and the Celtics will certainly be battle-tested come March.
The team that shocked St. Patrick in the 2005 Tournament of Champions final, Seton Hall Prep, took home a tournament victory in the Piggly Wiggly Roundball Classic, in Charleston, S.C.
Led by junior Ashton Gibbs and senior Jordan Costner, the Pirates advanced to the finals by defeating Dunwoody, one of the top teams in Georgia. In the finals, they beat familiar foe in Christian Brothers Academy - a rematch of last year's Parochial A final.
Linden, traditionally one of the stronger public school programs in the state, got off to a fast start and never looked back in the William Allen Tournament in Allentown, Pa.
Linden defeated hometown favorite Allen in the tournament finals, pushing its record to 7-0.
Two other top public school teams faired well over the holidays. Bloomfield Tech won the Bay Ball Classic in Delaware, while Plainfield took home the top prize in the Surf N' Slam Tournament in San Diego.
Plainfield's only loss of the season came at the hands of St. Anthony, while Bloomfield Tech's lone loss was to St. Raymond's, N.Y.