MaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour: Huntington St. Joseph Prep

By Jason Hickman Nov 12, 2015, 11:00pm

Miles Bridges and Curtis Jones look to lead Fighting Irish to another top five finish.

Video: Early Contenders - Huntington St. Joseph Prep

MaxPreps 2015-16 High School Basketball Early Contenders, Presented by Dick's Sporting Goods and Under Armour


Head coach: Arkell Bruce (31-3 career record)

2014-15 record: 31-3, No. 4 final national ranking

State association: Independent



Enrollment: 200 (Players attend St. Joseph Catholic Central)

The 2015-16 Huntington St. Joseph Prep basketball team
The 2015-16 Huntington St. Joseph Prep basketball team
Photo by Randy Sartin


Players to Watch

Miles Bridges (6-7, Sr., G/F) … Committed to Michigan State

Ivan Gandia (6-1, Sr., G) … Puerto Rico junior national team member

Curtis Jones (6-3, Sr., G) … Committed to Indiana

Jonathan Kabongo (6-4, So., G) … Younger brother of former Texas guard Myck Kabongo



Micah Thomas (6-7, Sr., G/F) … Arkansas, LSU and Maryland among suitors

Trace Young (6-8, Jr., F) … Should capture attention of high majors this winter

Guard/forward Miles Bridges
Guard/forward Miles Bridges
Photo by Randy Sartin


Key Dates

Dec. 5 – vs. Quality Education Academy (Winston-Salem, N.C.) at Marshall County Hoopfest

Dec. 7 – vs. Montverde Academy (Fla.)

Dec. 12 – vs. Word of God Christian Academy (Raleigh, N.C.) at Big E Classic



Dec. 19-21 – Chick-fil-A Classic

Jan. 2 – vs. Chaminade (St. Louis) at Cancer Research Classic

Jan. 23 – vs. Oldsmar Christian (Fla.) at ARS.com Tampa Hoopfest

Feb. 13 – vs. St. Benedict's Prep (Newark, N.J.) at Primetime Shootout

Feb. 14 – vs. Roselle Catholic (N.J.) at Primetime Shootout

Guard Curtis Jones
Guard Curtis Jones
Photo by Randy Sartin




Fighting Irish Storylines

* HSJP doesn't have the depth of Division I-bound stars it has enjoyed in recent seasons, but Bridges and Jones have the ability to carry the Fighting Irish a long way. Bridges — a Top 25 2016 recruit — averaged 15.7 points, 10.6 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game as a junior. Jones wasn't far behind at 15.3 points per game.

* Huntington St. Joseph Prep doesn't get the same level of attention as national powers like Montverde Academy and Oak Hill Academy, but perhaps it should. The Fighting Irish are 117-13 over the past four seasons and have finished ranked in the top five nationally three times.

* There's always a diverse cast at Huntington St. Joseph Prep. This year's team includes players from Belgium, Cameroon, Canada, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Egypt, Puerto Rico, Serbia and Turkey.

View gallery from preseason Early Contenders photo shoot with Huntington St. Joseph Prep
Players and coaches pose with personnel from the City of Huntington Fire Department.
Players and coaches pose with personnel from the City of Huntington Fire Department.
Photo by Randy Sartin