By Steve Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
The Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic will once again serve as the unofficial start of the basketball season in the Garden State.
This year's event will feature 11 boys games to be played at Seton Hall University over the course of two days, Saturday and Sunday, and four girls games, to be held at Kean University on Sunday.
Many of New Jersey's top programs will participate, along with several out-of-state powers.
Saturday's action includes St. Benedict's Prep taking on the Winchendon School from Massachusetts. Winchendon features the 7-foot-2 sensation John Riek, who emerged on the summer scene as one of the best true centers in the country.
Also featured on Saturday are the Colts of Christian Brothers Academy, one of Central Jersey's most decorated programs. Their game against Chatham will be the head coaching debut for Geoff Billett. Billett, a former CBA player himself, takes over for Ed Wicelinski, who was at the helm for 27 seasons.
The day's last game pits Seton Hall Prep against nearby rival Columbia. Seton Hall Prep is led by point guard Ashton Gibbs. Gibbs, a four-year starter, is one of the state's top seniors, and will be heading to Pittsburgh next fall.
Sunday features even more top-notch matchups.
Danny Hurley's St. Benedict's High School squad will be taking on Bloomfield in the first game, followed by Linden and St. Joseph of Montvale.
The third game presents perhaps the weekend's most intriguing match up. St. Raymond will be trekking down from the Bronx to challenge a very talented Paterson Catholic squad.
St. Raymond is undefeated thus far this season, already having won games at the National High School Hoops Festival and the Big Apple Challenge.
Paterson Catholic is enormously talented, led by senior guard Jordan Theodore. The lightning quick Theodore will challenge St. Raymond's top guards, Daryl Bryant and Omari Lawrence. Sophomore Fuquan Edwin will pose another scoring threat for the Cougars.
The St. Anthony Friars follow with a game against the Hun School. Bob Hurley's squad is the deepest its been in years, perhaps since his undefeated 1989 team, which won a mythical national championship.
Mike Rosario, a senior guard committed to Rutgers, and point guard Jio Fontan lead the way for the Friars, who beat state-ranked Plainfield at the Tip Off Classic a year ago.
St. Patrick will take on Newark Science in the night cap. This will be a high intensity contest. St. Patrick senior forward Quintrell Thomas transferred from Newark Science before last season. Undoubtedly, his old teammates would love to upset his new squad.
Sunday's girls action includes several New Jersey powerhouses.
Newark's Shabazz will take on New York's Bishop Kearny. Shabazz is looking to start anew after a scheduling oversight allowed them to play more games than the N.J.S.I.A.A. allowed, thus disqualifying them from state postseason play.
University High School, the defending Tournament of Champions winner, will take on Delaware power St. Elizabeth in the following game. University's Lauren Mincy, who scored 22 points in the TOC final as a freshman, returns with a strong supporting cast, and is one of the nation's top sophomores.
The last game at Kean University has Trenton Catholic taking on Teaneck. Trenton Catholic, who was Tournament of Champions runner-ups, finished last season 28-3 and once again look to dominate the southern New Jersey scene.
For more information and a complete schedule, visit the Hoop Group's Tip-Off Classic page here.
