Photo courtesy of Big Jersey Basketball.
By David Cordova.
Back in 1979, the late Dave Gavitt formed a league that would one day be one of the strongest conferences in college basketball. That conference would be the Big East and the seven schools would all be colleges throughout the Northeast, such as Villanova, Georgetown, St. John’s, Seton Hall, Syracuse, UConn and Boston College. More than 45 years later, this league is still thriving and has changed the game.
Towards the end of last year, a new league was formed in the similar mold of the Big East, only this one would be for high school basketball. Enter Big Jersey Basketball.
One of the main forces behind this venture is none other than Justin Leonard, who has been a part of the basketball scene for well over 20 years, as he was a publisher for Dime Magazine and also Bounce Magazine, of which he was also the co-founder. Today, he also serves as the co-founder of the Game Seven Marketing agency, which deals with sports, music and culture.
A native of New Jersey and a graduate of Don Bosco Preparatory School, he has decide to provide a platform for the youth in his home state so that the elite talent and the under-the-radar talent can have a place to showcase their talents.
Big Jersey Basketball also has seven schools in the league, such as the aforementioned Don Bosco Prep, Immaculate Conception, Bergen Catholic, Hudson Catholic, Roselle Catholic, St. Peter’s Prep and Gill St. Bernard.
Starting on New Year’s Day, the league kicked off at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson. Then the next two sessions took place throughout these past couple of weekends at Caldwell University out in Caldwell, New Jersey, which will also be the spot for the fourth and final session on Sunday, Jan. 26th.
In terms of players, there is no shortage of talent on all of the teams.
St. Peter’s Prep boasts junior center Keiner Asprilla, who is rated as the No. 41 overall player in the Class of 2026 by ESPN, and also two other talented juniors in guards Richie Rosa and Mason Santiago.
Bergen Catholic has players such as senior forward Declan Wucherpfennig (Fairfield University signee), junior forward Julius Avent, junior guards Jaden Brown and Jalen Maldonado, sophomore Jahlil Owusu, senior guards Tyler McQuaid.
Gill St. Bernard’s has some gems such as senior guards Kobe Closeil and Sebastian Lalo, junior guard Dorsett Mulcahy, sophomore forward Kieran Quinn and senior forward Stanley Njekwe.
Roselle Catholic’ standouts are their crew of juniors in guards Jalen Grant and Tyrease Hunter and forwards Kahlik Thomas and Trey Lewis, a transfer from Cardinal Hayes High School across the bridge in New York City.
Rutgers Prep has the sophomore duo of guard Jacob Canton and forward Andrew Kretkowski and other gems such as junior forward Logan Franz, freshman forward William Brunson, sophomore guard Rocco Loomis, senior guard Donovan Piggee and senior forward Myles Parker (Marist signee).
Hudson Catholic has some hoopers such as senior forward Keith McKnight (Quinnipiac signee), sophomore forward Andrew Iduh, sophomore guard Rashad “Red” Robinson, Jr., and junior guards Elijah Williams and Saad Mitchell.
Don Bosco Prep has a tandem of players in senior guard Brady Loughlin, senior forward Jordan Ghee, junior guard Brad Brown, junior forward J.P. Skoric and freshman guard Jaylen Lewis.
And finally, Immaculate Conception has their crew of players in senior guard Myles Blackley, junior guard Jaren Barnett, senior forward Akeem Langevine, sophomore guard Va’Shaun Harper and freshman guard Infinite Amen-ra.
Although the league is new, it has the potential to be something special. For its inaugural year, it has gotten off to the right start. There’s plenty more in store for Big Jersey Basketball, as it has the chance to make noise nationally.
Who knows? Maybe other states will adopt the idea of starting similar leagues/conferences in the future. But for right now, this one belongs to New Jersey and it is definitely thriving.
Dave's JOINT 
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