Photo courtesy of the Metro Classic.
By David Cordova
Every year around the month of February, there is one event that has the tri-state area buzzing. It is one with quality competition with teams representing the state that it resides in and also brings out top-flight national competition from neighboring states and beyond. This event has also been one that has produced plenty of pros and many prominent college players.
This particular event is the Metro Classic.
Now in its 12th year of existence, this event has seen many of the nation’s finest programs make appearances, such as perennial national powerhouses such as Montverde Academy, Oak Hill Academy, La Lumiere, St. Thomas More School and so on and so forth.
This event has also been a showcase for some of New Jersey’s finest high school teams, such as Camden, The Patrick School, Roselle Catholic, Union Catholic, Elizabeth, Gill St. Bernard and more.
It has also gone on to take place in various venues, such as the Harwood Arena on the campus of Kean University in Union, the CURE Insurance Arena in Trenton and the RWJ Barnabas Health Arena out in Toms River.
These days, the event is now taking place out at Franklin High School in Somerset, which is a nice high school gym that has been the host for NJSIAA state tournament games.
As always, the field is loaded with high-level games that have high-level talent.
Some of the notable games will be:
Union Catholic vs. Plainfield, Feb. 6th, 6:30 PM
This game will be a big-time match up for the two foes from Union County, whom already played each other on Jan. 16th in Plainfield, in which the Cardinals dominated against the Vikings, routing them 65-37. The second matchup will definitely be one worth watching as many in North Jersey will be ready to see these two teams ball out once again.
Montverde Academy vs. College Achieve Charter, Feb. 6th, 8 PM
In this matchup, the No. 6 team in the nation out of Montverde, Florida, will be taking on one of the talented up & coming programs in the state. This will be a matchup between some of the Garden State’s finest against some of the best in the country and in the world.
St. Peter’s Prep vs. St. Rose, Feb. 6th, 9:30 PM
One of the powerhouses from Hudson County will square up against one of the best from Monmouth County, who is also the defending NJSIAA Non-Public B state champions from last season. This one will definitely be a tough battle between both teams.
St. Thomas More School vs. Blair Academy, Feb. 7th, 3 PM
In a matchup of two of the top prep school powerhouse programs in the Northeast, this will be a showdown that will kick off Friday’s games, as there is a lot of star-studded talent on both sides.
Southern California Academy vs. Lawrence Woodmere Academy, Feb. 7th, 5:45 PM
An East Coast-West Coast battle will be taking place in this early evening game, as the game will feature some of the best talent nationally and some of the best players from the New York City area.
La Lumiere vs. Colonia, Feb. 7th, 8:15 PM
One of the best games on this night will be between a national powerhouse from a prestigious boarding school in Indiana, which will be a homecoming game for one of the Jersey Shore’s finest players as they go up against a strong team from Middlesex County that will definitely be making a run for the state tournament.
Camden vs. Roselle Catholic, Feb. 7th, 9:30 PM
Just three years ago, both teams played against each other in the final Tournament of Champions title game before the famed event was discontinued for good. Both sides may not have the All-American caliber talent they once did, but both still have promising prospects that have a chance to one day play Division I college basketball. This North Jersey vs. South Jersey battle will be very intriguing.
St. Thomas More School vs. Penn Charter, Feb. 8th, 2 PM
A matchup between the powerhouse prep school program from Oakdale, Connecticut, which has several hoopsters that are Division I signees against the squad from Philadelphia that has three Division I signees of their own. It will definitely be another star-studded matchup to watch.
Colonia vs. Camden, Feb. 8th, 5 PM
A battle between two of the top public school programs in the state of New Jersey will be a great game tow watch and could also be a preview of what’s to come in the NJSIAA state tournament this coming March.
Montverde Academy vs. Union Catholic, Feb. 8th, 8:00 PM
In one of the biggest matchups of the event, the main draw of the event, the Eagles, will be playing against one of Union County’s most prominent programs. One of the best teams in the nation will be competing against Scotch Plains’ finest, which will make it a game to watch.
La Lumiere School vs. St. Rose, Feb. 8th, 9:30 PM
In the last dance of the weekend, the Lakers and the Purple Roses will be a big game to watch as one of the native sons of the state, who was just named a McDonald’s All-American will be taking on another marquee player in the Garden State who is making his case in the Jersey Shore and nationally. This will definitely be the game to end the weekend off just right.
Notable Players To Watch
In-State Talent To Watch
Micah Gordon, Guard, Class of 2027, Plainfield
Na’Jai Hines, Forward, Class of 2025, Plainfield
Yaw Ansong, Forward, Class of 2025, Union Catholic
FK Muntari, Forward, Class of 2025, Union Catholic
A.J. Altobelli, Guard, Class of 2025, Union Catholic
Malik Moore, Guard, Class of 2028, Union Catholic
Naas Hart, Forward, Class of 2025, College Achieve Charter
Deuce Maxey, Guard, Class of 2025, College Achieve Charter
Peter Mauro, Guard, Class of 2025, College Achieve Charter
Eric Hillsman, Guard, Class of 2026, College Achieve Charter
Marque Johnson, Guard, Class of 2028, College Achieve Charter
Richie Rosa, Guard, Class of 2026, St. Peter’s Prep
Mason Santiago, Guard, Class of 2026, St. Peter’s Prep
Jayden Hodge, Guard, Class of 2026, St. Rose
Avery Lynch, Guard, Class of 2027, St. Rose
Deron Rippey, Jr., Guard, Class of 2026, Blair Academy
Jack Bailey, Forward, Class of 2025, Blair Academy (signed to Boston College)
Brendan Oliver, Forward, Class of 2025, Blair Academy
Ramon Soyoye, Forward, Class of 2025, Blair Academy
Ian Archbold, Guard, Class of 2028, Blair Academy
Judah Hidalgo, Guard, Class of 2025, Paul VI
Kobe Closeil, Guard, Class of 2025, Gill St. Bernard
Dorsett Mulcahy, Guard, Class of 2026, Gill St. Bernard
Kieran Quinn, Forward, Class of 2027, Gill St. Bernard
Aidan Derkack, Guard, Class of 2026, Colonia
Torrey Brooks, Jr., Guard, Class of 2026, Camden
Sitafa Hall, Guard, Class of 2025, Camden
Jalen Grant, Guard, Class of 2026, Roselle Catholic
Trey Lewis, Guard, Class of 2026, Roselle Catholic
Tyrease Hunter, Guard, Class of 2026, Roselle Catholic
Out of State Talent
Dante Allen, Guard, Class of 2025, Montverde Academy (FL) (Signed to Villanova)
Kayden Allen, Guard, Class of 2026, Montverde Academy (FL)
Hudson Greer, Guard, Class of 2025, Montverde Academy (FL) (Signed to Creighton)
CJ Ingram, Guard, Class of 2025, Montverce Academy (FL) (Signed to Florida)
Trent Sisley, Forward, Class of 2025, Montverde Academy (FL) (Signed to Indiana)
London Jemison, Forward, Class of 2025, St. Thomas More School (CT) (Signed to Alabama)
Tahlan Pettway, Guard, Class of 2025, St. Thomas More School (CT)
D.J. Hawkins, Guard, Class of 2027, St. Thomas More School (CT)
Brandon Benjamin, Forward, Class of 2025, St. Thomas More School (CT)
Kaiden Francis, Forward, Class of 2026, South Shore (NY)
Nevion Legree, Guard, Class of 2026, South Shore (NY)
Shamari Mitchell, Forward, Class of 2025, South Shore (NY)
Adam Tyson, Forward, Class of 2026, Southern California Academy (CA)
Tyler Jackson, Guard, Class of 2025, Southern California Academy (CA)
Trent Maclean, Forward, Class of 2025, Southern California Academy (CA) (Signed to West Virginia)
Kelvin Odih, Forward, Class of 2025, Southern California Academy (CA) (Signed to West Virginia)
Godson Okohkoh, Forward, Class of 2027, Southern California Academy (CA)
Jacob Ross, Guard, Class of 2025, Southern California Academy (CA) (Signed to Minnesota)
Anderson Diaz, Guard, Class of 2027, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)
Caleb Ourigou, Forward, Class of 2027, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)
Troy Fason, Jr., Guard, Class of 2027, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)
Dylan Cudjoe, Forward, Class of 2027, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)
Julian Desir, Forward, Class of 2026, Lawrence Woodmere Academy (NY)
Darius Adams, Guard, Class of 2025, La Lumiere School (IN) (Signed to UConn)
Melvin Bell, Jr., Guard, Class of 2025, La Lumiere School (IN) (Signed to San Jose State)
Chuck Love III, Guard, Class of 2025, La Lumiere School (IN) (Signed to Loyola-Chicago)
Jalen Haralson, Forward, Class of 2025, La Lumiere School (IN) (Signed to Notre Dame)
Jack Smiley, Guard, Class of 2025, La Lumiere School (IN) (Signed to Belmont)
Ethan Johnston, Guard, Class of 2026, Hill School (PA)
Jacob Meachem, Guard, Class of 2025, Hill School (PA)
Quadri Bashiru, Forward, Class of 2025, Hill School (PA) (Signed to Longwood University)
Onyx Nnani, Forward, Class of 2025, Phelps School (PA)
Matthew Gilhool, Forward, Class of 2025, Penn Charter (PA) (Signed to LSU)
Jake West, Guard, Class of 2025, Penn Charter (PA) (Signed to Northwestern)
Kai Shinholster, Guard, Class of 2025, Penn Charter (PA) (Signed to Minnesota)
Dave's JOINT 
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