(From our friends Big Apple Basketball)
New York, NY – Big Apple Basketball will host the 8th Annual Big Apple Basketball Invitational on Saturday, January 15 and Monday, January 17, 2011 at Baruch College in New York City. The invitational features 15 top high school and prep school teams from New York, Maryland, Massachusetts, Connecticut, North Carolina and Pennsylvania.
Said Big Apple Basketball President, Jason Curry: “This is always one of the most exciting basketball events in New York City during the high school season. I’m not sure who enjoys this most…the players, coaches, fans or myself and my staff. We’re once again poised to showcase some of the top high school players from around the nation, in our backyard – The Big Apple!”
The invitational will feature New York City schools, Abraham Lincoln, Rice, Thomas Jefferson, Benjamin Cardozo and Paul Robeson; along with Hills West (Long Island), Baltimore City College High (Maryland), Long Island Lutheran
(Long Island), Quality Education (North Carolina), St. Thomas More (Connecticut), Notre Dame Prep (Massachusetts), Friends Central (Pennsylvania), Hillhouse (Connecticut), South Kent (Connecticut) and Patterson (Maryland).
Notable All-American players include South Kent star via Queens, Maurice Harkless (committed to St. John’s); Andre Drummond (St. Thomas More, rated #1 junior nationally by Rivals Hoops); Nick Faust (Baltimore City College High – committed to Maryland); Khem Birch (Notre Dame Prep – committed to Pittsburgh); Long Island Lutheran’s Achraf Yacoubou (committed to Villanova); Quality Education’s Dom Pointer and Dwight Meikle (both committed to St. John’s); Jermaine Sanders (Rice – committed to Cincinnati); Tavon Sledge (Hills West – committed to Iowa State); Freddie Wilson (Hillhouse – committed to Seton Hall); along with several other nationally ranked seniors and juniors. Locally, Abraham Lincoln, Rice and Thomas Jefferson are all expected to be frontrunners for the New York city championship.
Notable coaches include: Dwayne Morton who has led Abraham Lincoln High to seven city championships (2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) and has coached former Lincoln All-Americans, Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers), Sebastian Telfair (Minnesota Timberwolves) and Stephon Marbury (former NBA). Morton, also won a city championship as a player at Lincoln in 1986. Baltimore City High’s Mike Daniels has coached current NBA superstar, Carmelo Anthony. St. Thomas More’s Jeri Quinn, who is in his 33rd season, enters this year with a 785-217 record and has also coached several former local stars, including Devin Ebanks, Quincy Douby and Ed Cota. Former participants in the BAB Invitational include: Michael Beasley (Minnesota Timberwolves); Jonny Flynn (Minnesota Timberwolves); Sundiata Gaines (Minnesota Timberwolves); Derrick Caracter (Los Angeles Lakers); Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers); Kemba Walker (UConn) and Brandon Knight (Kentucky).
Founded in 1999, Big Apple Basketball is a not-for-profit organization designed to use basketball as a “tool” to assist young people in their athletic, educational, professional, and life skill development.
SCHEDULE – SATURDAY, JANUARY 15, 2011
12pm – L.I. Lutheran (Long Island) vs. Paul Robeson (Brooklyn)
1:45pm – Patterson (MD) vs. Benjamin Cardozo (Queens)
3:30pm – Notre Dame Prep (MA) vs. South Kent (CT)
5:30pm – Quality Education (NC) vs. Friends Central (PA)
7:15pm – Baltimore City College High (MD) vs. Thomas Jefferson (Bklyn)
SCHEDULE – MONDAY, JANUARY 17, 2011
11am – Hillhouse (CT) vs. Paul Robeson (Brooklyn)
12:45pm – Quality Education (NC) vs. St. Thomas More (CT)
2:45pm – L.I. Lutheran (Long Island) vs. Rice (Manhattan)
4:30pm – Hills West (Long Island) vs. Abraham Lincoln (Brooklyn)
*The Baruch College gymnasium is located at 55 Lexington Avenue (on the corner of E. 24th Street and Lexington Avenue).
For more information, including press credentials, please contact: Jason Curry – 718-575-3342 or [email protected] or visit www.bigapplebasketball.com
