Bob Hurley has coached at St. Anthony for 40 years and won 27 State titles and 12 New Jersey Tournament of Champions crowns.

After Tuesday night’s 66-62 victory over Plainfield in the TOC final, Hurley has now led seven teams to undefeated seasons, according to Jim Hague, St. Anthony historian and journalist at the Hudson Reporter.

In four of the previous six unbeaten seasons, the Friars won a USA Today mythical national championship.

But this year, for the third time, St. Anthony won’t win the mythical national title.

That’s because Oak Hill Academy in Mouth of Wilson, Va., completed its season 44-0 and is ranked No. 1 in both the USA Today and ESPN polls. Findlay Prep (29-1) is currently No. 2 in both rankings and St. Anthony is No. 3 in both.

“I hate to blow your bubble on this one but I really don’t care,” Hurley told SNY.tv in a recent interview. “All I’m interested in is The Star-Ledger poll in New Jersey given out to the No. 1 team in the state at the end of the year. If you do really well in the Ledger poll then you’ve had a really good year. (more…)

In any other year, Oak Hill coach Steve Smith would be happy to take his team to the ESPN National High School Invitational in North Bethesda, Md.

But not this year.

That’s because Smith is taking the Warriors (43-0) — who are No. 1 in the ESPN poll and No. 2 in the Five Star Power Rankings — on a basketball tour of China that runs March 7-19.

Oak Hill — which has produced a slew of NBA players, including Kevin Durant, Carmelo Anthony and Rajon Rondo — will return (more…)

Reeves Nelson, who was dismissed last week from UCLA, is headed to play professionally in Lithuania, coach Ben Howland announced Thursday.

“As far as what team that will be, we can’t say because we don’t have a signed contract,” Brian Nelson, Reeves’ father, told the Modesto Bee. “Reeves is not returning to college. He’s not transferring anywhere. He has every intention of turning pro.”

The 6-foot-8, 235-pound Nelson plans to enter the 2012 NBA Draft and thus cannot sign with an NBA team, even as a free agent, until after the draft, the Bee reported. (more…)

Prince Ibeh, a 6-foot-10 center from Garland (Texas) Naaman Forest, has verbally committed to Texas.

The Rivals No. 10 center in the Class of 2012, Ibeh also considered Arkansas, Vanderbilt and Texas A&M.

He brings “great length and athleticism,” Naaman Forest coach Jeff Clarkson said by text. “He is already a great shot blocker. He needs to work on the offense but he has tremendous upside with his size and quickness.” (more…)

NORTH AUGUSTA, S.C. — High-profile college coaches were all around the gym at the Riverview Park Activities Center for Tuesday evening’s matchup between big men Jarnell Stokes of Memphis YOMCA and DaJuan Coleman of Albany City Rocks.

Kentucky’s John Calipari, Florida’s Billy Donovan, Memphis’ Josh Pastner, UConn’s Jim Calhoun and UCLA’s Ben Howland were among the coaches watching the battle of the big men.

In the end, the 6-foot-8, 240-pound Stokes won the matchup, hitting a gorgeous step-back jumper over Coleman at one point and notching 12 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists and 1 block as Memphis handed the City Rocks their second loss in as many games, 71-62. (more…)

Jordan Adams is headed to UCLA.

As first reported by Alex Kline of TheRecruitScoop.com, Adams chose the Bruins over Memphis, Georgia and Miami.

“I committed there because of their history, tradition and alumni,” he told Kline. “It’s a great school with great coaches and players that always play hard. The campus was lovely and I just feel like my future will be the best there.”

The 6-foot-6 Adams out of Oak Hill Academy is the No. 18 small forward in the Class of 2012, per Rivals. (more…)

Montrose Christian became the first school other than Findlay Prep to win the ESPN Rise National High School Invitational Saturday.

Villanova-bound Tyrone Johnson of Plainfield, N.J., scored 21 points to lead No. 1 Montrose Christian over No. 2 Oak Hill Academy, 71-64 in double-overtime, in the championship game at Georgetown Prep in Bethesda, Md.

Montrose won the earlier matchup this season, 70-62, in double-OT. (more…)

NEWARK – There has been much hand wringing in recent years about the decline and fall of New York City basketball.

But one look at the remaining teams in the NCAA Tournament reveals that the Big Apple is represented well.

Kemba Walker of UConn, Lamont “Momo” Jones and Kevin Parrom of Arizona, Doron Lamb of Kentucky and Erving Walker of Florida are all from New York.

And all began their careers at New York City Catholic schools. (more…)

Arizona-bound forward Sidiki Johnson and uncommitted senior guard Ben McLemore were dismissed from Oak Hill Academy for violating an undisclosed team rule, the Tucson Citzen reported.

When reached by phone Monday, Oak Hill coach Steve Smith confirmed that two players were no longer on the team and are no longer students at Oak Hill.

The 6-foot-9, 220-pound Johnson is a New York City native who had transferred to Oak Hill from St. Benedict’s Prep in Newark. (more…)

The McDonald’s All-American team was named Thursday for the March 30 game at the United Center in Chicago (10 p.m., ESPNU).

Gene Pingatore of St. Joseph High School in Westchester, Ill. will lead the West team and Bob Cimmino of Mount Vernon (N.Y.) will serve as head coach of the East team.

WEST

Wayne Blackshear (Louisville)

Branden Dawson (Michigan State)

Myck Kabongo (Texas)

Austin Rivers (Duke)

Marquis Teague (Kentucky) (more…)