Young New York, New Jersey Stars Have Chance to Impress College Coaches at Hoophall Classic

Bob Hurley remembers his St. Anthony’s team playing on the grand stage of the Hoophall Classic against Malik Monk and Bentonville (AR) a year ago.

Monk, who had signed with Kentucky, scored 22 points in a loss in front of Wildcats coach John Calipari, but it was St. Anthony’s junior guard R.J. Cole who really made a name for himself.

“It’s a big, big stage and when a kid plays on that stage and plays well, it’s something that you remember,” Hurley, whose team has won 41 straight games, said Thursday on The 4 Quarters Podcast. “Last year Malik Monk scored [22] points, R.J. Cole scored 23. R.J. scored the first 16 points of the game, and after that game he and his family knew he was going to get a scholarship because he had done that on a stage that’s even bigger than when you play in the state final.”

Cole ultimately chose Howard over Monmouth and Boston University, but a whole new crop of young New York and New Jersey stars will get a chance to impress college coaches this weekend at the Hoophall Classic.