The METRO CLASSIC

Since 2013, the Metro Classic Basketball Showcase has brought together the highest profile national and regional High School basketball teams to compete and provide a framework to give back to our communities.

The Metro Classic is designed to utilize basketball as an agent for community involvement. We seek to foster values such as responsibility, respect, leadership, integrity, competition and service to others. Over the years, the Metro Classic sponsors and teams have touched the life of so many by donating funds and their time to outstanding community service organizations such as Warfighter Sports, Interfaith Hospitality Network of Ocean County, Union County Interscholastic Athletic Conference Collegiate Scholarship Fund, and the Neonatal Unit of the Children’s Hospital of New Jersey, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, NJ Police Surgeons and Night to Shine.

Previous sponsors have included:

EII, Summit Information Systems Paragon Marketing, Mcdonald’s, Nike, UBS, Chik fil a, Chrysler Jeep, Wells Fargo, Investors Bank, Holiday Inn, RJ Barnabas and SOMOS

The event, televised in previous years on ESPN, MSG Varsity and News 12 New Jersey, has sold out since its inception. Participants have included national and local powerhouses such as Montverde Academy (FL), Sierra Canyon (CA), Camden, Christ the King (NY), Long Island Lutheran (NY), Oak Hill (VA), Roselle Catholic, St. Benedict's Prep, St. Anthony’s, St. Thomas More (CT), Imhotep Charter(PA) Rutgers Prep, St. Joseph's Metuchen, First Love Christian (PA) Academy, Ranney, Linden, The Patrick School, Lincoln (NY), Newark Eastside, Pope John, Gill St. Bernard, Hudson Catholic, Hunterdon Central, Union Catholic, and Rumson Fair Haven.

Current NBA standouts Scottie Barnes (Toronto Raptors), R.J. Barrett (Toronto Raptors), Cade Cunningham (Detroit Pistons), Gradey Dick (Toronto Raptors), VJ Edgecombe (Philadelphia 76ers), Cooper Flagg (Dallas Mavericks), Brandon Ingram (Toronto Raptors), Jonathan Kuminga (Golden State Warriors), Naz Reid (Minnesota Timberwolves), D’Angelo Russell (Dallas Mavericks), Karl Towns, Jr. (New York Knicks), and more have shown of their skills at the Metro Classic.

The Metro Classic has also been a must-see event for numerous collegiate coaches including John Calipari, Arkansas; Ed Cooley, Georgetown, Mick Cronin, UCLA; Hubert Davis, North Carolina, Shaheen Holloway, Seton Hall, Steve Pikell, Rutgers and Bill Self, Kansas;

The Metro Classic High School Basketball Showcase organizers and sponsors are delighted to announce this year’s event is scheduled from January 29th through January 31st at Stockton University in Galloway, NJ.

This year’s Classic has two teams in the top five nationally. Ten Top-20 Teams in the Metro Area, seven preseason HIGH SCHOOL ALL-AMERICANS and Over 20 ESPN TOP-100 PLAYERS

Highlight of 1/29 (Thursday) Matchups include:

Elite Junior and top NJ PG Micah Gordon (No. 34 in SportsCenter Next class of 2027) of Plainfield takes on Scotch Plains

Nationally-Ranked Spire Academy (National Team) led by several top-25 players such as Georget Commit Alex Constanza (No. 29 in SportsCenter Next class of 2026), King Gibson (No. 27 in SportsCenter Next class of 2027) and Central Jersey native & Providence signee Aiden Derkack (No. 45 in SportsCenter Next class of 2026) take on one of New Jersey’s top teams in Bergen Catholic featuring Michigan State signee Julius Avent (No. 70 in SportsCenter Next class of 2026).

New Jersey’s top 20 teams Rutgers Prep and Seton Hall Prep are featured in an out-of-conference tilt.

Nationally-ranked prep powerhouse St. Thomas More (CT) with top-ranked Patrick Otey (No. 55 in the SportsCenter Next class of 2027) and Greyson Pierce take on PA’s Inter-AC powerhouse Penn Charter.

Highlights of 1/30 (Friday)

Nationally-ranked Blair Academy led by Top National Point Guard Deron Rippey, Jr., Takes on Prep Power St. Thomas More (CT).

NBA Legend Tim Thomas’s Paramus Catholic takes on Top 20 NJ Ranked Gill St. Bernard;

Nationally ranked Girl power DME Academy from FL, led by NJ native Gigi Battle takes on PA Power and Nationally-ranked Westtown School.

Top 20 NJ team College Achieve Charter School (Asbury Park, NJ) takes on Spire Academy National Team;

Canada’s Crestwood Prep with top-five rated sophomore Isiah Hamilton (No. 2 in 24/7 Sports class of 2028)  take on St. Joseph-Metuchen led by Coach Mark Taylor

1/31/26 (Saturday)

Boasts 11 Total Games

Including Colonia v. Rahway; Blair Girls v. Westtown Girls; Spire Academy International (OH) v. Gill St. Bernard; DME Academy (FL) Girls v. Bullis (MD)

CBA v. Middle Township of Cape May; Atlantic City v. Roselle Catholic;

Paramus Catholic v. College Achieve Charter; Union Catholic v. Plainfield; Westtown School (PA) v. Patrick School; Spire National (OH) v. Linden; Crestwood Prep (CAN) v. Blair Academy

Tickets can be purchased at metroclassicbasketball.com beginning 11/28/25

This year’s elite matchups include:

1/29/26

St. Thomas More (CT) v. Penn Charter (PA)

Hudson Catholic v. Spire Academy International (OH)

Scotch Plains v. Plainfield

Rutgers Prep v. Seton Hall Prep

Bergen Catholic v. Spire Academy EYBL Scholastic (OH)

1/30/26

Hudson Catholic v. Jackson;

Hill School (PA) v. Spire Academy International Team (OH)

Paramus Catholic v. Gill St.  Bernards

Westtown School Girls (PA) v. DME Academy (FL)

St. Thomas More School (CT) v. Blair Academy

College Achieve Charter v. Spire Academy EYBL Scholastic (OH)

Crestwood Prep (CAN) v. St. Joseph Metuchen

1/31/26

Colonia v. Rahway

Blair Academy Girls v. Westtown School Girls (PA)

Spire Academy International v. Gill St. Bernard

DME Academy Girls (FL) v. Bullis School (MD)

Christian Brothers Academy v. Middle Township of Cape May

Atlantic City v. Roselle Catholic

Paramus Catholic v. College Achieve Charter School

Union Catholic v. Plainfield  

Westtown School (PA) v. Patrick School

Spire Academy EYBL Scholastic (OH) v. Linden

Crestwood Prep (CAN) v. Blair Academy

NOTABLE PLAYERS:

Boys

Class of 2026

Deron Rippey, Jr., 6-1, Point Guard, Blair Academy (ESPN No. 18)

Alex Constanza, 6-8, Forward, Spire Institute (OH), Committed to Georgetown (ESPN No. 29)

Tarris Bouie, 6-6, Forward, Spire Institute (OH), Committed to Alabama (ESPN No. 33)

Aidan Derkack, 6-5, Shooting Guard, Spire Institute (OH), Committed to Providence (No. 45)

Julius Avent, 6-8, Forward, Bergen Catholic, Committed to Michigan State (ESPN No. 70)

Kasey Fleming, 6-3, Shooting Guard, Penn Charter (PA)

A.J. Williams, 6-8, Forward, Hudson Catholic

Elijah Williams, 6-1, Point Guard, Hudson Catholic

Nicholas Nsenkyrie, 6-1, Shooting Guard, Rutgers Prep

Logan Franz, 6-11, Forward, Rutgers Prep, Committed to Marist

Jaden Brown, 6-4, Shooting Guard, Committed to Fairfield

Dorsett Mulcahy, 6-6, Shooting Guard, Gill St. Bernard, Committed to Canisius

Prosper Highlander Sonkua, 6-5, Forward, Gill St. Bernard

Jaen Chatman, 6-1, Point Guard, Blair Academy, Committed to Rhode Island

Isaiah Carroll, 6-6, Forward, Blair Academy, Committed to Penn

Coleman Elkins, 6-10, Forward, Blair Academy, Committed to Texas

Al-Tariq Reevey, 6-10, Forward, College Achieve Charter

Tobe Nwobu, 6-2, Shooting Guard, College Achieve Charter

Sami Uraz, 6-6, Shooting Guard, Crestwood Prep

Khalik Thomas, 6-5, Forward, Roselle Catholic

Trey Lewis, 6-3, Shooting Guard, Roselle Catholic

Tyrease Hunter, 6-2, Point Guard, Roselle Catholic

Jaren Barnett, 5-11, Point Guard, Linden

Jayden Holman, 6-0, Point Guard, Linden

Jekhi Burnam, 6-6, Forward, Linden, Committed to Caldwell University

Deng Deng, 6-10, Forward, Linden

Eric Hillsman, 6-8, Forward, The Patrick School

Kenneth Bartlett, Jr., 5-10, Point Guard, The Patrick School

Dior Anderson, 6-3, Point Guard, The Patrick School

Adam Walker, 6-11, Forward, Westtown School (PA)

Hermon Hailemichael, 7-0, Forward, Spire Academy International (OH)

Class of 2027

Jaylan Mitchell, 6-7, Forward, Spire Institute (OH) (ESPN No. 19)

King Gibson, 6-5, Point Guard, Spire Institute (OH) (ESPN No. 24)

Micah Gordon, 5-11, Point Guard, Plainfield (ESPN No. 34)

Greyson Pierce, 6-7, Forward, St. Thomas More School (CT)

D.J. Hawkins, 6-8, Shooting Guard, St. Thomas More School (CT)

Bentley Shelton, 6-4, Shooting Guard, St. Thomas More School (CT)

Dillon Callahan, 6-5, Shooting Guard, St. Thomas More School (CT)

Ashton Graves, 6-3, Shooting Guard, Hudson Catholic

Rocco Loomis, 5-10, Point Guard, Rutgers Prep

Anthony Gonzalez, 6-1, Shooting Guard, Seton Hall Prep

Alex Mazzella, 5-11, Shooting Guard, Bergen Catholic

Darrell Davis, 6-1, Point Guard, Spire Institute (OH)

Charles Pur, 6-9, Forward, Spire Institute (OH)

Yu Lyu, 6-8, Forward, Paramus Catholic

Kamsi Awaka, 6-9, Forward, Blair Academy

Andrew Kretkowski, 6-8, Forward, St. Joseph Metuchen

Kyle Dixon, 6-2, Point Guard, The Patrick School

Jeffrey Reynolds, 6-9, Forward, Spire Academy International (OH)

A.J. Polk, 6-1, Point Guard, Spire Academy International (OH)

Class of 2028

Malik Moore, 6-2, Point Guard, Union Catholic (ESPN No. 19)

Carter Smith, 6-3, Point Guard, Penn Charter (PA)

Daniel Gilhool, 6-10, Forward, Penn Charter (PA)

William Brunson, 6-4, Shooting Guard, Rutgers Prep

Infinite Sincere Amen-Ra, 6-0, Point Guard, Seton Hall Prep

Sean Forbes, 5-10, Point Guard, Bergen Catholic

Connor Junker, 5-11, Point Guard, Gill St. Bernard

Ian Archbold, 6-4, Shooting Guard, Blair Academy

Isaiah Hamilton, 6-7, Shooting Guard, Crestwood Prep (CAN) (24/7 Sports No. 2)

Aidan Carter, 6-5, Shooting Guard, St. Joseph Metuchen

Joel Patrick, 6-10, Forward, St. Joseph Metuchen

Jayden Opoku, 6-4, Shooting Guard, Linden

Rowan Phillips, 6-5, Shooting Guard, Westtown School (PA)

Victor Lagerkvist, 6-6, Shooting Guard, Westtown School (PA)

Anthony Goring, 6-9, Forward, Spire Academy International (OH)

Class of 2029

Bryce McCray, 5-8, Point Guard, Seton Hall Prep

Dominic Mauro, 6-2, Shooting Guard, College Achieve Charter

Javion Chappell, 6-5, Forward,  Roselle Catholic

Flory Kuminga, 6-7, The Patrick School

Class of 2030

Jackson Boyd, 6-1, Point Guard, Penn Charter (PA)

Girls

Class of 2026

Sophia Hickey, 6-2, Forward, DME Academy (FL), Committed to Iona

Tessa Gladieux, 5-10, Guard, DME Academy (FL), Committed to UMass

Gigi Battle, 5-11, Guard, DME Academy (FL), Committed to Indiana (ESPNW No. 32)

Chikae Desdunes, 5-9, Guard, DME Academy (FL), Committed to Penn State

Atlee Vanesko, 5-10, Guard, Westtown School (PA), Committed to Ohio State (ESPNW No. 74)

Pryianka Ponnam, 6-2, Forward, Blair Academy, Committed to Arizona

Isabela Grant, 6-2, Forward, Blair Academy, Committed to Navy

Lena Rodriguez, 5-10, Guard, Blair Academy, Committed to Emory

Ava Fajardo, 5-4, Guard, Blair Academy, Committed to Drexel

Class of 2027

Jordyn Palmer, 6-1, Forward, Westtown School (PA) (ESPNW No. 6)

Jada Lynch, 5-11, Guard, Westtown School (PA)

Lara Csapalar-Nagy, 6-3, Forward, Westtown School (PA)

Timani Harris, 5-9, Guard, DME Academy (FL), (ESPNW No. 54)

Ivanna Wilson-Manyacka, 6-2, Guard, Bullis School (MD) (ESPNW No. 2)

Class of 2029 

Katherine Ross, 5-9, Guard, Bullis School

For sponsorship opportunities and group tickets of 10 or more please contact:

Mukesh Roy

Metro Classic Director

Metroclassic2015@gmail.com

Metroclassicbasketball.com

LOCATION:

STOCKTON UNIVERSITY

101 Vera King Farris Drive, Galloway NJ 08205