Boys Basketball – Boardwalk Showcase Preview
The Annual Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase returns to Long Branch High School Saturday and all five scheduled games will feature at least one Shore Conference team while two of North Jersey's top teams also join the festivities.
St. Anthony, Neptune, Christian Brothers Academy, Manasquan, Point Beach and host Long Branch have all become regulars at the event, which was formerly called the Battle on the Boardwalk when it was held at Asbury Park Convention Hall and later moved to Monmouth University for a brief stretch. All of those teams return this year, while Rumson-Fair Haven is also back after beating Point Beach last year.
Three non-public programs will play at the event for the first time this year. New coach Ben Gamble leads a revamped Mater Dei Prep into Long Branch to take on Neptune in the first game of the day, while unbeaten Gill St. Bernard's travels south to play Rumson. St. John Vianney will play the nightcap against Long Branch.
The marquee game of the showcase features CBA - the No. 1 team at the Shore - taking on the top team in the state in St. Anthony. The Friars have owned the Colts since 2010, including lopsided wins at Long Branch in each of the last two years.
Below is the 2016 Boardwalk Showcase lineup with links to preview stories.
Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase
Saturday, Jan. 9
At Long Branch High School
No. 7 Neptune (3-4) vs. No. 2 Mater Dei Prep (5-1), Noon
Neptune Players to Watch: Barry Brown (Jr., 6'0", Guard), Jared Kimbrough (So., 6'6", Forward)
Mater Dei Players to Watch: Elijah Barnes (Jr., 6'7", Forward), NyQuan McCombs (Sr., 5'10", Guard), Kyle Elliot (Sr., 6'2", Guard/Forward), Elijah Mitchell (Jr., 6'1", Guard)
Rumson-Fair Haven (4-3) vs. Gill St. Bernard's (7-0), 1:40 p.m.
Rumson Players to Watch: Brenday Barry (Sr., 6'2" Guard), Elijah McAllister (So., 6'7", Center)
Gill St. Bernard's Players to Watch: Adam Mitlola (Sr., 6'3", Guard/Forward), Jake Betlow (Fr., 6'0" Guard), Paul Mulcahy (Fr., 6'3", Forward), Dallas Hoffman (So., 6'6", Forward/Center)
No. 3 Manasquan (8-0) vs. Point Beach (2-4), 3:20 p.m.
Manasquan Players to Watch: Ryan Jensen (Sr., 6'5", Forward), Jack Sheehan (Sr., 6'1" Guard), Devin Jensen (Jr., 6'4", Guard), Tommy Sheehan (Jr., 6'3", Forward)
Point Beach Players to Watch: Jimmy Panzini (Sr., 6'1", Guard), Alex Mrusek (Sr., 6'5", Center), Trevor Covey (So., 6'3", Guard/Forward), Mike Rice (Sr., 6'1", Guard)
No. 1 CBA (7-1) vs. St. Anthony (6-0), 5 p.m.
CBA Players to Watch: Pat Andree (Sr., 6'8", Forward), Jack McGuire (Sr., 6'7", Forward)
St. Anthony Players to Watch: Jagan Moseley (Sr., 6'3", Guard), Daniel Mading (Jr., 6'10", Center), Shyquan Gibbs (Sr., 6'0", Guard), Kaleb Bishop (Sr., 6'7", Forward), Asante Gist (Sr., 5'11", Guard)
St. John Vianney (5-3) vs. No. 8 Long Branch (5-2), 6:40 p.m.
St. John Vianney Players to Watch: Grant Goode (Sr., 6'4", Forward), Zach Howarth (Sr., 6'2" Guard), Marcque Ellington (Sr., 6'6", Center)
Long Branch Players to Watch: Anthony Velazquez (Sr., 5'11", Guard), Tyree Morris (So., 6'0", Guard), Jamar Foster (Sr., 6'1", Guard/Forward)
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