Skyline Classic Slated for December 27-30, Field Announced

National powerhouse St. Anthony HS announced on Wednesday that it will be hosting its second annual Skyline Classic at the end of the year at the Community Education and Recreation Center in Jersey City. This year’s field includes teams from as far up north as Canada. See below for the official announcement from the showcase’s organizers:

When the Inaugural Skyline Classic was announced the Newark Star Ledger stated, “Looks like the best holiday tournament in New Jersey this year”. In its second year the Skyline Classic seeks to take it up a notch expanding to include teams from Montreal, Canada, Massachusetts and Kentucky while adding a Junior Varsity Tournament. Once again headlining this talented collection of basketball teams is the host St. Anthony Friars, coming off of an undefeated season, in which they were ranked #1 in NJ and #4 in ESPN and USA Today Final Polls. The Friars welcome several highly touted out of state schools starting with three New York schools Holy Trinity from Long Island, Saunders from Yonkers and Kennedy Catholic from Westchester County. Returning to Jersey City from Beantown is arguably that city’s best public school program, Brighton. From the Garden State will be perennially ranked parochial schools CBA, Pope John, St. Augustine and St. Joseph’s Montvale. Traditional Group 4 public school powers Atlantic City and Trenton along with Post-Grad Program, Prestige Prep from Linden round out the NJ contingent. Coming from North of the Border out of Montreal, Canada is St. Laurent, who will bring their complete program both Varsity and JV teams. From the basketball crazed Bluegrass state of Kentucky, Covington Catholic one of the favorites to win the Kentucky state title, coached by former St. Anthony Assistant Scott Ruthsatz will complete the Varsity field.

 

The Junior Varsity portion of the Skyline Classic will feature host St. Anthony, St. Benedict’s, Patrick School, Gil St. Bernard, Trenton, Atlantic City, St. Raymond’s from the Bronx, NY and St. Laurent from Montreal, Canada. By including Junior Varsity teams, the Skyline Classic has made itself the premier destination for present and future high school basketball talent on display during the Holiday Tournament season. St. Anthony’s Hall of Fame Head Coach Bob Hurley, who is in his 50th year of coaching stated, “The Skyline is sticking to its goal of being the tournament teams want to be in and players want to play in. I’m pleased with the field of teams and the development of the Skyline Classic. With the expansion of the field to include a team from Canada and former St. Anthony assistant, Scott Ruthsatz bringing his team from Kentucky, those players get to experience a little bit of the tourist attractions in the area during the Holiday Season while playing high caliber basketball. The fans will get the opportunity to see some of the future players from some really good programs in the junior varsity portion of the tournament so that’s an extra treat.”

 

The Skyline Classic will take place in Downtown Jersey City convenient by car, light rail and PATH. This event will take place December 27-30, 2016 at the Community Education and Recreation Center (CERC), 180 9th Street, Jersey City, NJ. Games will begin on each day at noon and continue throughout the day with the nightcap starting at 6 pm. Fans will get a bonus game on December 27th at 7:30pm for a daily total of 6 games. Ticket information will be released after Thanksgiving. Sponsorship opportunities are still available.

 

The Skyline Classic is about more than basketball. The Skyline Classic will give back to the community by hosting a sweater, sneaker and coat drive during the tournament to help those less fortunate during the Holiday Season.