New Jersey launching basketball academy modeled after IMG Academy

By ADAM ZAGORIA

New Jersey will soon have a basketball academy modeled after the famed IMG Academy in Bradenton, Fla.

Jack Li, a wealthy Chinese entrepreneur, is partnering with Martin Whitfield, a Plainfield, N.J. native and former player at the University of Texas-San Antonio, and Chris Chavannes, principal and head coach of The Patrick School in Hillside, N.J., to launch The Princeton Arts & Sports Academy. A press conference is set for Jan. 28 in Princeton.

They are looking for a high-profile name to coach the basketball program and former Rutgers and current Team Rio National coach Mike Rice is considering it, sources said. Rice has been coaching with Team Rio, which features Villanova-bound Bryan Antoine and Florida-bound Scottie Lewis, as well as at the Hoop Group. I profiled him in this 2016 New York Times story.

“He would be a great candidate, absolutely a great candidate,” Bob Hurley, the legendary former St. Anthony’s coach who was also approached about the job, said Thursday by phone about Rice.

“He’s a terrific coach and I think time heals all wounds and I think he has distanced himself from what had happened [at Rutgers]. I’ve watched him firsthand working since and I would love to see him get another opportunity.”