2022 Metro Classic looks like strongest field ever for a New Jersey high school event

By ADAM ZAGORIA

The Metro Classic is coming back to New Jersey in 2022 and by the looks of the field, it could well be the strongest field ever for a high school showcase event in Garden State history.

There will actually be two Metro Classic events that will feature 12 Top 20 national teams, 6 Top 20 New York-metro area teams, 10 high school All-Americans and 30 ESPN Top 100 players. Some of the games will be simulcast on the ESPN family of networks.

“I don’t think there’s ever been a better event in New Jersey,” said tournament promoter Pryia Roy. “Ever.”

The event will feature all of the top recruits in New Jersey, including D.J. Wagner of Camden, the No. 1 prospect in 2023 per ESPN.com who is being courted by Kentucky, Villanova and Memphis; No. 5 Mackenzie Mgbako (Gill St. Bernard’s), who is being recruited by Duke, Kentucky and Memphis, among others; No. 12 Simeon Wilcher (Roselle Catholic); No. 20 Akil Watson (RC); and No. 22 Aaron Bradshaw (Camden).

Naas Cunningham, the No. 1 prospect nationally in the Class of 2024, will also be on display with Gill St. Bernard’s, as will No. 7 Elliott Cadeau of Bergen Catholic.

Several of the top committed Class of 2022 prospects in New Jersey will also be featured in Villanova commit Mark Armstrong (St. Peter’s Prep), Georgetown signee Denver Anglin (Gill St. Bernard’s) and Nebraska commit Jamarques Lawrence (Roselle Catholic).

On the national stage, the National Interscholastic Basketball Conference will hold one of its events during the second session featuring national powers Montverde Academy, Oak Hill Academy, La Lumiere, Sunrise Christian and more.

Among the players featured will be Class of 2022 Duke commits Dereck Lively (Westtown) and Dariq Whitehead (Montverde), and Class of 2023 Duke pledge Caleb Foster (Oak Hill).

METRO CLASSIC SESSION 1

Jan. 13, Cure Insurance Arena, Trenton

First Love Academy v. Bergen Catholic, 5:30pm

Long Island Lutheran v. Roselle Catholic, 7:00pm

Montverde Academy v. Camden, 8:30pm

NIBC METRO CLASSIC SESSION 2

Feb. 3-6, RWJ BARNABAS HEALTH ARENA, Toms River

Feb. 3
Oak Hill v. Legacy, 1:00pm

Sunrise Christian v. Bishop Walsh, 3:00pm  (ESPNU)

IMG v. La Lumiere, 5:00pm

Wasach v. Long Island Lutheran, 6:00pm (Alternate site)

Camden v. Gill St. Bernard’s, 7:00pm

Montverde Academy v. Bergen Catholic, 9:00pm

Feb. 4

Link Academy v. First Love Christian, 12:00 pm (Alternate Site)

IMG v. Patrick School, 1:00 pm

Legacy v. Bishop Walsh, 3:00 pm

Oak Hill v. Wasatch, 5:00 PM

Sunrise Christian v. Westtown, 7:00 PM

Montverde v. La Lumiere, 9:00 PM

Feb. 5

Compass v. St Thomas More, 9:00 AM

La Lumiere v. Gill St. Bernard’s, 11:00AM

Manasquan v. West Side, 12:00 PM (Alternate Site)

Wasatch v. Bishop Walsh, 1:00 PM

Patrick School v. Link Academy, 1:30 PM (Alternate Site)

Montverde Academy v. Legacy, 3:00 PM

IMG v. Sunrise, 5:00 PM

Camden v. St Peter’s Prep, 7:00 PM

Oak Hill v. Roselle Catholic, 9:00 PM

Feb. 6

St. Thomas More v. Phelps Prep, 10:30 AM

Phelps Prep v. First Love Christian, 12:30 PM

Rumson v. Newark Arts, 2:00 PM

IMG Prep v. Patrick School Prep, 3:30 PM

Westfield v. St Joes Prep, 5:30 PM

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