Words. High School Hoop

Retailer VILLA held its 5th Annual VILLA Classic, pitting high school teams from Philadelphia and New York City against each other, on New Year’s Day to a sold out crowd of fans from across the country in Philly. The five-game tournament came down to the final game between Chester and Christ the King, MORE >

Words. Jason Jordan

Christ the King (Middle Village, NY) sophomore guard Isaiah Lewis will visit North Carolina State in February. “It may be around the middle of the month, but I haven’t confirmed that yet,” said Lewis. “I’m looking forward to it though. I hope it’s live!”

Lewis is one of the most talented Class of 2013 players in the country, and is already mulling over interest and offers from North Carolina, Kansas, Oregon, Florida, Villanova, Florida State, Kentucky, Ohio State, Arizona, UCLA, Miami, Rutgers, Oklahoma State and Washington. MORE >

Words. Casey Mack

New York City high school stars traditionally have a large amount of hype behind them. Looking back over the past 15 years, there are so many names who were once praised as the Next Great One who are now lost in the wind: Lenny Cooke, Omar Cook, Erick Barkley, Sebastian Telfair … the list is long enough to support the theory held in other regions of America that NYC prep stars are too often overrated.

Lately, the New York City hype machine has lost some of its steam — Lance Stephenson notwithstanding — and now it seems players have to truly earn their keep from national recruiting services. MORE >

Words. Brandee Sanders

As you walk through the doors of Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, N.Y., you can’t help but notice the athletic wall of fame. The display case features the retired jerseys of Christ the King basketball legends like Lamar Odom, Sue Bird and Chamique Holdsclaw. Behind the glass lies a legacy of basketball excellence, and that legacy prevails through junior point guard Corey Edwards and sophomore shooting guard Omar Calhoun. Both players have the potential to join that legendary group one day, being remembered as some of the best players to ever grace the court at such a storied program. MORE >

Words. Aron Phillips

While everyone had football on the brain for yesterday’s Super Bowl Sunday, the day also featured one of NYC’s most touted high school hoops rivalries between Christ the King (Queens, N.Y.) and Rice (Harlem, N.Y.). In front of a packed house on the Middle Village campus, I made the trek from the 4 to the J to the M for what could have been the greatest high school basketball spectacle ever. MORE >

Words. Aron Phillips

The best high school basketball programs from across the United States and Canada will descend on New York City for the first annual New Heights Holiday Hoop Festival on Dec. 18-19.

Teams from Illinois, Canada, Connecticut, Massachusetts, DC, Pennsylvania and New Jersey will square off in this unique eight-team holiday tournament to be held at the famed Rose Hill Gymnasium at Fordham University. Not to be left out, four of the best high school programs from New York City – Bishop Loughlin, Lincoln, Cardozo and Christ the King – will participate in two Showcase Games. MORE >