Views from the Shore
As someone who works every day at a nonprofit hospital, teaches at Stockton University, and has been a lifelong basketball fan, it doesn’t take much to get my attention. But when I learned that one of the premier high school basketball showcases in the country was coming to Atlantic County for the first time, I knew this was something special.
The Metro Classic — a nationally respected tournament that has featured future NBA and WNBA stars for more than a decade — will tip off January 29-February 1 at the Stockton University Galloway Campus. And while the level of basketball alone is enough to draw fans, this event truly lives up to a phrase that gets used a lot in sports but is fully earned here: bigger than basketball.
For the first time, South Jersey will host this elite showcase, bringing some of the best high school programs and players in the nation right to our backyard. These aren’t exhibition games or travel-team scrimmages. These are real high school matchups between nationally ranked powerhouses and New Jersey’s top teams — games that college recruiters and NBA scouts pay close attention to.
Tournament co-founder Priya Roy shared that over the past 13 years, the Metro Classic has featured nearly a future NBA lottery pick every single year. That list reads like a who’s who of professional basketball: Karl-Anthony Towns, Cooper Flagg, Cade Cunningham, RJ Barrett, Ben Simmons, D’Angelo Russell, and Naz Reid, just to name a few. If you’ve watched the NBA over the past decade, you’ve seen Metro Classic alumni starring on the biggest stages.
This year’s field is no different. One headline matchup features Spire Academy — a top-five team in the country coached by legendary former St. Patrick’s coach Kevin Boyle — facing Bergen Catholic, New Jersey’s top-ranked team. On the court, fans will see elite prospects like Deron “Ron Ron” Rippey, Jr. of Blair Academy, a dynamic guard with comparisons to Damian Lillard, and Julius Avent of Bergen Catholic, who will be continuing his basketball legacy at Michigan State. Avent’s father, Anthony Avent, played at Seton Hall and in the NBA, making this a true full-circle moment.
The Metro Classic also features some of the best girls programs in the nation, including nationally ranked teams and future WNBA talent. Players like Gigi Battle are coming home to compete, reminding us that the next generation of stars spans both the NBA and WNBA.
What makes this tournament resonate even more deeply for me is its mission. From the beginning, the Metro Classic has been rooted in giving back. Founded originally to support children’s hospitals, the event continues to direct proceeds toward charitable causes in the communities that host it. As someone whose professional life centers on healthcare, education, and community impact, that purpose matters. This tournament isn’t just developing elite athletes — it’s teaching young people that their talent can and should serve something larger than themselves.
And here’s the best part for fans: access. NBA games can cost hundreds of dollars for one seat and one game. At the Metro Classic, a single ticket gives you access to multiple games in one day — sometimes six, eight, or even more — featuring the stars of tomorrow for roughly the cost of a movie ticket. You’re watching future first-round picks, college stars, and professional players before the rest of the world fully knows their names.
If you love basketball, care about community, or simply want to experience something special happening right here in Atlantic County, this is an event you shouldn’t miss.
Tickets and full schedules are available at https://metroclassicbasketball.com. Trust me — this one is bigger than basketball.
Brian Cahill is the Director of Marketing for Shore Medical Center and Shore Physicians Group. He is also volunteers on the Board of the Somers Point Business Association and is an Adjunct Professor in the School of Business at Stockton University.
