The time is nearing for the Prep2Prep Tip-Off Classic – a one-day basketball event Saturday, Nov. 28 at Newark Memorial High.
The event features seven games and begins at 11 a.m. A highlight will be the 8:30 p.m. game between defending state champion Sierra Canyon-Chatsworth and NorCal entrant Moreau Catholic.
"The Tip-Off classic usually marks the beginning of the high school season in Northern California," Moreau Catholic coach Frank Knight said. "Our program, like many others in NorCal, are excited to get the season going and this event pretty much jump-starts the season. Since not that many teams have games on the same day, it's a great opportunity to see a bunch of really good teams and coaches all at one venue.
Sierra Canyon is led by four blue-chippers in juniors Cody Riley, Remy Martin and Ira Lee and senior Devearl Ramsey.
Moreau Catholic is led by senior wing Oscar Frayer and junior point guard Damari Milstead.
"Our team is looking forward to the event because we have been off for so long and they are itching to go up against an opponent that they don't know," Knight said. "After a while beating up on your own teammates daily gets redundant. Because we have seven seniors who have been playing varsity since their freshman year this year is special because it's a culmination of their journey here at Moreau Catholic. I'm looking forward to sharing this journey with them."
Other top programs in the event are Newark Memorial, Modesto Christian, Bishop O’Dowd, St. Mary’s-Albany and Folsom.
Besides the players mentioned from Sierra Canyon and Moreau Catholic, other top players include 6-8 junior forward Richard Polanco of Army-Nava Academy, sophomore point guard Elijah Hardy of O’Dowd and 6-9 sophomore post Jordan Brown of Woodcreek, ranked No. 4 nationally in his class by ESPN.
Players committed to Division I four-year school participating are Jordan Ford of Folsom (St. Marys), Colin Slater of Immanuel (Tulane), Kenneth Wooten of Manteca (Nevada), Frayer (California), Terrell Brown of Moreau to San Jose State, Ramsey of Sierra Canyon to Nevada and Aziz Seck of Army-Navy to Northern Arizona.
"The fans can expect to see some of the best high school basketball players, coaches, and teams in this one-day event," Knight said. "For a hoop junkie like myself, if we were not playing in the event I'd probably be there all day watching games anyway. The teams will be a little inconsistent because it's early, but good match-ups in November only make you better in March."
Here is the schedule of games: 11 a.m.: St. Mary’s-Albany vs. Manteca; 12:30 p.m.: Bishop O’Dowd vs. Dublin; 2:15 p.m.: Immanuel-Reedley vs. Weston Ranch-Stockton; 3:45 p.m.: Sheldon-Sacramento vs. Army-Navy-Carlsbad; 5:30 p.m.: Modesto Christian vs. Folsom, 7 p.m.: Newark Memorial vs. Woodcreek-Roseville; 8:30 p.m.: Moreau Catholic vs. Sierra Canyon, 8:30 p.m.
