In an afternoon that featured a number of future collegiate and professional hoop stars, the team from Jersey City made their presence felt. Sunday afternoon’s 2010 Newark Invitational Tournament brought together some of the best high school basketball players in the nation to Newark. Recruits from Duke, Texas, Memphis, Temple, Norte Dame, Oregon State, and St. Johns displayed their skills during the six contest tournament at The Prudential Center.

St. Anthony’s of Jersey City defeated Maryland powerhouse De Matha by a score of 62-60 in a game that featured a scoring duel between De Matha’s Quinn Cook (21 points) and St. Anthony’s Derrick Williams (21 points, 8 rebounds). Both gifted scorers received MVP honors for their respective side, but it was Coach Bobby Hurley’s Friars who came out victorious. The victory became yet another accolade for the most decorated high school team in the nation. St. Anthony’s has won 24 state championships and earned two national titles under the watch of the legendary Coach Hurley. Yesterday was another example of why his teams have been so successful against other top squads. Williams won the MVP by shooting at a picturesque rate (7-9 from the field), and teammate Elijah Carter scored 15 points.

In the Newark Invitational’s other contests, St. Patrick’s defeated White Station HS (TN) 68-66, St. Benedict’s Prep upended De La Salle (Il.) by a score of 80-50, and St. Peter’s Prep fell to Christ the King (NY) by a 75-72 mark. In the lone Women’s game that was featured, Malcom X. Shabazz edged out Christ the King (NY) by one bucket, ending the game at 53-51.