St. Anthony High School Basketball-Beyond the Perfect Season

Wednesday March 19, 3:23 pm ET

Legendary Coach Develops Great Players and Outstanding Citizens [/b]


JERSEY CITY, N.J., March 19 /PRNewswire/ -- The mythical St. Anthony High School basketball team and its legendary coach, Bob Hurley Sr., have achieved sports perfection with their win in the Finals of New Jersey's Tournament of Champions at the Izod Center in East Rutherford. With its 69-36 win over Science Park High School of Newark, St. Anthony High School finishes the season undefeated at 32-0.

Hurley's team, which hails from the hardscrabble streets of Jersey City, New Jersey, is both inspirational and hard-driving. However, the story of St. Anthony High School does not end with basketball--it's actually just the beginning. It's a story of a high-achieving and close-knit group of inner-city kids, caring educators and administrators, hyper-dedicated coaches and compassionate clergy members all united to help give hope where there ordinarily would be little.

The team, with a record 25 state championships already under its belt, has finished the season as the #1 national high school boys basketball team in the country, as ranked by USA Today and ESPN. Hurley, at 933-101 in 36 seasons, is already recognized as the top coach in the state of New Jersey and this win will further cement him in the annals of high school sports.

But many members of the team see Hurley as much more than a great coach and can attest to his unflagging dedication both on and off the court. Hurley has helped team members with issues far afield of basketball, from standing-up to local gang members to helping kids with their homework or SAT studies to even taking team members with him for trips to the Jersey Shore.

Hurley's herculean efforts on behalf of his teams have paid strong dividends for even in the middle of college basketball's famed March Madness, many scouts from major college programs have been closely watching Hurley's crew, given St. Anthony's proud history of developing college and professional athletes. In the past, NBA players such as David Rivers and Bobby Hurley Jr. have passed through the school's historic hallways as well as former New York Met John Valentin.


Quick facts about the school and Coach Hurley:

-- In the last 15 years, EVERY student that has graduated from the school has been accepted to college!
-- Of the school's roughly 250 students, many come from families that are living below the poverty line.
-- The school has to raise up to $1.5mm a year to enable it to keep tuition affordable. This is a mammoth task that requires as many champions as possible.
-- As with so many schools across our nation, St. Anthony High School will be vulnerable to closure until several unprecedented gifts of confidence are made that have the power to sustain the school for generations to come.
-- The school's nationally recognized boys' basketball program has won 3 national championships and 25 state titles. Coach Bob Hurley Sr. is widely held to be a legendary figure in basketball.
-- The school has produced hundreds of college athletes as well as many professional athletes, including NBA players David Rivers and Bobby Hurley, Jr. as well as former Boston Red Sox/NY Met John Valentin.
-- Coach Hurley has repeatedly been offered high-profile jobs coaching college basketball but has refused them all, staying dedicated to St. Anthony High School and his teams.

Moreover, a major motion picture based upon Coach Hurley's championship 2003-2004 season, as chronicled in the best-selling book, "The Miracle of St. Anthony", is being produced as well as a documentary following this year's perfect season.

For more information including how to make a donation to St. Anthony's High School, visit www.stanthonyhighschool.org or call the development office at 201.653.5739.




--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Source: St. Anthony High School

Fordham proudly welcomes Fontan and Estwick!

This team is HOT. They deserve all the credit they get for the hard work they've put in so far. I wish them the best of luck.

If you are a basketball fan, you should make it a point to see this team play live before the season ends. You will find watching these kids play much more exciting than going to a Nets or Knicks game, and you will pay a fraction of the cost for a ticket. They play unselfish team basketball.

They will be playing at 8pm on Friday night at Rutgers, and if they win, again on Monday at IZOD Center.

New Jersey powerhouse sets national basketball championship record

The Associated Press
Sunday, March 9, 2008

TOMS RIVER, N.J.: The storied St. Anthony's High School basketball team set yet another record on Saturday--the most state championships in national scholastic boys basketball history.

With a 74-44 victory over Trenton Catholic in the championship game of the NJSIAA Non-Public B Tournament, the Friars out of Jersey City captured their 25th state group championship, one more than Central High of Cheyenne, Wyo.

St. Anthony's (30-0), which has recorded four unbeaten seasons, improved to 25-2 in state championship games. Under legendary coach Bob Hurley, St. Anthony's has won 931 games, 23 state championships and nine Tournament of Champions crowns.

This was St. Anthony's first appearance in the state final since 2004, after losing the previous three North B sectional finals to St. Patrick's of Elizabeth.

St. Anthony's, which features six Division I signees, was led by Rutgers-bound guard Mike Rosario, who finished with 17 points. Tyshawn Taylor added 16 points, Travon Woodall finished with 12 points and six rebounds, while Dominic Cheek chipped in with 10 points and seven rebounds.

Trenton Catholic, which starts three sophomores, a freshman and a junior, ended the season at 23-7. The Iron Mikes were led by Daquan Basknight, a junior forward who finished with eight points, eight rebounds and three assists.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Copyright ? 2008 The International Herald Tribune | www.iht.com