The B.A.B. Invitational Is Coming

11th Annual Invitational Tips with Top High School Teams in Metro Area and Nationally

Goodluck Okonoboh, Terry Larrier & Moustapha Diagne Highlight Talented Field

New York, NY - Big Apple Basketball (BAB) will host the 11th Annual Big Apple Basketball Invitational on Saturday, January 18 and Monday, January 20, 2014 at Baruch College in New York City. The invitational features 14 top high school and prep school teams from New York, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Maryland, Washington DC, and Pennsylvania.

The invitational will feature New York City schools, Wings (Bronx), Cardinal Hayes (Bronx), St. Raymond (Bronx), Benjamin Cardozo (Queens) and Boys and Girls (Brooklyn); along with Pope John (New Jersey), Gonzaga (Washington DC), Wilbraham and Monson (Massachusetts), Phelps (Pennsylvania), Iona Prep (New Rochelle), St. Maria Goretti (Maryland), Linden (New Jersey), Long Island Lutheran (Long Island), and St. Mary's (Long Island).

Notable players include Goodluck Okonoboh (Wilbraham and Monson - committed to UNLV), Terry Larrier (Phelps - Virginia Commonwealth), Moustapha Diagne (Pope John - Top 20 Junior Nationally), Bryant Crawford (Gonzaga - Top 25 Junior Nationally), Jessie Govan (Wings - Top 40 Junior Nationally), Martin Geben (St. Maria Goretti - Notre Dame), Quadri Moore (Linden - Cincinnati), Luis Santos (St. Raymond - Nationally Ranked Junior), Matt Ryan (Iona Prep - Nationally Ranked Junior) and Shavar Newkirk (Cardinal Hayes - St. Joseph's) ; along with several other nationally ranked seniors and juniors.

Locally, Wings, Cardinal Hayes, and St. Raymond are all expected to be frontrunners for the New York City championship.

NBA players who participated in the BAB Invitational include: Kemba Walker (Charlotte Bobcats); Danny Green (San Antonio Spurs); Lance Stephenson (Indiana Pacers); Brandon Knight (Milwaukee Bucks); Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons); Dion Waiters (Cleveland Cavaliers); Isaiah Thomas (Sacramento Kings) and Markieff Morris (Phoenix Suns).

Since 2004, the Big Apple Basketball Invitational event has helped over 1,000 student-athletes gain exposure for college scholarships through the event. BAB annually sponsors selected high schools for the showcase and invites college coaches nationally to travel to New York City to scout the student-athletes for scholarship opportunities.

Founded in 1999, Big Apple Basketball is a not-for-profit organization designed to use basketball as a "tool" to assist young people in their educational, athletic, professional, and life skill development.

SCHEDULE - SATURDAY, JANUARY 18, 2014

2pm - St. Mary's (Long Island) vs. Boys and Girls (Brooklyn)

3:45pm - L.I. Lutheran (Long Island) vs. St. Raymond (Bronx)

5:30pm - Iona Prep (New Rochelle) vs. Benjamin Cardozo (Queens)

7:15pm - Gonzaga (Washington, DC) vs. Wings (Bronx)

SCHEDULE - MONDAY, JANUARY 20, 2014

1pm - Linden (NJ) vs. L.I. Lutheran (Long Island)

2:45pm - St. Maria Goretti (MD) vs. St. Raymond (Bronx)

4:30pm - Wilbraham and Monson (MA) vs. Phelps School (PA)

6:30pm - Pope John (NJ) vs. Cardinal Hayes (Bronx)

*The Baruch College gymnasium is located at 55 Lexington Avenue (on the corner of E. 24th Street and Lexington Avenue).

Contact Jason Curry at jcurry@bigapplebasketball.com or (718)575-3342. For complete schedule and info.