Team Gotham Hoops Falls to Rundown, Advances to Playoffs

QUEENS, NY — Team Gotham Hoops finishes pool play with 2-2 record after losing to Rundown. The defending champions from the fall took care of business after a tightly contested first half, running away in the final quarters with a 74-45 victory.

Future Iona guard Jean Aranguren (Springfield Commonwealth (MA) ‘23) and Columbia bound Arop Arop (Hotchkiss School (CT) ‘23) led Team Gotham Hoops in the tough defeat. Connecticut commit Youssouf Singare (OSL (NY) ‘23) spearheaded the win for Rundown.

Next up for Team Gotham Hoops are the playoffs. The team, seeded No. 15, is slated to face No. 18 Stevenson HS (NY). The game is scheduled for Friday, May 12th at 7:45pm at IS8 Gym.

Event Recap: 2023 Gotham Hoops Classic

The 2023 Gotham Hoops Classic presented by PRIME was hosted at Stevenson HS in The Bronx, NY this past weekend. The 4th Annual showcase featured 17 Boy’s HS and Prep Teams across 12 games.

Here’s a recap of the two-day event:

Day 1 - Saturday, January 28th

• Game 1: The Stony Brook School (NY) 46 def. Seward Park HS (NY) 30

  • The Long Island-based program took a quick lead and never looked back.

    • PRIME MVP: Nate Small ‘24

• Game 2: John F. Kennedy HS (NY) 78 def. South Bronx Prep (NY) 49

  • JFK jumped out ahead out-the-gate and proved to be too much for SBP.

    • PRIME MVP: Ryan Leonardo ‘23

• Game 3: Notre Dame Prep (CT) 91 def. Rocktop Academy (PA) 84

  • Rocktop clawed their way back from a double-digit deficit but NDP hung on.

    • PRIME MVP: Que Duncan ‘24

• Game 4: Benjamin Cardozo HS (NY) 69 def. Wings Academy (NY) 60

  • Coach Ron Naclerio secured his 900th career win in this back-and-forth affair.

    • PRIME MVP: Isaiah Wright ‘23

• Game 5: Thurgood Marshall (NY) 49 def. King’s Christian (MD) 47

  • Down big early, KCA mounted a 2nd half comeback but fell short at the buzzer.

    • PRIME MVP: Mohamed Diaby ‘23

Day 2 - Sunday, January 29th

• Game 6: Adlai Stevenson HS (NY) 53 def. The Knox School (NY) 50

  • This one was tight throughout as host Stevenson held on for the narrow victory.

    • PRIME MVP: Francisco Demers ‘23

• Game 7: Our Saviour Lutheran Prep (NY) 81 def. Rocktop Academy (PA) 72

  • Down early once again, Rocktop would briefly lead in the 2nd half only to fall late.

    • PRIME MVP: Skylar Winick ‘23

• Game 8: SCA Regional (MA) 78 def. King’s Christian (MD) 57

  • SCA’s scrappy crew were too much for KCA to handle from the get-go.

    • PRIME MVP: Yderrick Gonzales ‘26

• Game 9: Campus Magnet HS (NY) 67 def. Thurgood Marshall (NY) 55

  • A tale of two halves as CM went from down double-digits to a 12-point win.

    • PRIME MVP: William Lodico ‘23

• Game 10: Benjamin Cardozo HS (NY) 63 def. John F. Kennedy HS (NY) 50

  • The Judges ruled this one from the get-go and never relinquished their lead.

    • PRIME MVP: Jordin Walker ‘24

• Game 11: Wings Academy (NY) 58 def. Brooklyn Collegiate (NY) 54

  • Argurably the game of the showcase, two NYC powerhours battled as Wings prevailed.

    • PRIME MVP: Bryce Simmons ‘24

• Game 12: Rocktop Academy (PA) 79 def. Bridgeport Prep (CT) 74

  • Rocktop secured their first win of the event in this battle of out-of-town programs.

    • PRIME Co-MVPs: Ejay Greer ‘23 and Ryan Archey ‘23

Full statistics, game-film and highlights will be published soon.

Thank You to all the players, coaches and schools that participated in the 2023 Gotham Hoops Classic presented by PRIME. We also appreciate all of the fans, media and scouts that came out to support our showcase.

For any questions, please contact us directly at info[at]gothamhoops.com.

Classic Alum Selected in NBA G League Draft

The NBA G League held its draft for the 2022-23 season on Saturday. Among the players selected in the three-round draft was Jared Rhoden, a Baldwin, NY native and former Seton Hall University standout.

Rhoden was selected No. 4 overall by the Atlanta Hawks’ affiliate, the College Park Skyhawks.

In 2018, the 6-6 wing participated in the Inaugural Gotham Hoops Classic. Rhoden led local Our Saviour Lutheran (Bronx, NY) to a commanding win over Higley High School out of Gilbert, Arizona.

Since then, Rhoden went on to have a stellar, four-year collegiate career at Seton Hall. He was named to the First Team All-Big East as a senior in 2022.

Despite not hearing his name called in the recent NBA Draft, Rhoden had an impressive Summer League, playing in five games for the Sacramento Kings where he averaged 11.8 points, 5.4 rebounds, 1.6 and 1.4 steals per contest.

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Other New Yorkers selected in the G League Draft include:

• Kadeem Jack (Rice HS/Rutgers University)

  • Round One, No. 6 Overall by Sioux Falls Skyforce (Heat)

• Keith Williams (Bishop Loughlin HS/University of Cincinnati)

  • Round One, No. 18 Overall by Memphis Hustle (Grizzlies)

• Hasahn Ffrench (Springfield Commonwealth/Saint Lous University)

  • Round Two, No. 33 Overall by Raptors 905 (Raptors)

• J.J. Moore (South Kent School/Rutgers University)

  • Round Three, No. 59 Overall by Cleveland Charge (Cavaliers)

• Alan Griffin (Archbishop Stepinac/Syracuse University)

  • Round Three, No. 77 Overall by Long Island Nets (Nets)

*Photo courtesy of NJ.com