Aidan Igiehon, LWA represent Long Island in new Battle in the Apple basketball tournament
Lawrence Woodmere Academy forward Aidan Igiehon attempts a layup against University Prep during an Empire Invitational boys basketball game on Sunday, January 21, 2018. Credit: Kathleen Malone-Van Dyke
A new basketball tournament is coming to New York.
Battle in the Apple, a showcase featuring six of the premier high school boys basketball teams in the nation, will compete on Sunday, Dec. 9, at Barclays Center. Lawrence Woodmere Academy and phenom Aidan Igiehon will represent Long Island.
Igiehon, ranked the 36th player in the class of 2019 by ESPN, is expected to announce his college decision on Friday, Oct. 18. Lawrence Woodmere Academy said his finalists are Kentucky, Louisville, St. John’s and Oregon.
Igiehon and the Tigers will play Federal Way High School (Washington, D.C.) in the second game of the showcase. Other schools competing are South Shore, Christ the King, Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) and St. Thomas Moore (Connecticut).
A news release said the teams “were strategically chosen based on their talent, legacy and ability to compete at the highest level of high school basketball.”
These teams contain some of the top talent around. Brewster’s Terrance Clarke is ranked No. 2 by ESPN in the class of 2021; Jaden McDaniels of Federal Way is No. 5 in the class of 2019; Christ the King’s Moussa Cisse is No. 8 in the class of 2021; Brewster’s Jalen Lecque is No. 22 in the class of 2019; and Brewster’s Alonzo Gaffney is No. 29 in the class of 2019.
The showcase will feature live performance by hip-hop artists, giveaways and appearances by NBA legends of past and present.
Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased online at barclayscenter.com and ticketmaster.com.
Battle in the Apple lineup
Game 1: South Shore vs. Christ the King, 4:30 p.m.
Game 2: Lawrence Woodmere Academy vs. Federal Way High School (Washington), 6 p.m.
Game 3: Brewster Academy (New Hampshire) vs. St. Thomas Moore (Connecticut), 7:30 p.m.
