By: Ross Van De Griek
This weekend marks the 9th Annual ARS National Hoopfest Tampa Bay showdown. The games will be hosted by Berkeley Preparatory School in Tampa, Florida. What is the ARS National Hoopfest? The ARS Hoopfest was known as the Penny Hardaway Classic for the first two years. 5 of the Tampa Bay's Top 10 teams will be represented in this year's event.
Schedule Below
Friday, January 31
5:00- St. Petersburg vs Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio)
6:30- Berkeley Prep vs. Huntington Prep (WV)
8:00- IMG Academy (PG) vs Montverde Academy (PG)
Saturday, February 1
12:00- St. Petersburg vs. West Oaks Academy
1:30- Tampa Prep vs. Oak Ridge
3:00- East Lake vs. Orlando Christian Prep
4:30- Berkeley Prep vs. Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio)
6:00- Tampa Catholic vs. Huntington Prep (WV)
Cornerstone Christian (San Antonio)
Head Coach: Bruce Bowen
Players to watch for: 2023 center Kendrick DeLuna, 2022 PF Mauricio Moran, 2021 forward Stacey Adams
St. Petersburg
Head Coach: Chris Blackwell Jr.
Players to watch for: 2021 guard Ray Perry IV, 2020 guard Deondre Earley, 2020 guard Rivers Lenholt
Berkeley Prep
Head Coach: Renaldo Garcia
Players to watch for: 2021 PG RJ Garcia, 2020 guard Kegan Karnes, 2022 PF CJ Hawkins, 2020 guard Varun Ajjarapu
West Oaks Academy
Head Coach: Kenny Gillion
Players to watch for: 2020 guard Jadrian Tracey, 2020 forward Kobe Gibbs, 2021 guard AJ Neal (Holds multiple D-1 offers), 2020 guard AJ Staton (Holds multiple D-1 offers)
Tampa Prep
Head Coach: Joe Fenlon
Players to watch for: 2020 forward Gabriel Sharp, 2021 forward Valentino Hart, 2020 forward Jaden Gray, 2020 guard Isaac Ward
Oak Ridge
Head Coach: Steven Reece
Players to watch for: 2021 guard Michael James (Holds offers from Texas A&M, USF & Wake Forest), 2021 guard Jalen Smith (Holds offers from FGCU, Hofstra, SMU, Stetson, Texas State & USF) & 2020 guard Keanu Calderon.
East Lake
Head Coach: Britt Taylor
Players to watch for: 2020 guard Dionte Blanch (Signed with Murray State), 2021 forward Dean Gabrelcik, 2020 guard Jordan Hillmon & 2023 forward Henry Hurst
Orlando Christian Prep
Head Coach: Treig Burke
Players to watch for: 2020 guard Terrance Reese, 2022 forward Ven Allen Lubin (Holds offers from Alabama, Florida, Iowa State, St. John's & USF), 2021 guard Omar Figueroa, 2022 guard Anthony "AJ" Brown (Holds offers from Alabama, Hofstra & USF) & 2020 guard Eric Butler (Signed with Southern Illinois).
Huntington Prep (WV)
Head Coach: Arkell Bruce
Players to watch for: 2020 PF Isaiah Cottrell (Signed with West Virginia), 2020 forward Dudley Blackwell (Signed with Iowa State), 2020 center Zach Loveday (Signed with Baylor), 2020 guard AJ Hoggard (Signed with Michigan State), 2020 center Seny Ndiaye (Holds offer from West Virginia), 2021 SF Shane Dezonie (Holds offers from Hartford, La Salle, Rutgers & Temple) & 2020 PF Jaemyn Brakefield (Signed with Duke University)
Tampa Catholic
Head Coach: Don Dziagwa
Players to watch for: 2020 forward Johni Broome (Signed with Morehead State), 2020 guard Kobe Knox (Holds offers from Georgia Southern & North Florida), 2020 guard Alijah Harrison, 2020 forward Marcellus Crutchfield & 2020 center Isaiah Elmore