By Howie Kussoy/NY Post
July 14, 2015 | 11:17pm
St. Anthony (N.J.) high school coach Bob Hurley Photo: AP
Bob Hurley has spent more than four decades making the monumentally difficult appear routine, sculpting and schooling an ever-changing group of teenagers at St. Anthony High School to near-annual status among the best basketball teams in New Jersey and the nation. With more than 1,000 wins and 27 state championships, the Hall of Fame coach has brought the Jersey City school unparalleled recognition and respect.
Every year, the challenge is renewed, and every year, the challenge is harder than it should be.
For the Catholic school constantly facing financial troubles, having a team each year is no given, with the closing of the school consistently lurking. Hurley spearheads numerous fundraising channels to help create revenue and keep open a place he has seen help thousands of inner-city children, but former Friar Donald Copeland fears, at some point, the never-ending efforts won’t be enough.
“I do get a little worried at times that it may come to an end because it’s a lot of work for such a small school,” said Copeland, who later played at Seton Hall. “You just never know … That was such an important place to me and anything I can do to help, I’m willing to do.”
Copeland and fellow St. Anthony alums are now trying to help the school they credit for changing their lives and help future students receive the same education they did, forming a team — Friar Nation — which will compete in The Basketball Tournament.
The second annual event — won last year by a group of Notre Dame alumni — will reward the winning team with a grand prize of $1 million, with the semifinals and championship taking place at Fordham on Aug. 1-2. If Friar Nation — comprised of Copeland, Xavier Munford, Tyuan Williams, Joshua Freelove, Jayon James, Chris Gaston, Khalil Murphy and Dominique Youmans — wins the 97-team tournament, the team has pledged to donate half of the money to the financially struggling school.
Donald Copeland (left) and Chris Gaston are two members of the St. Anthony alumni team.Photo: Susan May Tell; Paul J. Bereswill
The team plays its first game Friday in Philadelphia against a team of Temple alumni.
“Seeing young people wanting to give back, you know the right things have been instilled in them, and that to me is really significant,” said assistant coach Eric Harrield, a former assistant coach at St. Anthony. “It makes sense — a basketball school, a ton of alumni who can play the game. I think we’ll always have the opportunity to win and help the school.”
Though each player could personally benefit from the potential winnings, Copeland, who will serve as the player-coach, said it wasn’t difficult for the team to make the decision to try and help the school.
“An opportunity like this comes up, you have to try and take advantage of it,” Copeland said. “There’s a huge amount of pride, especially me growing up a Jersey City kid. My father took me to the games growing up, and I always wanted to go the school and play basketball.
“Going there, you play for probably the best high-school coach in the country and just to be a part of the fraternity of players to come through there and have so much success, you’re honored to be part of it.”
According to Hurley, the school is “in the black” as of June 30, but if his former players could claim the championship, it would remove much of the pressure that comes with constant fundraising and uncertain contributions.
“Boy, this would be a shot in the arm,” Hurley said. “It would be one-third of the money we need to raise for the year in one spot.”
Knowing how much could be gained, Hurley, who will be supporting the team from the stands, said he is going to have fun just watching his former players, rooting as if nothing but pride is at stake.
For him, just watching the former Friars playing for their school is its own reward.
“I know myself — growing up, playing basketball or stickball or two-hand touch, where there was money involved, it made it very hard,” Hurley said, “so we’re going to try and eliminate that thought and just play for the enjoyment and see how many games you can win.
“Then, if it happens, that’s wonderful.”
http://nypost.com/2015/07/14/how-ex...e-trying-to-help-financially-strapped-school/
July 14, 2015 | 11:17pm
St. Anthony (N.J.) high school coach Bob Hurley Photo: AP
Bob Hurley has spent more than four decades making the monumentally difficult appear routine, sculpting and schooling an ever-changing group of teenagers at St. Anthony High School to near-annual status among the best basketball teams in New Jersey and the nation. With more than 1,000 wins and 27 state championships, the Hall of Fame coach has brought the Jersey City school unparalleled recognition and respect.
Every year, the challenge is renewed, and every year, the challenge is harder than it should be.
For the Catholic school constantly facing financial troubles, having a team each year is no given, with the closing of the school consistently lurking. Hurley spearheads numerous fundraising channels to help create revenue and keep open a place he has seen help thousands of inner-city children, but former Friar Donald Copeland fears, at some point, the never-ending efforts won’t be enough.
“I do get a little worried at times that it may come to an end because it’s a lot of work for such a small school,” said Copeland, who later played at Seton Hall. “You just never know … That was such an important place to me and anything I can do to help, I’m willing to do.”
Copeland and fellow St. Anthony alums are now trying to help the school they credit for changing their lives and help future students receive the same education they did, forming a team — Friar Nation — which will compete in The Basketball Tournament.
The second annual event — won last year by a group of Notre Dame alumni — will reward the winning team with a grand prize of $1 million, with the semifinals and championship taking place at Fordham on Aug. 1-2. If Friar Nation — comprised of Copeland, Xavier Munford, Tyuan Williams, Joshua Freelove, Jayon James, Chris Gaston, Khalil Murphy and Dominique Youmans — wins the 97-team tournament, the team has pledged to donate half of the money to the financially struggling school.
Donald Copeland (left) and Chris Gaston are two members of the St. Anthony alumni team.Photo: Susan May Tell; Paul J. Bereswill
The team plays its first game Friday in Philadelphia against a team of Temple alumni.
“Seeing young people wanting to give back, you know the right things have been instilled in them, and that to me is really significant,” said assistant coach Eric Harrield, a former assistant coach at St. Anthony. “It makes sense — a basketball school, a ton of alumni who can play the game. I think we’ll always have the opportunity to win and help the school.”
Though each player could personally benefit from the potential winnings, Copeland, who will serve as the player-coach, said it wasn’t difficult for the team to make the decision to try and help the school.
“An opportunity like this comes up, you have to try and take advantage of it,” Copeland said. “There’s a huge amount of pride, especially me growing up a Jersey City kid. My father took me to the games growing up, and I always wanted to go the school and play basketball.
“Going there, you play for probably the best high-school coach in the country and just to be a part of the fraternity of players to come through there and have so much success, you’re honored to be part of it.”
According to Hurley, the school is “in the black” as of June 30, but if his former players could claim the championship, it would remove much of the pressure that comes with constant fundraising and uncertain contributions.
“Boy, this would be a shot in the arm,” Hurley said. “It would be one-third of the money we need to raise for the year in one spot.”
Knowing how much could be gained, Hurley, who will be supporting the team from the stands, said he is going to have fun just watching his former players, rooting as if nothing but pride is at stake.
For him, just watching the former Friars playing for their school is its own reward.
“I know myself — growing up, playing basketball or stickball or two-hand touch, where there was money involved, it made it very hard,” Hurley said, “so we’re going to try and eliminate that thought and just play for the enjoyment and see how many games you can win.
“Then, if it happens, that’s wonderful.”
http://nypost.com/2015/07/14/how-ex...e-trying-to-help-financially-strapped-school/
