St. Anthony High School (New Jersey)

St. Anthony High School was a four-year co-educational Catholic high school known for its high-powered basketball program. The school is located in Jersey City, New Jersey, United States, operating under the supervision of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark.[5] and is affiliated with St. Anthony of Padua Roman Catholic Church,[6] which owns the building.[7] The school has been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1997.[3]

St. Anthony High School
St. Anthony High School
Address
175 8th Street

Jersey City
,
(Hudson County)
,
New Jersey
07302
Coordinates40°43′35″N 74°2′27″W
Information
TypePrivate
MottoOmnis en Deus
(God in everything)
Religious affiliation(s)Roman Catholic,
Felician Sisters
Established1952
Closed2017
OversightArchdiocese of Newark
PresidentCoach Bob Hurley
PrincipalChad Broussard
Faculty16.0 FTEs[1]
Grades9–12
GenderCoeducational
Enrollment224 (as of 2013–14)[1]
Average class size16
Student to teacher ratio14.0:1[1]
Color(s)  Maroon and
  gold[2]
SloganFriar Nation
Athletics conferenceHudson County Interscholastic League
SportsBasketball (boys/girls), Volleyball(boys/girls), Football, Baseball, Softball, Track (indoor and outdoor)
MascotFriar
Team nameFriars[2]
RivalSt. Patrick's, St. Benedict's, Hudson Catholic, Roselle Catholic
AccreditationMiddle States Association of Colleges and Schools[3]
School fees$450
Tuition$6,000[4]
Dean of StudentsRalph Dinielli (9–10)
Daniel Kelly (11–12)
Athletic DirectorBuddy Mathews
Websitestanthonyhighschool.org/

Athletics

The St. Anthony High School Friars[2] competed in the Hudson County Interscholastic League, following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.[8] They practiced at White Eagle Hall and often played at the Jersey City Armory.

The boys' basketball varsity team, coached by Bob Hurley, had been, for over 39 years, the most dominant high school team in the country. St. Anthony had won a national record 28 state championships, set with a 74-44 win in the 2008 sectional championship game over Trenton Catholic Academy to win the Parochial B state title, the program's 25th.[9] The team has won state championships in Non-Public C in 1968 (vs. Sacred Heart High School in the finals), 1969 (vs. St. Augustine Preparatory School), 1973 (vs. St. Joseph's High School of Camden), 1974 (vs. St. Joseph's of Camden), 1976 (vs. Sacred Heart) and 1977 (vs. St. Joseph's of Camden); Non-Public B in 1980 (vs. St. Mary's High School of South Amboy), 1981 (vs. Wildwood Catholic High School), 1983 (vs. St. Peter the Apostle High School of New Brunswick), 1984 (vs. St. Peter of New Brunswick), 1985 (vs. St. Peter of New Brunswick), 1986 (vs. St. Augustine), 1987 (vs. St. Joseph High School of Hammonton), 1988 (vs. Wildwood Catholic), 1989 (vs. St. Rose), 1990 (vs. St. Peter of New Brunswick), 1991 (vs. Eustace Preparatory School), 1993 (vs. St. Augustine), 1995 (vs. St. Peter of New Brunswick), 1996 (vs. Eustace), 1997 (vs. St. Augustine), 2001 (vs. St. Augustine), 2002 (vs. St. Rose), 2004 (Red Bank Catholic High School), 2008 (vs. Trenton Catholic Academy), 2011 (vs. Cardinal McCarrick High School), 2012 (vs. Gill St. Bernard's School) and 2016 (vs. Roselle Catholic High School)[10] The program has won the Tournament of Champions 13 times: 1989 (vs. Elizabeth High School in the inaugural tournament by a score of 62-55), 1991 (vs. Seton Hall Preparatory School, 63-39), 1993 (vs. Middle Township High School), 84-59), 1995 (vs. Shawnee High School, 47-44), 1996 (vs. Shawnee, 65-57 in overtime), 1997 (vs. Seton Hall Prep, 69-63), 2001 (vs. Malcolm X Shabazz High School, 48-47), 2002 (vs. Neptune High School, 69-42), 2004 (vs.Bloomfield Tech High School, 67-55), 2008 (vs. Science Park High School, 69-36), 2011 (vs. Plainfield High School, 61-49), 2012 (vs. Plainfield, 66-62) and 2016 (vs. Linden High School, 55-38). [11] With a 61-49 win in the 2011 Tournament of Champions over Plainfield High School, the St. Anthony team completed a 33-0 undefeated season, won its 11th Tournament of Champions and was recognized by USA Today with its fourth national championship.[12] The programs 27 NJSIAA state roup titles are the most of any school in the state.[13]

St. Anthony produced over 150 players to Division I basketball programs, all on full scholarships. Hurley has coached five first round NBA draft picks, including his own son, Bobby Hurley. His team has been the subject of the book titled The Street Stops Here and a 2010 documentary film based on the book.[14] That year, documentary crews captured the entire season as the Friars finished the season as the #1 team in the country.

The baseball team won the Non-Public Group C state championship in 1970 (defeating St. Joseph High School of Hammonton in the tournament final), 1971 (vs. Saint Augustine Preparatory School) and 1972 (vs. St. Joseph of Hammonton), and won the Group B title in 1987 (vs. Eustace Preparatory School).[15]

The girls basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state sectional championship in 1984, defeating Wildwood Catholic High School in the tournament final.[16]

State and national championships
State and national Championships
SeasonSportNumber of ChampionshipsYear
WinterBasketball, Boys28 state championships and 4 national championshipsstates: 1968, 1969, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1980, 1981, 1983, 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2008, 2011, 2012, 2016
Total championships32 (most in U.S. history)

Closure

The school struggled with funding and declining enrollments for many decades, however, funding always managed to be found.[17][18] As of the 2013–14 school year, the high school had 224 students and 16.0 classroom teachers (on an FTE basis), the school had a student–teacher ratio of 14.0:1. There were 59 students in 9th grade, 68 students in 10th grade, 52 students in 11th grade, and 45 students in 12th grade.[1]

In the 2015-2016 school year there were 200 students, and 2016-2017 school year there were 183 students. In September 2016 the board of trustees announced that the community needed to raise $15–20 million in order to keep the school open. In September 2016 Patrick Villanova of The Jersey Journal wrote that St. Anthony "is seemingly always on the brink of closure, considering the razor thin margins."[19]

In April 2017, officials at St. Anthony formally announced the high school would close at the end of the 2016–17 school year, due to declining enrollment (i.e. only 160 students in 2017) and the lack of funding to cover expenses.[20][21] Increasing expenses were linked to the hiring of non-teaching order educators, and Bob Cook wrote in Forbes that gentrification may have contributed to the school's decline.[22]

In efforts to reverse the decision of the school's looming closure, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie announced a challenge during an April 2017 appearance on radio station WFAN. Christie asked for the commissioners of Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Basketball Association, and the National Hockey League to each donate $125,000, in order to meet the school's minimum investment need of $500,000.[23] Despite this, the school was closed in June 2017.[24]

Notable alumni

References
  1. School data for St. Anthony High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 2, 2017.
  2. Saint Anthony High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 2, 2017.
  3. St. Anthony High School Archived April 24, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  4. Tuition and Financial Aid, Saint Anthony High School. Accessed January 3, 2012.
  5. Hudson County High Schools Archived October 27, 2011, at the Wayback Machine, Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  6. "Our History". St. Anthony of Padua. Retrieved May 5, 2017. Father Hak obtained the old Public School No. 4 on Eighth Street, a half mile from the church. Initially serving as an annex to the parochial school, it eventually became the site of the high school.
  7. "Jersey City mourns fate of St. Anthony: a 'little safe haven'". Retrieved May 5, 2017. The school and some of its adjacent parking lot are owned by the St. Anthony parish, and some of the parking lot is owned by the city.
  8. League & Conference Affiliations 2016–2017 Archived November 9, 2012, at the Wayback Machine, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017.
  9. "St. Anthony sets national record", The Record, March 9, 2008. Accessed March 9, 2008. "St. Anthony set a national record by winning its 25th State title Saturday with a 74-44 rout of Trenton Catholic in the Non-Public B final at the Ritacco Center in Toms River."
  10. NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  11. NJSIAA Boys Basketball Tournament Of Champions History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.
  12. Ehalt, Matt. "Bob Hurley, St. Anthony take crown", ESPN.com, March 22, 2011. Accessed June 22, 2011. "The Friars, ranked No. 1 in the nation by Powerade Fab 50 ESPN Rise rankings, improved to 33-0 with the win. Hurley has now won 11 Tournament of Champions, and this is his fourth squad to win the unofficial national championship, as awarded by USA Today. He also has won more than 1,000 games and 24 state titles."
  13. NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  14. Thorbourne, Ken. "Documentary on legendary Jersey City high school coach Bob Hurley airs tonight", The Jersey Journal, March 31, 2010. Accessed June 22, 2011. "Okay Hudson County, you've enjoyed Bobby Hurley's legendary run as basketball guru at St. Anthony High School in Jersey City -- the 900-plus wins, countless state titles, and three USA Today national championships."
  15. NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed October 20, 2020.
  16. NJSIAA Girls Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed September 1, 2020.
  17. "BBC World Service - The Documentary Podcast, The Miracle of St Anthony's". BBC. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  18. Zagoria, Adam (April 25, 2017). "In St. Anthony's Final Days, a Scramble to Recruit Its Best Talent". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  19. Villanova, Patrick (September 15, 2016). "St. Anthony trustees say school may close in June if millions aren't raised". The Jersey Journal. Retrieved June 23, 2020.
  20. Borzello, Jeff. "Hall of Famer Bob Hurley Sr. says St. Anthony High to close", ESPN, April 6, 2017. Accessed September 12, 2017. "St. Anthony High School, home to one of the most successful programs in high school basketball, will close its doors at the end of the school year.... 'Even with fundraising that will generate close to $1.5M by the end of June, this amount is still insufficient to maintain operating expenses and cover debt payment to the Archdiocese,' Hurley wrote. 'In addition, the projected enrollment for 2017–2018 does not provide the revenues required to operate the school going forward.'"
  21. Schneider, Jeremy. "No miracle for St. Anthony: Basketball powerhouse to close", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, April 5, 2017. Accessed September 12, 2017. "St. Anthony High School will suspend operations at the end of the 2016–17 school year in June due to a lack of funding and dwindling enrollment Bob Hurley Sr., the school's president and basketball team's Hall of Fame coach, announced on Wednesday."
  22. "Gentrification May Have Helped Kill Basketball Power St. Anthony High School". Forbes. April 9, 2017. Retrieved October 21, 2017.
  23. Associated Press (April 7, 2017). "Chris Christie wants pro sports leagues to save Jersey hoops powerhouse". SI.com. Retrieved April 10, 2017.
  24. "Legendary Catholic high school closes". www.cbsnews.com. Retrieved March 15, 2019.
  25. "Basketball Recruiting – Kyle Anderson". ESPN. Retrieved September 16, 2012.
  26. Willie Banks, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed June 22, 2011.
  27. Lewis, Brian. "Duke's Defense No Southern Comfort", New York Post, March 17, 2006. Accessed April 1, 2019. "With 2:19 gone in the second half, forward Peter Cipriano of St. Anthony’s in Jersey City hit a jumper that brought his team with 40-36."
  28. Bernstein, Jason. "Hallice Cooke of St. Anthony commits to Oregon State", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, September 10, 2012. Accessed August 23, 2017. "Hallice Cooke of St. Anthony has made a verbal commitment to Oregon State University."
  29. Weiss, Dick. "Ahmad Nivins grows into stardom at St. Joseph's", New York Daily News, February 15, 2009. Accessed February 27, 2009. "His unbeaten 1989 team alone produced three NBA first-round picks – Bobby Hurley, Terry Dehere and Rodrick Rhodes. Six players from last year's 32–0 mythical national championship team – Mike Rosario, Travon Woodall, Jio Fontan, A.J. Rogers, Alberto Estwick and Tyshawn Taylor – accepted Division I scholarships."
  30. Jerome Frink, FIU Panthers men's basketball. Accessed April 1, 2019. "A major contributor for St. Anthony’s (N.J.) during the 2010-11 and 2011-12 seasons in which the Friars went 65-0 with consecutive NJSIAA Tournament of Champion titles and one national championship."
  31. "Plus: Pro Basketball; Hurley's Retirement Becomes Official", The New York Times, October 20, 2000. Accessed August 22, 2018. "Hurley, 29, was a high school standout at St. Anthony of Jersey City and an all-American guard at Duke University."
  32. Staff. "St. Anthony's Reunion Scheduled - Not", News & Record (Greensboro), March 20, 1992. Accessed April 12, 2011. "Duke's Bobby Hurley and Seton Hall's Terry Dehere, Jerry Walker and Danny Hurley all played for Bob Hurley, Sr. at St. Anthony's."
  33. Katz, Andy. "Dan Hurley going to Rhode Island", ESPN, Updated: March 20, 2012.
  34. Villanova, Patrick. "Former St. Anthony basketball standout Lucious Jones signs with Robert Morris University", The Jersey Journal, September 8, 2011. Accessed April 1. 2019. "Former St. Anthony High School basketball player Lucious Jones has signed a scholarship with Division I Robert Morris University, of the Northeast Conference."
  35. Robb, Adam. "Former Jersey City graffiti artist KAWS has first solo museum show", The Jersey Journal, June 25, 2010, updated January 18, 2019. Accessed November 22, 2019. "Stare long enough and you'll start to notice the faded graffiti tagged along the top floors of some surrounding factories, like the crude white letters spelling KAWS on two sides of a rooftop at 13th and Coles. It's the tag of Brian Donnelly, arguably Jersey City's most celebrated artist to date, who painted his pseudonym there in the early 1990s so it would be visible from his classroom window at nearby St. Anthony High School."
  36. Zagoria, Adam. 'In St. Anthony’s Final Days, a Scramble to Recruit Its Best Talent", The New York Times, April 25, 2017. Accessed April 1, 2019. "When Paterson Catholic High School, which was not far from St. Anthony and had established a healthy basketball rivalry with Hurley’s teams, closed its doors in 2010, St. Anthony was the biggest beneficiary. Two of Paterson Catholic’s best players — Kyle Anderson, a 6-9 forward who now plays for the San Antonio Spurs, and Myles Mack, a point guard who went on to Rutgers and now plays professionally in Europe — relocated to St. Anthony."
  37. Stanmyre, Matthew. "Former Duke and NBA star Roshown McLeod named new head basketball coach at St. Benedict's", The Star-Ledger, April 20, 2010. Accessed April 1, 2011. "Former Indiana University men’s basketball assistant coach and St. Anthony High standout Roshown McLeod was named head coach at St. Benedict’s Prep yesterday afternoon, taking over one of the country’s preeminent boys basketball programs."
  38. Roshown Mcleod Archived December 15, 2007, at the Wayback Machine, databaseBasketball.com. Accessed December 30, 2007.
  39. Derrick Mercer, American University. Accessed April 1, 2019. "Starting point guard for prestigious St. Anthony (N.J.) program under head coach Bob Hurley"
  40. Popper, Steve. "Basketball: College Men -- St. John's; Red Storm Seeks Alaskan Recruit", The New York Times, November 16, 1998. Accessed January 3, 2012. "St. John's has also been visited by the 7-0 center Josh Moore, who played for St. Anthony's of Jersey City before transferring to St. Thomas More Prep in Connecticut."
  41. Teitel, Jon. "Tourney Talk: CHD interviews Manhattan PF Ashton Pankey", College Hoops Daily, March 17, 2015. Accessed April 1, 2019. "You played for two of the best high school coaches ever in Bob Hurley (at St. Anthony’s) and Jack Curran (Archbishop Molloy): how did they help prepare you for the college game?"
  42. Curry, Jack. "Lakers Rookie's Search for Solace", The New York Times, January 15, 1989. Accessed August 22, 2018. "David Rivers has always been ready for the game. One of the finest players to come out of New Jersey in the last 20 years, he overcame obstacles to become an All-State performer at St. Anthony High School."
  43. Lieber, Jill. "On defense at St. Anthony's", USA Today, October 6, 2002. Accessed August 24, 2007.
  44. Stanmyre, Matthew. "NCAA Tournament: Mike Rosario, Florida guard, made imprint at St. Anthony, Rutgers", NJ Advance Media for NJ.com, March 27, 2013. Accessed April 1, 2019. "The idea burned inside Rosario, fueling an endless drive that pushed him to his own fabled career at St. Anthony, and then to resurrect his broken college career at Florida."
  45. "Tyshawn Taylor". Archived from the original (English) on July 5, 2012. Retrieved July 5, 2012.
  46. Vega, Michael. "Valentin gifted in major league bow", Boston Globe, July 28, 1992. Accessed April 1, 2011. "With [Tim Naehring] nursing a sprained right wrist and Luis Rivera riding out a slump on the pine, the time seemed perfect for the 25-year-old from Jersey City, N.J. It was there Valentin grew up playing high school basketball at St. Anthony's alongside former Notre Dame star David Rivers."
  47. Futterman, Matthew for The Star-Ledger. "At rock bottom, Luther Wright finds salvation; Ex-Jazzman finds new life after years of excess", Deseret News, June 5, 2007. Accessed August 28, 2017. "His height and success brought him to St. Anthony High School, the basketball powerhouse in Jersey City coached by Bob Hurley. He lasted a year before flunking out.... Using a cousin's address, Wright's family enrolled him at Elizabeth High School, another powerhouse, where he led his team to victory in the state's Tournament of Champions."
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