Which state basketball powerhouses are coming to the 40th Burger King Classic in Erie?
Thousands of fans traveled to Hershey in March to see Pittsburgh powerhouse Lincoln Park edge nationally-ranked Neumann Goretti 62-58 for the PIAA Class 4A boys basketball championship.
Fans attending the 40th Burger King Classic could be in for a highly-anticipated rematch in January. Lincoln Park, Neumann Goretti and New York power Niagara Falls will all travel to the Hagerty Family Events Center for the four-team boys basketball tournament Jan. 5-6. The tournament begins with Niagara Falls taking on Lincoln Park at 6 p.m. before Prep battles Neumann Goretti at 7:30 p.m. on Jan. 5 before the consolation game and championship game take place Jan. 6.
Lincoln Park
Lincoln Park lost just one game last season and won the Burger King Classic before winning a state title. Meleek Thomas, a 6-foot 4-inch junior, is one of the top guards in the country with offers from schools like Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, UConn and Indiana. The Leopards also have 6-4 senior guard Brandon Cummings, a Pitt recruit.
Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls went 21-3 last winter and lost in the NYSPHSAA Class 2A quarterfinals to eventual state champion Victor 66-59. Class 2A is the biggest class in New York.
Neumann Goretti
Neumann Goretti has nine PIAA titles since 2010. The Saints last won the Burger King Classic in 2016 behind Kentucky recruit Quade Green. This year's team features 6-8 forward Sultan Adewale, who has offers from Arizona State, Clemson, Washington and West Virginia among others along with guard Khaafiq Myers, who has offers from Temple, St. Joe's, George Washington and Drexel.
Cathedral Prep
Cathedral Prep has a young team this year with one starter back in Amaree Pickens and a new head coach in Jeremy Lynch. Lynch has been around the Burger King Classic all of his life from being a fan, a player, an assistant coach and now as a head coach.
Contact Tom Reisenweber at treisenweber@timesnews.com. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter, @ETNreisenweber.
This article originally appeared on Erie Times-News: 40th Burger King Classic: High school basketball 4-team field set
