NIAGARA FALLS — Organizer Sal Constantino admits that the talent level at last year’s Alan Elia Memorial Tournament — formerly the Can-Am Classic — wasn’t on par with previous years.
“This year, I think we really got it back to where it was,” Constantino said.
The 16-team tournament will be held all day Saturday at Niagara Falls High School and from 9 a.m. until the early-afternoon championship games Sunday at Niagara Catholic.
Local teams include the Niagara PAL squad, which will feature former Wolverine Kenny Stokes and Gordon Lyons (Canisius), the Harbor Hoops outfit led by recent State Fair All-Star Game participants Brennan Moxham and Aaron Nevins (Canisius), and Jody Crymes’ VFI team that has done well in 16U tournaments but will be stepping up in age bracket this weekend. Top players on that team include J.J. Wilkes, Taijay Williams, Jordan Street and Jermaine Crumpton.
Among the top Division I prospects 6-foot-10 Barnett Harris from a Pittsburgh-area team and 6-10 Keegan Dunlop from the Niagara (Ont.) Select team. Harris has received offers from Duquesne and Kent State, while Dunlop is on the University at Buffalo’s recruiting radar.
“I’d say we’re going to see between 10 to 12 Division I players,” Constantino said. “We’re hoping for a good mix of college coaches to attend.”
Admission to the tournament is $2. Proceeds will benefit the Niagara PAL programs.
The event was renamed three years ago in honor of Elia, who was a long-time supporter of the Can-Am Classic.
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