The Tribune

By BRENT STUBBS

Senior Sports Reporter

bstubbs@tribunemedia.net

THE Northfield Mount Hermon boys’ basketball team is making their initial appearance in the Bahamas for the Tip-Off Classic this weekend at Loyola Hall and, by the time they leave next week, they hope to leave a lasting impression.

NMH, coached by John Carroll, has won the prestigious New England Prep School Athletic Conference (NEPSAC) titles in 2016, 2018 and 2019, the national championship in 2013 and New England’s (NEPSAC AAA) crown in 2012.

“We’re excited to be a part of it.

“It’s a great tournament,” said Carroll of his team which is considered the best combination of academics and basketball in the United States.

“A part of our trip here is to get involved in the community. We will be visiting one of the local homes for children, we will be giving out supplies to CC Sweeting and we will also be putting on a basketball clinic.”

With his players gaining some international exposure in playing their three games in the tournament, Carroll said the trip will afford his team the opportunity to give back to the Bahamian community.

“We want to make sure our kids understand what this country has gone through (with the passing of Hurricane Dorian) and so it’s important for us to give them all of the support that we can,” he said.

On the court, NMH will be one of 12 teams participating in the Tip-Off Classic that starts today at 9am at Loyola Hall on Gladstone Road.

The tournament was originally scheduled for the Kendal Isaacs Gymnasium, but the Bahamas Basketball Federation had to change the venue because of the evacuees from Hurricane Dorian staying there.

“We have a group of guys with some high IQs,” Carroll said. “We’ve won the championships four out of the last seven years. These guys value spacing and they are quick to make decisions. We’re a great basketball team.”

With an average height of 6-feet, 7-inches from his players who are in grades 10-12, Carroll said they have some potential who can go on to play in the Ivy League and hopefully join more than 50 players in the past 10 years excelled at college from division 1 to III.

“We have a few kids in college now who have NBA potential,” Carroll pointed out.

“I’m not sure if this team has that right now, but we do have some players who can play at the D1 level and excel.”

NMH will play their first game today at 2:15pm against TRC from Ontario, Canada. Their second game will be at the same time on Saturday against Orangeville Prep from Ontario, Canada. Their final game will be on Sunday at 9am against Helsinki Basketball Academy from Finland.

• Here’s a look at the weekend schedule of games at Loyola Hall:

TODAY

9am - Orangeville Prep (Ontario) vs International Sports Academy (Ohio)

10:45am - Ridley College Prep (Ontario) vs Putnam Science Academy (CT)

12:30pm - Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland) vs Hargrave Military Academy (VA)

2:15pm - TRC (Ontario) vs. Northfield Mount Hermon (MA)

4pm - NBA Latin America Academy (Mexico) vs BC Christian Academy (British Columbia)

5:45pm - Nassau Select (Bahamas) vs Freeport Select (Bahamas)

Saturday

9am - International Sports Academy (OH) vs Ridley College Prep (Ontario)

10:45am - Hargrave Military Academy (VA) vs BC Christian Academy (British Columbia)

12:30pm - Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland) vs Nassau Select (Bahamas)

2:15pm - Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) vs Orangeville Prep (Ontario)

4pm - TRC Academy (Ontario) vs Freeport Select (Bahamas)

5:45pm - Putnam Science Academy (CT) vs NBA Basketball Academy Latin America (Mexico)

Sunday

9am - Northfield Mount Hermon (MA) vs Helsinki Basketball Academy (Finland)

10:45am - BC Christian Academy (British Columbia) vs Putnam Science Academy (CT)

12:30pm - NBA Basketball Academy Latin America vs International Basketball Academy

2:15pm - Freeport Select (Bahamas) vs Orangeville Prep (Ontario)

4pm - Ridley College Prep (Ontario) vs Nassau Select (Bahamas)

5:45pm - TRC Academy (Ontario) vs Hargrave Military Academy (VA)