St. Anthony High School (New Jersey)

St. Anthony High School was a four-year co-educational Catholic high school in Jersey City, New Jersey, that was known for its high-powered basketball program coached by Bob Hurley Sr. The school closed in 2017.

It operated under the supervision of the Archdiocese of NewarkHudson County High Schools , Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Newark. Accessed June 22, 2011. and was affiliated for much of its history with St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, which owns the building. The school had been accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools since 1997.St. Anthony High School , Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Elementary and Secondary Schools. Accessed June 22, 2011.

History

Beginnings The school was originally founded to serve the Padua parish, made up of Polish Americans and their children. Over time, the school's demographics shifted along with the local neighborhood, to a predominantly Black and Hispanic population.

Basketball success Beginning in the 1960s under Bob Hurley Sr., the school was known for its boys' basketball program, which won the state championship nearly every year and produced a number of successful NBA players.

Closure The school struggled with funding and declining enrollments for many decades; however, funding always managed to be found. 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.School data for St. Anthony High School, National Center for Education Statistics. Accessed March 2, 2017.

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."

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.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.'"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." 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.

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. Despite this, the school was closed in June 2017.

Athletics The St. Anthony High School FriarsSaint Anthony High School, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed March 2, 2017. competed in the Hudson County Interscholastic League, which was established following a reorganization of sports leagues in Northern New Jersey by the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association.League & Conference Affiliations 2016–2017 , New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed January 10, 2017. They practiced at White Eagle Hall and often played at the Jersey City Armory.

Boys' basketball 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."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."

The team has won state championships in:

Non-Public C 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) 1977 (vs. St. Joseph's of Camden)

Non-Public B 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) 2016 (vs. Roselle Catholic High School)NJSIAA Boys Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

The program also 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) 2016 (vs. Linden High School, 55–38)NJSIAA Boys Basketball Tournament Of Champions History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.

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.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." The program's 27 NJSIAA state group titles are the most of any school in the state.

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.

In popular media His team has been the subject of the book titled The Street Stops Here and a 2010 documentary film based on the book.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." That year, documentary crews captured the entire season as the Friars finished the season as the #1 team in the country.

Girls' basketball The 1984 girls basketball team won the Non-Public Group B state championship, defeating Wildwood Catholic High School by a score of 59–46 in the tournament final.NJSIAA Girls Basketball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed November 20, 2020.Burrows, Walt. "Late surge by St. Anthony's thwarts Wildwood Catholic", Courier-Post, March 12, 1984. Accessed February 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "reams of a Parochial B state championship for the Wildwood Catholic High School girls' basketball team were reduced to ashes in the final four minutes yesterday when St Anthony's of Jersey City pulled away for a 59-46 victory in the Seton Hall University gymnasium."

Baseball 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).NJSIAA Baseball Championship History, New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association. Accessed May 1, 2023. The 1971 team came back from a 2–0 deficit to win the Parochial C title with a 3–2 win against St. Augustine."Seton Hall Prep claims top schoolboy combine", Herald News, June 14, 1971. Accessed February 18, 2021, via Newspapers.com. "St. Anthony's (17-3) spotted St. Augustine of Richland (19-8) a 2-0 lead before rallying for a 3-2 lead."

State and national championships State and national Championships Season Sport Number of Championships YearWinter Basketball, Boys 28 state championships and 4 national championships states: 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, 2016Total championships 32 (most in U.S. history)

Notable alumni

Kyle Anderson (born 1993; class of 2012), basketball player for the Minnesota Timberwolves Willie Banks (born 1969; class of 1987), former Major League Baseball pitcherWillie Banks, Baseball-Reference.com. Accessed June 22, 2011. Rashon Burno (born 1978). basketball coach who is the head coach of the Northern Illinois Huskies men's basketball teamRashon Burno, Manhattan Jaspers basketball. Accessed August 5, 2025. "Burno helped anchor back-to-back national championship runs for St. Anthony's High School in Jersey City under head coach Bob Hurley in 1996 and 1997." Eli Carter (born 1991), professional basketball player who played for ASE Essaouira of the Nationale 1"Elijah Carter Has a Top Five", ZagsBlog, September 15, 2010. Accessed August 5, 2025. "Elijah Carter is settling into his new life at Brewster (N.H.) Academy and trimming his college list as well.... Carter lives in Willingboro, N.J., so Seton Hall would be close to home.... Cincinnati is also high on Carter, who opted to prep at Brewster after finishing up at St. Anthony instead of going directly to college."