Long Island Lutheran's VJ Edgecombe and Montverde's Cooper Flagg, two projected NBA lottery picks, headline Bob McKillop Invitational at Hofstra

Cooper Flagg already is projected to be the selection for the lucky lottery winner in the 2025 NBA Draft, and VJ Edgecombe already is being projected to join him as a lottery pick.

But right now they’re elite high school seniors. And their elite teams will be sharing the same Long Island court.

It will be Flagg and Montverde Academy of Florida (26-0), ranked No. 1 in the country by ESPN, vs. Edgecombe and second-ranked Long Island Lutheran (16-3) at 8 p.m. Friday at Hofstra, the five-star attraction in the two-day, five-game Bob McKillop Invitational.

“The only way I can describe it is that it’s the biggest event basketball-wise in high school in the history of Long Island, and I’m not just saying that,” said Merrick native Tim Doyle, a former LuHi player and three-time All-Long Island selection at St. Dominic who organized the invitational with his brother, LuHi alum Dan Doyle, through their company, GOLD SN.

“We have the first pick in the draft coming on arguably the greatest high school team ever, going up against the New York state gold standard of nine state championships, LuHi; they’re ranked No. 2 in the country. So it isn’t an outrageous claim.”

Want a ticket? Sorry. The 5,023-seat arena is sold out for Friday’s games.

“Kind of a storybook-like opportunity, not just for us but for Long Island to see a game of this caliber,” LuHi coach John Buck said.

Montverde beat LuHi, 73-59, for the City of Palms Classic championship Dec. 23 in Fort Myers, Florida. Flagg, a 6-9 Duke-bound forward and one of Montverde’s three McDonald’s All-Americans, delivered 21 points and 14 rebounds. Edgecombe, a 6-5 Baylor-bound guard and another McDonald’s All-American, had 20 points and seven rebounds.

“Two of the best players in the country, clearly,” Buck said. “They’ve proven that time and time again.”

Before the LuHi game, South Carolina’s Legacy Early College will play New Hampshire’s Brewster Academy at 4 and Holy Trinity will face Chaminade at 6. Tickets are available for Saturday night —Montverde vs. Legacy at 6:30 and LuHi vs. Brewster at 8:30.

The Doyles chose to name the invitational in honor of McKillop, the former Holy Trinity, LuHi and Davidson coach.

“Bob lived right next door to us [in Merrick],” said Tim Doyle, who’s also an NBA-TV and CBS broadcaster. “He has shaped my life and my brother’s life probably next to our father . . . as much as anyone.”