Around Hopewell
🌎🏀 Hopewell’s Best vs The World: Three Vikings Set for CJ2K Charity Showdown
Hooping for a cause in Beaver County next weekend !
Three Hopewell Junior High players will be playing in the Concrete Jungle Charity Games this weekend March 27 & 28. Hopewell 8th graders Christian Fischer, Ryder Kostrick and Enzo Leopardi have been invited to play in the second annual game to benefit two charities: CoachesVSCancer and Pittsburgh’s Children’s Hospital. Additionally, Hopewell JV Coaches Mike Sims and Javon Turner will be donating their time coaching teams.
This is Fischer’s second year playing for CJ2K. Last year his team “Crete” made it to the championship game. Additionally, he was named MVP of the All-Star Saturday Junior High Team. Kostrick and Leopardi are new to CJ2K this year and look forward to the competitive atmosphere of the outside games at Brady’s Run. The charity game will have two teams: Concrete Jungle and The World. Fischer is playing forward for the Concrete Jungle Team and Kostrick and Leopardi are guards for The World Team. There are no practices. The kids just hit the court the day of the games and use their basketball instincts to come together.
Concrete Jungle 2K or CJ2K League was founded in September 2020 when facilities and gyms closed down and the kids in the Western PA. sports world were left with a lot of uncertainty. In order to give the student athletes a chance to compete, Concrete Jungle outdoor street league was born and games were played outside in the fresh air at Brady’s Run Park. The league was formed with very reputable coaches and great local prospects. Since that time, CJ2K has expanded rapidly with players participating from over 80 school districts and 4 states coming to hoop it up ! In 2025, the league partnered with the Cleveland Cavaliers Youth Sports Program and M7 Sports Facility in Aliquippa to offer programs to inspire hoops athletes from all over the area. The program offers a platform for local athletes to develop skills, gain exposure, and compete in a professional style environment like player drafts, custom uniforms, media coverage and a popular YouTube Channel.
This weekends charity game is the kick off of the CJ2K summer season which runs from May 25th- July 3rd. It includes Media Day May 17th, an Opening day Memorial Day Tip Off Showcase on May 25/26, an All Star Saturday June 27th with team All-Stars competitions. The seaon culminates in the CJ2K World Championship playoffs June 24-July 3rd.
About the Charity Game Coaches:
Great Coaching and mentorship is another key piece of the CJ2K Charity foundation. We reached out to Darren Zaslau of Fox 53 and 22 The Point. Darren will be our Honorary PA Announcer Saturday, March 28 for the High School Girls (1pm) and HS Boys (3pm) Charity Classic. Darren connected us with Coaches vs Cancer and also with Ron Everhart (“a walking basketball encyclopedia”). Ron is the Honorary Coach of the CJ2K WORLD Team for the High School Boys game. Head Coach is Justice Cuthbertson of ICE Academy. Camp Nitty is also on the World Boys Staff. The Staff for Team Concrete Jungle is led by reigning CJ2K Champion, Sean “Sweet Keat” Keaton, Coach of Hopewell Showtime. Former Pitt Star and CJ2K SLAM DUNK Judge, Julius Page will the Honorary Coach assisted by Nick Ehko of the Hunky Alley Ringers. Being a streetball league the CJ2K embraces nicknames and salutes towns and neighborhoods, not school districts. Coaches for TEAM CJ2K Girls are led by Head Coach Taylor Kirschner (3-Time Concrete Jungle World Champion). Coach Lawrence Combs of Queens, NY will be the Honorary Coaches, assisted by Coach Jordan George & Joe Kirschner aka Blanco Rabbíto. The World Team Head Coach is Aliquippa’s own Coach Bo Lindsey. Honorary Coach Lexi Griggs.
Tickets are on sale now. Cost is $12 Adult and $8 students. Available online and at the door unless sold out.
