College Basketball

College hoops galore this weekend in NYC

The college basketball season began 13 days ago, but it takes center stage locally beginning Thursday night with a series of tournaments showcasing some of the country’s top players. From Kentucky to Michigan State, Syracuse to Duke, Arizona to UCLA, New York City will see many of the nation’s best. Below are the upcoming tournaments over the next few days:

2K Sports Classic

at Madison Square Garden

Thursday: 7 p.m., Connecticut vs. Boston College; 9:30 p.m., Indiana vs. Washington.

Friday: 5 p.m., Consolation game; 7:30 p.m., Championship game.

Favorite: UConn. The 4-0 Huskies are postseason eligible this year and playing like March is in their future with a backcourt — featuring Shabazz Napier, Ryan Boatright and Brooklyn product Omar Calhoun — few teams can match.

Sleeper: Indiana. Cody Zeller and Victor Oladipo are in the NBA, but Indiana is still a force to be reckoned with. Freshman Noah Vonleh has gotten off to a fast start, with four double-doubles in his first four college games, playing his way into the conversation when it comes to the nation’s elite wunderkinds.

Players to watch: UConn G Shabazz Napier (13.5 PPG, 9.5 RPG, 7.8 APG), UConn G Ryan Boatright (12.8 PPG, 4.3 APG), Indiana F Noah Vonlh (14.8 PPG, 12.5 RPG), Boston College G Olivier Hanlan (24.5 PPG), Washington G C.J. Wilcox (20.3 PPG)

Coaches vs. Cancer Classic

at Barclays Center

Friday: 7 p.m., Seton Hall vs. Oklahoma; 9:30 p.m., Michigan State vs. Virginia Tech.

Saturday: 7 p.m., Consolation game; 9:30 p.m., Championship game.

Favorite: Michigan State. The lone ranked team in the tournament, No. 1 Michigan State is a chic pick to cut down the nets in April, and has two potential lottery selections on its roster in bruising senior forward Adreian Payne and dynamic guard Garry Harris, a standout sophomore.

Sleeper: Oklahoma. The only team in this tournament that can push Michigan State, Oklahoma is coming off its first NCAA Tournament berth in five seasons. Former Mount Vernon star Isaiah Cousins is one of three sophomore guards, along with Buddy Hield and Je’lon Hornbeak, the Sooners are depending on for major production.

Players to watch: Michigan State G Gary Harris (16.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG), Michigan State F Adreian Payne (17.5 PPG), Seton Hall F Fuquan Edwin, Oklahoma G Buddy Hield(18.3 PPG, 5.0 RPG), G Isaiah Cousins (7.7 PPG, 4.3 APG), Virginia Tech F C.J. Barksdale (16.0 PPG)

Legends Classic

at Barclays Center

Monday: 7:30 p.m., Texas Tech vs. Pittsburgh; 10 p.m., Houston vs. Stanford.

Tuesday: 7 p.m., Consolation game; 9:30 p.m., Championship game.

Favorite: Pittsburgh. This is a team Pittsburgh fans are used to — and Brooklyn fans will adopt — a physical, grinding, defensive-mind group that will hammer the opposition in the paint. Forward tandem Lamar Patterson and Talib Zanna are integral to the Panthers success at both ends of the floor.

Sleeper: Stanford. Junior Chasson Randle, a versatile 6-foot-2 guard who scores from the perimeter and in the paint, could carry the Cardinal to the title here.

Players to watch: Pittsburgh F Lamar Patterson (12.7 PPG, 5.0 RPG), Pittsburgh F Talib Zanna (11.5 PPG, 6.5 RPG), Stanford G Chasson Randle (23.5 PPG), Texas Tech G Robert Turner (15.5 PPG), Houston F TaShawn Thomas (18.3 PPG, 10.0 RPG)