Freshman Basketball Back at High School?

The freshmen boys basketball team could look to become the latest program to become self-funded.

The Board of Education voted to allow the program to exist Monday night if it can become self-sufficient and has enough players to justify a team for the 2012-2013 season.

Same goes for the girls if it can field a team. It isn't believed, however, that a enough interest can be garnered for a freshman girls squad.

Athletic Director Tom Vara said the incoming freshman class has a strong basketball background. He said varsity head coach Jim Tobin backed the move.

"He feels very strongly that this group of eighth-graders coming in, these soon-to-be freshmen, are going to be strong enough and large enough to handle a freshman program," Vara said.

Hopatcong and many surrounding high schools cut all freshman sports in 2010 after severe state aid cuts.

Parent-funded programs have short, but successful history at the high school. The golf and marching band survived the 2010 cuts by raising their own funds.

Vara said the program, which would seek about 10 games—five road, five home—would cost just more than $2,000. It would be guided by a volunteer coach.

"By the end of the summer I believe they will have all the money that they would need already in their pockets" to run the program, Vara said.