Behind the Jerseys: NJS at the 2026 Chris Brickley Invitational presented by Bose
When Chicago hosted the 2026 Chris Brickley Invitational this past May, New Jersey Sets had made our mark by way of the uniforms. Bose presenting, Puma on the apparel, and 40 of the top high school hoopers in the country on the floor. For us, getting to produce the on-court look for an event at this level was a huge moment.
The red and black checkerboard design became the signature look of the weekend — bold, sharp, and built to pop on camera whether players were on the step-and-repeat or mid-drive.
The Event
The Brickley Invitational has quickly become one of the premier high school all-star showcases on the calendar, and the 2026 edition in Chicago raised the bar again. With Bose presenting and custom headphones gifted to every player, the production value matched the talent on the floor — and the talent was loaded. Past editions have already produced a McDonald's All-American MOP, multiple top-five draft prospects, and national players of the year. This year's class was no different.
Both the boys' and girls' games got their own colorways — black with red checkers for one squad, white with red checkers for the other — keeping things visually distinct while staying true to the CBI identity.
The Challenge
Producing for an event like this isn't like a typical team order. There's no moving the date — players are flying in from across the country, brand partners are watching closely, and everything has to hold up under stage lighting, photo shoots, and live game action all in the same weekend.
That meant:
- Compressed timelines. Showcase events get locked in fast, so our usual production runway with our overseas manufacturing partners got tighter than usual — without sacrificing print quality or fit.
- Two full kits, one identity. Designing distinct boys' and girls' colorways that still read as one cohesive CBI/Bose/Puma look across photos, video, and broadcast.
- Camera-ready details. Custom numbering, clean Puma branding placement, and a print that had to hold up under bright studio lighting for the official campaign photos — not just game film.
Why It Matters to Us
Names like Mikel Brown Jr. and Meleek Thomas already came through past invitationals — and this year's class is full of players who'll be just as recognizable in a few years. Getting to put NJS-made jerseys on the next wave of college and pro talent, at an event backed by Puma and Bose, is exactly the kind of work that reminds us why we do this.
Big thanks to Chris Brickley, the team, Puma, and Bose for trusting us with this one. We're already counting down to next year.
Want custom jerseys for your event or program? Reach out to New Jersey Sets — we'll handle the design, production, and deadlines, wherever in the world they need to happen.