The question, in its simplest form, is which do you prefer: hockey or basketball?

Finding a definitive answer to a loaded question like that, however, is about as easy and uncontroversial as it is to choose between war and peace, youthful ignorance and aged wisdom, or Coke and Pepsi.

To truly get to the heart of the issue, an individual has to explore the question on every level — and it's unlikely that a simple, 20-inch column can confirm or contradict the reader's beliefs at the moment.

That being said, here on the North Shore there is a clear and concise reason why basketball is, or should be, the people's choice for viewing pleasure.

It can be boiled down into five letters: S-T-A-R-S.

In a nutshell, hoop has them; hockey doesn't.

Now, before you drop the gloves and try to pull the sweater over my head, consider the state of college recruiting for hockey at this very moment. Where do the majority of the college hockey players come from?

Local public and Catholic high schools aren't exactly filling up the rosters of college hockey teams. It could be argued, however, that these local schools are stocking New England prep schools with loads of talent.

The reality is that, while there are good players on the ice in this area, the great ones are playing elsewhere.

A perfect example is Chris Kreider, formerly of Masconomet. Kreider spent two years at Masco before moving on to Phillips Andover Academy, where he now plays a schedule that includes Exeter, Deerfield, Cushing and Tabor. At last check, none of those teams played at Rockett Arena in Salem.

The college coaches flock to the prep schools to grab hockey talent.

Admittedly, basketball gyms in the North Shore aren't regularly filled with college coaches, but there are moments of recruiting that remind you that basketball talent still exists around here.

Last Friday night when St. Mary's of Lynn invaded Bishop Fenwick, there was a minimum of six college assistant coaches/scouts, ranging from the Division 1 to the Division 3 level, in attendance. They were there to see Crusaders big man Mike Clifford and/or St. Mary's of Lynn point guard Tyler Grillo.

The representative from Division 1 Central Connecticut State University was the first one to approach Fenwick coach Mike Kane to let him know what his star center had just done on the boards. It's fair to say all the scouts were impressed by Clifford's 27 rebounds, to go along with 25 points.

Grillo, meanwhile, came back up from the locker room wearing just one shoe to meet with more college coaches who had made their presence known after Clifford led Fenwick past the Spartans. Grillo, who will be a steal for a Division 3 program, briefly talked with scouts from Keene State and Salem State.

These kinds of things just don't happen with the same regularity in the local hockey scene. The Elijah Cohen's of the world are few and far between.

If the prep school situations were equal for both sports (which may eventually be the case), then basketball fans would have missed out on the opportunity to watch recent and current standout players like Masconomet graduate Caroline Stewart (currently in her freshman year at Boston University), Ipswich's Amber Smith (headed to UMaine Orono next year), and Clifford.

The list of good basketball players who have gone on to play college basketball after playing on the North Shore is long. It's probably equal to North Shore residents who have played or are playing college hockey — minus the step of moving away from home to improve his or her chances.

Trying to make an argument against a certain sport is more than just difficult. It's foolish.

It takes athleticism, strength and grace to play hockey, just like basketball. But more star power means more competitive, exciting basketball. That can't be argued.

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Matt Jenkins is a staff writer at the Salem News. He can be reached by phone at 978-338-2648 or by e-mail at mjenkins@salemnews.com.