Photo Credit: Vincent Carchietta -USA Today Sports
You always learn how great a team is in college basketball when you witness how they handle adversity and bounce back on the road. If you have been watching the Seton Hall Pirates lately, then you know this team is for real. If not then there’s a chance that you are late to the party
The Pirates were down 43-30 at the half to St. John’s, then they outscored them 23-11 to start the second half to cut the deficit to one. From there, the Pirates battled with the Red Storm back and forth until they were able to pull away late in the game due to their great free throw shooting and late-game heroics by Seniors Myles Powell and Quincy McKnight to seal the 82-79 victory. “Yesterday’s comeback win was a true testament to how experienced this Seton Hall team is. “ When you have more experience, it makes a difference. These guys know, and they have more confidence, and they understand what we are doing,” Says Head coach Kevin Willard.
As Redshirt Junior Center Romaro Gill puts it knowing their mistakes and making adjustments was vital. “I think we went into the locker room and regrouped. We know we made mistakes in the first half, and we came back with a different mindset”. Gill was a force in the paint for Seton Hall as he scored 14 points and grabbed 13 rebounds and blocked 16 shots in yesterday’s win.
Yesterday’s win was Seton Hall’s eighth in a row, and their fourth road win in six conference games. What makes yesterday’s win more special is that Myles Powell reached 2,000 career points he finished with 29 points and now has 2,022 career points, more importantly, he did it at MSG which as he explained is a second home for him and the Pirates “ When we come into this building it’s special. We feel this is our second home; if you know the Pirates, you know we love coming to the Garden, and we are looking forward to coming back into the tournament”.
Myles Powell is all smiles after scoring a clutch bucket against St. John’s. Photo Credit: Sarah Stier – Associated Press
Conference play brings out the best in a team, and for Seton Hall, after finishing their toughest stretch in conference play without a loss is impressive as Quincy McKnight points out their toughness is what gets them through. “We are just showing everyone how tough we are. We were down ten at Hinkle (Butler), and we came back, down 13 today at the half and came back again. “We are just showing everyone that we are going to fight every game. We have a hard nose coach in Kevin Willard, who always pushes us to keep being better. Everyone is playing their role right now, and that’s what makes us so good right now. Nobody is forcing the issue. Everybody is just doing what they do”.
Seton Hall is currently ranked 18th in the nation with a chance to make a massive jump in tomorrow’s rankings. They also have a three-game road stretch where they have an opportunity to reach the halfway point of Big East play undefeated. If there is any team that you want to bet on, the Pirates are that team and their toughness and resiliency shows.
Sophomore forward Josh Roberts who scored a career high 16 points with a big block against Seton Hall’s Jared Rhoden yesterday. Photo Credit: Nick Bello- St. John’s Athletics
The St. Johns Red Storm dropped their 2nd straight conference game this week to crosstown rival Seton Hall 82-79, but if you are the type of person with a “glass half full” perspective you will notice that this is a game the Johnnies can build off on.
Clearly Seton Hall showed why they are the better team this afternoon, but there’s no denying some of the progression from the Red Storm “Anyone watching knows we saw a great ball game. Two teams showed up, obviously neighboring teams. Congratulations to their guys who made plays at the right time. They had the ability to knock free throws down. They made some big free throws down the stretch so you have to give them credit. But as I told our guys I was proud of the effort and I’m not into moral victories we lost the game at home, that’s got to hurt but at the same time I thought our guys came out and played against a very, very good opponent, Seton hall and gave ourselves a chance.” A confident Mike Anderson says to the press following the loss.
From LJ Figueroa’s career high seven steals , to a career high 16 points from Josh Roberts and a much improved shooting performance from Mustapha Heron along with a strong defensive performance. These are some things that were at one time major concerns that were addressed in this game. As Head coach Mike Anderson points out, “I thought of all of the games , we’ve had some tough games… I’m proud that they continued to fight, and actually I thought we got better. We haven’t been scoring. Our defense has been pretty good and we hadn’t been scoring, but I thought we kind of amped it up. I thought guys played for one another, they trusted one another. I saw Mustapha Heron come out and they looked More relaxed. Josh Roberts had one of his better games. What that says is we played as a team. And with that being said, that gave us a chance.
Despite this team’s record through the past six games, you can tell from today’s game that the Red Storm are correcting their flaws game by game. “We’re cleaning up some things going down the stretch and that’s where the inexperienced versus experienced I keep saying that, but you can see the guys that make plays for them. I like the way this team responds to tough losses.” Says coach Anderson.
LJ Figueroa Had a career high seven steals to go along with 16 points and 5 assists on 53% shooting yesterday afternoon. Photo Credit: Nick Bello- St. John’s Athletics
St. John’s came out with a sense of urgency against the preseason favorite to win the Big East conference holding their best player Myles Powell to 6 points in the first half and holding on to a 13 point lead at the half due to their defense and ability to make shots. something they weren’t able to do in the past couple of games. In the Second half the Priates made their comeback known by outscoring the Red Storm 23-11 and cutting their once 13 point lead down to one. At that point you got to say to yourself that this is where St. Johns may revert to old habits but they didn’t. The Red Storm were able to keep their lead alive at times as well as gain back the lead late in the game something they couldn’t do in their previous losses.
Catch Mike Anderson addresses the media following the loss to Seton Hall
Free throws (60 % for the game) might have doomed them down the stretch but it’s worth knowing if the Red Storm had shot the ball better from the line then we may have been talking about how the Johnnies took down the best team in the league and No. 18th team in the country, and how this Red Storm squad makes MSG a tougher place for opponents to get a win rather than the Knicks.
For now we the Red Storm are 1-5 with a lot of basketball left in conference play. But if the positives from today’s game become the norm and they improve from the little things such as free throws by March, things could be much different for this team.
Conference play has finally arrived and the Seton Hall Pirates are ready to prove why they are the preseason favorite to win the league:
The Pirates started the season hot, dominating their weaker opponents to start the non-conference season, but when ever they faced a higher ranked opponent they continuously fought hard and proved that they are just as good but ended up falling short. The Pirates had the 2nd toughest non conference schedule according to KenPom so it comes as no surprise that the Pirates became a much stronger team throughout non-Conference play.
In most of their losses, the Pirates either struggled to maintain a lead, or they lost players early in the game due to injury, which has affected them, but they have found a way to close non-conference play strong. New players emerged, and the Pirates found new ways to win games.
On December 19th, the Pirates bounced back from an embarrassing loss to Rutgers by beating Then No.7 ranked Maryland 52-48. In that game, the Pirates held the terrapins a squad who regularly averages 75 points per game to a season-low 48 points. What makes the win more impressive is that the Pirates did it without Sandro Mamukelashvili and their leading scorer Myles Powell. Both Powell and Mamukelashvili combine for 32 points per game without that 32 points, and the Pirates used their defense and ability to attack the rim to close out games.
The same could be said for their final non-conference win against Prarie View A&M. On December 22nd, we got our first look at the Pirates in person. The Pirates struggled shooting the ball for most of the game, but thanks to a game-high 25 points from Quincy McKnight and 12 points and seven assists from Harlem native Anthony Nelson the Pirates were able to dominate Prarie View in the second half on their way to a 20+ point win. Freshman Tyrese Samuel added a huge boost off the bench with 12 points.
For the senior McKnight, a guard who will be known as their best defender during his tenure as a pirate, being more of a force on offense at times is critical. “ My role was always defense, but when Myles and Sandro went down, I had to step up on the offensive end, and that’s what I have been doing.” When Myles Powell comes back, it’s a sure thing that McKnight will go back to shutting down the opponent’s best guard, but for now, we also know that McKnight could be a force on offense when he gets the opportunity to do so.
Senior Quincy McKnight stepped up big in the blowout win over Prairie View A&M Photo Credit: SHU Athletics
Whether it was watching them on TV or in person, the non-conference part of the season showed the growth of this Seton Hall team. In the past, Seton Hall night has struggled without their top scorers, but with Kevin Willard’s ability to make adjustments with getting individual players to step up, the Pirates can survive anything that comes towards them. With how strong the Big East is this year there will be plenty of opportunities for the Pirates to get even more big wins.
2018-19 season: 20-8 regular-season record, PSAL City finalist.
Players to Watch: Jaquan Carlos, Diovion Middleton, Kevin Tabb, Ramsey King.
Never forget about the Orange Wave…
With tons of buzz surrounding South Shore and Brooklyn Collegiate, there is one team many should still keep their eyes on and that team is the Thomas Jefferson Orange Wave.
Still fueled by falling short to South Shore in last year’s city championship, the Orange Wave enter the 2019-20 season on a mission to head back to the Garden. I had the chance to see Jefferson go up against Monsignor Scanlan at the Preview. The Orange Wave played extremely well against Scanlan winning 61-59. Carlos went off for 30 points in that game
With the departure of Kareem Welch who has graduated, many may have wondered who will provide additional scoring for the Orange Wave look no further than Kevin Tabb. The 5-10 senior guard scored 21 points in that game vs Scanlan on October 13th. The Orange wave has a plethora of guards who can score from the perimeter on defense they press their opponents as well as trap. One thing is for sure is that head coach Lawrence “Bud” Pollard and his staff always has his team ready.
Jefferson started the regular season early yesterday in a non-league game against Curtis High School in their annual Hersh Tip-off Classic. According to Coach “Tippy” McTernan of Big Apple Sports, In that game, Jefferson defeated Curtis 92-79. Carlos, Tabb and junior guard Ramsey King combined for 78 of Jefferson’s 92 points. The first game shows that Jefferson has lots of firepower on offense. Jefferson’s latest addition is Diovion Middleton a 6-4 freshman who has been named one of the top freshmen in the city.
Schedule Breakdown
The Orange Wave has a jam-packed schedule that includes a tough Brooklyn AA league schedule along with a trip to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic. Here are some games that we picked as the top games to watch
November 26th @ Brooklyn Collegiate
What better way to start the season than a big matchup against a reloaded Brooklyn Collegiate team. The last time these two teams played was the PSAL final four where Jefferson won 81-61. The Orange wave will be making the short trip to nearby Brownsville and the game will be a goodie. A key matchup will be between Jaquan Carlos and BC’s Majesty Johnson.
December 10th vs South Shore
The Orange wave will be hosting South Shore in a rematch of the PSAL City championship. This game will be a sellout for sure. The Orange wave will have revenge on their minds in this game.
December 14th at LuHi
Coach Bud Pollard isn’t afraid to challenge his team early in the season. The Orange wave has a big task going up against LuHi in Long Island on December 14th. This game will prepare Jefferson for their trip to Las Vegas for the Tarkanian Classic
December 17th -23rd Tarkanian Classic in Las Vegas, Nevada.
The Orange Wave are no strangers to national holiday tournaments. In 2015 the Orange wave made a run in the City of Palms tournament where they had the chance to go up against a Chino Hills Squad that featured all three of the Ball brothers. Jefferson alum Shamorie Ponds went off for 40 points in that game but the Orange wave lost by one point. Fast forward to this year, the Orange wave will be playing in a tournament that features national powerhouses such as Mater Dei, Bishop Gorman, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia) and more. The Orange Wave will face California powerhouse Fairfax HS in the first round on December 18th.
January 11th vs Iona Prep
Orange Wave will make their return to the Empire invitational on January 11th where they will face a young Iona prep in a CHSAA vs Catholic league battle. This game will be very competitive and fun to watch as both teams both play fast-paced and have great guard play.
January 16th at South Shore
The season finale between these two teams in Canarsie will be a classic. If you know the history between these two teams, then you know this game will be big. Rivalry games in the Brooklyn AA division are must-see tv.
Outlook
There’s no question that Jefferson will be in the conversation as potential contenders for the city title. We all know what Jaquan Carlos is going to bring to the table chances are that Carlos could possibly lead the city in scoring. Kevin Tabb is going to step up even more as a senior. Expect Jefferson to finish in the top three in the Brooklyn AA and grab a high seed in the city playoffs.
Tons of Buzz surrounding the Brooklyn Collegiate Lions going into the 2019-20 basketball season. Just months after reaching the PSAL AA final four for the first time in the school’s history, the Lions have added new players to make them one of the deepest teams in the city. The Lions are recognized by Ball is Life as one of the top 20 teams in the Northeast.
One of the biggest additions to this team is Tahron Allen a 6-4 junior wing who transferred to BC from CHSAA powerhouse St. Raymond’s. Allen gives the Lions another key player on offense that slash and shoot from the perimeter. Allen would make an immediate impact on the Lions on offense as he has transitioned from the CHSAA to the PSAL Brooklyn AA.
Majesty Johnson is one of the top PG’S in the city and he is looking to prove that to those who disagree. At 5-9, the Harlem native is a true floor general who is quick, a pest on defense and can shoot from the perimeter. With the number of offensive weapons added to this Brooklyn Collegiate team, there’s no question that Johnson can become the assist leader in NYC just like alum Glen Anderson who is now in his first season at Maryland-Eastern Shore.
Amahrie Simpkins a 6-4 guard can be tough to defend for opponents this season with his athleticism and ability to play inside and outside. Simpkins proved how much of an impact he can make when he exploded for 33 points against Cardinal Hayes at the Tru Ballaz Invitational championship. In that game, Simpkins exploded for 21 points in the third quarter. Unfortunately, BC lost the game, but from there you know for sure that Simpkins is a player that makes the lions a much more dangerous team.
Newcomers Jahmere Tripp, Jalen Lyn, Kelechi Okworogwo are a few players who can look to make an impact on this Brooklyn Collegiate squad.
Schedule Breakdown
Along with a tough and challenging Brooklyn AA schedule, the Lions have a non-conference schedule that includes a trip to Massachusetts along with a huge matchup with Cardinal Hayes on February 1st. Here are our Key games to watch this season.
November 26th vs Thomas Jefferson
The Lions will be facing a very tough Thomas Jefferson team at home to start the season. Jefferson is the same team that dominated the Lions in last year’s final four. The matchup between Majesty Johnson and Jefferson’s Jaquan Carlos will be must-see TV.
December 12th vs South Shore
The Lions aren’t the only Brooklyn AA team that has reloaded. The defending PSAL City champions South Shore Vikings have added a lot of new pieces as well. This game will be a huge test for the Lions as they go up against a team that features Nate Tabor, Kipplyn Richvine, Zaire Wells, and Jefferson transfer Marcus Burnett. BC hasn’t been able to beat South Shore the past few seasons but this year they may be more prepared to face them.
December 22nd vs Wings Academy at the City Legendz Classic.
A Bronx AA vs Brooklyn AA game is always entertaining and December 22nd the Lions will go up against Wings Academy. Last year the Lions dominated Wings 72-48 at the South Shore MLK Classic. This years game could be different as Wings added a few players themselves.
January 5th vs WHEELS Academy @ the Real Scout /Big Apple New Years Jamboree.
The Lions start off 2020 with a big matchup against Manhattan powerhouse Wheels Academy.
January 25th vs Gill St. Bernard
In order to prepare for the postseason, a trip across the bridge to Jersey is needed. The Lions will be facing a tough Gill St. Bernard Team at the Hearts 2 Hands tournament at Kean University.
Outlook
The Lions may have one of the deepest teams in the city where they have about five players who can average up to 15 points per game, out of those five about three of them can score 25 plus in a game if needed. When one player is out many will step up and fill the void.
One question about the Lions is their defense. From what we have seen in the preseason they have squandered leads against tough competition. It’s possible that the Lions have found ways to improve that since the season started with their practices. We definitely see a BC team that will finish at the top three of the Brooklyn AA division and could possibly make a run at Jefferson and South Shore for the Brooklyn Borough championship. No question with the weapons and depth that they have this is very possible. Don’t be surprised if BC is in the conversation for a run to the Garden.
Key players to Watch: Malachi Smith, Luis Kortright, Gary Grant
St. Raymond’s Ravens have been preparing all summer to build off an impressive 2018-19 campaign. From early morning workouts to performing well in summer tournaments and preseason events, the Ravens have their eyes on making a deep post season run.
Many of their top returning players have improved their stock when it comes to recruiting.
One of the biggest risers on the team was Malachi Smith the junior who picked up tons of offers and interest after some decent showings at the CHSAA team camp, NCAA Basketball Academy. Smith also put the city on notice after his performance throughout various summer leagues throughout the five boroughs.
From earning Co-MVP honors of Dyckman’s High School division, to leading Team Dyckman to Nike’s NY vs NY championship. Malachi Smith continues to solidify himself as one of the top guards in the nation.
Junior guard Malachi Smith is ready to take his game to the next level Photo Credit: Straight Elite
The 6-1 guard added offers from Quinnipiac, St. Peter’s, Dayton and Fairfield to go along with his current offers from UMass and Manhattan. Smith’s stellar play has also caught the attention of many high major schools such as Rutgers, Syracuse, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State and more as these schools have shown a lot of interest. Penn State out of the Big Ten has been actively recruiting Smitb as well.
Smith’s offensive game continues to grow as he has shown to shoot the ball much better from the time we have seen him in the summer to the preseason. Smith’s progression and maturity will pay off huge for the Ravens this season as the Bronx native will look to take his game to another level.
Seniors Luis Kortright and Gary Grant will have big seasons for the Ravens. Coming off of where both made the third and first team All-CHSAA respectively, the senior duo will be key to this ravens squad.
Grant a 6-6 guard / forward was one of the top five scorers in the city last season. With his ability to score from the perimeter as well as slash to the rim. Grant definitely has an advantage over many players his size.
Luis Kortright a bouncy and athletic 6-3 guard will look to build off an impressive senior year. Kortright’s scoring ability and athleticism gives the Ravens extra fire power on offense.
The Ravens have been preparing well for this season by participating in Various preseason tournaments such as the Playaz Fall Ball invitational in New Jersey, Tru Ballaz invitational and the Test The Waters showcase in their home gym. We got a chance to see the Ravens on October 14th when they blew past Canarsie HS. From that game, we seen a squad that prides themselves on trap defense and forcing turnovers. On offense, the ravens have shown that they can flourish in transition.
In addition to the Ravens core group, there are some additions that could also contribute to this ravens squad. These key additions include 6-6 sophomore forward Kedar Davis, guards Eli Castillo and freshman forward Jireej Cole. Junior Dallis Dillard and senior guard Reggie Hudson are other contributors on this St. Rays team that more people should know more about.
Schedule Breakdown
The Ravens 2019-20 season includes many non-conference stops against some of the top teams in the tri-State area and in the nation along with some Key league games. All games are good but here are a few games that are a must watch this season.
December 6th vs Cardinal Hayes
The first month of the season for the Ravens will be big and it will start with a big Friday night home game vs Cardinal Hayes a team that dominated them in last years Archdiocesean championship.
December 15th vs Archbishop Stepinac at the PSA Cardinals Prep Showcase.
The Ravens have yet another test on December 15th as they will go up against conference foe and Nationally ranked Archbishop Stepinac. Major opportunity for St. Raymond’s as they will go up against UNC commit RJ Davis and Duke Commit Adrian Griffin jr.
December 27-29th Slam Dunk to the Beach invitational in Lewes, DE
The Ravens make their return to this tournament since playing in it during the 2016-17 season. It all starts when The Ravens face Cape Henelopen HS on December 27th. On December 29th The Ravens will face New Jersey Power Gill St. Bernard.
January 1st vs Bergen Catholic at the Playaz New Years Jumpoff
The Ravens will kick off 2020 with another Matchup against Jersey powerhouse In Bergen Catholic. This non-league game will be big for the Ravens as they will go up against a team that features Sophomore Point guard Will Richardson and Notre Dame commit Matt Zona.
January 4th vs Long Island Lutheran
The Ravens vs defending state federation champion LuHi is has a very intriguing matchup at the PG position between Malachi Smith and Illinois commit Andre Curbelo.
January 18th at Monsignor Scanlan
One of two meetings between two schools that are about 15 minutes away from each other. It’s always a big game when Rays and Scanlan go up against each other
February 11th vs Xaverian
If you seen Shawn Fulcher and Malachi Smith play over the summer then you know that this game will be one of the best of the season. This game has potential to be a future playoff matchup as well.
Outlook
This St. Raymond’s squad returns about the majority of their team from last season, and they have the potential to make a deep run in the post season.
Some summer and preseason highlights of the St. Raymond’s Ravens
2018-19 season: 15-8 record, reached CHSAA city quarterfinals.
Key players to Watch: Shawn Fulcher, Nick Folk, Billy Reyes, and Jaden Peña
X Factor: Elijah Hardison
“Outwork and Outplay everybody. These are the words that describe the Xaverian Clippers who are one of the most intriguing teams in the CHSAA this upcoming season. The clippers have been impressive throughout the preseason beating some of the top programs in the city. The clippers display a lot of grit and toughness that make them a tough team to beat.
Fulcher and Folk Running the Show
The clippers may have one of the top backcourts in the city in Shawn Fulcher and Nick Folk both players are quick, can shoot and get their teammates involved. Xaverian can still win games when one of the two isn’t on the floor. The clippers showed that when they played Boys and Girls at the 1st annual test the waters showcase at St. Raymond’s High School on October 14th. Shawn Fulcher was inactive that day due to injury but Nick Folk Held it down for the Clippers scoring 18 points in the 74-68 win over Boys and Girls.
The X Factor Elijah Hardison
Elijah Hardison May be one of the fastest rising prospects in the five boroughs. Just a year ago the 6-8 Hardison was playing behind 6-10 big man Michael Graham(committed to ELON) and held a D2 offer from Gannon University. Fast forward to this year Graham has been impressive with his play so impressive he has picked up his first Division 1 offer offer from St. Francis (Brooklyn). Hardison has a 7-foot wingspan can run the floor and score inside with ease. Hardison has also shown an ability to hit jumpers from mid range.
Another senior on this Xaverian team is billy Reyes. The 6-0 sharp shooter plays hard and gives the clippers an extra boost on both ends of the floor. Look for Reyes to raise the bar even higher as he will look to help the clippers make a deeper run in the playoffs.
Junior guard/forward Jaden Peña at 6-5 is up for a big season this year with the Clippers. Given his size he can impact the game in many ways.
Schedule Breakdown
The Clippers Schedule includes some non league tournaments in Washington DC and Colorado. Some of their best games will be during CHSAA play
December 6-8 Good Counsel Tournament In Maryland.
The clippers play in this prestigious event every season against some of the top catholic teams from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area.
December 15th Xaverian vs Bishop Loughlin
A rematch of last years Brooklyn-Queens Diocesean Championship.
December 19-21 Power 2 Play Classic in Windsor, Colorado.
January 5th vs Monsignor Scanlan
The Clippers have a big matchup at home against Dayton commit Koby Brea, Joe Munden and the Monsignor Scanlan Crusaders.
January 17th Vs Cardinal Hayes
The last time the Clippers faced Hayes was at the Great 8 championship where they beat them 61-60. This game will be an exciting matchup for many to see.
January 26th vs Archbishop Stepinac
This game will be a huge test for the Clippers as they go up against RJ Davis, Adrian Griffin Jr. and the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders. The clippers will look to avenge last years loss in the quarterfinals.
February 11th At St. Raymond’s
This might be one of the top games of the 2019-20 season due to the matchup in the backcourt between two of the top juniors in the area. Shawn Fulcher and Malachi Smith.
Outlook
The Xaverian clippers have been maturing year after year, and this year might be the year they go further than the quarterfinals in the CHSAA intersectional playoffs. The Clippers right now might be the favorite to win the Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan Championship.
15-8 record, reached CHSAA city quarterfinals.
Key players to Watch: Shawn Fulcher, Nick Folk, Billy Reyes, and Jaden Peña
X Factor: Elijah Hardison
“Outwork and Outplay everybody. These are the words that describe the Xaverian Clippers who are one of the most intriguing teams in the CHSAA this upcoming season. The clippers have been impressive throughout the preseason beating some of the top programs in the city. The clippers display a lot of grit and toughness that make them a tough team to beat.
Fulcher and Folk Running the Show
The clippers may have one of the top backcourts in the city in Shawn Fulcher and Nick Folk both players are quick, can shoot and get their teammates involved. Xaverian can still win games when one of the two isn’t on the floor. The clippers showed that when they played Boys and Girls at the 1st annual test the waters showcase at St. Raymond’s High School on October 14th. Shawn Fulcher was inactive that day due to injury but Nick Folk Held it down for the Clippers scoring 18 points in the 74-68 win over Boys and Girls.
The X Factor Elijah Hardison
Elijah Hardison May be one of the fastest rising prospects in the five boroughs. Just a year ago the 6-8 Hardison was playing behind 6-10 big man Michael Graham(committed to ELON) and held a D2 offer from Gannon University. Fast forward to this year Graham has been impressive with his play so impressive he has picked up his first Division 1 offer offer from St. Francis (Brooklyn). Hardison has a 7-foot wingspan can run the floor and score inside with ease. Hardison has also shown an ability to hit jumpers from mid range.
Elijah Hardison at the Great 8 invitational
Another senior on this Xaverian team is billy Reyes. The 6-0 sharp shooter plays hard and gives the clippers an extra boost on both ends of the floor. Look for Reyes to raise the bar even higher as he will look to help the clippers make a deeper run in the playoffs.
Junior guard/forward Jaden Peña at 6-5 is up for a big season this year with the Clippers. Given his size he can impact the game in many ways.
Schedule Breakdown
The Clippers Schedule includes some non league tournaments in Washington DC and Colorado. Some of their best games will be during CHSAA play
December 6-8 Xaverian Classic In Maryland.
The clippers play in this prestigious event every season against some of the top catholic teams from the DC/Maryland/Virginia area. Xaverian will look to repeat as Xaverian Classic Champs this year.
December 15th Xaverian vs Bishop Loughlin
A rematch of last years Brooklyn-Queens Diocesean Championship.
December 19-21 Power 2 Play Classic in Windsor, Colorado.
January 5th vs Monsignor Scanlan
The Clippers have a big matchup at home against Dayton commit Koby Brea, Joe Munden and the Monsignor Scanlan Crusaders.
January 17th Vs Cardinal Hayes
The last time the Clippers faced Hayes was at the Great 8 championship where they beat them 61-60. This game will be an exciting matchup for many to see.
January 26th vs Archbishop Stepinac
This game will be a huge test for the Clippers as they go up against RJ Davis, Adrian Griffin Jr. and the Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders. The clippers will look to avenge last years loss in the quarterfinals.
February 11th At St. Raymond’s
Outlook
This might be one of the top games of the 2019-20 season due to the matchup in the backcourt between two of the top juniors in the area. Shawn Fulcher and Malachi Smith.
The Xaverian clippers have been maturing year after year, and this year might be the year they go further than the quarterfinals in the CHSAA intersectional playoffs. The Clippers right now might be the favorite to win the Brooklyn-Queens Diocesan Championship.
Xaverian Vs Boys and Girls preseason scrimmage from Test The Waters Showcase
2018-19 Season: 14-16 record , CHSAA City Championship runner-up
Key Players to Watch: RJ Davis, Adrian Griffin Jr. Malcolm Chimeze
One of the top teams in the tri-state area and in the nation is from White Plains, NY. The Archbishop Stepinac Crusaders will start the season ranked No.36 in the nation according to Ball is Life and this is all thanks to their success as a city and state federation championship success in 2018 and more importantly the duo of UNC commit PG RJ Davis and Top 10 junior in the nation and Duke Commit 6-7 wing Adrian Griffin Jr.
Last season Injuries to both players affected the team as they finished with 14-16 record, but on the bright side when RJ and Griffin were healthy towards the end of the season they were able to make a huge surprise run in the archdiocesan and city playoffs. eventually the Crusaders run came to a screeching in last years CHSAA “AA” city title game when they lost to Christ The King, but the late run proved that the Crusaders will be even a more dangerous team this season.
In many of the preseason games this fall, the duo of Davis and Griffin Jr. Have proven to be one of the best duos in the nation with their scoring ability and high basketball IQ. The two impressed everyone with their play when they took down Philly Catholic league powerhouse Archbishop Wood at the Northeast Fall Invite. In their second game the Crusaders without RJ almost took down NJ powerhouse Roselle Catholic. It was a sure sign that day that Stepinac could play with anyone in the country.
Senior point guard RJ Davis will come into the season more focused after making his commitment to North Carolina on October 21st . When he addressed media after his announcement he explained why he chose the Tar Heels despite the fact that they have Caleb Love another guard who commited a few weeks prior “ He’s a big guard who can play the 1 and two defends well, so I feel like me and his game can compliment each other well and I got a chance to know him over the summer at the CP3 camp, he’s a good player so I can see myself playing with him”. Says Davis.
6-8 junior forward Malcolm Chimeze will also be a big factor for the Crusaders this season. Chimeze who has picked up offers from a ton offers over the summer and preseason from schools such as StonyBrook, Bryant, Stetson and more. Chimeze adds toughness, rebounding and inside scoring for the Crusaders something that will benefit the team greatly if he can stay healthy. The Crusaders also have a supporting cast of players such as Samuel Gibbs, Luke Fizulich, Justin Morety and others who can contribute to this Stepinac team in a big way.
Schedule Breakdown
The Crusaders have loaded schedule where they will be playing in many national tournaments locally as well as outside the the State of NY. Here are some key games events to look out for on their schedule.
December 13th @ Cardinal Hayes
The last time these two teams met was the CHSAA intersectional semis when the Crusaders took down Hayes. The key matchup in this game in our eyes will be in the front court between Adrian Griffin Jr. and Hayes’s Shemani Fuller.
December 14th vs St. Raymond’s @ the PSA cardinals Prep Showcase.
It’s always a good battle when these two teams go up against each other on December 14th both teams will meet in the 4th annual PSA prep showcase. The key matchup in this game will be between RJ Davis and St. Ray’s Malachi Smith.
City of Palms tournament in Fort Myers, FL
December 18th vs Briarcrest Christian (TN)
The Crusaders will be put to the test as they will go up against Briarcrest Christian which features top junior Kennedy Chandler in the prestigious city of palms tournament.
December 29th vs Paul VI @ the Slam Dunk at the Beach
The Crusaders have a showdown with another nationally ranked team Paul VI out of the DMV area and the WCAC conference. This game will be a statement game for the Crusaders to end 2019.
January 3rd vs Iona Prep @ The Crusader Classic
If you know how crazy it gets at the Crusader classic between these two rivals then you know it would be a goody. Expect the Westchester County Center to be packed for this event to start off 2020
January 12th vs Rutgers Prep (NJ) @ The Empire Invitational
The Crusaders will make their return to the Empire Classic when they will go up against Junior forward Trey Patterson and Rutgers Prep.
January 18th vs East Catholic (CT) @ the Spalding Hoophall Classic
Other Key Games:
January 31st @ Christ The King
February 1st vs Iona Prep @ Iona College
January 11th vs Monsignor Scanlan
Outlook:
Many people are picking the Crusaders to win the CHSAA AA city title early and it will be a safe pick just by knowing who is on that team and their postseason success the past two seasons.
The success of this year’s Archbishop Stepinac team will come down to how healthy this team is and their depth. Injuries hurt the Crusaders badly last season and they can’t afford to have it happen once again. As we mentioned before players such as Justin Morety, Sam Gibbs, Luke Fizulich and Malcolm Chimeze would be key to this team. In the loss to Roselle Catholic in the Northeast fall invitational, the Crusaders proved that they can compete and fill the offensive gaps without RJ Davis, they also have been proven to be a great defensive team as they held a deep Roselle team to only 57 points. If the Crusaders can stay healthy throughout the season it will pay off big once the postseason starts.
The finale of the of the 2019 IS8/Nike fall tip off came down to a epic battle between NYC Finest a team that features majority of the John Bowne varsity boys team and the NJ Lions (Roselle Catholic).
It was a tight and competitive battle as NYC Finest took a 32-30 lead into the half. In the third quarter that lead would soon grow to 8 points as NYC finest was on fire from the perimeter. Amadou Diallo and mamadou Dioubate along with others were scoring at will. The Lions will soon come back as they used a late rally late in the third and in the fourth quarter to defeat NYC’s finest 69-60.
Roselle Catholic senior center Cliff Omoruyi led the Lions with 22 points and was named MVP of the championship game. Xavier Commit CJ Wilcher scored 20 points. Amadou Diallo led NYC finest with 34 points.
There are many things we have learned from this game from both teams, let’s start with NYC Finest.
NYC Finest which consists of mostly players from John Bowne High School could have had one of the best upsets in Is8 history but fatigue got to them at the worst time. Running out of gas is all part of the game, but one thing you can say about NYC Finest is that they can play with just about anyone and as for John Bowne this team can only get better going forward after this loss. Amadou Diallo and Tyshawn Trail may be the best backcourt duo that not many are talking about.
Wings such as Mouhamed Diabate, Cherif Diarra and Aguibou Balde showed out as well. The fact that they had the Lions on the brink of being upset says a lot on how well this team will do when the season starts next month.
Now for the champs the NJ Lions.
The Lions are already the favorite to win the TOC in our eyes. The amount of depth size and athleticism on this team makes them a tough team to beat on a nightly basis. In this championship game, the Lions have shown to be very resilient especially late in the fourth quarter. Cliff Omoruyi’s dominance in the paint came in the clutch for the Lions as he and others were able to put work NYC Finest. The dominance of the Lions in this year’s IS8 fall tip-off tournament reminds me of another New Jersey team, Northeast Basketball club. In Fall of 2016, Northeast dominated in the fall tip off and won the championship with a deep roster of 4 and 5 star prospects from the garden State.
On Saturday Is8 announced their all-tournament teams for the 2019 fall tip off.
IS8 All Tournament Teams
Third Team:
Tyler Chapman (Holy Cross HS)- 114 all-stars
Max Ragusa ‘22 (Poly Prep) – Above and Beyond
Gary Grant ‘ 20 (St. Raymond’s HS) GoldMindz
Zion Cruz ‘ 22 (Hudson Catholic HS)-Team Nation
Eisaiah Murphy (White Plains HS)- Brook Basketball Club
Second Team
Malachi Smith ‘21 (St. Raymond’s HS) GoldMindz
Khalil Brantley ‘21 (Boys and Girls HS) GoldMindz
Tyshawn Trail ‘21 (John Bowne HS)
NYC Finest
Tahron Allen (Brooklyn Collegiate HS) – Team Deuce
Zakai Ziegler ‘21 ( Immaculate Conception HS) Shooting Stars
This summer Brooklyn Stompers came for just about everything people said they couldn’t have and they took it.
The Stompers consists of many of the top players from all over the borough of Brooklyn have taken high school division championships all over the city. From Rucker Park to West 4th, to Lincoln Park in Queens and recently Dyckman, the Stompers have collected hardware all over the city. This team had to go through some of the best high school division teams to win the championship. At Lincoln Park, they defeated Positive direction in the Semis and OTN In the chip both of those teams were very stacked. At Dyckman, the BK Stompers went the whole summer 2019 season undefeated and had to beat the 2018 champs “The Program” in the semis and another undefeated team in Team Tracey to win the chip.
As coach head Coach Ronnie Francis of the BK Stompers puts it he’s very glad his team steps up when it matters most. “
“It feels good that we were able to win these games. With how talented they are they still need to learn some things, we had some close calls but they were able to pull them out.
Highlights of the 2019 Lincoln Park Classic Championship Brooklyn Stompers vs Team OTN
Kadary Richmond winning Lincoln Park Classic Player of The Year honors
The duo of South Shore grads Kadary Richmond and Femi Odukale have played a huge roll in their championship run winning championship after championship just fueled their fire to win even more. “Every day I feel more and more like a winner” states Kadary Richmond. “Whenever I wake up my feel more determined to win”.
Richmond and Odukale have been a part of the Brooklyn Stompers for years and on August 29th it was the second championship game they ever played in at Dyckman. In 2017, they played in the chip game against Skull gang and lost a tough one at the buzzer at the time they had to play behind guys such as Donald Flores and Sekou Sylla.
Many players would have found another team to play for but they waited their turn and it paid off. As Femi Odukale states waiting their turn was worth it in the end. “ When we made the chip the first time, we were younger we didn’t get much playing time so we couldn’t showcase our talent but by the time we got more playing time we already knew what it took to win”. In addition to winning championships, Odukale and Richmond have been racking up MVP and player of the year honors all over the city this summer. Femi has won the championship MVP at Gersh Park and Lincoln Park. Richmond won the MVP at Dyckman, POY honors at Lincoln Park and Nike Player of the Year.
South Shore Grad Femi Odukale took the Lincoln Park championship game MVP after the 63-57 win over Team OTN on August 25th.
For coach Francis, winning their second championship at Dyckman is a major accomplishment in their long history playing in the tournament. I asked him how he would compare winning the championship on August 29th to the one in 2016 against Tenth Ave and he personally feels that the 2016 championship was more special. “ it’s hard to compare this win with the 10th Avenue one because Back then Tenth ave had about five or more top 100 players in the country and we had was Keith Williams and Ray Salnave and a ton of great role players that played hard.” says Francis.
Summer 2019 was a successful one for the Brooklyn Stompers when it comes to the next goal it’s simple, the goal for the Brooklyn Stompers is to keep building. “We are always looking to build and grow the program and continue to be competitive. I don’t promise to win championships but we are always in the conversation”. Ronnie also wants to continue to bring new players on his squad. “I am always looking to break in new players which is something that I take pride in”.
The summer of 2019 may go down as one of the best in Brooklyn Stompers history, and there is no stop in sight for them look for them to continue their rich history of winning tournaments all over the city.
Hoop Dreams NYC 
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