Crusaders Visit “The Big Apple” and Get a Big Apple Invitational Win

There are a few observations concerning the Stepinac High School basketball team that are quite evident this season. The first annotation is that the Crusaders are a much better team than their 7-8 record indicates this year.

The second understanding is that the enormously talented sophomore forward Jordan Tucker is evolving into becoming the best high school basketball player in New York State and possibly beyond.

Nonetheless, regardless of the tremendous talent of Tucker, there is another element of this Crusader team that should be duly noted. Undoubtedly, senior point guard Kylan Guerra is the leader of this team and the spark plug that ignites the Stepinac engine.

Also, Stepinac has a supporting cast that should not be overlooked. Although, the stat sheet may not often highlight their talents, senior forward Tyrin Miller, senior guard Dylan DeMuro and junior guard Kobe Miranda are the enforcers on this team. Miller and DeMuro often grab the tough rebounds. They also defend with such tenacity as to get a stop or force a turnover at crucial times in a game.

Stepinac does miss center Tommy Cola who has been sidelined with a concussion. However, when you factor in the speedy sophomore Jorden Means, with junior guard Mario Neri and football quarterback Tyquell Fields; it is evident that Stepinac is a work in progress and they have not reached their full potential this season.

The Crusaders true capabilities were on display at the 12th Annual Big Apple Basketball High School Invitational, on Saturday, Jan. 17, at Baruch College. The BAB showcase pitted 18 teams competing against one another in a two- day event, on January 17 and 19.

High school teams from the four boroughs of New York City, Westchester County, New Jersey, Connecticut, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and as far away as Ontario, Canada participated in the event.

The Big Apple High School Basketball Invitational has been organized for the past 12 years by Big Apple Basketball President Jason Curry. The enormous success of the tournament over the past 12 years is due to Curry’s determination to bring some of the best high school basketball talent in the country to the BAB Invitational.

This year’s BAB Invitational talent included, Thon Maker, from Orangeville Prep, the number one junior in the United States and Canada. Omari Spellman, MacDuffie High School, the number 20 junior nationally, Tyus Battle, Gill St. Bernard, one of the top 15 juniors in the country and our own Jordan Tucker from Stepinac, who is now ranked in the top 20 of high school junior recruits in the U.S.

“Top to bottom in our 12 years of existence, this year’s Invitational has the potential to be the strongest field that we ever had because in every game there is a top 100 or top 50 player in the nation on a team,” commented Curry.

Stepinac was matched-up against Thurgood Marshall Academy (6-6, 4-3 PSAL) of the highly competitive Public School Athletic League (PSAL) Manhattan AA, to kick-off the tournament, on Saturday, at 12 p.m.

It was a hard fought competitive game on both sides, with a big second quarter by Stepinac, which outscored Marshall 24-13 to put the Crusaders over the top for a, 70-65 win.

Marshall did not dress their showcase player Amarveer Singh, so it was Guerra and Tucker time in the first game of the BAB Invitational. Tucker, the 6’ 6” sophomore nearly had a double-double in the first half, while scoring 14 points and grabbing seven rebounds. Guerra had 11 points by halftime, as the Crusaders led 35-27.

“Coming to New York City and playing at noon on Saturday is definitely a tough thing, but we came out with intensity, we got an early lead and maintained our tempo,” said Guerra.

Tucker and Guerra kept Stepinac in the game offensively, while scoring 47 of the Crusaders 70 points. Tucker drove, slashed and shot from every spot on the court. He ended the game with a double-double of 25 points and 14 rebounds, with three assists and three steals. At the conclusion of the game, Tucker took home the Most Valuable Player of the Game Trophy and a scholarship offer to attend Seton Hall University.

“I never knew about this tournament, this was my first year hearing about it. I just wanted to come down here and play well. I was aware that many people knew who I was, so I just wanted to prove myself,” said Tucker.

Guerra finished the game with 23 points, while shooting 6-of-12 from the field. Miller and Mirande “the enforcers” were very active in the game as well. Miller had six rebounds and Mirande had nine points, two assists and two steals.

Marshall’s sophomore Jalin Suber took home the Sportsmanship Award, while scoring 23 points and snatching seven steals. Guerra was presented an Academic Achievement Award by BAB, while recognizing his 95.5 grade point average. Marshall’s Bryan Assie was recognized with an Academic Achievement Award as well from BAB.

The Crusaders represented White Plains well in the 12th Annual Big Apple Invitational. However, for the Crusaders to fully reach their potential they must shoot better from the foul line and have fewer turnovers. Stepinac was granted 39 free throws against Marshall and only made 23 shots. They also had 22 turnovers in the game.

“We had 22 turnovers, a season high for us, which is bad. We are young, we start two sophomores and we play a lot of juniors, who were football players. We got them late, so we are still rounding into form,” said Head Coach Steve Herman. “But I like competitive non-league games and this was a good win for us.”