BY ZACH SMART
One game after thriving with a fleet of sharpshooters who combined to shoot a scalding 15-for-23 from 3-point range in Stepinac’s wire to wire 89-62 mauling of Sarasota (FL), Stepinac’s veteran experience played a substantial role in a 66-57 victory over The Villages.
The Crusaders have been red hot during the prestigious City of Palms Classic, a historically and currently loaded event featuring a bevy of the country’s upper drawer recruits.
Fordham-signee Hassan Koureissi was lethal for his efficiency, scoring 21 points on a smoking 8-for-10 from the field, including 2-for-3 from beyond the arc.
A Harlem native, Koureissi hit difficultly contested shots and provided pesky defense. His play spurred a vital 11-0 run which Stepinac culminated the first quarter on.
Koureissi splashed a big, momentum rolling 3-pointer right before the third quarter buzzer as well.
Michigan State-signee Jasiah Jervis, who is now the 17th player in program’s regal history to attain the 1,000+ points milestone, turned in a performance of 14 points, six assists, and seven rebounds.
Jervis’ shot-making prowess from mid range and deep have been evident during the event.
On a bigger, college court at Florida SouthWestern State Junior College, Jervis’ athleticism and knack for spurring the up-tempo attack fresh of a defensive rebound has been equally notable.
Koureissi and Jervis are foundational pieces of this Crusaders program.
Both are four-year players. Both have been entrenched in hyper-competitive battles in league play and while playing formidable foes with national prominence.
Those who remember correctly will recall both playing meaningful minutes as freshmen, when a 30-point eruption from Boogie Fland overcame Cardinal Hayes’radiant triumvirate of Ian Jackson, Elijah Moore and Steven Solano catapulted Stepinac to a CHSAA “AA” city title.
The Crusaders have won three city titles in the last three years.
The interchangeable Koureissi and Jervis tandem seized the leadership reins during a game which gauged their mental moxie and ability to navigate New York City’s constant pressure cooker like no other–a pulsating, come from behind victory in last year’s city title.
Staring down at a six-point deficit to St. Raymond’s HS with 58.5 seconds remaining in regulation, Jervis slayed adversity with battle-tested poise.
The 6-foot-5 two-guard bagged a straight on 3-pointer.
Monmouth-signee and current senior Dylan Perry turned in a conventional 3-point play to force overtime.
In overtime, it was Jervis and Koureissi who stuck back to back 3-pointers en route to a pulsating OT victory.
While veteran experience and a proven, decorated senior class is vital for Stepinac, Pat Massaroni’s team has shown a promising youth movement and overwhelming, layered depth in Florida.
A 6-foot-8 and 240-pound behemoth, Class of 2026 Elijah Novotny has come along as a bulldozing interior scorer. Establishing a considerable interior presence and an evolving back to the rim game, Novotny scored six points as the Crusaders fed the post and built a double digit first half lead against Sarasota.
Iona Prep Big Hearing From D-Is
Possessing a frame which projects at a high level at 6-foot-9, Class of 2027 Iona Prep forward Elijah Joseph has shown promise. Buoyed by length and propensity for swatting and changing the trajectory of shots while steering the driving lanes clear, Joseph finished with three blocks during a 77-76 loss to Cardinal Hayes in the Grand Concourse on Friday.
Oozing of translatable upside, Joseph has been hearing from Manhattan College during these embryonic stages of his recruitment.
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