Top Performers: NY Catholic Leagues
Souleymone Kone, Cardinal Hayes--Augmented back court depth has been a vital component for a promising Cardinal Hayes team, which features a wealth of underclassmen playing significant roles.
Kone has stepped into a supplemental scoring role, supplying head coach Joe Lods with quality minutes. He’s become a shot maker with a knack for sticking opportunistic shots.
Kone scored 19 points as Cardinal Hayes coasted to an 81-61 victory over St. Raymond’s at the Grand Concourse on Thursday.
Kone stuck a critical 3-pointer as Hayes opened up a double digit lead late in the second quarter, seizing a momentum roll as halftime approached.
Amadou Barry, Cardinal Hayes --The jumbo sized 6-foot-9, 260-pound forward is stepping into a major role as he continues to incorporate a pack of post moves into his arsenal.
With his imposing size and deft perimeter touch, Barry is an intriguing big who oozes of upside. He was recently offered by Quinnipiac University, the program which signed his high scoring and high rising teammate, 6-foot-4 Class of 2026 guard Malik Fields.
The Class of 2027 Barry turned in a 19-point performance during the aforementioned 81-61 trouncing of St. Raymond’s in a physical, black and blue marked CHSAA-AA matchup.
Barry buried a 3-pointer, scored on a back to the rim move and got loose for another bucket in traffic in the three minute stretch leading into halftime.
Malik.Fields, Cardinal Hayes--
The Quinnipiac -bound guard has shouldered the veteran leadership role at Hayes this year, as a highly proven three-year starter.
The Class of 2026 Fields scored a game-best 23 points in the aforementioned 20-point bludgeoning of the Ravens, knocking down a step-back 3-pointer and scoring on a gliding layup during a ferocious second quarter run which broke it open for Hayes.
The son of former Iona star Courtney Fields, Fields has been extremely vital for his defense.
He instigated turnovers and soared in for a wild block in the second half against St. Raymond’s, as Hayes neutralized a rugged, guard-laden squad.
The aspect of his game which tends to get under valued is his rebounding. Jumping off the page at 6-foot-5, Fields has been consistent with his ability to snatch boards out of his area.
Hassan Koureissi, Stepinac--The long, Fordham-bound guard helped Stepinac get jump-started against St. Raymond’s on Tuesday in the Bronx.
Koureissi pocketed a corner three-pointer and then knocked back a pair of free throws after drawing a foul on a dunk attempt.
With that, Koureissi attained a personal milestone, surpassing the 1,000-point benchmark.
The 18th player to score 1,000 career points at Stepinac, Koureissi scored 16 points and doled out seven assists in a 65-53 victory over the Ravens.
Koureissi has personified weathered senior leadership for the Crusaders, providing difficult shot-sticking while simultaneously spurring runs when the stakes are raised.
It was Koureissi’s shooting and crafty attacking during a 32-point barrage, which ultimately catapulted a then short handed Stepinac team to a victory over Bartlett of Tennessee during the City of Palms Classic down in Florida.
During the prestigious Hoophall Classic in Springfield, Mass. it was Koureissi’s flair for crunch time heroics which propelled Stepinac in a marquee and memorable 56-50 win over national power IMG Academy of Florida.
The 6-foot-5 Koureissi fired in a 3-pointer and took a hard foul, turning in a four point play in the waning moments.
Darius Ratliff, Stepinac--The 7-foot, Southern California-bound Class of 2026 Center was skyward bound throughout Tuesday’s victory over St. Raymond’s, levitating above the rim and finishing in authoritative fashion.
An uber versatile threat with his floor spreading shooting, Ratliff has savored his size advantage against CHSAA-AA foes this season.
He wound up with 19 points and 15 rebounds in the victory.
Ratliff is one of three Crusaders to make the McDonald’s All American game, an honor he received on Monday.
The unique aspect of the shot swatting Ratliff’s story is that he played sparingly as a sophomore, before ascending the national mountaintops during a breakout junior season during which he averages five blocks.
Zaire Johnson, St. Raymond’s --The shifty, crafty 5-foot-11 point guard has been a stabilizing influence for a St. Raymond’s team bolstered by high level guard play.
Johnson has turned in multiple games of five assists or more this season while proving he can shoulder the scoring load as a focal point.
The lefty has a shot making acumen and an ability to elude defenders off the dribble.
The Class of 2027 prospect scored a team best 19 points during the aforementioned loss to Cardinal Hayes on Thursday.
Johnson holds an offer from Fairleigh Dickinson University and should be one of the most noteworthy stock rising guards in the city this summer.
A creative and in traffic finisher, Johnson is a high octane guard who sees the floor well and has an adeptness for evoking space creation.
NaJay Bess, St. Raymond’s--The word which most accurately depicts Bess’ game nearly falls off the page: gritty.
Bess is a 6-foot-5 shot-maker who picks his spots effectively and embraces contact on thorough rim attacks.
He has a knack for accelerating the souped up attack employed by St. Raymond’s and possesses positional uniqueness with his rebounding.
A combo guard, Bess is a ferocious in clusters scoring threat. He has taken over games on some big stages, with multiple games of six 3-pointers or more during his time with the Ravens