Archbishop Stepinac officially joins the CHSAA Class AA in a few weeks when it takes on Bronx powerhouse St. Raymond. Facing the likes of the Ravens, Holy Cross and Xaverian won’t be entirely new for the Crusaders.
“The past six years I’ve been playing a non-league schedule of 90 percent ‘AA’ teams and we’ve done well, we compete, we’re right there,” Philp said. “We’re gonna compete with those teams. Are we gonna win or lose? That’s to be determined. My guys want to play these teams and they are good enough to play them.”
“We might not be at the top of the pack like we were in the ‘A,’ but that’s not what I coach for,” he said. “I want to put my guys at the level they can play.”
Philp’s players were thrilled when he relayed to them the news. Stepinac has been at or near the top of the ‘A’ league the last several seasons, winning it all two years ago. With the return of junior point guard Josh James, promotion of sophomore guard Naim Thomas and senior guard Tyler Iacuone, the Crusaders feel this is the perfect time to challenge themselves against the city’s best.
“It wasn’t a big surprise; it was like, ‘All right, we’re moving up to compete,’” James recalled. “That means we have to play harder and work harder. We’re prepared for it. I like it. It makes us better as players and as a team. We’re playing against the top kids in New York. It’s gonna be exciting.”
Stepinac will be challenged in the paint after the graduation of star forward Conroy Baltimore, who is now at Lehigh. Devino McRae, a 6-foot-6 senior, will be integral to the Westchester school’s success. If star football player Austin Taps, a 6-foot-6 senior, decides to play – and he has indicated he will – it strengthens Stepinac’s front line immensely, Philp said.
“He’s gonna makes us a lot bigger, stronger and athletic,” the coach said. “Austin is an absolute beast.”
Coming off a big summer with the New York Gauchos, the 6-foot-1 James is primed to break out. The pass-first lead guard already has scholarship offers from Manhattan, St. Peter’s, Canisius, Albany, Iona and Stony Brook. He has endeared himself to Philp for his high basketball IQ and unselfishness as much as his on-court ability.
“Josh is just another coach on the floor,” Philip said. “He’s really smart. He can get to the rim whenever he wants. My backcourt is good. I have smart guards that play the right way.”
In addition to James, Iacuone is drawing high-level Division II interest and Thomas has already begun to attract attention from Division I mid-major programs.
Though Stepinac has faced many of its current league foes in non-league contests, Philp admitted this will be different. The Crusaders will be challenged nightly, not just on occasion.
“The biggest challenge is there will be games we play good and we win and games we play good and we lose,” Philp said. “We’re gonna have to learn how to move on and literally take one game at a time. We have to get ready for the next one, not harp on a win or a loss.”
