Top Players

• 6-2 SR Johnuel "Boogie" Fland (KENTUCKY) ... ESPN-9
• 6-0 JR Danny Carbuccia
• 6-7 SR Braylan Ritvo

Crusaders At A Glance

MAXPREPS “TOP 25” PRESEASON RANKING: 12
BALLISLIFE “FAB 50” RANKING: 13

The defending CHSAA Catholic League champions return the bulk of their roster for a City of Palms Classic encore, after a 2-2 finish in Fort Myers that included a pair of two-point losses to Imhotep Charter and Corona Centennial. Ninth-year coach Patrick Massaroni (143-76) scheduled all seven non-league games last winter against nationally ranked opponents. But Stepinac’s top-of-the-line guard duo – four-year starter and Kentucky commit 6-2 SR Boogie Fland (17.9 ppg, 4.2 rpg, 3.7 apg) and 6-0 JR Danny Carbuccia (10.7 ppg, 4.4 apg, 3.6 rpg) – consistently responded at an All-American level. … Fland exploded for 30 points, including 15 in the first quarter, in the Crusaders’ 69-66 CHSAA championship win over Bronx Cardinal Hayes, and 6-7 SR Braylan Ritvo sparked an 18-7 second-half run in a 75-70 victory over PSAL champ Eagle Academy-Brooklyn in the Federation AA semifinals. … Massaroni will look to 6-3 SOPH Jasiah Jervis, 6-6 SOPH Dylan Perry, 6-8 SR Jordan Gabriel, 6-3 SOPH Hassan Koureissi and twins 6-8 SOPH Darius Ratliff and 6-7 SOPH Adonis Ratliff to show they are ready for expanded roles.