CHSAA Intersectional Quarterfinals: Junior (2026) standouts

One of the standout days of the year on New York's high school basketball calendar, Sunday saw the eight top Catholic School programs in New York City battle it out at historic Rose Hill Gymnasium in the CHSAA Class “AA” Intersectional quarterfinals. Here we'll take a look at a handful of juniors (listed in alphabetical order) who stood out with substantial impacts for their teams on the big stage.    Among the bigger revelations of the day was the vastly improved play of Carillo Moss, who showed a versatile and high-IQ attack en route to an efficient double-double in a narrow win. He's become an increasingly comfortable fit for the modern game as he's shed weight and increased his mobility. Now, he's able to operate both inside and out as an offensive hub with the skill level and IQ to take advantage of whatever the defense presents. The deep contested heave to beat the shot-clock buzzer in the waning minutes was just the cherry on top of a performance that placed Carillo Moss firmly on the scholarship radar heading into the grassroots season.     The experienced floor general for Holy Cross, Crawford put up an admirable fight against a stacked Stepinac lineup that helped keep the Knights in the game for much of the way. He put consistent pressure on the Crusader defense with his polish and craft off the dribble, working into the midrange and to the rim where he showed off his footwork and dexterity as a finisher among the trees. Crawford also converted two 3s (a 4-point play and a buzzer-beater at the half) that established some of the only Holy Cross momentum of the game. Already on scholarship radars, decisionmaking and shooting consistency are likely to be the deciding factors for D1 coaches waiting to pull the trigger on the southpaw.     One of the more improved players in the league this year, Delgado capped his junior season with a hard fought effort in a near double-double despite a narrow loss. A true utility piece at the forward spot, he showed his burgeoning versatility on both ends. Delgado really stands out on the defensive end, switching seamlessly across positions with the foot speed to corral guards and strength to take on wings and forwards. Not just a physical specimen, he shows a rare level of IQ and technique on that end for a high school player. Offensively, Delgado keeps things simple with an increasingly reliable catch-and-shoot stroke from the arc and an ability to pick up scrap points near the rim with his size and nose for the ball. More games like today will give him a real chance to play his way onto D1 radars with his winning approach and translatable skillset.     Despite coming in a narrow overtime loss, the nod for performance of the day may still have to go to Fields, who erupted on his way to 34 points while pouring it in from all three levels. A dynamic jump shooter, he knocked down four 3s of a diverse variety, also showing smooth and increasingly versatile mechanics in the midrange. No shot was bigger than the cold-blooded catch-and-shoot he splashed off an elevator screen with 0.1 seconds on the clock to force OT. Looking much stronger than this time last year, Fields also got to the rim while playing through bumps off the dribble and finishing with touch inside amidst traffic. Having shown a high-IQ floor game and passing ability in the past, the next step for Fields will be incorporating that element while also being relied upon to score. That said, it was a highly encouraging data point for the junior guard who's still just 16 years old and figures to draw interest from all levels of D1 schools in the next year.     The other offensive engine for Hayes, Gaymon stuffed the stat sheet while showing the scoring ability that's made him one of the bigger stock-risers in the league this winter. The instincts for getting buckets are very real, with an aggressive mindset and a well-rounded skillset in 1-on-1 situations. A consistent shot-maker off the catch, he also shows enticing flashes of pull-up shooting at his size. It was nice to see Gaymon make the impact he did in the floor game, dishing four assists, grabbing nine rebounds, and collecting three steals in an active two-way effort that's hopefully a sign of more to come. Gaymon figures to attract D1 attention this summer if that proves to be the case, with his size and scoring ability being fit for the scholarship level no matter what.     It can be easy to overlook Jervis at times given the consistency with which he's produced since his freshman year along with the lack of flashiness or splash plays throughout his game, but there's no questioning his massive impact on winning. One of the more polished shooters in the class, he knocked down four 3s in a typically efficient 21-point outing. While he may not generate highlights, there's just immense value in Jervis' ability to score on limited touches or dribbles while also making plays for others and always being in the right position on both ends of the floor. His polish, composure, and team-centric approach give him a chance to be on the floor early for the right high-major program, even in the transfer portal era of college hoops.     With his twin brother out of the lineup with a foot injury, Ratliff has used the back half of the season to announce himself as one of the fastest-rising 2026 prospects in the country, and did nothing to slow that momentum in Stepinac's quarterfinal win. He came out aggressive, showcasing his remarkably soft touch and fluid shooting mechanics on a number of catch-and-shoots from all over the floor, Holy Cross defenders simply unable to contest him at his size. While he wasn't the factor he's been known to be on the glass, Ratliff displayed his length, quick hands, and preternatural instincts en route to four blocks while impacting a large handful of additional shots all over the floor. One of the more fun parts of his game as well remains his craftiness and vision as a passer. It's rare for a prospect to be this productive across the board while still being such a work in progress, but such situations generally make for a prospect fit for the highest levels and Ratliff's case looks to be no different.     One of the bigger compliments we can give a prospect is that we know what we'll see from him each time out, and Sacko fits the bill with his nonstop blend of energy, versatility, and raw production. In a workmanlike double-double, he was a force on the backboards creating extra possessions with his length, physicality, and motor on his way to eight offensive boards and 14 total. A prolific shooter from the frontcourt, he struggled to get his jumper going but adapted as the game went on to begin enforcing his will inside. With the game on the line, he showed his underrated defensive abilities with an emphatic block as time expired in the 2-point win. There's a lot to be said for a player whose run-of-the-mill games result in 19 points and 14 rebounds. While the package is a bit unorthodox, it's getting increasingly harder to argue that Sacko is bound to produce at the high-major level in time.

One of the standout days of the year on New York's high school basketball calendar, Sunday saw the eight top Catholic School programs in New York City battle it out at historic Rose Hill Gymnasium in the CHSAA Class “AA” Intersectional quarterfinals. Here we'll take a look at a handful of juniors (listed in alphabetical order) who stood out with substantial impacts for their teams on the big stage.