Written by Paul Garwood
Photo Credit: Archbishop Stepinac Athletics / MaxPreps

Archbishop Stepinac is entering the 2025-26 season with a statement that echoes far beyond New York: the Crusaders have been named No. 1 in the nation in the Preseason MaxPreps Top 25. It’s a ranking built on returning firepower, elite talent, and a program with a championship standard that continues to rise.

Coming off a 26-4 season that ended with their third straight Class AA City Championship, Stepinac has positioned itself as one of the deepest and most dangerous teams in high school basketball.

A Star-Powered Trio Leads the Charge

Stepinac’s success begins with its headline trio:

• Jasiah Jervis (Senior SG) — one of the nation’s top shooting guards and the steady presence who fuels the Crusaders’ offense.

• Adonis Ratliff & Darius Ratliff (Twin 7-footers) — an unmatched frontcourt combination and newly committed USC Trojans, both recognized among the top 10 centers in the country for 2025-26.

Together, they form one of the most physically imposing and skill-balanced cores anywhere in the high-school landscape.

Depth That Most Programs Dream Of

What separates Stepinac from the rest of the field is its combination of star talent and returning experience.

The Crusaders bring back 11 players from last season — an incredible level of continuity for a national contender. Returning starters Hassan Koureissi (Fordham commit) and Dylan Perry (Monmouth commit) add scoring, toughness, and versatility on both ends of the floor.

Senior guards Jack Coco and Ameer Smith provide Stepinac with mature backcourt depth, while top-100 junior Josh Rivera offers length, athleticism, and playmaking that strengthen an already loaded rotation.

Head coach Patrick Massaroni now has a roster that checks every box — size, guard play, experience, shooting, rim protection, leadership, and competitive DNA.

A Championship Culture With National Expectations

Winning has become the expectation at Stepinac.
Now ranked No. 1, the Crusaders carry the weight of national attention — and they embrace it.

With a strengthened lineup, a system built on discipline, and the confidence that comes from three straight city titles, Stepinac enters this season not just as a contender… but as the team to beat.

The target is on their back.
The schedule will be brutal.
Every gym they walk into will treat it like a state championship.

And Stepinac is built for all of it.

What Comes Next

The road from preseason No. 1 to a season-ending celebration is long, challenging, and filled with pressure. But Stepinac’s combination of talent, depth, and continuity gives them every chance to finish the year the same way they’re starting it — on top of the high-school basketball world.

For now, one thing is clear:

The Crusaders didn’t just earn the No. 1 ranking — they’re ready to defend it.