Cordell Veira & TBA Close out St. Mike’s, Despite Game-High 29 points from Young Phenom Kyle Duke
#4 ranked Toronto Basketball Academy knocked off #3 St. Michael’s College School 94-79 in the National Preparatory Association’s first game in the Southeast Division.
Despite a 29 point performance from freshman guard Kyle Duke-Simpson, TBA executed a well-rounded performance, with five players contributing in double figures. Eman-Yak Eman led the way for TBA with 17 points, Sukhjot Kalsi added 15, while Adham Eleeda and Tarig Eisa had 11 and 10 respectively.
St. Mike’s kept pace with the bigger TBA for the first three quarters, exchanging the lead on multiple times and finishing the first three frames tied.
The fourth quarter saw Cordell Veira put an end to the Blue Raiders chances, scoring six of his 11 points for TBA in the fourth quarter, while facilitating to put his squad safely ahead for the rest of the game. TBA held St. Mike’s to 11 points in the fourth quarter, while scoring 28 in the decisive frame.
“I think we played well, a bit off sync but cleaned it up in the fourth quarter,” said Adeel Sahibzada, Head Coach of TBA.
“I think our mental focus at the start of the game needs to be higher for us to have a fighting chance at winning more consistently and at a higher level. St Mike’s is a very well coached team, and they will be strong for the duration of the year.”
St. Mike’s was without 6’8” forward and Harvard Commit Danilo Djuricic who sat out with a foot injury, but is expected back for the NPA Eastern Conference Session in Ottawa, November 25-27.
Despite the absence of the Harvard commit, the game proved an opportunity for freshman guard Kyle Duke-Simpson to shine, leading all scorers with 29 points for the Blue Raiders. Duke-Simpson attacked with high-intensity all game, dictating the tempo for St. Mike’s, and putting on a clinic in his NPA debut.
The young and fiery guard is a player to watch this season, representing the next wave of talent to make their way through St. Michael’s.
Inaki Alvarez contributed 15 in the losing effort; Kobey Lam-Ketavong and Atik Gilao added 10 apiece for St. Mikes.
Overall, the first weekend of NPA proved to be an exciting introduction to the season, putting the spotlight on prospects across the country including Shol Ayach, Jashon Henry, Keenan Dowell, Kyle Duke-Simpson, Inaki Alvarez Cordell Veira, and Eman-Yak Eman to name a few.
On Wednesday, November 9th, Toronto Basketball Academy plays host to Windsor, Ontario’s 3 Kings Prep in their league debut.
3 Kings has been hard at work taking their game across America over the beginning of the school year, lead by longtime Windsor basketball staple Head Coach Peter Cusumano.
