The Catholic High School Athletic Association or CHSAA is a high school athletic association made up of Catholic high schools based in New York City, Long Island, and Westchester. It is the largest Catholic high school athletic league in the United States.
The NYCHSAA is divided into three sections.
New York's Catholic High School Athletic Association (CHSAA) was formed in March 1927. The Catholic schools in the city from approximately 1908 to 1922 competed along with their grammar school counterparts in baseball and track, but no larger organization arose from the competition. The Catholic secondary schools of the city remained largely unorganized, while their counterparts in such cities as Chicago and Philadelphia had been organized into leagues for years. Finally, in 1927, the Southern Branch of the New York Catholic High Schools’ Athletic Association organized league competition with an outdoor track meet held at Fordham University on May 26, 1927. The charter members of the league were Fordham Prep, All Hallows, LaSalle Academy, Regis, St. Ann’s, and Xavier High, all in Manhattan; and Brooklyn Prep, Bishop Loughlin, Brooklyn Cathedral, St. John’s Prep, and St. Francis Prep; all in Brooklyn.
In 1928, the CHSAA introduced indoor track, basketball, and baseball to the program, and in 1929 added cross country and ice hockey. In 1930, swimming was added to the program. The basketball winner would compete with the three other sectional winners in the state for the right to compete in the Loyola National Catholic Basketball tournament in Chicago. A.G. Spalding & Co. contributed two silver loving cups for the baseball and football competition. The first team winning the league title in baseball or football three times would receive permanent possession of the cup.
Listed below are former CHSAA students who are/were involved in professional or college athletics.
All Hallows Gaels
Olden Polynice (1983) – Former NBA playerArchbishop Molloy Stanners:
Xavier Rescigno (1930) – Former Major League baseball player.Lou Carnesecca (1943) – St. John's University basketball coachTommy Kearns (1954) – Former NBA PlayerYork Larese (1956) – Former NBA PlayerTom Farrell (1962) – Bronze medalist in the 800 metres run at the 1968 Summer Olympics in Mexico CityJim Larranaga (1967) – College men's basketball coach at George Mason UniversityKevin Joyce (1969) – NBA player and Captain of the 1972 USA Olympic Basketball TeamBrian Winters (1970) – Former NBA All-Star and CoachVitas Gerulaitis (1971) – Former professional tennis player & winner of the 1977 Australian OpenEdward Kurpiel (1971) – Former Major League Baseball playerKenny Smith (1983) – Former NBA All-Star and two-time NBA Champion and current television sports host and analyst who hit the buzzer-beating tying 3-pointer to send Game 1 of the 1995 NBA Finals into overtime, where the Rockets would eventually win.Robert Werdann (1988) – Former NBA PlayerKenny Anderson (1989) – Former NBA All-Star and three-time parade All-American, the first prep to achieve that feat since Lew Alcindor. Held the New York State High School Scoring Record for 18 years, with 2,621 points.Mike Jerzembeck (1991) – Former Major League PitcherUka Agbai (1999) – Assistant Men's Basketball coach at Northeastern UniversitySundiata Gaines (2005) - NBA PlayerArchbishop Stepinac Crusaders:
Marty Conlon (1986) – 10 year NBA career with Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, Boston Celtics.Art White (1968) – 4th round draft pick of Milwaukee Bucks, played professionally in Belgium.Bob Hyland (1963) – 1st round draft pick of the Green Bay Packers in 1967. Played 11 seasons in the NFL. Super Bowl IIChampion under Vince Lombardi.Eric Ogbogu (1994) – NCAA Hula Bowl MVP at Maryland. Drafted in 1998 by New York Jets. Curren national spokesperson for Under Armour.Brian Sweeney (1992) – MLB pitcher for the San Diego PadresBishop Loughlin Memorial High School Lions:
Ronald Holmberg (1956) - Professional Tennis PlayerMark Jackson (1983) – NBA PlayerDevin Ebanks (2007) - NBA PlayerDoron Lamb - NBA PlayerJayVaughn Pinkston (2010) McDonald's All American Villanova University- BasketballCardinal Hayes Cardinals:
Jamal Mashburn (1990) – NBA PlayerWill Colon (2001) – NFL PlayerJimmy Black (1981) – University of North Carolina Tar Heels and New Jersey NetsStalin Colinet (1992) - NFL PlayerGerry Ward - NBADermie O'Connell - NBAKevin Loughery - NBABrooklyn Preparatory School Eagles:
John Dockery – New York JetsKenny Charles – NBAChaminade Flyers:
Joe Mullaney (1943) – Collegiate and professional basketball coachAl Groh (1962) – former New York Jets head coach and current head coach of the University of VirginiaGene Larkin (1980) – first baseman for the Minnesota Twins who drove in the winning run in Game 7 of the 1991 World SeriesJohn Paul Foschi (2000) – tight end for the Oakland RaidersJohn Lannan (2002) – MLB pitcher for the Washington NationalsChrist the King Royals:
Jayson Williams (1986) – Former NBA PlayerAllen Watson (1989) – Former MLB PlayerSteve Karsay (1990) – Former MLB PlayerKhalid Reeves (1991) – Former NBA PlayerDerrick Phelps (1991) – Former NBA PlayerErick Barkley (1996) – NBA PlayerSpeedy Claxton (1996) – NBA PlayerChamique Holdsclaw (1996) – Former WNBA PlayerLamar Odom (1995) – NBA PlayerSue Bird (1999) – WNBA PlayerOmar Cook (2000) – NBA PlayerFordham Prep Rams:
Frankie Frisch (1916) – MLB Hall of Famer, also known as "The Fordham Flash," he is third all-time on the list for Series hits, behind Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle and just ahead of Joe DiMaggio.Johnny Murphy (1925) – former New York Yankees pitcher who appeared in a total of 8 World Series games, pitched 16.1 innings, and had an E.R.A. of 1.10.George Stirnwiess (1936) – former second baseman for the New York Yankees who also was the American League batting champion in 1945.Vin Scully (1944) – baseball announcer in the Baseball Hall of Fame, Radio Hall of Fame, American Sportscasters Hall of Fame. He has been broadcasting Dodger games, first in Brooklyn and then in Los Angeles, since 1950.Donnie Walsh (1957) – former coach and basketball executive; front office advisor for Indiana PacersRobert Hackett (1977) – silver medalist in swimming at the 1976 Summer Olympics in MontrealHoly Cross High School Knights:
Kevin Ogletree – Detroit LionsIona Prep Gaels:
Dick Ambrose (1971) – Former NFL PlayerJohn Mara (1972) – Co-owner of the New York GiantsRob Spence (1978) – former Offensive Coordinator at several US universitiesBrian Slocum (1999) – MLB player, pitches for the Cleveland IndiansKellenberg Memorial High School
Jon Harris (1992) - Former NFL PlayerLa Salle Academy Cardinals:
John Roche (1968) – Former NBA PlayerJohn Candelaria (1988) – Former MLB PlayerRon Artest (1998) – NBA PlayerNazareth Regional High School Kingsmen:
Mike Dunleavy, Sr. (1972) – former NBA player, NBA Head CoachPower Memorial Academy Panthers:
Brendan Malone (1960) - assistant coach Detroit PistonsDick Bavetta (1958) - NBA Referee, 30+ yearsLew Alcindor (1966) – NBA Hall of Famer, 6 NBA ChampionshipsLen Elmore (1970) – former NBA playerMatt Centrowitz (1973) – US Olympic runner, 1976 & 1980Joe Mullen (1975) – NHL Hall of Famer, 3 Stanley Cup ChampionshipsBrian Mullen (1980) – former NHL playerMario Elie (1981) – former NBA player, 3 NBA ChampionshipsRice Raiders:
Kemba Walker (2008) – NBA playerSalesian Eagles:
Eric Mobley (1989) – NBA Player. 1st round draft pick of 1994 NBA Draft.St. Francis Prep Terriers:
Vince Lombardi (1932) – NFL Hall of FamerJoe Torre (1959) – New York Yankees managerMike Cavataio (2007) College Basketball at St. John's UniversityMarco Battaglia (1991) NFL Tight End from 1996–2003Dan Henning (1960) Miami Dolphins Offensive Coordinator,former Head Football Coach of Boston College, creator of the Wildcat formationSt. Raymond's Ravens:
Julius Hodge (1996) – NBA PlayerAllan Ray (1996) – NBA PlayerKareem Reid (1994) - Arkansas Razorbacks' all-time leader in assists.Xaverian Clippers:
Chris Mullin (1981) – NBA Hall of Famer, All-Star and member of the Original Dream TeamRich Aurilia (1989) – MLB playerChris Taft (2003) – NBA playerXavier Knights/Cadets:
Frank McGuire (1933) – College Basketball Coach, member Basketball Hall of FameGeorge Kaftan (1945) – NBA PlayerMichael Petri (2002) – USA Rugby
