Nazir Tyler has had quite the basketball career.
He’s a three-year starter.
He’s won a Catholic League championship.
He’s won a PIAA Class 6A state championship.
He’s twice made the Catholic League playoffs, played at the Palestra three times and grown into one of the top players in the PCL.
Not a bad resume, especially considering he’s only a sophomore.
Tyler, who lives in Northeast Philly, played varsity basketball when he was in eighth grade at Germantown Friends, where eighth-graders are eligible to play.
He then went to Father Judge High School beginning in ninth grade, and took over as a starter as soon as he got there. Ever since, he’s been a mainstay in the Crusader lineup.
“It was good getting experience, so when I got to Judge, it wasn’t nothing new,” Tyler said. “When I got to the Catholic League, the players were bigger, stronger and faster, so that was a tough adjustment, but not too tough. When you play with better players, you have to be bigger, stronger and faster, so it made me get better.”
He did.
But he wasn’t alone.
Tyler was a big piece for Judge during his freshman year when the team made huge strides, not only making the playoffs, but winning two games and advancing to the Palestra.
Losing wasn’t what the team hoped for, but it was exactly what was needed to set the table for this year’s historic run.
The Crusaders not only won the Catholic League championship, a title that eluded them for 27 seasons, but went on to win the first state basketball championship in school history. The Crusaders now own state championships in soccer, baseball and basketball.
Tyler played his part perfectly. In the state championship game, he scored nine points as the Crusaders downed Roman Catholic for the third time this season.
In Hershey, Judge downed the Cahillites 71-60 in a game that was much different than the low-scoring affair the two teams played in the PCL finals a month ago.
Judge won 10 of its final 11 games, suffering its only loss in the city championship to Imhotep. The Crusaders knocked off Imhotep in a rematch in the state semifinals, meaning not only did they have to beat one team it played three times this season en route to the state crown, they had to beat two.
“It feels great, and honestly that’s an understatement,” Tyler said. “We did a lot of good things, made history. We turned the program around.
“A few years go, teams just went through us and they worried about the next game. Now people take us very seriously, playing their best every time they see us. We saw it coming. We knew who we were bringing back and said what we’re going to do.”
It really didn’t matter whom they played, the Crusaders gave it their all. But when the competition was at its toughest, so were the Crusaders. Judge went 5-1 against Roman and Imhotep, two of the best teams in the city.
“I think the most important game was probably, well, I think all of them were important,” Tyler said. “Every playoff game definitely. I think the most important game was the Palestra for the Catholic League championship. We didn’t want the feeling of finality, of it being over. That was the same feeling we had last year. We all wanted to get to the championship and win it. We talk all the time, team success leads to individual success. That’s the reason right there.”
The Crusaders had plenty of stars, including Kevair Kennedy, Derrick Morton-Rivera, Everett Barnes and Rocco Westfield.
But players like Tyler, Max Moshinski and Kevin Beck played a huge role.
According to Tyler, that was one of the reasons the team played so well.
“I think our depth is what people would be shocked about,” Tyler said. “We have so much depth. You can take a guy out, and the next guy can do the job. We don’t have much of a drop, everyone can do everything. We don’t have to worry about anyone being a liability when we put them out there. I think that’s one of the reasons (we won).”
And good news, if you’re a Judge fan.
The Crusaders do lose three key contributors in Kennedy, Beck and Barnes.
But everyone else is back. And they’ll have plenty of talent and now experience playing huge games.
“We have a lot coming back,” Tyler said. “I think people will be surprised. Kevair and Everett and Kevin are leaving, they’re hard players to replace. But when you talk about us at Father Judge, me, Derrick, Max and Rocco, that’s almost four starters. That’s a great four guys coming back and I don’t think people know how special that is. The seniors leaving will have an impact, but we still have a lot of good players and we’re going to be good.”
Which means Tyler’s section will have something to cheer about.
Judge’s season had many special subplots, but the fans were a big part of it, according to Tyler. And he loves his support system.
“Really my whole family, they come to the game, both my parents are active at every game, my uncles, they really support me,” Tyler said. “They were all at Hershey. This wasn’t just for us. It was for the program. It means so much to them. It helps. It means a lot to us, too, but it helps bring in players, it helps the school, makes our team more popular. Winning brings bright things to the school. It helps a lot. That makes it fun.”
And now Tyler still has two seasons to continue to add to his legacy.
“I want people to know I’m an all-around player, I can do whatever, shoot, pass, defense, dribble, be a team player,” Tyler said. “I’m an all-around player and I’m capable of doing anything. I take pride in it.”
Off the court, too.
“If I didn’t do what I was supposed to do, I wouldn’t be on the court,” said Tyler, who is an honor student. “I take that very seriously. I got first honors this year. I’ve been on the honor roll since I got to Judge. My parents definitely told me how school is important and never take school lightly. I let basketball motivate me, and it’s working. I just want to get better.”
