Watch: Players, teams prepare for SNY Invitational

The 2015 SNY Invitational – a two-day basketball tournament showcasing the area’s elite high school basketball teams – will tip off Friday, Jan. 23 at 6 p.m. with Long Island Lutheran High School facing off against Benjamin N. Cardozo High School, immediately followed by a Battle of the Bronx as Wings Academy takes on Cardinal Hayes High School.

Below are features and highlights from the four schools participating in the SNY Invitational this year…

Wings Academy:

• Desure Blue and Jessie Govan look to lead Wings Academy to the SNY Invitational championship this year
• Wings Academy basketball coach Billy Turnage discusses his excitement of playing in the SNY Invitational

Cardinal Hayes:

• Cardinal Hayes senior Akintoye Ojo tells his story about how he came from Nigeria to play at Cardinal Hayes

Cardozo:

• Take a look at Cardozo High School’s basketball team, including star player Rashond Salnave
• Cardozo High School basketball coach Ron Naclerio discusses the upcoming SNY Invitational

Long Island Lutheran:

• LI Lutheran head basketball coach John Buck discusses his team’s chances in the upcoming SNY Invitational
• Long Island Lutheran guard Devonte Green speaks about their season prior to the SNY Invitational

SNY will once again make donations totaling more than $20,000 in funds to the participating high schools. Since the tournament’s inception in 2008, SNY has helped make contributions surpassing $300,000 in scholarships and funds to participating schools and tri-state area students.