Surin named all-state

HARRIMAN-Monroe-Woodbury High School basketball coach Jim Taravella had a vision a few years. Five-years ago, a quiet kid who could handle the rock moved to the area for Spring Valley. The coach knew some special things were about to happen to the Crusader basketball team. That young player was Tony Surin. "When he was in eighth grade, I was talking to Ron Montalto (the former M-W basketball coach and current director of athletics) about how good this kid was going to be," he said. "I told him he's going to be a ball player." But could he see Surin, a 5-foot-9 point guard, playing his way onto the all-state team? Maybe not, but after leading M-W to the Section 9 Class AA title, averaging 19.5 points, 5.1 assists, 4.0 rebounds and 2.4 steals, that's exactly where he belongs. Last week the New York State Sports Writers Association named him to the 10th team for Class AA. "I'm not terribly surprised," said Taravella. "He had a terrific year and, no matter who we played, everyone knew who he was. The Section is starting to gain more notoriety." The three-year starter finished his varsity career with 957 points. As a junior, Surin surfaced as one of the area's top players, averaging 15.3 points, 4.7 assists and 3 steals. As a 10th grader, he cracked the starting line-up averaging 9.7 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.1 steals. In the Section Nine tournament this year, he scored 39 points in a hostile Newburgh Free Academy gym, propelling his team to an appearance in the finals against Kingston that they would eventually win. "It was the best game I have ever seen anyone play," said Taravella. "He was just in the zone at NFA that night." The Crusaders weren't the favorites. Not even close. M-W had lost to the NFA's Goldbacks and Kingston's Tigers four times already during the season. They even lost to Pine Bush once, who they eliminated in the opening round. Surin is looking at Division II colleges Nyack and St. Thomas Aquinas, both in Westchester County. So who will be the next player Taravella has a vision about? He's not sure. But Surin's legacy will remain for all those who follow him.