2023-24 Norman Thomas Campus Season Preview
The Norman Thomas High School for Business and Commercial Education is a co-ed public campus located on 33rd street and Park avenue in New York City. The campus is comprised of four schools: Unity Center for Urban Technology High School, Murray Hill Academy, Manhattan Academy for Arts and Language, and Success Academy Charter High School.
The varsity boys basketball team competes in the PSAL Manhattan I AAA Division and is led by Cecilio Gomez, now entering his seventh season with the team. The 2023-2024 Tigers have a lot of optimism as they enter the new season. Looking to build on last season’s playoff appearance, the Tigers had four returning players from that squad led by Jason Guzman and Jaden Chazulle.
Jason Guzman (2024) 5’10 guard - Guzman is a sharp shooting guard with a high basketball IQ who can also finish well around the rim and rebounds well for his size. 3.3 gpa
Jaden Chazulle (2024) 6’4 small forward - Chazulle is a committed defensive anchor and high IQ player who is strong enough to finish around the basket against anyone in Manhattan AAA. 3.7 gpa
Xavier Joaquin (2026) 5’10 guard - After getting a year of varsity ball under his belt as a freshman, Joaquin should take on more of a role with the team on the offensive end while continuing to provide the Tigers with defensive tenacity and energy.
Newcomers Marcus Ellis Jr. (2024), Devyn Walker (2025) and Roger Torres (2026) bring athleticism and speed to complement Coach Gomez’s run and gun style of play. Jariel Rodriguez (2025) has demonstrated an improvement in his decision making all summer long as well as continues to develop a better motor that will surely help the flow of what the Tigers want to do offensively.
The Tigers will sure enter this season with one of the deepest benches in the league with Chris Taylor (2025), Jalen Canty (2024), Marcus Hunter (2024), Carlos Gonzalez (2024), Jalen Mayfield (2024), Jaden Hernandez (2024), Angel Vazquez (2025), and NyJewel Taylor (2024) all sure to provide valuable minutes as well as a defensive spark and energy that will make the Tigers one of the toughest teams to compete with this season in the PSAL.
Coach Gomez is optimistic that the Tigers commitment to stopping people on the defensive end while spreading the floor and taking advantage of their shooting prowess will make this team one of the many contenders in what is turning out to be a loaded PSAL AAA.
The team’s full schedule can be found on its X social media account.