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The high school seniors, who have played with Stamford Peace since its inception in 2008 and who will play college basketball next year, were each honored with the Stamford Peace’s Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award.
Brian Kriftcher, founder, president and head coach of Stamford Peace, presented the awards to Kweshon Askew of Stamford High School, Ryan Kriftcher of The Taft School, Jeremiah Livingston of Westhill High School, and Tyrell St. John of Trinity Catholic High School.
“No players better embody the Stamford Peace story more than these four,” said Kriftcher. “Friends, roommates, classmates, and consummate teammates, these players have competed in more than 300 games together over the past seven AAU seasons, and together last season they went 6-0 at the renown 'Live in AC' elite level national college showcase beating numerous nationally ranked teams along the way.”
Livingston, Askew and St. John earned 2015 All-Fairfield County Interscholastic Athletic Conference this winter. Livingston earned FCIAC Player of the Year, made the FCIAC All-Defensive team, and earned the Most Outstanding Player in the FCIAC Championship Tournament. Askew made the All-FCIAC first team and All-Defensive team. Tyrell St. John earned 2nd Team All-FCIAC honors. In addition, Kriftcher earned All-Nassau County honors, before attending The Taft School this year as a post-graduate.
Livingston and Askew have numerous NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers, while St. John and Ryan Kriftcher will be playing at the NCAA Division 3 level. Each of the boys is expected to make his final college selection later this spring.
The Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award was presented at “In the Name of Peace,” a player appreciation banquet held at The Italian Center in Stamford. Nearly $10,000 was raised in support of Stamford Peace’s programs and scholarships.
The Kyle A. Markes Humanitarian Award honors an 11-year-old Stamford boy who died in 2013 after a 13-month battle with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Kyle was born the son of Walter and Dr. Jackqueline McLean-Markes. He attended preschool at Mothers Little Helper in Stamford; kindergarten at Newfield Elementary School; and was in fifth grade at New Canaan Country School when first diagnosed.
Markes was a member of Jack & Jill of America, Stamford/Norwalk chapter; First United Methodist Church Children's Choir; Stamford Football; Stamford Youth Soccer; Stamford Youth Basketball; and Go-Kart Racing School Grand-Prix. He loved to play, watch and follow basketball, football and soccer.
Founded in 2008, Stamford Peace offers innovative basketball programming for boys and girls ages 5 to 17, from in and around lower Fairfield County,
Learn more about Stamford Peace on its website.
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