“To have our season decided by a judge or committee, it was definitely heartbreaking” – Kyrie Irving was angry after his high school team got banned from competing
Irving was desperate to lead his St. Patrick’s team to another title in his senior year.
Kyrie Irving’s championship mentality wasn’t forged in the NBA but was deeply rooted in his high school years, where his passion for winning was already profoundly evident. The moment that truly tested his resilience came when his high school team, St. Patrick, was unexpectedly banned from the state tournament during his senior year, a devastating setback that left him sincerely “heartbroken.”
“It was heartbreaking because to cap off my senior year, I wanted to leave St. Patrick’s on a good note with another state championship or a national championship,” Irving said. “To have our season decided by a judge or committee, it was definitely heartbreaking.”
Why was St. Patrick banned?
By 2010, St. Patrick had become a powerhouse, ranked sixth nationally and second in the state of New Jersey. Having won three of the previous four championships, they were the undisputed favorites to win another in 2010. Their dominance was epitomized by a resounding 82-45 victory in the Union County Tournament championship, where Irving himself scored a stellar 30 points.
However, their championship aspirations were abruptly shattered when the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association took strict action. The executive committee unanimously decided to ban St Patrick from the state tournament and suspend head coach Kevin Boyle for three games. The root cause? Illegal practices were conducted before the state-mandated start date for high-school teams.
An NJSIAA investigator discovered something concrete when he secretly videotaped the team’s workouts and held a piece of strong evidence.
The footage clearly showed players running structured drills under Boyle’s supervision, directly violating league rules. That video became the smoking gun, forcing the committee to take immediate and decisive disciplinary action. And, unfortunately for the shifty guard, he was caught on tape participating in those drills, making him ineligible for the remainder of the season and dashing his hopes of a state title run.
Irving could somehow see the silver lining
Being the No. 3 ranked recruit by ESPN, Irving knew that missing the senior year would be a huge blow, but he still found the silver lining in being able to visit different programs after the ban was lifted.
“I was kind of angry that our season ended so soon, but there was a small positive that came out of it,” Irving said. “After our season ended, I got to go down to Duke for the North Carolina game, and that rivalry is crazy, so I really enjoyed myself down there.”
In the end, “Uncle Drew’s” competitive spirit found its true expression in the NBA. He would go on to win arguably the hardest championship in the league’s history, overcoming a 3-1 deficit against one of the best teams strung together.
That title run cemented Kai’s place in NBA lore, especially with his cold-blooded dagger over Stephen Curry in Game 7. It wasn’t just a victory — it was a defining moment that showcased his clutch gene, skill, and mental toughness when it mattered most.
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