Inaugural Exceptional Senior All-Star Basketball Game raises Alzheimer awareness, donations

Knox basketball coach, Bay Shore native and St. John’s legend Gordon Thomas has run the Alzheimer’s All-Star Basketball Classic every fall since his father, John Thomas Sr., died in 2010 after being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease. Come October, he will have spent 16 years raising money and awareness for a disease that impacts millions of Americans.

So, when basketball trainer Jerry Powell approached him about setting up a senior-led all-star game, Thomas jumped at the opportunity to raise money yet again for the cause near to his heart.

“Alzheimer’s is hitting everyone’s family,” Thomas said. “It’s something that really bothers me because I lost my dad and I saw him decline right in front of my eyes. That’s a hard, hard feeling … I hope that he would be proud of me doing this, and my mom, too.”

The Exceptional Senior All-Star Basketball Game debuted at the Stony Brook School Saturday as Nassau’s best girls and boys players faced Suffolk’s best. All proceeds from the game went to the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center in Westbury, which Thomas has contributed to for 10 years.

“At first [in 2010] we did the Alzheimer’s Association, but I started thinking, ‘That money we’re raising, we don’t know where it goes,’” Thomas said. “I know that the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center is right here in Westbury, and we know where that money is going. It’s staying right here on Long Island.”

Melissa Katz, senior director of programs and services at the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center, emphasized how important events like Saturday’s basketball game can be for the nonprofit organization.

“Any sort of fundraiser means so much to us,” Katz said. “We have to fundraise, we have to apply for grants and we really rely on donations to do what we do. Every dollar truly counts.”

Saturday marked the inaugural Exceptional Seniors All-Star Game, raising money for the Long Island Alzheimer’s and Dementia Center on the hardwood between Nassau and Suffolk’s best.

Fun and important event, run by Gordon Thomas of Knox/St. John’s/Bay Shore.

Take a look👇 pic.twitter.com/e1spc2111W

— Michael Sicoli (@Michael__Sicoli) April 4, 2026

Uniondale’s Zahara Saintyl earned MVP honors with her 22-point performance as she led Nassau girls to a 65-41 win over Suffolk. Stony Brook School’s James Augustine was named the MVP of the boys game after his 24-point day, leading Suffolk to a 135-121 win over Nassau.

Nassau girls trailed 34-32 at halftime as Westhampton’s Sandra Clarke scored 16 of her 21 points in the first half for Suffolk. Saintyl had 16 second-half points, including a steal and score to give Nassau a 55-43 lead with 5:10 remaining.

“I’m very competitive, so when I heard it was Nassau versus Suffolk, I texted up my Nassau girls and was like, ‘You ready to play?’” Saintyl said.

St. Mary’s Scarlet Cubero added 16 points.

“It’s all rooted in the fundraiser and everything,” Saintyl said. “[I] remember why we were doing this and went out there to have fun and raise awareness.”

Augustine, a Nigeria native, headlined several eye-popping dunks in the boys game, with North Babylon’s Cameron Serrano (22 points), Long Island Lutheran Regional’s Geremyah Shaw-Glenn (23 points) and Amityville’s Amir Dickerson (18 points) all adding slams of their own.

“I feel like I came here all the way from Nigeria just to ball and hopefully make it to the league,” Augustine said. “I have to put on a show on the court every time I get.”

Suffolk led 77-59 at halftime and took a 111-98 lead after Serrano delivered his second one-handed slam of the day before blocking a shot against the boards. Baldwin’s Ethan Sainsbury led all scorers with 28 points. Holy Trinity’s Tristan Thomas had 23 points.

Everyone who attended, from the referees to clock operators to concession workers, did so on their own time. It’s a reminder of how the Long Island basketball community can come together to do something special.

“A lot of these players, they’re here because they like to play basketball, and they don’t really realize right now what they’re doing,” Thomas said. “Down the road, they’re going to be like, ‘Wow, I helped raise funds and awareness for that cause.'”