Jazmynn Julien leads Suffolk to Alzheimer's All-Star Basketball Classic win in game with 'important' meaning to her

Jazmynn Julien has put on the special glasses and headphones for an eye-opening simulation of what it’s like to be someone living in the difficult worlds of Alzheimer’s and dementia.

“I think it’s really important that everyone gets educated on this topic,” the Whitman senior said, having experienced the “Awareness Night” over these last three years that’s mandatory for the players in the annual Alzheimer’s All-Star Basketball Classic.

“The first year, I did the simulation thing; it was definitely overwhelming with emotion to see what these people go through. My mom’s a nurse, so she has definitely seen this in her daily work. I love getting new perspectives on life and just seeing what other people go through. And being able to play for this cause definitely means something to me.”

Julien was helping create awareness and raise funds again Saturday as a member of the Suffolk girls team in the Classic. And she was also creating awareness again of how talented she is.

So the guard/forward was standing on the court at Hempstead after scoring a team-high 15 points in Suffolk’s 86-61 win over Nassau, and she was holding the MVP trophy and the check for $200 that came with it.

“I think that I showed that I’m a really good team player,” said Julien, Newsday’s Suffolk Player of the Year last season.

One quarter of the 12-player Suffolk team — Julien, Madi Richter and Hannah Creighton — represented defending county AAA champ Whitman.

Julien and Richter scored four points apiece inside, helping Suffolk roll to an 11-0 lead. Creighton drained a three later in the quarter, helping Suffolk take a 24-11 advantage into the second period of a wire-to-wire win.

“We plan on doing the same thing as last year and even further,” Julien said of her Whitman team.

Harborfields’ Maren Korsh and North Babylon’s Olivia Rush added 12 points apiece.

And Westhampton’s Kate Sweet nailed two threes and scored 10.

“This is a really special tournament for me because I lost my grandma to Alzheimer’s,” said the senior shooting guard, a second-team All-Long Island pick last season and a SUNY Cortland commit.

“Also, Jazmynn and Madi, they were on my first AAU team ever. … Coming back, this is like our last game ever together. But most important is raising money for Alzheimer’s.”

Ajeya Nicholas turned in a terrific game for Nassau. The Baldwin senior power forward scored 17.

“It means a lot,” Nicholas said of the day. “I was able to contribute to the greater cause, which is helping people with Alzheimer’s. Also, to just enjoy playing basketball with some of my friends and having my friends over there on [the other] side. Just saw a great competition, and I enjoyed playing today.”