W.P.I.A.L. Top Basketball performers are out
-
THE CHOPS
- Official BleacherCoach
- Posts: 1900
- Joined: October 24th, 2003, 10:42 am
- Location: SCOTTDALE, PA.
W.P.I.A.L. Top Basketball performers are out
What happened to the guys from Shaler Area ???
2005 MSA Sports Boys All-Netters
3/31/2005 - MSA Sports
Silver and gold are the popular colors with the 2005 MSA All-Netters boys' basketball first-team all-stars. All five players on the first team won either gold or silver WPIAL medals this season as they all led their teams to their respective championship games.
Here is a look at the players on both all-star teams:
FIRST TEAM:
BEN MCCAULEY - YOUGH
When McCauley was a freshman, Yough coach Brian Znavor started telling people he had a talented player. "People would say 'Yough can't have a good player.'" Znavor said.
But McCauley turned out to be better than good. By the time he was a senior, some scouting services ranked him among the top 100 players in the country.
He has signed with North Carolina State of the ACC.
McCauley, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a four-year starter and finished with 2,284 career points, eighth-best in WPIAL history. He capped off his career with a big senior season, leading Yough to the WPIAL Class (AAA) title game before losing to Moon.
McCauley averaged 28.8 points and 16.5 rebounds and had 32, 41 and 39 points in Yough's first three WPIAL playoff games.
SEAN LEE - UPPER ST. CLAIR
Gridiron or hardwood. Lee excelled.
Lee was a standout football player and didn't miss a beat in basketball, leading Upper St. Clair to the WPIAL Class (AAAA) championship.
A 6-foot-3 senior who played everything from point guard to center, Lee averaged 21.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 32. assists and 2.4 steals. He had 49 3-pointers and shot 76 percent from the free-throw line.
"He did everything for us," said Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer.
A four-year varsity member, he had 1,380 career points. He will play football at Penn State.
GEOFF KESTLER - MOUNT LEBANON
Kestler attended Seton-LaSalle as a freshman before transferring to Mount Lebanon. Too bad for Seton-LaSalle.
Kestler turned into a big-time guard and led the Blue Devils to the WPIAL Class (AAAA) title game this year.
Kestler, who can play either point or shooting guard, is a standout shooter who averaged 23.3 points this season. He had 1,385 career points. He will play next season at Princeton.
"I don't think he will just be a role player at Princeton," said Mount Lebanon coach Joe David. "I think, in time, he'll have an impact on their program.
LANCE JETER - BEAVER FALLS
Jeter made the shot heard round the WPIAL when his 30-footer just before the buzzer in the third overtime gave Beaver Falls the victory over Aliquippa in the Class AA title game on February 26th.
But Jeter wasn't just a one-shot hero. He had a big junior season.
A 6-foot-3 guard, he also helped the Tigers win the PIAA title, averaging 20.4 points a game. he scored 45 in one game and has a good chance to surprass 2,000 career points next year. He now has 1,617.
Duquesne has offered a scholarship and other Division I colleges also are interested.
Jeter's mom, Joy, won WPIAL and PIAA titles for the Beaver Falls girls' team 20 years ago.
DEREK GALLAGHER - MOON
The kid with the long hair will long be remembered for being a key part on two WPIAL Class (AAA) championship teams.
Gallagher, a 6-2 senior guard, averaged 14 points a game and was the leading scorer on a Moon team that preached balanced scoring. He also led the team in rebounds, averaging 10 a game.
Coaches voted Gallagher the top player in WPIAL Class (AAA) Section #2.
He is being recruited by small colleges, including West Liberty State and Pitt-Johnstown.
SECOND TEAM:
ASOWN SAYLES - MCKEESPORT
Sayles, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, averaged 16.3 points a game and led McKeesport to the Class AAAA Section 2 championship. He helped the Tigers compile a 40-11 record the past two seasons. His college future is uncertain.
HERB POPE - ALIQUIPPA
Pope, a 6-foot-8 forward, is only a sophomore, but already has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. Pope grew up in Beaver County, but attended a private school near Washington, D.C., as a freshman. He came to Aliquippa this
season and averaged 16 points a game.
STEVE MCNEES - SHENANGO
McNees, son of Shenango coach Bill McNees, is considered one of the top juniors in the WPIAL. Some Division I colleges, including Duquesne, are interested in him. He was one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL this season, averaging 26 points a game for the 18-6 Wildcats.
DEJUAN BLAIR - SCHENLEY
Blair is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound strongman who led the Spartans to the City League championship. He averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds a game and is only a sophomore.
"He's just scratched the surface of what he can accomplish," said Schenley coach Fred Skrocki.
Blair tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Schenley's final game of the year against Erie Cathedral Prep in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals. He had surgery March 19, but said he expects to be playing by the start of next season.
AMIR JOHNSON - QUAKER VALLEY
Johnson, a 5-foot-10 guard, has attended three high schools in three years. Quaker Valley is simply glad he showed up there. Johnson, who attended Allderdice as a freshman and Sewickley Academy as a sophomore, led Quaker Valley to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AA semifinals this season. He is one of the top juniors in the WPIAL. He averaged 23 points a
game this season as the Quakers finished 27-3.
"THE CHOPS".
2005 MSA Sports Boys All-Netters
3/31/2005 - MSA Sports
Silver and gold are the popular colors with the 2005 MSA All-Netters boys' basketball first-team all-stars. All five players on the first team won either gold or silver WPIAL medals this season as they all led their teams to their respective championship games.
Here is a look at the players on both all-star teams:
FIRST TEAM:
BEN MCCAULEY - YOUGH
When McCauley was a freshman, Yough coach Brian Znavor started telling people he had a talented player. "People would say 'Yough can't have a good player.'" Znavor said.
But McCauley turned out to be better than good. By the time he was a senior, some scouting services ranked him among the top 100 players in the country.
He has signed with North Carolina State of the ACC.
McCauley, a 6-foot-9 forward, was a four-year starter and finished with 2,284 career points, eighth-best in WPIAL history. He capped off his career with a big senior season, leading Yough to the WPIAL Class (AAA) title game before losing to Moon.
McCauley averaged 28.8 points and 16.5 rebounds and had 32, 41 and 39 points in Yough's first three WPIAL playoff games.
SEAN LEE - UPPER ST. CLAIR
Gridiron or hardwood. Lee excelled.
Lee was a standout football player and didn't miss a beat in basketball, leading Upper St. Clair to the WPIAL Class (AAAA) championship.
A 6-foot-3 senior who played everything from point guard to center, Lee averaged 21.2 points, 9.1 rebounds, 32. assists and 2.4 steals. He had 49 3-pointers and shot 76 percent from the free-throw line.
"He did everything for us," said Upper St. Clair coach Danny Holzer.
A four-year varsity member, he had 1,380 career points. He will play football at Penn State.
GEOFF KESTLER - MOUNT LEBANON
Kestler attended Seton-LaSalle as a freshman before transferring to Mount Lebanon. Too bad for Seton-LaSalle.
Kestler turned into a big-time guard and led the Blue Devils to the WPIAL Class (AAAA) title game this year.
Kestler, who can play either point or shooting guard, is a standout shooter who averaged 23.3 points this season. He had 1,385 career points. He will play next season at Princeton.
"I don't think he will just be a role player at Princeton," said Mount Lebanon coach Joe David. "I think, in time, he'll have an impact on their program.
LANCE JETER - BEAVER FALLS
Jeter made the shot heard round the WPIAL when his 30-footer just before the buzzer in the third overtime gave Beaver Falls the victory over Aliquippa in the Class AA title game on February 26th.
But Jeter wasn't just a one-shot hero. He had a big junior season.
A 6-foot-3 guard, he also helped the Tigers win the PIAA title, averaging 20.4 points a game. he scored 45 in one game and has a good chance to surprass 2,000 career points next year. He now has 1,617.
Duquesne has offered a scholarship and other Division I colleges also are interested.
Jeter's mom, Joy, won WPIAL and PIAA titles for the Beaver Falls girls' team 20 years ago.
DEREK GALLAGHER - MOON
The kid with the long hair will long be remembered for being a key part on two WPIAL Class (AAA) championship teams.
Gallagher, a 6-2 senior guard, averaged 14 points a game and was the leading scorer on a Moon team that preached balanced scoring. He also led the team in rebounds, averaging 10 a game.
Coaches voted Gallagher the top player in WPIAL Class (AAA) Section #2.
He is being recruited by small colleges, including West Liberty State and Pitt-Johnstown.
SECOND TEAM:
ASOWN SAYLES - MCKEESPORT
Sayles, a 6-foot-5 senior forward, averaged 16.3 points a game and led McKeesport to the Class AAAA Section 2 championship. He helped the Tigers compile a 40-11 record the past two seasons. His college future is uncertain.
HERB POPE - ALIQUIPPA
Pope, a 6-foot-8 forward, is only a sophomore, but already has made a verbal commitment to Pitt. Pope grew up in Beaver County, but attended a private school near Washington, D.C., as a freshman. He came to Aliquippa this
season and averaged 16 points a game.
STEVE MCNEES - SHENANGO
McNees, son of Shenango coach Bill McNees, is considered one of the top juniors in the WPIAL. Some Division I colleges, including Duquesne, are interested in him. He was one of the leading scorers in the WPIAL this season, averaging 26 points a game for the 18-6 Wildcats.
DEJUAN BLAIR - SCHENLEY
Blair is a 6-foot-7, 240-pound strongman who led the Spartans to the City League championship. He averaged 17 points and 14 rebounds a game and is only a sophomore.
"He's just scratched the surface of what he can accomplish," said Schenley coach Fred Skrocki.
Blair tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee in Schenley's final game of the year against Erie Cathedral Prep in the PIAA Class AAAA quarterfinals. He had surgery March 19, but said he expects to be playing by the start of next season.
AMIR JOHNSON - QUAKER VALLEY
Johnson, a 5-foot-10 guard, has attended three high schools in three years. Quaker Valley is simply glad he showed up there. Johnson, who attended Allderdice as a freshman and Sewickley Academy as a sophomore, led Quaker Valley to the WPIAL and PIAA Class AA semifinals this season. He is one of the top juniors in the WPIAL. He averaged 23 points a
game this season as the Quakers finished 27-3.
"THE CHOPS".