College commitments, key transfer highlight girls' basketball summer notables – PennLive.com
The clock still says summer, but a bunch of girls’ basketball items recently came across my desk. So here is a notebook to get you caught up on some hoops news from around the state:
BREEN PICKS FLYERS: Reigning PA Class A Player of the Year Sam Breen, Pittsburgh Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic’s super rising senior, has made her college decision: Dayton. The Flyers, under coach Jim Jabir, compete in the Atlantic 10. Breen had an incredible junior season this past winter, averaging 26.6 points per game while leading North Catholic to a 28-3 record and a win over Lourdes Regional in the PIAA championship game. Against Lourdes, Breen had 27 points, 15 boards, nine assists and four steals, making the Giant Center her own personal playground.
Couldn’t be more excited to finally say I have committed to the University of Dayton #goflyers ❤️💙🏀😊 pic.twitter.com/NL8iSxccef
— sam breen (@32_samb) June 30, 2016
TWO KEY VERBALS FOR RED FLASH: Not one but a pair of mighty interesting verbal commitments for Saint Francis coach Joe Haigh, who has landed two high-scoring, playmaking, all-state guards. Bellwood-Antis rising senior Karson Swogger, a Class 2A first-team all-state pick last winter, and Bishop McCort rising senior Haley Thomas, a Class 2A second-team all-state pick last winter, have given verbal pledges to Haigh and the Red Flash, who compete in the Northeast Conference. Swogger averaged 27.9 points and Thomas, an electric point guard, averaged 21.3 points this past season. Both are 1,000-point scorers; Swogger is already Bellwood-Antis’ all-time leading scorer. Swogger and Thomas are teammates for the Platinum Showcase team, which also features several local District 3 players. More about that group coming up …
Platinum Showcase Karson Swogger verbally committs to continue her academic and basketball career at Saint Francis. pic.twitter.com/GNExVVcvqL
— Central PA Elite (@CentralPAElite) July 19, 2016
TWO KEY VERBALS FOR GOLDEN BEARS: Locally, Kutztown is already putting together a top-notch recruiting class, after coach Janet Malouf got a pair of verbal pledges from two L-L League snipers. Ephrata rising senior Caroline Stauffer and Northern Lebanon rising senior Zoe Zerman — an all-state pick this past season — have both committed to the Golden Bears, who compete in the PSAC East. Stauffer, a wing shooter who has also played football during her prep career for Ephrata, dropped 13.0 points and drilled 42 3-pointers this past season for Ephrata; she’ll begin her senior campaign with 910 career points. Meanwhile, Zerman, the Vikings’ floor general and 1,000-point scorer, popped in 13.8 points and hit 24 3’s, leading Northern Lebanon to 28 wins and a trip to the state quarterfinals. Both players were L-L all-stars. And they’ll head to Kutztown together next year. L-L League girls’ basketball 1,000-point list.
KONEK ON THE MOVE: Cali Konek, who had an unbelievable freshman season this past winter for Class A Imani Christian in the WPIAL, is transferring, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. After popping in an incredible 45.4 points per game and scoring a jaw-dropping 1,045 points in her breakout ninth-grade season, the 5-foot-5 sensation has enrolled at Riverdale Baptist in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Midstate fans might be semi-familiar with Riverdale Baptist, which has played back-to-back-to-back PIAA Class 4A champ Cumberland Valley in non-league games the past couple of years. Last year’s meeting was snowed out and not rescheduled. Riverdale Baptist plays a national schedule — they often compete in the excellent invitational Spring-Ford hosts every winter — and this past season RB went 39-3 and was No. 11 in USA Today’s national girls’ basketball rankings under coach Sam Caldwell. Konek already has scholarship offers from Duquesne, Georgia Tech and Pepperdine.
COACHING VACANCY: At last check, there was still one coaching vacancy in the Mid-Penn, with Boiling Springs’ job still open. Kyle Watkins stepped down after four seasons on the Bubblers’ bench earlier this spring. We’re monitoring that situation.
AND THIS INTERESTING COACHING NOTE: Longtime Red Lion skipper Don Dimoff recently resigned his post after 22 seasons on the Lions’ bench. According to a report, Dimoff is heading to Millersville University, where he’ll serve as an assistant coach under Mary Fleig, who is set to begin her 27th season at helm of the Marauders’ program. Dimoff’s daughter, Red Lion grad and all-state pick Courtney Dimoff, will be a freshman at Millersville this fall. So just like in high school, dad will coach daughter on the basketball court.
THEY ARE THE CHAMPIONS: Speaking of Swogger and Thomas, they were part of the Platinum Showcase team that won the Nike USJN 17-Under National Championship this past weekend in Washington, D.C. Coach Kasey Hicks’ roster included:
Swogger, Thomas, Briana Breski (Bishop McDevitt), Ahmya Woodyard (Harrisburg), Emma Saxton (Central York), Bianca Jasper (Middletown), Gracie Stauffer (West Perry), Jenay Faulkner (Greencastle-Antrim; Holy Cross commit), Justyn Roberts (CD East), Alexis Smith (Central Dauphin) and Meredith Brown (West Perry). That’s some major firepower. Hence the title. Tip of the cap to that group.
Congrats to Platinum Showcase Girls Hicks on winning the USJN 17U National Championships Platinum Division Crown. pic.twitter.com/9LyCmokz6v
— Central PA Elite (@CentralPAElite) July 25, 2016
