10 Year Anniversary Team

Pittsburgh Basketball Club Tenth Anniversary Team

In 2004, the Pittsburgh Basketball Club celebrated its 10th Anniversary. Many, many talented players participated in the leagues through these years. A poll of the coaches who participated in the league designated these 40 players worthy of being considered the leagues 10-year anniversary team.

The players are listed in no particular order, but they were players who helped build the foundation of tradition our players of both today and tomorrow continue to grow that has become the Pittsburgh Basketball Club

1. Chris Kirkland 6’7 F OLSH/Sto-Rox -Went on to play college basketball at UMass. Athletic inside/out player who starred on championship teams at both OLSH and Sto-Rox. Under Coach John Mahoney at OLSH and Ed Goetz at Sto-Rox. Played on Pittsburgh Basketball Club League championship teams in both 1994 and 1995.
2. Lavar Arrington 6’4 F North Hills– Made Headlines as one of the top football players in America. Led North Hills to the finals of the 1995 Pittsburgh Basketball Club championships under Joe DeGregorio. Though he later curtailed basketball for football, was perhaps the greatest physical specimen to play in the league. After a stellar, All-American career at Penn State, Lavar is currently a star linebacker for the Washington Redskins.
3. Archie Miller 5’9 G Blackhawk- Another in the long line of Blackhawk great guards. One of the best players in WPIAL History. Played in the league in both 95 and 96. Went on to an excellent career at NC State and is currently an assistant coach at Western Kentucky.
4. Yuri Demetrious 6’4 G Shaler- One of the top shooters in WPIAL History. Began turning heads as just an 8^th grader in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Summer League. One of the leagues all time best, he has gone on to play college basketball at the University of Pittsburgh.
5. Darren Tielsch 6’7 F Montour/Blackhawk– Considered one of the most athletic forwards to come out of Western PA in sometime, Darren played on a state championship team at Blackhawk High School before finishing his career at Montour High School. He signed with Penn State University as just a sophomore in High School. Currently playing D-1 basketball at Robert Morris University. he completed his career at Edinboro University.
6. Brandon Fuss Cheatham 6’0 G Blackhawk- Another in the long Line of Blackhawk great guards. Starred for 4 years for the Cougars and won numerous championships. Continued his college career where he is currently enrolled at Ohio State University.
7. Alan MaQuarrie 6’2 G Pine Richland– Exciting long range scorer who excelled under Dave DeGregorio at Pine Richland High School, leading them to the 2000 WPIAL Finals. Currently playing Division I basketball at Columbia University.
8. Brad Midgley 6’6 F Canevin– Outstanding Hi post /swing player who excelled under Coach John Lee at Canevin High School. Continued his college career at the Division I level at Duquesne University.
9. Josh Lay 6’2 G Aliquippa– Supreme athlete who scored as many points on defense as he did on offense. Incredible athletic career saw him win championships as both a football and basketball player at Aliquippa High School under Mike Zmijanic. As a player in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club, he lost 1 game in 3 years. Outstanding athlete currently a starting defensive back at the University of Pittsburgh.
10. Ed Peterson 6’3 G Sto-Rox- Do it all guard who led the resurgence of the Sto-Rox tradition as a 3 yr. starter under Bill Minear. As a player in Pittsburgh Basketball Club, appeared in 3 consecutive semi finals. Also a 2-sport star in High School, continued his college career at IUP on a basketball scholarship.
11. Greg Rosatelli 5’10 G Hopewell– The cornerstone of a rebuilding job at Hopewell High School under Coach Joe Falletta. One of the hardest working guards to ever participate in the league; he led his team to the WPIAL Finals in 2003. Continued his playing career at St. Vincent.
12. Ahmed El Nikolai 6’4 F Char Valley– Do it all forward guard who comes from the first family of basketball at Chartiers Valley. Played for Tim McConnell at CV and was one of the area’s top players. Continued his playing career at Princeton University.
13. Bobby Franklin 5’10 G Plum– One of the top point guards from Western PA in years. Quick athletic and intelligent, Bobby was the catalyst in the resurgence of Plum basketball under Coach Tom Richards. Like his father, former Point Park great Bobby Franklin, Sr. Bobby’s ability to generate offense by passing as well as shooting made him one of the most versatile players in WPIAL. As a Pittsburgh Basketball Club player, led his team to the 2002 championship and snapped Aliquippa’s 33-league game winning streak in the finals. Continued his career at Clarion University.
14. John Pawluk 6’9 F Highlands- Fluent Hi-Post player was one of the top big men in Western PA in several years. Led Highlands to Pittsburgh Basketball Club League championship game summer before senior season. Continued his college career in the Atlantic 10 Conference at Duquesne University.
15. Adam Kaufmann 5’11 G Montour– Slick passing point guard would lead a resurgence in Montour Basketball under coaches Jerry Conboy and Rich Brennan. Continued his college career at Edinboro University where he is the Pennsylvania Athletic Conferences all time assist leader.
16. Reggie Wells, Jr. 6’5 F South Park- Strong, powerful inside presence, Reggie Jr. would lead South Park to back to back WPIAL AAA Finals appearances. Like his father and coach Reggie, Sr, he would later star at Clarion University. Except Reggie would star on the gridiron instead of the hardwood. Reggie went on to be a third round draft choice of the Arizona Cardnials, where he made the final roster in 2003.
17. Mark Lovett 6’7 F Shadyside Academy Athletic inside player who would lead Shady Side Academy to the 2001 WPIAL Finals. Went on to continue his collegiate career in the Ivy League at Yale University.
18. Justin Sheggog 6’2 G Quaker Valley– Trend setting guard who led his team to a WPIAL Championship under Coach Mike Mastrionni as only a freshman, leading the way for other freshman to do the unthinkable and skip Freshman and JV basketball and start at the Varsity Level. Would also lead Quaker Valley to a PIAA Class AA runners-up position in his elite career
19. Andy Wormsley 6’5 F Quaker Valley– Quick, agile and smooth athletic wing player who would help harness the explosive Justin Shegog at Quaker Valley and lead them to a WPIAL Championship in 1997. His all around floor game would lead Quaker Valley to the Pittsburgh Basketball Club league final four twice in three years.
20. Dale Meinbrese 6’4 F Upper St. Clair-Strong, quick and athletic, Dale Meinbrese starred for three years at Upper St. Clair under Coach Danny Holzer. Led his team to the semi finals in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer league in 2000. Continued his college career at Quinipiac University.
21. Tyler Blumling 6’2 G Mt. Lebanon– Aggressive, hard-nosed player who was a cornerstone in Coach Hal Kessler’s Mt. Lebanon program. After verbally committing to the Naval Academy, Tyler switched gears and continued his college career at Duquesne University.
22. Drew Schifino 6’4 G Penn Hills-Slashing athletic wing player who would lead Penn Hills to WPIAL gold in an illustrious High School career under Coach Jim Rocco. After attending prep school, he enrolled at West Virginia University where he was the leading scorer his first year of competition.
23. Kirk McMullen 6’5 F West Allegheny– Strong, burly insider who went on to even greater success on the gridiron as well as the hardwood. Kirk would later play for the Cincinnati Bengals after an excellent career at the University of Pittsburgh
24. Monty Lattimer 6’2 G Sto-Rox– Quick, durable point guard, who would gain notoriety at the adidas ABCD camp as being the only guard to successfully defend Stephon Marbury, Monty was the first freshman to start at Sto-Rox under Coach Dick Cetrone. Monty would win 3 WPIAL championships in his High School career and later play at several schools, including Western Kentucky and St. Vincent College before playing several years in Europe in the Italian Professional League.
25. Gavin Prosser 6’1 G Baldwin- Hard nosed aggressive point guard who helped restore the pride in Baldwin basketball by leading the team back to the playoffs after several years absence under Coach Kyle DeGregorio. Has continued his college career at Slippery Rock University.
26. Darelle Reavis 6’3 G Aliquippa– Possibly the best pure athlete in the WPIAL in the 21^st century. Athletic strong and smooth, this 2 sport star has won WPIAL championships in both football and basketball as well as being the MVP of the 2003 PIAA AA Football Championship under Coach Mike Zmijanic. As a hooper, he was the WPIAL’s leading scorer in 2003 and has received Division I offers from numerous schools in both basketball and football. Will enroll at the University of Pittsburgh in the fall of 2004 on a football scholarship.
27. Pete Sauer 6’7 Shadyside Academy– Led Shadyside Academy to the 1995 WPIAL AA Finals as a High School Senior. Peter, whose father was CEO of the pirates, would later attend Stanford University and participate in several final fours as a member of the Cardnial. Went on to play professionally overseas.
28. Adam DiMichele 6’1 Sto-Rox- Winner is the only word to describe Adam’s career. As a quarterback, he is the all time passer in the WPIAL and has won 2 WPIAL championships with one runner up finish in his 3-year basketball career under Coach Bill Minear, Adam is considered by many the best athlete from McKees Rocks since Tom Clements. Adam has recently accepted a scholarship offer to play football for Joe Paterno at Penn State, though he may yet become a professional baseball draftee.
29. Isiah Stewart 6’2 Char Valley-Strong inside outside player with marvelous hops who had a sensational career at Char Valley under Coach Tim McConnell. Continued his college career at Siena University, where he played for now Georgia Tech coach Paul Hewitt.
30. David Young 6’6 New Castle- Leading player for 1998-99 New castle Red Hurricanes under Coach John Sarandrea considered by some one of the best teams in WPIAL history. Won 3 Pittsburgh Basketball Club league championships in career. Continued his college career in the Atlantic 10 conference under Coach Skip Prosser at Xavier University.
31. Tony DiFiore 5’9 G Moon– Steady, smooth and aggressive ballhandler under Coach Kevin Gallagher at Moon High School led team to the 1996 WPIAL playoffs. In the Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer league, led team to an improbable run to the 1997 league title game with slick passing, consistent scoring and sticky man-to-man defense. Heady all around player who was one of the hardest working guards in league history.
32. Desmond Whetzel 5’8 New Castle– From the great Whetzel basketball family of New Castle, Desmond was the quarterback on the 1999 WPIAL champion considered by many one of the best teams in WPIAL history. In the Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer leagues, he combined with David Young to win 3 league titles in four years.
33. Byron Knight 6’4 Penn Hills- Nephew of one of this cities greatest players, Billy ‘Mooney” Knight. Strong athletic player who could beat you either off the dribble or from the outside, Byron was a catalyst for Coach Jim Rocco’s 2003 WPIAL Championship team. Continued his college career at Robert Morris University.
34. Alan Seretti 6’0 G Montour – Leader both on and off floor for Montour’s first playoff team since the late 80’s under Coach Jerry Conboy. Led the team to WPIAL and PIAA quarterfinals. In the Pittsburgh Basketball Club summer league, was the inaugural league-scoring champion, leading the team to the semi finals. Continued his playing career at Allegheny College. A true definition of “Student Athlete”, Allen completed his law degree at the University of Pittsburgh upon graduation from Allegheny. Allen is currently an assistant Coach at Washington & Jefferson College.
35. Ryan Evanochko-6’2 G Blackhawk-Another in a long line of great Blackhawk guards. Strong both to the basket and with a pull-up jump shot, Evanachko starred for 3 years under Coach John Miller. Ryan continued his college career at Division I University Wisconsin Green Bay
36. Courtney Wallace 6’3 G, Perry-Stellar guard under Coach Chuck Franklin. Wiry, quick and athletic, led the Commodores to 2 Pittsburgh Basketball Club Final Four appearances in league playoffs. Continued his stellar career at Duquesne University, where he graduated as the school’s 12^th leading scorer of all time.
37. Rod Rutherford 6’4 F Perry– Another stellar “athlete” at Perry under Coach Franklin. Star athlete in several sports at Perry, became one of the highest recruited athletes in City league and Pennsylvania History. On the basketball court, Rod combined athleticism and aggressiveness in being one of the leagues top performers for 3 years. Continued his college career at the University of Pittsburgh, where he was the starting quarterback under Coach Walt Harris. He is considered a pro prospect in the 2004 NFL draft.
38. Jim Horan 6’5 G/F Central Catholic– Outstanding inside outside player who led Central Catholic in both scoring and rebounding under Coach Chuck Crummie. Jim would become a 2-sport star at Bucknell University, participating in both basketball and football.
39. Jim Cantamessa 6’8 F Blackhawk– The size of a power forward with the shooting touch of a guard, Jim was a catalyst for the great Blackhawk teams of the mid 90’s under Coach John Miller. Jim would continue his college career at Sienna University, where he would lead the nation in 3 point shooting.
40. Drago Pavlovic 6’7 Cornell – A tremendous feel good story who came to America thru the Serbian Church, landing in Coraopolis, PA. Became an outstanding go to player at Cornell High School under Coach Ed Wovchko, leading the team to the WPIAL championship and PIAA Final Four. Continued his career at Division I Iona College before finishing his career at NAIA Oklahoma City.