15 Year Anniversary Team

In 2009, the Pittsburgh Basketball Club celebrated its 15th Anniversary. Just as in 2004, many, many talented players participated in the leagues through these years. A poll of the coaches who participated in the league designated these 18 players worthy of being considered the leagues 15-year anniversary team. These players join our 10-year anniversary team in our ever-growing Hall of Excellence.

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

1. Antonio DiMaria 6’6 Bishop Canevin High School– Inside outside player who led Bishop Canevin to the WPIAL finals under Coach Rich Brennan. After a stop in Junior College, will enroll at the University of Utah in the fall of 2010
2. Akida McClain 6’7 Penn Hills High School– Long armed leaping inside player who led Penn Hills to a WPIAL Title under Coach Jim Rocco. Pittsburgh Post Gazette Fab 5. Led IUP to the Division II championship game.
3. Terelle Pryor 6’6 Jeanette High School- One of the nations elite athletes and recruits under Coach Jim Nesser. Considered by many the premier athlete in the country. After verbally committing to Pitt for basketball, turned to the gridiron where he became the nations number 1 football prospect. Currently the starting Quarterback under Jim Tressel at Ohio State University.
4. Brian Walsh 6’4 Moon High School– One of the best stories in the history of the Pittsburgh Basketball Club. Played for Coach Jeff Ackerman at Moon High School. Attended the Reebok Next Factors tryout camp in Pittsburgh where he earned an invitation to the ABCD Camp. At camp he became one of Americas top prospects, earning elite All Star game status and becoming one of the nations top recruits. He ultimately signed to play for Western PA native Sean Miller at Xavier.
5. DeJuan Blair 6’7 Scheneley High School- The top big man in the city since Sam Clancy, DeJuan led an unreal resurgence in the great Schenley basketball tradition under Coach Fred Skrocki, leading the team to back to back trips to the State Finals, winning the championship his senior. Continued his career at the University of Pittsburgh where he earned All America status under Coach Jamie Dixon. Was a 2^nd round draft choice of the San Antonio Spurs
6. DJ Kennedy 6’6 Scheneley High School– DJ was likewise a vital cog in the resurgence of the great Schenley basketball tradition under Coach Fred Skrocki, leading the team to back to back trips to the State Finals, winning the championship his senior. Continued his career at St John’s University under Coach Norm Roberts
7. Herb Pope 6’9 Aliquippa High School- One of the WPIAL’s all time big men, continued the great Aliquippa basketball tradition under Coach Marvin Emerson. Was a Post Gazette Fab 5 selection and led the Quips to a state AA Runner up. Was Western Pa’s last selection to participate in Sonny Vaccaro’s Roundball Classic. After a brief stop in New Mexico, continued his college career at Seton Hall University under Coach Bobby Gonzalez, where he was one of the Big East’s top performers. Herb has declared for the NBA draft in the spring of 2010 and is one of the drafts top prospects
8. Ben McCauley 6’8 Yough High School- hard working dedicated big man who led resurgence in the Yough Basketball program. ABCD Camp participant continued his career at North Carolina State University, where he was one of the ACC’s top performers in his 4-year career.
9. TJ McConnell 6’0 Char Valley- One of the hardest working, dedicated players to come through the Pittsburgh Basketball Club. Under the guidance of his father, Tim McConnell, TJ became the states leading scorer and one of its top 3 point shooters in his illustrious High School career, leading the Colts to the WPIAL title and a state runners up in 2010. Selected Post Gazette Fab 5 and Wovchko Award winner as Summer League MVP. Will continue his basketball career at Duquesne University under Coach Ron Everhart in the fall of 2010. TJ transferred to the University of Arizona to play for Western PA legend Sean Miller where he led the team to a pair of Final 8 appearances. In July 2015, TJ signed with the Philadelphia 76ers of the NBA.
10. Tom Droney 6’4 Sewickley Academy- One of the top all around players to come through the WPIAL in years, Tom led his teams to both WPIAL and PIAA titles under Coach Win Palmer. Tom was a two time Post gazette Fab 5 selection and Class A player of the Year. Tom will continue his playing career at Davidson University.
11. Antoine Childs 6’6 Blackhawk High School- Another in the long line of all around players from Blackhawk. Led the Cougars to a WPIAL title under Coach Andy Hedrick. Continued his college career at Division I Coastal Carolina
12. Nick Novack 6’1 Franklin Regional High School- Nick played for Head Coach Doug Kelly at Franklin Regional High School.  Nick, a 2008-09 Associated Press Second-Team AAAA All-State selection, led the WPIAL in scoring in 2008-09 at 28.8 points per game on his way to being named the Section I Most Valuable Player.  As a senior, Nick averaged 28.2 points, 5.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. Continued his playing carrer at Pitt Johnstown
13. Lance Jeter 6’4 Beaver Falls High School – One of the top athletes to ever participate in the PBC, continued the great Beaver Falls Basketball tradition under Coach Doug Biega. After a brief stop on the gridiron at Cincinnati, Lance continued his basketball career first at Polk Community College for Western PA Native Matt Furjanic and then at the University of Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference.
14. Todd Thomas 6’5 Beaver Falls High School- two-sport star that picked up where Lance Jeter left off at beaver Falls High School under Coach Doug Biega. Winner of the Wovchko Award as Summer League MVP, also a Fab 5 Selection. After a stop at prep school, will continue his college career on the gridiron at the University of Pittsburgh under Coach Dave Wannstedt
15. Steve McNees 6’2 Shenango High School– Coach’s son who led a resurgence in the Shenango program under his father, Coach Bill McNees. Post Gazette Fab 5 nomination, continued his collegiate career at Akron, where he has helped the Zips to both the NCAA and NIT tournament.
16. Sean Lee 6’3 Upper St. Clair High School- One of the strongest, hardest working athletes to participate in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club under Coach Dan Holzer. Led his team to the WPIAL Championship while garnering Fab 5 selection at Upper ST. Clair. His strength and determination are prominently displayed Saturday afternoons in front of 110,000 people in State College PA where Sean was a 4-year star in football at Penn State under legendary football coach Joe Paterno. Sean was 2^nd round draft choice of the Dallas Cowboys in 2010 NFL Draft.
17. Jonathan Baldwin 6’6 Aliquippa High School- Hi flying electric player who was ranked as highly as a basketball player as we was a football player. Continued the excellence of Aliquippa Basketball under Coach Marvin Emerson, receiving Fab 5 status and being invited to the prestigious ABCD Camp in New Jersey prior to his Senior year. Continued his collegiate career as a football player, where he is an All Big East and All American candidate at the University of Pittsburgh under Coach Dave Wannstedt.
18. Amir Johnson 6’1 Quaker Valley High School- Hi level championship guard who starred at 3 high schools in his career, including Allderdice, Sewickley Academy and Quaker Valley under Coach Tom Demko. Continued his basketball career at Radford University under Coach Brad Greenberg, where he led his team to NCAA tournament.