Baldwin, Brentwood, Thomas Jefferson boys basketball teams look forward to 2018-19 season

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 8, 2018 | 1:18 AM

Here’s a look at the boys basketball teams in the South Hills Record coverage area:

Baldwin

Eugene Wilson, first-year coach at Baldwin, has an extensive basketball background.

He is aiming to use his experience and knowledge to help guide the Highlanders to a successful season in 2018-19.

“This preseason, we really emphasized our defensive philosophy, situational basketball and competing on a high level,” Wilson, 40, said. “We have a pretty young team, but they have embraced the challenge. It hasn’t been easy for these kids. They have never been pushed like this before, nor have they been exposed to this much ‘on-court’ education. But the coaching staff has seen the necessary growth that gives us hope that we can compete with anyone.”

The Highlanders’ varsity roster has been whittled to 11 players, including three seniors and two juniors.

Senior leadership is provided by point guard Christian Barr, guard/forward Shane Gilbert and guard Aaron Exler, who is out with an injury.

Baldwin has posted three consecutive winning seasons, with WPIAL playoff appearances in 2015-16 and ’16-17.

Last year, the injury-riddled Highlanders finished 12-10.

“Being such a young team, I am hoping we can compete on a high level,” said Wilson, who had previous coaching stints at Wilkinsburg, his alma mater, and Westinghouse. “Coming into this season there was a need for a culture change, a need for understanding how to work hard and how to win.

“We have to embrace challenges that may allow us to experience winning and at the same time allow us to see how all of our hard work can pay off. We need to have a little bit of toughness about us and not be satisfied just because we have a basketball jersey on. It has to mean something to play Baldwin basketball.”

Barr and Gilbert are expected to be joined in the starting lineup by Troy Lanier, a junior forward; Andy Degenhardt, a junior guard; and Connor Lavelle, a sophomore forward.

Lanier is a transfer from Westinghouse and one of five new players on the squad.

“Troy will be an asset to the flow of our court play and team unity,” Wilson said. “His leadership skills are undeniable.”

Other newcomers are sophomore forward Hunter Pape, sophomore center Riley Voelker and two impressive freshman prospects in forward Conner Gitzen and guard Obadiah Abdul.

“Conner will be a major factor for us defensively and around the basket,” Wilson said. “He has made great strides within our program.

“Obi will provide athleticism and a defensive presence.”

Sophomore guard Joey Starzynski also is being counted on to make an impact.

“Joey should provide great outside shooting and the ability to get to the rim,” Wilson said. “His long frame is useful at the guard position, which must run in the family as his brother (Anthony) currently plays for Pitt.

“Joey’s best attribute is his excellent on-court attitude. This kid is a pleasure to coach.”

Barr, Gilbert and Lavelle are the only returning lettermen.

“I would say we have been growing,” Wilson said. “With a new coach and system, it really becomes challenging for some players. They have to learn a whole new system, build new relationships, get rid of bad habits and learn good ones, but that’s what life will bring.

“So overall, I am happy to see the players that have stayed the course, are thriving, and continue to grow and develop steadily to help put Baldwin basketball back on the map.”

Thomas Jefferson

There were few bright spots to the 2017-18 boys basketball season at Thomas Jefferson.

The Jaguars, who had qualified for the WPIAL playoffs in nine of their previous 10 years, ended up 5-17 and suffered through losing streaks of three, nine and five games.

But veteran coach Dom DeCicco saw a flicker of hope at the end of a long winter season.

“Our kids and coaches were humbled last year,” DeCicco said. “It was a extremely tough year, but these young men never stopped playing hard. I know it doesn’t sound like much, but when they won their last two games it really showed me how much they want to get better.

“It’s a really good group of kids and as long as they understand how to handle adversity, I think they will be just fine. I expect a lot out of them.”

Returning starters include point guard Jake Pugh, guards Isaac McNeil and John Adams, guard/forward Shane Stump and forward James Martinis.

Adams is the lone senior on the team. McNeil, Martinis and Stump are juniors; Pugh is a sophomore.

Other returning lettermen include junior guards Noah Pierce and Dan Deabner and sophomore center Ethan Dunsey.

“We had a good spring and summer,” DeCicco said. “We are working on all aspects but really focusing on our shooting. We are still very young with only one senior on team, so really it’s a lot about chemistry right now.”

There are eight sophomores in the TJ program. Along with Pugh, they consist of guards Aiden Kelly, Justin Dadig, A.J. Freiwald, Sam Sweeney and Ian Hanson, guard/forward Aiden Knorr and forward Preston Zandier.

Two top freshman prospects are center Sean McSwiggen and guard Joey Lekse.

Thomas Jefferson is a member of Section 1-5A, along with Chartiers Valley, Montour, Moon, South Fayette, Trinity, West Allegheny and West Mifflin.

“We are in a brutal section,” DeCicco said. “Moon will probably be the favorite to win 5A and with good reason. They are loaded. Everyone will be really good.

“To make the playoffs in this section, you will have to really earn it. Looking at it on paper, this is the toughest section in my 14 years at TJ.”

Brentwood

Brentwood advanced to the WPIAL Class 3A playoffs last season. However, the Spartans lost eight seniors to graduation from last year.

“This is an inexperienced team this season,” coach Dan Thayer said. “We have been inconsistent throughout the preseason. We have a lot of guys that can play, we just need to start to be consistent in our effort and performance.

“We have been working on consistency and execution. When we execute properly, we look pretty good. When we don’t, we don’t look as good. The team’s success is going to be based on execution in all phases of the game.”

Three players back who saw starting time in 2017-18 are junior guards C.J. Ziegler, Jayneil Latham and Zach Keib.

Ziegler and Latham are third-year starters for the Spartans.

“Our early expectations are to just play well as a young team,” Ziegler said. “Our long-term goal is to make it back to the playoffs and go further than we did our previous year.”

The junior class dominates the roster. Along with Ziegler, Latham and Keib, guards Shane Lesko and A.J. McPherson and forwards John Milcic and Ian Thomas are juniors.

Guard Antonio Harris and forward Jared Thomas are the only seniors on the team. Guard Chase Rosing and forward Riley Brendel are the only sophomores.

Freshman prospects include Dalton Daly, Jase Keib, Josh Ziegler and Nathan Ziegler in the backcourt plus Brady Fest and Mitchell Fox in the frontcourt.

“We have a strong group of players,” Thayer said. “We hope to be able to play up to 10 players as the season progresses.”

Brentwood, Bentworth, California, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Jeannette and Serra Catholic are members of Section 2-2A this season.

Five of the teams — Jeannette, Serra Catholic, Chartiers-Houston, California and Brentwood — were WPIAL playoff qualifiers a year ago.

Jeannette and Chartiers-Houston were section champions in 2A. Both advanced to the PIAA tournament.

The Spartans lost to Washington, 46-37, in the first round of last year’s WPIAL playoffs to end up 8-13 overall.

Brentwood’s veteran floor boss predicted Jeannette and Serra Catholic to be the teams to beat this season.

Ray Fisher is a freelance writer.

Tags: Baldwin, Brentwood, Thomas Jefferson