Pitt recruit Justin Champagnie named MVP at PBC Roundball Classic

By: George Guido
Saturday, April 27, 2019 | 8:24 PM

Pitt recruit Justin Champagnie had a memorable first game in the Pittsburgh area.

The 6-foot-8 Brooklyn product tallied 14 points and earned MVP honors for the Pennsylvania all-star team in the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Roundball Classic on Saturday night at Montour High School.

The USA team posted a 125-92 victory over the Pennsylvania all-stars.

Even in defeat, Champagnie said he’s found a new home.

“The first thing when I got off the plane,” he said, “I called my mother and said ‘I’m home.’”

Champagnie enjoyed the competition against some of his future foes in the Atlantic Coast Conference, such as Louisville recruits Jaelyn Winters and Quinn Slazinski

“It’s a blessing coming here and playing against all these great players,” Champagnie said, adding he liked being on the floor with fellow Pitt recruit Karim Coulibaly of Scotland School.

Robert Morris recruit Ngonadi Olsa led the USA team with 18 points to garner the MVP nod.

Slazinski also had 18.

Oscar Tshiebwe of PIAA champion Kennedy Christian was a no-show for the event, and no reason was given for his absence by some of the event organizers.

The slam dunk contest champion was Tai Anderson of Brooklyn, who vaulted over the shoulder of another player to dunk.

Luke Ruggery of Bishop Guilfoyle was named to the Pennsylvania team but did not play after dental surgery related to an injury sustained in a PIAA semifinal game at Kiski Area High School.

Ruggery is headed to St. Francis University.

WPIAL South 116, WPIAL North 114

It was the final basketball game in the career of Aliquippa senior Will Gipson, and the Pitt-bound athlete made the most of it.

Gipson, who will play for the Panthers as a wide receiver, thrilled the crowd at the Pittsburgh Basketball Club Roundball Classic with a 36-point, MVP performance, though his WPIAL North team came up short, 116-114 against the WPIAL South Saturday night at Montour High School.

In one sequence, Gipson ricocheted the ball off the banking board for a slam and later hit a variety of 3-pointers with high, arching shots and line-drive shots.

“It was a fun experience playing in my last game against the WPIAL around the WPIAL,” Gipson said.

The soon-to-be Aliquippa graduate said he can’t wait to enter Pitt on June 3, but remains fond of his hometown.

“Growing up in Aliquippa isn’t as bad as people think,” Gipson said. “We’re taught and bred to be winners. We have the mentality it takes to be a winner.”

The South MVP was Chartiers Valley’s Joe Pipilo.

Said Pipilo: “This was great playing against the guys you’ve played so hard against. It went down to the last shot.”

Pipilo will be headed to LaRoche College.

“Jinoi Smith (Moon) and I will room together, and we hope to have a great four-year run,” Pipilo said.

Dwayn Jones of Johnstown had an outstanding game for the South with 23 points and 13 rebounds.

It was the last game also for coach Rick Bell of Canon-McMillan, who guided the south before heading into retirement.

Tags: Aliquippa, Canon-McMillan, Chartiers Valley