20 years later, Roundball Classic continues to evolve
By:
Tuesday, May 21, 2024 | 11:01 AM
It’s a banner year for the Roundball Classic and Allen Deep couldn’t be more grateful.
The longtime organizer will see his prized high school all-star basketball event — the largest in Western Pennsylvania — turn 20.
And with the anniversary comes several new additions, including a venue change, more games and television coverage.
“There’s a buzz,” Deep said. “We’ve had so many great years, but there are a lot of new things this year. It’s exciting. This is one of our biggest years.”
The Roundball Classic will be Thursday through Sunday at North Allegheny High School, a venue change from the only other home the all-star weekend has known, Geneva College.
Boys and girls senior players from the WPIAL, City League and District 10 (Erie) will be part of a seven-game schedule Saturday and Sunday.
Multiple boys underclassmen games will be Thursday, Friday and Sunday.
Add it all up and it will be over 300 players and 14 games taking over North Allegheny for five days.
Deep thinks North Allegheny’s two 16-foot-high video scoreboards on each end of the gym will enhance the in-game experience.
“We had some beautiful years at Geneva,” Deep said. “Part of my heart is empty leaving there. But North Allegheny opens new doors for us. It’s the ultimate high-school venue.”
Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Russell Wilson was set to speak to underclassmen — freshmen, sophomore and junior — players Tuesday night before a practice at RIZE Sports in Leetsdale.
There also were practices scheduled for Wednesday at North Allegheny.
For the first time, KDKA will televise Roundball games.
“We’re going to have more kids from Erie than we’ve ever had,” Deep said. “Our reach is as far as its ever been.”
Deep said there are plans to introduce girls underclassmen games next year.
Single-day tickets to the Roundball are $10 adults/$5 children, and a weekend pass is $20.
Roundball Classic schedule
Thursday
Rising Star Invitational games (underclassmen), 6, 7, 8 p.m.
Friday
Rising Star Invitational games (underclassmen), 6, 7, 8 p.m.
Saturday
Class 2A Gold vs. Class 5A Silver (boys), 1 p.m.
District 10 vs. Class A/City League/2A (boys), 3 p.m.
Class 4A vs. Class 3A (boys), 5 p.m.
Class 5A Gold vs. Class 6A (boys), 7 p.m.
Sunday
Class 3A/A vs. Class 2A/District 10 (girls), 2 p.m.
Class 4A/City League vs. Class 5A Silver (girls), 4 p.m.
Class 6A vs. Class 5A (girls), 6 p.m.
Rising Star Invitational main game (underclassmen), 8 p.m.
Roundball Classic rosters
Boys
Class 2A Gold
Coach: Nick Lackovich, Aliquippa
Brody Almashy, South Side
Franco Alvarez, Greensburg Central Catholic
Pete Burke, Serra Catholic
Derek Errett, Fort Cherry
Nathan Garrett, Eden Christian
Mason Gent, Springdale
Quinton Goode, Aliquippa
Cam Lindsey, Aliquippa
Isaiah Mallich, Jeannette
Brodie McQuiston, Shenango
Isaiah Petty, Serra Catholic
Nate Sprajar, Riverview
Tyree Turner, Greensburg Central Catholic
Mike Vaughn, Bishop Canevin
Josh Williams, Northgate
Class 5A Silver
Coach: Rob Niederberger, Shaler
Brandon Bell, West Allegheny
Remi Black, Mars
Nick Brown, Bethel Park
Dominique Cochran, McKeesport
Dante DeRubbo, Trinity
Joey DeSabato, Shaler
Alec Dunsmore, Gateway
Tyler Freas, Penn-Trafford
Nico Lamonde, South Fayette
Alex Lowry, Gateway
Nate Miller, Peters Township
Cam Mills, Peters Township
Jefferson Moorfield-Brown, Fox Chapel
Jack Valasek, Armstrong
Lamar Williams, Woodland Hills
District 10
Coach: Jason Fulmer, Franklin
Damon Curry, Franklin
Rylan Dye, Hickory
Layveon Gore, Erie
Tyler Grove, Erie
Jimmy Irani, Grove City
Jamarius Johnson, Erie
Brett Loughry, Grove City
Daemyin Mattocks, Mercer
Jaheim Mims, Erie
Archie Murphy, Fairview
Amaree Pickens, Cathedral Prep
Ryan Robich, Hickory
Luke Staunch, Sharpsville
Jalen Wood, Franklin
Class A/City/2A Silver
Coach: Khayree Wilson, Imani Christian
Nate Brazil, Imani Christian
Westley Burchianti, Avella
Dominic Colarusso, Carmichaels
Lorenzo Gardner, Monessen
Titus Gilett, Brashear
Logan Golle, Allderdice
John Hughes, Springdale
Azerick Jetter, Allderdice
Avery Molek, Chartiers-Houston
Torrien Perkins, Obama Academy
Major Rainey, Allderdice
Xavier Rigby, Rochester
Brody Tharp, Beth-Center
Braylon Thomas, Union
Alex Wang, Sewickley Academy
Avery Wesley, Imani Christian
Class 4A
Coach: Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park
Mikel Anderson, Central Valley
Jamire Braxton, Uniontown
Ryan Burkart, Greensburg Salem
Joe Coyle, Quaker Valley
Mikey Crawford, Lincoln Park
Brandon Cummings, Lincoln Park
Bradyn Foster, Highlands
Jeremiah Hager, Uniontown
Peter Kramer, Hampton
Max Hurray, North Catholic
Ty Keffer, Southmoreland
Jackson Lipchak, Avonworth
Michael Michalski, South Allegheny
Liam Mignogna, Hampton
Cam Reigard, Highlands
Jake Wolfe, Montour
Class 3A
Coach: Albie Fletcher, Deer Lakes
Da’Talian Beauford, Beaver Falls
Macky Bennis, Burrell
Robert Cain, The Kiski School
Terek Crosby, Yough
Aiden Fletcher, Deer Lakes
Ian Herring, The Kiski School
Ian March, Seton LaSalle
Austin Matthews, Yough
Hayden Merchant, Seton LaSalle
Greg Mineard, OLSH
Nate Papuga, Derry
Joe Roth, Ellwood City
Billy Shaeffer, Deer Lakes
Eli Teslovich, Shady Side Academy
Grayson Wallace,McGuffey
Jay Wrona, Mohawk
Class 6A
Coach: Dan Holzer, Upper St. Clair
Carson Baer, Pine-Richland
Brody Barber, Mt. Lebanon
Joe Dopirak, North Allegheny
Nate Girod, Mt. Lebanon
Christian Ito, Upper St. Clair
Ty Iwanonkiw, North Allegheny
Braylon Littlejohn, Butler
Dylan McCullough, Norwin
Brett Meinert, Upper St. Clair
Nate Richards, Baldwin
Anthony Sciote, North Allegheny
Vernon Settles, Central Catholic
J.T. Warren, New Castle
Payton Wehner, Central Catholic
Class 5A (Gold)
Coach: Gino Palmosina, Moon
Evan Berger, Thomas Jefferson
Ryan Ceh, Mars
Shawn Davis, Bethel Park
Jack Dunbar, Peters Township
Isaiah Gonzales, Kiski Area
Elijah Guillory, Moon
Brandon London, Shaler
Eamon O’Donoghue, Canon-McMillan
Michael Plasko, South Fayette
Noah Prosser, Thomas Jefferson
Cooper Rankin, Franklin Regional
Aiden Reesman, Moon
Cam Rowell, Franklin Regional
Keegan Smetanka, Shaler
Robert Thomas, Penn Hills
Will Siegel, Fox Chapel
Girls
Class 3A/A
Coach: Rob Nogay, Union
Erynne Capalbo, Mohawk
Bella Carroto, Charleroi
Kelly Cleaver, Union
Mallory Daly, Seton LaSalle
Rebecca Goetz, Avonworth
Hailey Johnson, Monessen
Anna Kreinbrook, St. Joseph
Autumn Matthews, Yough
Claire Noble, Ellwood City
Avina Norman, Beaver Falls
Morgan O’Brien, OLSH
Bailey Rieg, Keystone Oaks
Kaley Rohanna, Waynesburg
Julie Spinelli, St. Joseph
Sophie Yard, Apollo-Ridge
Class 2A/District 10
Coach: Chris Skatell, Greensburg Central Catholic
Shaye Bailey, Freedom
Bri Battles, Serra Catholic
Avery Davis, Greensburg Central Catholic
Libby Eannarino, Sewickley Academy
Ava Godfrey, Mercer
Evanna Lay, Aliquippa
Mia March, Brentwood
Emma Marsteller, Lakeview
Aleaya Mercier, Rochester
Emma Mild, West Middlesex
Mya Morgan, Greensburg Central Catholic
Kaitlyn Nease, Burgettstown
Rakiyah Porter, California
Raney Staub, Fort Cherry
Caitlyn Stephens, West Middlesex
Pressley Washil, Mercer
Class 4A/City
Coach: Rick Klimchock, Greensburg Salem
Ava Davis, Blackhawk
Adah Fuller, Knoch
Alena Fusetti, Blackhawk
Kamari Jones, Westinghouse
Kaitlyn Mankins, Greensburg Salem
Lauren Mihm, North Catholic
Katelyn Myers, Highlands
Kalleigh Nerone, Highlands
Ashlan Price, Greensburg Salem
Alayna Rocco, North Catholic
Kenzi Seliga, Belle Vernon
Gi’Onna Simmons, Obama Academy
Alyssa Terza, Elizabeth Forward
Class 5A Silver
Coach: Ryan Kacsur, Lincoln Park
Isabella Antonacci, Indiana
Angelina Brush, Franklin Regional
Kaylee Charles, McKeesport
Laekyn Flinn, Thomas Jefferson
Hope Hawkins, Woodland Hills
Madison Hertzler, McKeesport
Abigail Johns, Kiski Area
Macie Justice, Trinity
Jla Kizart, Lincoln Park
Egypt Moore-Coleman, Penn Hills
Agatha Niccolai, Trinity
Sarah Scott, Lincoln Park
Gianna Sturdivant, North Hills
Olivia Waters, North Hills
Jhalynn Wilson, Woodland Hills
Class 6A
Coach: Brian Brozeski, Norwin
Lydia Betz, North Allegheny
Ella Cupka, Chartiers Valley
Nadia Davis, Canon McMillan
Caroline Henderson, North Allegheny
Ashley Hosni, Hempfield
Ava Kobus, Norwin
Katie Lucarelli, Baldwin
Sara Podkul, Hempfield
Kellie McConnell, North Allegheny
Lauren Palangio, Norwin
Emerson Peffer, Seneca Valley
Allison Sevin, Seneca Valley
Bailey Snowberger, Norwin
Gemma Walker, Peters Township
Madison Zavasky, Pine-Richland
Class 5A Gold
Coach: Bryan Bennett, South Fayette
Brooke Evans, McKeesport
Kyla Fitzgerald, Armstrong
Erica Hall, South Fayette
Rachael Manfredo, McKeesport
Megan Marsten, Plum
Ruby Morgan, Trinity
Megan Murray, Hampton
Emma Paul, Armstrong
Olivia Pepple, Penn-Trafford
Hannah Pugilese, Penn Hills
Maddy Roberts, Trinity
Elle Snyder, Latrobe
Maddie Syka, Lincoln Park
Jordan Wolfe, Montour
Lainey Yater, South Fayette
Bill Beckner Jr. is a TribLive reporter covering local sports in Westmoreland County. He can be reached at bbeckner@triblive.com.
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