Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Jeannette’s Stone Markham

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, January 6, 2025 | 11:13 AM

After Jeannette’s football team made a run to the WPIAL Class A semifinals, the boys basketball team has stepped up in similiar fashion, opening its season with a perfect 9-0 overall record and 3-0 mark in the section.

The strong start builds on last year’s success, when the Jayhawks reached the quarterfinals of the WPIAL and state playoffs.

Now, they’re aiming even higher with a young but talented roster.

“I just knew that I was going to have a really big part in the team,” senior Stone Markham said of his motivation heading into this year. “I just need to step up and do what I need to do.”

A large part of Jeannette’s success rests on the shoulders of its underclassmen.

Juniors Kymon’e Brown, Xavier Odorisio-Farrow and Noah Sunder, along with sophomore Markus McGowan, make up four-fifths of the starting lineup.

“They’re really good at what they do,” Markham said of the youth movement.

Markham already has provided key contributions of his own, scoring 11 points against California on Dec. 13 and 13 points against Mt. Pleasant on Dec. 21.

While the Jayhawks have started strong, the road ahead is no cakewalk.

After the new year, 11 of their final 12 matchups are in section play, including two games against top rival Greensburg Central Catholic, which finished 12-0 in Section 3-2A last year.

Markham kept the mindset for the tough stretch simple.

“Just win,” he said.

As for the rivalry, he knows both teams will bring their best.

“They’re going to try their hardest whenever they play us, and we’re going to try our hardest whenever we play them,” Markham said. “It’s going to be a good game from there.”

Markham also played soccer throughout high school.

He is considering continuing basketball in college but is undecided about a location and major.

At the beginning of the new year, Markham took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with basketball?

Sixth grade, maybe. I joined this team from my school. It’s just like a rec league. That’s really it, and then I wanted to get more developed into it.

What have you thought about the play of the team?

I think it’s good. I just think we need to get some better defense. Me, personally, I need to get better on defense and some little things.

What does coach Adrian Batts bring to the table?

Just being a good coach and telling us what we need to do. Like, what we need to do on the court. He’s a good coach off the court, too.

Is there anything from one sport that helps with the other?

The defense. Like moving your feet. It’s also fast-paced, too, so I can run both ways if I have to.

What is one thing that people may not know about you?

I’m just a good shooter.

Tags: Jeannette