Monessen boys hope steady lineup leads to successful season

By: Brennan Valladares
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 4:01 PM

After a tumultuous season that saw a different starting lineup seemingly every game, Monessen boys basketball coach Dan Bosnic is looking for consistency — beginning with who will be playing for him.

“I look at last year’s team, and we had 12 different starters — not starting lineups — 12 different starters within the first 10 games of the season,” Bosnic said. “So we had obviously what had felt like a revolving door in terms of players in and out of our lineup. That’s something going into this year we need to find some level of consistency and be able to build and continue on throughout the course of the season.”

Through those first 10 games, the Greyhounds had a 6-4 overall record, but they started section play 1-2. With uncertainty in who would be available on a night-to-night basis, Monessen struggled to find its rhythm. It finished the season 13-10 overall and 5-5 in Section 2-A.

This year, with the hope of some lineup consistency, Bosnic also wants to focus on having a steady level of effort.

“We know we’re going to have to be, and I know it’s cliche and every team says it, you’ve got to be great on defense,” Bosnic said. “We’ve got to rebound the basketball. We’ve got to protect the basketball. … We have to take care of the controllables.We have to make sure that we’re consistent with everything we do and making sure that we are getting better throughout the course of the season.”

One player whom Bosnic will look to be that symbol of consistency is returning TribLive Westmoreland County all-star Rodney Johnson.

“Rodney is a kid that has gotten better for us,” Bosnic said. “He’s a strong kid. He’s physical. He is capable of getting to areas on the floor, and we need him to do that and be consistent every night and do those things every single night —whether it’s rebounding, whether it’s scoring the basketball, making plays for his teammates, being a good defender. He needs to play that role for us. He needs to be one of the players that we count on every night, and he’s consistent within what he gives us.”

Another player Bosnic is expecting to be a steady presence, both on the stat sheet and as a leader, is senior Tayvin Craggette.

“Tayvin is capable of scoring the basketball,” Bosnic said, “and it’s just another kid that has to find consistency. We have to be able to count on him every day and every night.”

Other returners include senior TJ Taylor, junior Jay’veyon Jeffries and junior Kayden Colbeck. Taylor and Jeffries should add some punch to the Greyhounds’ offensive attack, while Colbeck is expected to impact their defense.

Two bench players are also expected to be big contributors this season. Junior returner Malakai Hampton’s scoring should buoy the nonstarter minutes, while freshman newcomer Tay Taylor should provide energy with his defensive playmaking.

Freshmen Mason Reeves and Lamont Cullen are two guards who Bosnic believes could develop into key ballhandlers.

The Greyhounds’ first chance to showcase whether they will have that consistency in personnel and effort will come against Winchester Thurston in the Fort Cherry tipoff tournament Dec. 5.

Monessen boys at a glance

Coach: Dan Bosnic

Last year’s record: 13-10 (5-5 Section 2-A)

Returning starters: Rodney Johnson (Sr., F), TJ Taylor (Sr., F) Tayvin Craggette (Sr., F), Kayden Colbeck (Jr., G), Jay’veyon Jeffries (Jr., F)

Others to watch: Malakai Hampton (Jr., G)

Top newcomers: Tay Taylor (Fr., G), Mason Reeves (Fr., G), Lamont Cullen (Fr., G)

SCHEDULE

12.5 Winchester Thurston^ 5:30 p.m.

12.6 TBA^

12.9 Nazareth Prep 7 p.m.

12.12 at Charleroi 7:30 p.m.

12.19 Neighborhood Academy* 7 p.m.

12.23 at Serra Catholic* 7 p.m.

12.29 TBA+

12.30 TBA+

1.6 at Environmental Charter* 6 p.m.

1.9 St. Joseph* 7 p.m.

1.13 at Geibel Catholic* 7:30 p.m.

1.15 at Beth-Center 7 p.m.

1.18 Clairton% 3 p.m.

1.21 at Westinghouse 6 p.m.

1.23 at Neighborhood Academy* 6 p.m.

1.27 Serra Catholic* 7 p.m.

1.28 at Carmichaels 7 p.m.

1.30 Environmental Charter* 7 p.m.

2.3 at St. Joseph* 7:30 p.m.

2.6 Geibel Catholic* 7 p.m.

2.7 Washington 3 p.m.

2.9 at Fort Cherry 6 p.m.

*Section game

^Fort Cherry tipoff tournament

+Delvin Miller Christmas Tournament at Monessen

%MLK Showcase at Neighborhood Academy

Tags: Monessen