Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week for Feb. 16, 2025

By: Don Rebel
Sunday, February 16, 2025 | 9:04 PM

Trib HSSN boys basketball player of the week – Isaiah Jeter

School – Central Valley

Class – Senior

Height – 6-foot-3

Position – Shooting guard

What coach says – “Just how easily he made it look to score 34 points in one half against a long, athletic team that guards really well,” Central Valley coach Brandon Ambrose said when asked about what stood out about Jeter’s 43-point game Monday against Northgate. “He did in so many ways: getting to rim, midrange pull-ups, fade-aways from the foul line and from 3. I would say the incredible game-winner at the buzzer stood out too!

“I think his overall pace and movement off the ball, getting himself into position to take on balanced, high-percentage shots,” Ambrose said about the playoff game against Derry for Jeter. “Plus, his teammates really believe in him and sort of know when to get him the ball when he is hot.

“Perhaps a little,” Ambrose said when asked about Jeter being overshadowed playing the the same section as Rowan Carmichael of Avonworth and Brady Mayo of Beaver. “But, he has bought into the team philosophy that is based on defending first and moving the ball. Those are two great players who can really score, but we feel ‘Zay’ can score it with anyone. I have never coached anyone who seems to get as hot as he does in certain games. Once he finds the rhythm, you almost know that six or seven in a row are going down.

“He’s gotten significantly better on the defensive end this year,” Ambrose said. “Winning matters a lot to him and he knows that is something he has to do for us to be successful. I also think he has gotten better at communicating with me what he is seeing on the floor. His suggestions are often helpful in game.

“I think it was incredible to do it at home in front of his friends and family,” Ambrose said of Jeter scoring point No. 1,000 a few weeks ago. “The kids at Central Valley look up to our players a lot. Some kids hang around just to give him a high five or to say hello. I think seeing him reach that milestone will probably impact a whole new generation of young players in our district.”

#Earned – To say Isaiah Jeter ended the regular season and began the postseason with a bang is quite the understatement as he combined for nearly 80 points in two Central Valley victories. In the season finale last Monday, Jeter exploded for a career-high 46 points, with each one of them needed as the Warriors finished the regular season with an 18-4 record after edging Northgate in overtime, 63-61. The WPIAL boys Class 4A brackets came out earlier in the day Monday and Central Valley was the No. 6 seed following a third-place finish behind No. 3 Beaver and No. 4 Avonworth in Section 2. The Warriors opened the playoffs Friday with a first round home game against Derry. CV jumped out early and led by six points after one quarter and eight points by halftime, before taking control in the third quarter by outscoring the Trojans, 27-15. It was another big night for the senior guard as Jeter dropped 33 points in what might have been his final home game as Central Valley rolled past Derry, 80-55.

Background – Jeter plans to play basketball at the next level, but will wait until after the season to make his final college choice. Jeter grew up in Weirton, W.Va., and attended Weir High School his freshman year before his family moved into the Central Valley School District. Jeter is the cousin of legendary Beaver Falls great Lance Jeter, who 20 years ago had one of the most memorable championship games in district history when he scored 37 points and hit several clutch shots, including the game-winner for the Tigers in a triple overtime thriller over rival Aliquippa, 79-78. Jeter played football through middle school, but wanted to focus on basketball in high school. In a home victory on Jan. 28, Jeter made a strong move in the paint and on the blocks to score his 1,000th career point as Central Valley knocked off Ambridge, 60-44. Jeter and his Warriors teammates may be overlooked playing in the same section as Avonworth and Beaver, who have the WPIAL’s top two scorers in Roman Carmichael and Brady Mayo. Jeter is also among the top scorers in the district this season with 475 points for an average of 20.6 points per game.

2025 Trib HSSN Boys Basketball Players of the Week

Week 6 – Calvin Winfrey III, Uniontown

Week 5 – Connor Crossey, Franklin Regional

Week 4 – Colton Straight, Montour

Week 3 – Zach Pollaro, North Hills

Week 2 – Cameron Epps, South Allegheny

Week 1 – Brady Mayo, Beaver

Tags: Central Valley