Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Derry’s Brady Angus

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, January 8, 2024 | 3:41 PM

Derry’s boys basketball team ended last year with a loss to Mohawk in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.

After the loss, Brady Angus had some fire coming into his final high school season.

“It definitely gave us some motivation to be the Derry team to make a run in the playoffs. We knew we could have beat (Mohawk) and were disappointed we didn’t make it further,” Angus said. “We want it all this year.”

The start to the Trojans season has been strong, as they went 5-1 in nonsection play, beating some strong competition in Laurel Highlands, Connellsville, Mt. Pleasant, Greensburg Salem and Freeport.

On Dec. 19, they started their stretch of section games with a close loss against a Deer Lakes team that made a run all the way to the PIAA final last year.

Despite the loss, Angus thought that game brought lessons that would help the team the rest of the winter.

“They exploited some of our flaws, but we learned a lot from that game that will help us in the long run,” Angus said. “Especially the younger guys playing in their first section game.”

With those younger players on the roster, a lot of the leadership duties fall on Angus, as he’s a trusted mentor, along with a few of the other seniors.

“The younger guys are finding their way,” Angus said. “Nate (Papuga) and I are responsible for most of the leadership roles and taking care of the younger guys out on the court and in practice.”

As for the rest of the season, Angus kept his goals very straightforward.

“Our goals are to win the section, the WPIAL and to qualify for the state tournament,” he said.

Angus plans to attend college to study sports business management and play basketball but hasn’t decided on a school yet.

Heading into an important stretch, Angus took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with basketball?

I started in sixth grade. I liked to try a lot of different sports, but basketball stuck with me.

What is it like being surrounded by talent like Nate Papuga and John Wasnick?

Nate and John are great players and even better teammates. They help me create a good culture and environment for the team. We take a lot of pressure off of each other on the court and keep getting better playing together.

What’s the key coming into the stretch of section games?

We’ve had a decent start to the season, but we expect more. The key to our success will be continuing to work hard in practice to prepare for our section games and to execute the game plan our coaches give us.

What is your specific role on this team?

My role mainly comes defensively and leading our offense as a senior point guard. I can score when we need it, but we’re at our best when I am creating for others offensively.

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

I love music. I always have my earbuds in. Rap, country, R&B, I’ll listen to anything.

Tags: Derry Area