Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Latrobe’s Kyle McNeil

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, January 27, 2025 | 10:32 AM

When the Latrobe boys basketball team finished 8-13 overall and 3-7 in section play last season, the Wildcats knew they had more potential.

This year, they’ve turned that potential into results, winning 15 of their first 16 games, including seven of their first eight in section play.

“Everybody came with fire,” senior Kyle McNeil said of motivation heading into the season. “We knew we were capable of winning because we’re all pretty experienced in basketball, and everybody’s been together for so long.”

Four returning senior starters, including McNeil, make up the Wildcats’ experienced lineup.

“I think we’re all working together really well. Our defense and rebounding are definitely a lot better than last year,” McNeil said.

“Our rebounding especially, and we’re always finding a way to come out with the victory, even when we’re down at certain times.”

Latrobe’s lone loss in the first 16 games came against Uniontown, an 81-53 final Dec. 17.

With the section schedule winding down, the team is focused on staying in the moment.

“Honestly, we take it game by game. We’re not focusing on the games down the road,” McNeil said. “We know we have guaranteed games left, but we’re just focused on the game ahead of us.”

The first matchup against Uniontown taught valuable lessons, lessons they already have used to fuel their season.

“We just have to stay focused,” McNeil said. “We’re practicing hard, and this time we definitely have to limit our turnovers. Last time that was a big thing that was bad for us.”

The Wildcats have shown they can compete with top opponents, including last year’s upset of then-No. 1-ranked Gateway in Class 5A.

McNeil scored 13 points in that game.

“Yeah, honestly, I’d say it’s a lot of confidence and also our fast break,” he said. “When we run our plays and everything, it’s just the points end up where the open guy is because our team is being unselfish.”

In addition to basketball, McNeil plays lacrosse in the spring.

He plans to attend Penn State to study kinesiology and pursue a career as a chiropractor.

Heading into the final stretch of the season, McNeil took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with basketball?

I was pretty young, but my dad played, and both my siblings did. So I kind of just wanted to take after them. And there was like a league or a rec thing at (Latrobe Elementary School), and that’s where I practiced and stuff. It was around kindergarten.

How has returning with a familiar group helped the team’s success?

Definitely with our trust. We’re picking each other up. We can trust each other on the court, even off the court. And we’re all leaders in our own way, so that definitely helps us.

What are some of your goals for the rest of the season?

Just trying to make it as far as we can go. It’s not all about the section titles and WPIAL titles and that. That’ll definitely be a big bonus if we can get it, but just to go as far as we want to go.

What have you thought about your personal play this year?

Honestly, I don’t really think it’s about the points, because that’s just where it ends up. It can happen to anybody any game. So I think, honestly, it’s about the things not on the stats, like hustling and all that. That’s definitely a main point for my game this year.

Is there anything from any of your sports that helps with another?

Yeah, for lacrosse, I’d say I’m a lot more confident, and I think that carries over to basketball. That definitely helps out a lot. I’d say that’s a takeaway from that.

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

I’d say probably pickleball and skiing. Pickleball, I played a lot with my friends outside of sports and school. I also used to skateboard when I was little, and that was a big hobby that I had, but I haven’t been doing recently. Skiing I also used to do, but recently I haven’t been doing it because of injuries and stuff. I don’t want to get hurt for the season.

Tags: Latrobe