Westmoreland County Senior Spotlight: Southmoreland’s Elliot Premus

By: Anthony DiFilippo
Monday, March 24, 2025 | 10:51 AM

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Last year, Southmoreland’s boys basketball team finished 5-5 in Section 3-4A, losing in the first round of the playoffs to Montour.

This season, down a class and hungry to make a mark in Section 4-3A, the Scotties were dominant, finishing undefeated at 10-0 in section play and 18-8 overall.

Despite the strong regular season, Southmoreland’s postseason run ended in the 3A quarterfinals with a loss to Mohawk.

“I think we had a good season overall,” senior Elliot Premus said. “I think that we could have gone even deeper into the playoffs, but, unfortunately, we had some key players hurt.”

Still, the team took a step forward, setting a strong foundation for future success.

“It was great to be a part of a team that has had continued success,” Premus said. “Me being the only senior leaving, they will be returning everyone but me. They could be a very good team the next few years.”

Premus, the team’s lone senior, played a key role alongside returning starter Noah Felentzer.

One of his standout performances came against Brownsville, when he scored a season-high 18 points.

In addition to basketball, his best sport is football, which he has committed to play at Slippery Rock next year.

On the football field, after a four-decade playoff drought, Southmoreland qualified for the postseason all four years of Premus’ high school career.

Last season, the Scotties went 7-4, falling in the first round of the postseason to Highlands.

Playing football and basketball in consecutive seasons can provide a lot of positives.

“Basketball and football complement each other well,” Premus said. “Basketball helps to improve agility and endurance for football. And vice versa, football brings a level of strength and toughness to basketball.”

At Slippery Rock, he remains undecided on his academic plans.

This week, Premus took some time for a Senior Spotlight Q&A:

How did you get started with basketball?

I started playing basketball in fifth grade because my friends did and I wanted a new sport to try.

How would you describe your role on the team this year?

I would describe my role as a defensive-minded player and rebounder. My basketball skills are far from perfect, so I make up for it by using my athleticism to play defense, and I was the team’s leading rebounder.

What was your favorite moment from your basketball career?

My favorite basketball moment from my basketball career was winning the section championship this year.

What was the recruiting process for Slippery Rock like?

What stood out to me about Slippery Rock was their success over the years. They are one of the best Division II teams in the country, and that is hard to pass up on. I also felt that their coaching staff would be right for me.

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

One thing people may not know about me is that I was all-conference first team at four different positions, those being tight end, wide receiver, defensive end and safety.

So what position are you going to play in college?

The coaches and I decided that with my size and athleticism, I would be best fit to play linebacker for them.

Tags: Southmoreland