Westmoreland high school notebook: Recruiting picks up for Latrobe junior Fenton

By: HSSN Staff
Saturday, December 2, 2017 | 7:18 PM

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Recruiting is beginning to pick up for Latrobe junior basketball player Reed Fenton.

A 6-foot-3 combo guard, Fenton had a big summer with the PK Flash AAU team, which boosted interest in his game and helped prompt an invitation to visit LSU.

“I want to make some visits and see how it goes,” said Fenton, who averaged 14 points last season for Latrobe, which went 19-5.

Fenton said a number of other Division I schools are courting him, including Holy Cross, Princeton, Lafayette and American.

His father, Neal, played at Lehigh. His uncles, Greg and Keith, played at Bethany and Bucknell, respectively.

The Fentons played on Latrobe's 1985 WPIAL title team.

Fenton played alongside standouts Austin Butler (Holy Cross) and Jake Biss (Shippensburg). He scored 24 points and hit five 3-pointers in the Wildcats' final game of 2016-17, a wild, 83-82 loss to Pine-Richland in the first round of the PIAA Class 6A playoffs.

His on-court smarts could be the difference in Latrobe staying among the 6A contenders.

“First and foremost, his ability in the classroom opens many doors for an entire Division I group of schools,” Latrobe coach Brad Wetzel said. “Reed's length and athleticism combined with a pretty high basketball IQ makes him unique. He is very smooth offensively.”

Latrobe also returns seniors Jason Armstrong (6-2) and Markus Dudzenski (6-6), and junior Bryce Butler (6-3), who is beginning to get some higher-tier college attention.

The Wildcats open the season Friday in the Canon-McMillan tournament.

Recruiting trail

Penn-Trafford senior kicker Nick Tarabrella has his first Division I scholarship offer. Howard, which is scouring the WPIAL for talent — led by offensive coordinator Brennan Marion, a Greensburg Salem graduate — reached out to Tarabrella, the Warriors' record-breaking kicker.

Tarabrella made 54 extra points and four field goals this season, giving him 156 and 17, respectively, for his career. Both are program records.

He also picked up D-II offers from Seton Hill and Wheeling Jesuit.

• Penn-Trafford senior lineman Will Mayr received an offer from Division II Fairmont State. He also has offers from Seton Hill, West Virginia Wesleyan and West Virginia State.

• Norwin quarterback and punter Brock Dieter was presented a preferred walk-on opportunity with Duquesne.

• Franklin Regional kicker Dom DiFalco received an offer from Fairmont State.

• Mercyhurst offered Hempfield senior tight end/linebacker Braden Brose.

Jubert places

Norwin freshman Alex Jubert placed 21st — seventh among runners in his class — at the Northeast Regional Foot Locker Cross Country Championships in New York City. He crossed the finish line in 17 minutes, 33 seconds.

Head of state

Norwin capped a state-championship girls soccer season with a first: three all-state selections. Seniors Sam Wexell, Lexy Kendro and Emily Harrigan made the state soccer coaches' association all-state team.

Harrigan earned back-to-back honors, joining three other Norwin players that achieved that recognition: Micayla Livingston (2014-15), Jessica Sharik (2006-07) and Tia Hernandez (1998-99).

Penn-Trafford had two all-state picks in seniors Hannah Nguyen and Mackenzie Aunkst, giving Westmoreland County five total, tying for the most in the county since 2004.

Wexell is the first female goalkeeper from Westmoreland County to make all-state. The only male keeper also was from Norwin: Doug Petras was selected in 1988 and ‘89. Petras was a star at Robert Morris before playing professionally.

Hoops time

Friday marks the start of basketball season, but Jeannette will have to wait until it gets football players back to tip off its schedule.

The Jayhawks withdrew from the 13th annual Hempfield showcase set for Friday and Saturday at the Spartan Field House. West Mifflin also pulled out to make it an even six-team field.

Friday's matchup are: Franklin Regional vs. Belle Vernon st 5:30 p.m.; Greensburg Central Catholic vs. Penn-Trafford at 7; Seneca Valley vs. Hempfield, 8:30.

Saturday has Belle Vernon vs. Greensburg C.C. at 2 p.m., Penn-Trafford vs. Seneca Valley at 3:30, and Hempfield vs. Franklin Regional at 5.

Jeannette's opener will now be Dec. 15 at Summit Academy.

On the girls side, Southmoreland fans will get their first look at transfer Cali Konek, who averaged 45 points a game two years ago at Imani Christian, when the Scotties host Albert Gallatin in their tip-off tournament at 7:30.

Showcases set

Beaver County-based event director Allen Deep once again put together a schedule of Hoops for a Cure “showcases” for high school teams. The first is Friday and Saturday with the 10-team Midland Hall of Fame Tournament at Geneva College.

Teams competing include the Beaver Falls, Lincoln Park, Penn Hills, Beaver County Christian, East Liverpool, Hickory, First Love Christian and Kennedy Catholic boys; and the Winchester Thurston and Lincoln Park girls.

On Dec. 16, “The Clash” at New Castle will feature boys teams from Riverside, Neshannock, Ellwood City, Shenango, Akron-Tallmadge, Erie, Lincoln Park, New Castle, Sewickley Academy, and Kennedy Catholic; and the West Middlesex and Neshannock girls.

And a third event, “Jamfest,” on Dec. 23 at Penn Hills, will include Westmoreland County teams. Girls teams in the field are Greensburg Central Catholic, East Allegheny, Winchester Thurston and Penn Hills. Boys teams are Greensburg Central Catholic, Highlands, McKeesport, Penn Hills, Jeannette and East Allegheny.

Bill Beckner Jr. is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at bbeckner@tribweb.com or via Twitter @BillBeckner.

Tags: Greensburg C.C., Hempfield Area, Jeannette, Latrobe, Norwin, Penn-Trafford