Trojan’s Coval earns top all-state honor
There weren’t many Lehigh Valley representatives in this year’s all-state basketball selections, but Parkland’s Nick Coval came away with the biggest award for area players.
The Parkland junior was named first-team by the Pennsylvania Sports Writers in Class 6A, leading the charge of this year’s contingent.
Coval averaged 22.6 points and 5.2 assists a game his junior year, as Parkland won the District 11 title and advanced to the quarterfinals of the PIAA tournament.
Other players to earn all-state selections this year include Pocono Mountain West Julian Pagan, who was a third-team selection in 5A and Notre Dame East Stroudsburg’s Xavier Spears, who got second-team nods in 1A.
CLASS 1A
1st Team
1A Player of the Year: Vinnie Cugini, 6-1, senior, Aquinas Academy
Pace Prosser, 6-1, junior, Berlin Brothersvalley
Alier Maluk, 6-11, sophomore, Imani Christian Academy
Jaydis Kennedy, 6-3, senior, Geibel Catholic
Jack Bracken, 6-4, junior, Harmony Area
Craig Jarvis, 6-1, junior, Berlin Brothersvalley (tie)
Cameron Keyser, 6-5, senior, Jamestown Area (tie)
2nd Team
Drew Hoffman, 5-11, senior, High Point Baptist Academy
Xavier Spears, 6-3, junior, Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg
Derek Litzelman, 6-1, senior, North Penn-Liberty
Dame Givner, 6-1, sophomore, Imani Christian Academy
Daniel King, 6-3, senior, Linville Hill Christian Academy
Matt Stanley, 5-11, senior, Union Area
3rd Team
Ryan Blubaugh, 6-1, senior, Berlin Brothersvalley
Avery Kopcha, 5-11, junior, Mount Calvary Christian
Mason Kargo, 5-11, senior, Portage Area
Jack Swider, 6-5, senior, Phil-Mont Christian Academy
Adam Straub, 6-3, senior, Elk County Catholic
Lorenzo Gardner, 6-4, junior, Monessen
Coach of the Year: Tanner Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley
CLASS 2A
1st Team
2A Player of the Year: Davion Hill, 6-2, senior, St. John Neumann Regional
Camden Hurst, 6-2, senior, Lancaster Mennonite
Shea Champine, 6-1, senior, Bishop Canevin
Cameron Lindsey, 6-3, junior, Aliquippa
Jackson Hubbard, 6-2, senior, Sayre Area
Ross Eyer, 6-5, senior, Muncy
2nd Team
David Weaver, 6-7, senior, Lancaster Mennonite
Brad Felix, 6-3, senior, United
Nathan Lapp, 6-1, senior, Dock Mennonite Academy
Richie Preston, 6-5, senior, West Middlesex Area
Marcus Cleveland, 5-11, senior, Leechburg
Kyree Latimer, 6-3, junior, Constitution
3rd Team
Donovan Walker, 6-1, senior, Aliquippa
Tyree Turner, 6-0, junior, Greensburg Central Catholic
Jordan Hesdon, 6-0, senior, Clarion-Limestone
Tanner Zawada, 5-10, sophomore, Mahanoy Area
Jake Mattocks, 6-3, senior, Mercer Area
Zaki Alston, 6-4, senior, Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter (tie)
Franco Alvarez, 6-5, junior, Greensburg Central Catholic (tie)
Coach of the Year: Seth Buckwalter, Lancaster Mennonite
CLASS 3A
1st Team
3A player of the year: Makhai Valentine, 6-3, senior Steel Valley
Adam “Budd” Clark, 5-10, senior, West Catholic
Zion Stanford, 6-5, senior, West Catholic
Patrick Haigh, 6-4, senior, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
Blake Morningstar, 6-5, senior, Wyalusing Valley
Garrett Harrold, 6-4, senior, Penn Cambria
2nd Team
Connor Spratt, 6-2, senior, Seton LaSalle Catholic
Owen Schlager, 6-2, sophomore, Trinity
Bryce Robson, 6-0, senior, Deer Lakes
Joseph Roth, 6-5, junior, Ellwood City
Damon Curry, 6-5, junior, Franklin
Jacen Holloway, 6-5, senior, Devon Prep
3rd Team
Karson Dominick, 6-1, junior, North Penn-Mansfield
Danny Nemitz, 5-10, senior, Mid Valley Secondary Center
Lucas Orchard, 6-4, senior, Devon Prep
Terek Crosby, 6-2, junior, Yough
Nasseem Wright, 6-6, junior, Math Civics and Sciences Charter
Jude Haigh, 6-4, sophomore, Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
3A Coach of the Year: Miguel Bocachica, West Catholic
CLASS 4A
1st Team
4A Player of the Year: Robert Wright III, 6-0, junior, Neumann-Goretti
Brandin Cummings, 6-4, junior, Lincoln Park
Meleek Thomas, 6-4, sophomore, Lincoln Park
Rodney Gallagher, 6-0, senior, Laurel Highlands
Sultan Adewale, 6-8, senior, Neumann-Goretti
Izaiah Pasha, 6-5, senior, Cardinal O’Hara
2nd Team
Max Hurray, 6-1, junior, North Catholic
Jake Karnish, 6-2, senior, Fleetwood
Bryce Epps, 6-0, senior, South Allegheny
Keondre DeShields, 6-3, senior, Laurel Highlands
Khaafiq Myers, 5-11, junior, Neumann-Goretti
Elijah Hamilton, 6-5, senior, Octorara (tie)
Duce Jackson, 6-6, senior, Collegium Charter (tie)
3rd Team
Cole Miller, 6-3, senior, Clearfield Area
Austin Bausman, 6-4, senior, Eastern York
Nyerre Collins, 5-10, senior, Greater Johnstown
Bradyn Foster, 6-8, junior, Highlands
Dean Coleman-Newsome, 6-4, senior, Archbishop Carroll (tie)
Zach Kirk, 6-0, junior, Octorara (tie)
Zion Moore, 5-11, sophomore, Belle Vernon Area (tie)
Coach of the year: Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park
CLASS 5A
1st Team
5A Player of Year: Justin Edwards, 6-7 senior, Imhotep
Thomas Sorber, 6-9, junior, Archbishop Ryan
Ahmad Nowell, 6-1, junior, Imhotep
Royce Parham, 6-9, junior, North Hills
Rahmir Barno, 5-11, senior, Imhotep
Darren Williams, 6-4, junior, Archbishop Ryan
2nd Team
Jackson Hicke, 6-5, senior, Radnor
Anthony Caccese, 6-7, senior, Exeter
Trey Grube, 5-11, senior, Manheim Central
Kareem Diaz, 6-4, senior, Murrell Dobbins
Daemar Kelly, 6-5, senior, Penn Hills
Tasso Sfanos, 6-2, senior Mars Area
3rd Team
Julian Pagan, 6-3, senior, Poc. Mountain West
Hayden Pardoe, 6-5, senior, Central Mountain
Zyion Paschall, 5-10, senior, Exeter
Jake Sambuchino, 5-11, senior Cathedral Prep
Malachi Thomas, 6-4, senior Milton Hershey
Kevin Rucker, Jr., 6-5, junior, Bonner-Prendergast
Coach of the Year: Matt Ashcroft, Exeter
CLASS 6A
1st Team
6A Player of the Year: Ruben Rodriguez, 6-2, senior, Reading
Xzayvier Brown, 6-1, senior, Roman Catholic
Jalil Bethea, 6-4, junior, Archbishop Wood
Nick Coval, 6-2, junior, Parkland
Braeden Shrewsberry, 6-3, senior, State College
Dylan Blair, 5-11, senior, Downingtown West
2nd Team
Jacob Nguyen, 6-4, sophomore, Spring-Ford Area
Sam Brown, 6-2, senior, Lower Merion
Quidire Bennett, 6-3, senior, Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Greg Guidinger, 6-7, junior, Central York
Jaron McKie, 6-2, sophomore, St. Joseph’s Prep
Nadir Myers, 6-2, senior, Upper Darby
3rd Team
Aris Rodriguez, 6-5, senior, Reading
Nasir Washington, 6-3, senior, Penn Wood
Myles Grey, 5-10, senior, Reading
Jonathan Anderson, 5-9, senior, New Castle
Donovan Fromhartz, 6-4, sophomore, Downingtown West
Miguel Pena, 6-3, senior, Hempfield (tie)
Jermal Stewart-Herring, 6-3, senior, Roman Catholic (tie)
Coach of the Year: Rick Perez, Reading