Published: October 06, 2009 11:59 pm      

Three local stars among UPJ's recruits

JOHNSTOWN — Pitt-Johnstown men’s basketball coach Bob Rukavina, whose team is coming off a second consecutive NCAA Division II tournament, has brought in what he believes is a deep and talented recruiting class.

Three of the six recruits will be familiar names for area fans, as Central Cambria’s Jordan Miller, Greater Johnstown’s Paul Weatherly and Shade’s Joel Kaminsky have agreed to play for the Mountain Cats.

“I think this freshman class is one of the best we’ve had here at Pitt-Johnstown in the last five years,” Rukavina said. “It will be the first time I can remember that we will be playing so many true freshmen.”

UPJ, which won the WVIAC tournament last season, landed a pair of all-state players in Miller, who was a first-team selection in Class AA, and Franklin Regional’s Nick Novak, who was a second-team pick in Class AAAA.

A look at the complete class:

Noah Hartung (6-4, 225, F, Butler Area) - Hartung joins UPJ after redshirting at Snow (Utah) Junior College in 2006-07 and spending two years on a mission. He was a three-year letterman in both basketball and football at Butler Area High School. As a senior, he averaged 13 points, 11 rebounds and five assists per game.

Joel Kaminsky (6-0, 170, G, Shade) - Kaminsky finished his career as Shade’s all-time leading scorer with 1,416 points. As a senior, he averaged 15.7 points, 3.8 rebounds, and 4.4 assists per game. A four-year letterman, he was the Somerset County MVP as a senior, when he led Shade to the WestPAC and District 5 titles, as well as a spot in the second round of the PIAA Class A playoffs. In addition to basketball, he was a four-year letterman in baseball, where he earned All-Somerset County Team honors and All-District 5 honors three times each.

Jordan Miller (6-0, 170, G, Central Cambria) – Miller was a Class AA first-team all-state selection as a senior after being named to the Class AAA second-team after his junior season. He ended his high school career ranked fifth in Pennsylvania history with 280 3-pointers made. He ranks 97th on the state’s all-time scoring list with 2,105 points. His 283 3-pointers are a Cambria County and Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference (LHAC) record, while his 2,105 points are the most ever in the LHAC and rank fourth in Cambria County history. Miller had 521 assists, 437 free throws and 325 steals in his career. He led the state in scoring as a senior with 921 points. He posted single-game highs of 51 points against Forest Hills and nine 3-pointers against Bishop McCort. He became the first local player be selected to play in the McDonalds Regional Classic. Miller helped lead Central Cambria to a pair of PIAA Sweet 16 appearances, a District 6 AAA Championship and an LHAC title.

Nick Novak (6-0, 175, G, Franklin Regional) - In addition to being second-team all-state pick in Class AAAA, Novak led the WPIAL in scoring at 28.8 points per game on his way to being named the Section I MVP. As a senior, he averaged 5.5 assists and 3.2 rebounds per game. He holds Franklin Regional single-game scoring record with 45 points against Woodland Hills. The WPIAL Player of the Year as a senior, Novak was selected to play in the McDonald’s Roundball Classic and Pittsburgh’s “Fabulous 5” All-Star Game. He led Franklin Regional to the AAAA Section I championship and a spot in the state playoffs.

Mike Stanzel (6-6, 175, F, West Mifflin) - Stanzel, who is expected to redshirt this season, was a three-year starter and senior captain at West Mifflin. He earned AAA All-Section honors after his senior season, when he averaged 14 points per game. Stanzel, who earned Top-10 Player Award at the 2009 All-American Showcase, also helped lead West Mifflin to three WPIAL Quarterfinals appearances.

Paul Weatherly (6-3, 200, G/F, Greater Johnstown) – Weatherly, who is expected to redshirt this season, was a four-year letterman and two-time Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference All-Conference choice at Johnstown. He averaged 18 points, 10 rebounds and four assists as a senior. He scored 1,261 points and grabbed more than 500 rebounds while leading the Trojans to four straight playoff appearances, a District 6 Championship and an LHAC title. Academically, he graduated from Greater Johnstown with high honors.

The Mountain Cats must replace four starters from last year’s team, which went 24-8, won the conference tournament title and advanced to the NCAA Division II tournament for the second straight year. Sophomore center Patrick Grubbs is the lone returning starter while sharp-shooting guards Danny Branch and Andy Byer, a Conemaugh Township graduate, are back after seeing playing time last season.

UPJ opens the season in the Sports Center against the University of the District of Columbia on Nov. 18.