Latrobe's Austin Butler among Westmoreland County faces in new places this college hoops season

Fifth-year seniors and transfers are now a part of college sports, remnants of a life-changing pandemic that shook up programs at all levels, from Division I to NAIA and junior college.

College basketball season is beginning this week across the country, and the game is no stranger to fluctuating rosters.

Austin Butler is set to play a fifth season with a new program. The former Latrobe star guard is now at Charlotte of Conference USA. The 49ers opened the season Tuesday night with a 68-66 win over Monmouth. Butler had 10 points and five rebounds.

Butler, an All-Patriot League second-team player last season, averaged 16.1 points and 8.7 rebounds as a senior at Holy Cross, where he had terrific career.

He came back from shoulder surgery to complete his four years with the Crusaders with 1,321 career points — a 12.1 average in 109 games.

“I want to continue to get better so I can reach my ultimate goal of playing professionally at the highest level possible,” Butler said. “I hope to bring my experience to Charlotte and help us win.”

Another Westmoreland County area player who changed schools in the offseason is Brandon Stone. The 6-foot-11 forward who played at Southmoreland and a prep school in North Carolina is now at Robert Morris.

Stone left La Salle after seeing limited playing time as a sophomore.

“I wasn’t happy and wanted to play closer to home so my family could see me play more often,” Stone said.

Latrobe also produced Reed Fenton, who has given Lehigh quality minutes for the last two seasons. He returns for his junior season in the Patriot League but won’t have any more matchups against Butler, unless they would meet in March Madness.

Fenton had a thundrous dunk Wednesday in Lehigh’s 73-70 loss to Rutgers in overtime.

Shippensburg star senior Jake Biss will lead a strong WPIAL contingent of teammates, including Geoff Helm (Greensburg CC), Luke Nedrow (Central Catholic), Dom Sleva (Montour), Carlos Carter (Indiana), Michael Dunn (Trinity) and Andrew Recchia (Mars). The Raiders are coached by Latrobe alum Chris Fite.

Sophomore guard Bryce Butler, Austin’s brother and another former Latrobe standout, returns at high-scoring West Liberty.

On the women’s side, Norwin alum Alayna Gribble is back for one more season at St. Joseph’s. Gribble stopped playing at Pitt in 2019 after multiple concussions.

She averaged 8.2 points and was second on the team last season with 23 3-pointers.

“I have more freedom than I had at Pitt,” Gribble said. “I have a green light, and I am not afraid to take big shots.”

Another local women’s player to watch is fifth-year guard Michelle Burns of Point Park. Burns, a Hempfield alum, began the year with 1,399 career points. She averaged 20.8 as a senior and again is one of the top players in the NAIA River States Conference.

Three former standouts are now coaching. Ciara Gregory, the all-time scoring leader at Jeannette, is a full-time assistant at Charlotte, her college alma mater.

Monica Burns (Hempfield), meantime, is on staff at Alderson Broaddus after a successful playing career at West Virginia Wesleyan and Cal (Pa.), while Brittany Stawovy (Greensburg Central Catholic) is a grad assistant at Seton Hill after playing four years at West Virginia Wesleyan.

Also keep an eye on Point Park junior forward Jordan Yaniga, a Franklin Regional product who has a 16-rebound game already this season.

Area teams that show potential include the Saint Vincent and Pitt-Greensburg women, both of whom have a number of key players back. Saint Vincent was picked as the preseason favorite in the Presidents’ Athletic Conference, while UPG has senior forward Nadege Durand, the Allegheny Mountain Collegiate Conference Preseason Player of the Year.

UPG has two coaches with Westmoreland roots in women’s coach Kelsey Oddis (Burrell) and Chris Klimchock (Greensburg Salem), in his first year with the Bobcat men.

Players to watch

Men

Division I

Austin Butler, Grad, G, Charlotte (Latrobe)

Reed Fenton, Jr., G, Lehigh (Latrobe)

Zach Rocco, So., G, Army (Penn-Trafford)

Brandon Stone, Jr., F, Robert Morris (Southmoreland)

Division II

Jake Biss, Sr., G, Shippensburg (Latrobe)

Bryce Butler, So., G, West Liberty (Latrobe)

Marvel McGowan, R-Jr., G. West Virginia Wesleyan (Greensburg Salem)

Marrek Paola, Jr., F, Seton Hill (Ligonier Valley)

Division III

Sean Kelly, Sr., G, York (Penn-Trafford)

Asa Klimchock, Jr., G, Bethany (Greensburg Central Catholic)

Women

Division I

Laura Graytok, Sr., G, American (Latrobe)

Alayna Gribble, Grad, G, St. Joseph’s (Norwin)

Cali Konek, So., G, Charlotte (Franklin Regional/Southmoreland)

Sarah Liberatore, Fr., G, Marshall (Hempfield)

Division II

Bella Long, RS-Fr., G, Slippery Rock (Penn-Trafford)

Bella Skatell, Jr., G, Mansfield (Greensburg Central Catholic)

Division III

Olivia Gribble, So., G, Marietta (Norwin)

Megan Kallock, Jr., G, Grove City (Greensburg Salem)

Melina Maietta, Fr., G, Pitt-Greensburg (Greensburg Central Catholic)

Isi Palamone, Sr., F, Mount Union (Franklin Regional)

Allison Podkul, Sr., F, Grove City (Hempfield)

Magen Polczynski, Sr., G, Westminster (Norwin)

Rachel Wobrak, So., G/F, Washington & Jefferson (Belle Vernon)

Other

Michelle Burns, Grad, G, Point Park (Hempfield)

Jordan Yaniga, Jr., F, Point Park (Franklin Regional)

Jayla Wehner, So., G, Marian (Norwin)