NEW CASTLE — New Castle High boys basketball standout Shawn Anderson took his game up a notch yesterday.

And Anderson didn’t even have to step onto the court to do it.

Anderson was named to the Associated Press Third-Team All-State team, as voted on by media across the state. He was one of several local players nominated for all-state honors by the New Castle News.

“Going into the year, based on his work and growth, we had really strong feelings that he’d have a phenomenal year and he did,” second-year Red Hurricane coach Ralph Blundo said. “His year was a byproduct of tons of hard work that he put in.

“It’s a perfect example of if you do things right, good things will happen for you. This honor is well-deserved for Shawn.”

A 6-foot-3, junior guard who also played forward and center, Anderson netted a team-best 18.8 points a game, to go along with 6.7 rebounds and 3.1 assists per contest.

“I’m very happy with the award,” Anderson said. “First and foremost, I’d like to thank God. Without Him, I wouldn’t be able to do this.

“I’d like to thank my teammates and coaches. They’re all a big part of this.”

Blundo said Anderson constantly is working to improve his game. Anderson opened the year shooting just over 7 percent from 3-point range. But he finished the year at just over 30 percent from beyond the arc.

“He’s a gym rat, year-round,” Blundo said. “He’s the type of guy that early in the year he’s not shooting well from 3. But he continued working on it and got much better at it.”

Anderson concluded the campaign at 71 percent from inside the arc and 65 percent overall. He also made 76.1 percent of his foul shots.

“You just want to polish every part of your game. Nobody is perfect with anything,” Anderson said. “I’m going to work on my three-point shooting and my ballhandling ability in the offseason.”

New Castle, which finished 27-1 this year, will climb to Class AAAA next season and compete in Section 3 in the WPIAL. Blundo said Anderson will be a vital senior leader for next year’s group.

“Shawn has very natural leadership skills,” Blundo said. “He knows that being a leader is an art.

“He knows what to say and when to say it to kids. That’s not something you can teach to kids. He’s focused on that.”

Cornell, Brown, Lafayette and the Naval Academy all are pursuing Anderson for his academic and basketball talents.

“That’s unbelievably gratifying; that’s some serious recruiting,” Blundo said.

Said Anderson, “I’m not really thinking about it. I want to be patient and take my time with it. There’s no real timetable. The schools are just showing interest right now. I do believe God has a plan.”

John Davis (Neumann-Goretti), Donovon Jack (Berks Catholic), Brendan Kilpatrick (Malvern Prep), Micah Mason (Highlands), Ja'Quan Newton (Neumann-Goretti) and Maurice Watson (Boys Latin Charter) earned first-team status on the Class AAA team.

Montour’s Devin Wilson was a member of the seven-player second team, and Spartans coach Adam Kaufman was the Class AAA coach of the year.

Montour ousted New Castle in the second round of the state playoffs, 50-43 in overtime. The win ended the ’Canes’ 27-game winning streak.

Anderson scored 12 points in the playoff loss to the Spartans.

Watson, who will play collegiately at Boston University, was the triple-A player of the year. He capped his career with 2,356 points, the second-highest total in Philadelphia’s storied basketball history.

The 5-10 Watson averaged 21.8 points a game for Boys Latin Charter (25-7), which lost to eventual PIAA champion Neumann-Goretti in the state semifinals. He surpassed Wilt Chamberlain to finish third on Philadelphia’s all-time scoring list.

Mason, a Drake recruit, is the lone repeat selection on the Class AAA first team.









ALL-STATE

BOYS TEAMS

As selected by

the state’s sportswriters

CLASS AAAA

FIRST TEAM

Rondae Jefferson, Chester, 6-7, jr, 12.1 ppg

B.J. Johnson, Lower Merion, 6-5, jr, 15.8 ppg

Haiishen McIntyre, Harrisburg, 6-2, sr, 24.2 ppg

Devin Thomas, Central Dauphin, 6-9, sr, 23.8 ppg

Geno Thorpe, Shaler, 6-3, jr, 21.4 ppg

Steve Vasturia, St. Joseph's Prep, jr, 21.8 ppg



SECOND TEAM

Nolan Cressler, Plum, 6-3, sr, 25.7 ppg

Shep Garner, Roman Catholic, 6-2, so, 15.9 ppg

Miles Overton, St. Joseph's Prep, 6-4, jr, 15.0 ppg

Jordan Reed, Wissahickon, 6-3, sr, 23.7 ppg

Darryl Reynolds, Lower Merion, 6-7, sr, 10.6 ppg

Darius Robinson, Chester, 6-1, jr, 11.8 ppg

Erikk Wright, Chester, 6-4, sr, 11.4 ppg



THIRD TEAM

Greg Bobal, Emmaus, 6-3, sr, 11.5 ppg

Quindell Brice, Pocono Mountain West, 6-4, sr, 16.2 ppg

Malik Draper, Scranton, 6-4, sr, 15.3 ppg

Nate Snodgrass, Butler, 6-0, sr, 21.3 ppg

Jahad Thomas, Williamsport, 6-2, jr, 14.5 ppg

Sheldon Zablotny, Erie Cathedral Prep, 5-11, jr, 17.4 ppg

Mike Zangari, Red Land, 6-10, sr, 21.4 ppg

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Rondae Jefferson, Chester

COACH OF THE YEAR: Larry Yarbray, Chester



CLASS AAA

FIRST TEAM

John Davis, Neumann-Goretti, 6-4, jr, 12.9 ppg

Donovon Jack, Berks Catholic, 6-9, sr, 17.0 ppg

Brendan Kilpatrick, Malvern Prep, 6-5, sr, 15.8 ppg

Micah Mason, Highlands, 6-2, sr, 28.7 ppg

Ja'Quan Newton, Neumann-Goretti, 6-3, so, 15.8 ppg

Maurice Watson, Boys Latin Charter, 5-10, sr, 21.8 ppg



SECOND TEAM

Muhammad Ali Abdur-Rahkman, Allentown Central Catholic, 6-4, so, 17.7 ppg

Andrew Andreychik, Danville, 6-0, sr, 23.0 ppg

Jaymon Mason, General McLane, 6-2, jr, 18.4 ppg

Jamal Nwaniemeka, Conwell-Egan, 6-2, sr, 21.8 ppg

Derrick Stewart, Neumann-Goretti, 6-5, sr, 8.7 ppg

Devin Wilson, Montour, 6-4, jr, 10.0 ppg

Yosef Yacob, Archbishop Carroll, 6-0, jr, 14.6 ppg



THIRD TEAM

SHAWN ANDERSON, NEW CASTLE, 6-3, jr, 18.8 ppg

Dwight Andrews, Johnstown, 6-5, sr, 18.7 ppg

Charles Cooper, Octorara, 6-1, sr, 17.3 ppg

Ted Hinnenkamp, York Suburban, 6-6, sr, 21.0 ppg

Marquis Marshall, Berks Catholic, 6-4, sr, 15.4 ppg

J.C. Show, Abington Heights, 6-2, so, 17.1 ppg

Cornell Yarde, Schuylkill Valley, 6-2, sr, 21.2 ppg

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Maurice Watson, Boys Latin Charter

COACH OF THE YEAR: Adam Kaufman, Montour



CLASS AA

FIRST TEAM

Brandon Austin, Imhotep Charter, 6-6, jr, 11.4 ppg

Amile Jefferson, Friends Central, 6-8, sr, 19.9 ppg

Sheldon Jeter, Beaver Falls, 6-8, sr, 22.5 ppg

Rysheed Jordan, Roberts Vaux, 6-4, jr, 17.3 ppg

Josh Kosin, Holy Cross, 6-7, jr, 17.9 ppg

Daniel Ochefu, Westtown, 6-10, sr, 14.0 ppg



SECOND TEAM

Quentin Brandon, Westmont Hilltop, 6-2, sr, 22.8 ppg

Conrad Chambers, Friends Central, 6-3, so, 11.2 ppg

Jerry Kincel, Riverside, 6-2, sr, 21.5 ppg

Eugene Lewis, Elmer L. Meyers, 6-3, sr, 17.5 ppg

P.J. McLaughlin, Greensburg Central Catholic, 6-7, sr, 18.1 ppg

Brett Smith, Delone Catholic, 5-9, jr, 15.4 ppg

Khyree Wooten, Imhotep Charter, 6-2, sr, 15.7 ppg



THIRD TEAM

Kyler Burke, Pine Grove, 6-3, sr, 17.2 ppg

Noah Davis, Bellwood-Antis, 6-6, jr, 18.9 ppg

Josh Dombrosky, Shenandoah Valley, 6-7, sr, 17.8 ppg

Zane Hackett, Brookville, 6-6, sr, 20.6 ppg

Lloyd Irons, Salisbury, 6-2, sr, 16.8 ppg

A.J. Leahey, Penn Cambria, 6-7, jr, 20.7 ppg

Larry Zimmerman, Pine Grove, 5-10, sr, 17.0 ppg

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Amile Jefferson, Friends Central

COACH OF THE YEAR: Al Callejas, Holy Cross



CLASS A

FIRST TEAM

Matthew Dogan, West Middlesex, 6-6, jr, 22.4 ppg

Marcus Gilbert, Academy of the New Church, 6-6, sr, 17.0 ppg

Savon Goodman, Constitution, 6-6, sr, 25.8 ppg

Daiquan Walker, Constitution, 6-2, sr, 18.1 ppg

Dinjiyl Walker, Academy of the New Church, 6-3, sr, 21.2 ppg

Devontae Watson, Lincoln Park Charter, 6-10, sr, 15.1 ppg

SECOND TEAM

Darrian Brown, Vision Quest, 6-2, sr, 21.5 ppg

Trey Hosack, Lincoln Park Charter, 6-0, sr, 17.9 ppg

Chris Koryak, Vincentian Academy, 6-2, sr, 22.4 ppg

Eric Matheson, Ridgway, 5-9, sr, 18.4 ppg

Howard Sellars, Church Farm, 6-1, sr, 17.0 ppg

Sharif Welton, Sullivan County, 6-5, sr, 16.1 ppg

Jeremiah Worthem, Math, Civics & Sciences, 6-6, jr, 15.4 ppg

THIRD TEAM

Stewart Borst, Juniata Valley, 6-0, sr, 24.0 ppg

Brandon Camic, Serra Catholic, 6-5, sr, 22.5 ppg

Ryan Fyock, Shade, 6-1, jr, 21.8 ppg

Rasaun Mosley, New Hope Academy, 6-5, sr, 16.0 ppg

Cole Peterson, Johnsonburg, 5-10, so, 12.7 ppg

Danny Savulchak, North Catholic, 6-4, jr, 19.2 ppg

Mike Wenner, St. John Neumann, 6-4, sr, 20.0 ppg

PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Savon Goodman, Constitution

COACH OF THE YEAR: Rob Moore, Constitution