Talented draft pool joins Steel City summer league

The summer season kicks off with a tripleheader Monday at Marx’s Court Time Sports Center in Elizabeth Township.

The first season of the fledgling Steel City Summer Basketball League will get underway Monday now that the teams have full rosters.

After two days of tryouts Monday and Tuesday, the league held its draft Wednesday at The Trailside in West Newton.

Teams in this year’s league include four-time Mon Valley Independent Summer Basketball League champion AMD Industries, Monessen Florist, Cedarbrook, BeeGraphix (formerly Edward Jones), Trailside (formerly Dax Thomas State Farm) and Howard Hanna (Slagus).

Prior to the first pick being made there were a couple of preseason trades made to get the summer madness started.

Monessen Florist traded Michelle Jellison (Elizabeth Forward) to Cedarbrook for the No. 2 overall pick, No. 8 overall pick and the No. 20 pick. Cedarbrook received Jellison, the No. 4 pick and the No. 16 pick.

AMD Industries traded Belle Vernon sophomore Saylor Lee to BeeGraphix for the No. 11 overall pick.

A one-time option for returning players in the league is to re-enter the draft, and it was a significant maneuver for two of the top three picks in this year’s event.

With the first pick of the draft, Howard Hanna selected Thomas Jefferson’s Allie Wilson, a 6-foot rising sophomore from Thomas Jefferson. Last season, the Jaguars’ forward played for Cedarbrook but chose to throw her name back into the mix.

Avonworth head coach Nick Dizon is taking over the reins as head coach of the Howard Hanna squad for his fiancee Kaitlyn Slagus, who will slide into the assistant’s chair.

“Allie put her talent on display last year in the league and immediately was an impact player,” Dizon said. “She is one of the tough matchups in the league and we’re excited to see her growth this summer.”

At No. 2, it was almost deja-vu as another 6-foot sophomore forward from Thomas Jefferson was selected by Monessen Florist.

Emma Altavilla was the pick, filling a need for the team affectionately known as “MoFlo”.

“It was a position that we needed to fill,” MoFlo head coach and league commissioner Chad Carroto said. “We actually contemplated another player, but the need at forward and watching Emma during the tryouts … she was a girl we needed to have on our roster.

“She’s long and athletic and has the ability to score inside or outside. I think she’s going to fit in nicely with our group.”

Trailside head coach Dan Slain, an assistant at Mars, went with a familiar pick and the other draft re-entry at No. 3 overall.

Abby Genes, who played for Cedarbrook in her first two seasons, will be reunited with Slain in a Serra Catholic reunion.

Genes continues to develop as a player, transitioning from a sharpshooter outside to a player that can attack the basket with the ability to step out and knock down jumpers from anywhere.

“I drafted Abby because of my familiarity with her and also with her game when I coached her as a freshman at Serra,” Slain said. “She started because of her talents, her work ethic and the extra effort she always gives on the floor.

“She’s an excellent ball-handler and a great shooter. With zone defenses being allowed this season, Abby can be our zone buster with her shooting ability.”

After the departures of Genes and Wilson, new Cedarbrook coach Zynosky was left with only Jellison on his roster after the trades. His other player, Ringgold’s Jada Gernot, is on the injured-reserve list this season.

With the No. 4 pick, Zynosky went with a senior, North Allegheny’s Leah Skweres with his pick.

“She’s a girl that Michelle knows and really wanted on the team,” Zynosky said. “She’s a senior and we needed someone that can put the ball in the basket. You can’t go wrong with senior leadership.”

The tables turned back to Howard Hanna for the No. 5 pick, which was acquired in a trade last season.

With the pick, Dizon and Slagus chose North Hills sophomore Delaney Amato, instantly providing some more strength to their lineup.

“Delaney is a strong guard with a very versatile skill set. She sees the floor well and can score it,” Dizon said. “She was a huge part of the success North Hills had capturing a section title this season. We’re looking forward to seeing her talent on display in the league.”

At No. 6, defending champion AMD selected talented Thomas Jefferson point guard Riley McCabe.

McCabe, a rising junior, has been the point guard for the Jaguars since her freshman year and brings her floor leadership to AMD.

“She brings a lot of experience and we think she’s going to bring some leadership,” Rathway said. “She brings great experience playing in 5A and the section she’s in. She’s confident and she can play defense. … I think she’ll be able to come in and make a huge impact.”

BeeGraphix and head coach Larry Cash didn’t have a pick in this year’s first round. After acquiring Lee, their first pick was No. 17, where they selected rising freshman Raya Johnson from Penn-Trafford.

For the complete list of draft picks, see page B3.

DRAFT TIDBITS: Howard Hanna (1st, 5th, 7th) and Monessen Florist (2nd, 8th, 10th) each had three picks in the top 10 of the draft. … Belle Vernon’s Isis Almyty and Norwin’s Giuliana Giannikas were 8th graders given commissioner’s exemptions to join the league a year early. Giannikas was selected by AMD Industries with the No. 11 pick they received via trade. Almyty was chosen 16th overall by Cedarbrook … Former Monessen Florist player and Pitt-Greensburg soccer commit Bella Carroto has joined the MoFlo coaching staff. … EF assistant coach Keegan Brownlee is Zynosky’s assistant with Cedarbrook. … With the Lee trade, BeeGraphix and AMD each returned the most players (six). A replay of the draft is available on MVI Live’s YouTube page…