McKeesport, PA. –The Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team was unsatisfied with how they finished the 2018-2019 season. They made the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year but, after having championship expectations, they were kicked out in the first round with a 64-61 loss that ended their season. As the calendar turns to the 2019-2020 season, it is a new-look team for PSUGA; however, those same championship expectations are on their minds.
The team game plan will look much different this season after the loss of key pieces like leading scorer Jordan Payne and second-leading rebounder George Prota. However, PSUGA has a plethora of talent ready to step up in their places and take over the team for head coach Tyler Care.
On the offensive side of the ball, junior Koran Fleming (Wilkinsburg, PA./Westinghouse HS) and senior Kenny Rouse (Duquesne, PA./West Mifflin HS) will try to lead the offense as they contend for their fifth straight trip to the Penn State University Athletic Conference (PSUAC) playoffs. It was a breakout season for Fleming in 2018-2019 who set new career highs in points (229), assists (53), and rebounds (60) while appearing in 25 games for PSUGA.
His biggest shot of the season and his turning point was when he hit a buzzer-beating half-court shot against Penn State Brandywine on February 2nd, 2019 that gave PSUGA a 68-65 win. Fleming scored a game-high 22 points in the win and was part of the starting five for the final five games of the season. He looks to take on a more permanent role in the starting five this season providing the offensive punch PSUGA is looking for.
Rouse comes into 2019-2020 with a career milestone within reach as he looks to provide veteran leadership to the offensive side of the ball. Rouse is just 156 points away from 1,000 for his collegiate career combined between Penn State New Kensington and Penn State Greater Allegheny.
2018-2019 was an injury-stricken season for Rouse who appeared in just 21 games for PSUGA. However, Rouse still managed to be in the top five in scoring for PSUGA putting up 231 points and averaging 11 points per game. He also finished the season second on the team with 52 assists, falling just ten shy of his career-high.
The defense will be led by senior Markel Sayles (Pittsburgh, PA./Perry HS) who served as a defensive specialist off the bench in 2019-2020. Sayles appeared in 24 games off the bench for PSUGA and set a new career-high in rebounds pulling down 53 and averaging just over two rebounds per game.
PSUGA Men’s Basketball tips off their season on Monday. November 4th, when they host Butler County Community College in the Wunderley gym. Follow the Men’s Basketball all season long by viewing our schedule and following us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram at @PSUGAAthletics.
