High School Sports
Who is The Press Track and Field Athlete of the Year?
Mike McGarry Jaidah Garrett soared into history this spring. The Absegami High School senior long-jumped a Cape-Atlantic League record 19 feet, 8 inches to finish sixth and earn All-American honors at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor championships last weekend. “It’s like flying, honestly,” she said of jumping nearly 20 feet. “It’s the best.” In addition […]

Jaidah Garrett soared into history this spring.
The Absegami High School senior long-jumped a Cape-Atlantic League record 19 feet, 8 inches to finish sixth and earn All-American honors at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor championships last weekend.
“It’s like flying, honestly,” she said of jumping nearly 20 feet. “It’s the best.”
In addition to her record long jump, Garrett had the best Press-area performances in the 100-meter dash (12.16 seconds), 200 dash (24.59 seconds) and triple jump (37 feet, 5.75 inches) this spring. She won four Atlantic County titles and the South Jersey and state Group III long jump championships. Garrett is The Press Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
“Jaidah is an extremely bright and talented individual,” Absegami track and field coach Dan Ingrum said. “Jaidah’s height and raw natural athletic ability immediately attracted everyone’s attention, and I’m so proud of how she developed in the (four years.)”
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Garrett originally thought that basketball would be the sport she excelled in at Absegami. She came out for track and field the spring of her freshman year.
It turns out what she really loved about playing basketball was all the running.
“Every single basketball game I was always the first person up the court,” she said. “I always loved to run up the court and hit the ball out of (the shooter’s) hands on (breakaway) layups. I always liked to run, and I knew I would enjoy racing people.”
Garrett will continue her academic and track and field career at the University of Connecticut.
“Immediately, I met the girls on the team and they were just so nice,” she said. “They didn’t seem like they were stressed, pressured or anything. They were just jumping. That’s what I wanted to do. I didn’t want it to be like a job.”
As successful as she’s been so far, the best of Garrett’s track and field career could be yet to come.
“Jaidah’s understanding of track is still developing,” Ingrum said. “We are all excited to see what she accomplishes at UConn.”
GALLERY: Press Track Player of the Year
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett enjoyed a successful senior season in which she set the Cape-Atlantic League record in the long jump (19 feet, 7.75 inches) at the New Balance Nationals Outdoor championships last weekend, a sixth-place finish that earned her All-American honors. She is The Press Track and Field Athlete of the Year.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
On June 25, 2025, scenes with the Press of Atlantic City’s Track Player of the Year, Absegami’s Jaidah Garrett in Galloway Township.
“Jaidah’s height and raw natural athletic ability immediately attracted everyone’s attention, and I’m so proud of how she developed.” — Dan Ingrum, Absegami coach
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High School Sports
Manning High School celebrates gains in academic performance, extracurricular success
by Melissa Foust-McCoy Manning High School is celebrating a year of achievement, marked by improved academic performance, increased college and career readiness, and notable accomplishments in athletics and extracurriculars. The school’s 2024–2025 School Improvement Council Annual Report to the People, released this week, showcases a significant upward trend in key performance metrics, highlighting that Manning […]


by Melissa Foust-McCoy
Manning High School is celebrating a year of achievement, marked by improved academic performance, increased college and career readiness, and notable accomplishments in athletics and extracurriculars. The school’s 2024–2025 School Improvement Council Annual Report to the People, released this week, showcases a significant upward trend in key performance metrics, highlighting that Manning is well on its way to achieving an “Excellent” rating from the South Carolina Department of Education.
“We are nearing our goal and remain dedicated to a cycle of continuous improvement,” Principal Dr. Kelvin Lemon said in the report. “Our focus for growth lies in enhancing our students’ performance on the End of Course Exams.”
The report highlights a steady climb on the state’s Annual School Report Card. Manning’s absolute rating rose from 47 in 2022 to 51 in 2023 and now stands at 58—just two points away from a “Good” rating and nine points from “Excellent.” An absolute rating of 60 is required for the “Good” designation, while 67 secures “Excellent.”
Among the academic highlights, Manning High School’s Class of 2024 posted a record-breaking 92.3% graduation rate—the highest since the state began issuing report cards in 2001. Additionally, 71.6% of graduates were identified as college or career ready, well above the state average, earning the school another “Good” rating in this category.
Students also showed strong performance on End of Course Exams (EOCEP) with notable increases from 2022 to 2024. English EOCEP scores improved by 16.7%, Algebra by 26.7%, Biology by 27.9%, and U.S. History by 5.3%. Twenty students achieved a perfect score of 100 and were awarded $100 Visa gift cards through an incentive program funded by Wal-Mart of Manning.
The report also notes that 85% of students in the “all students” category and 82.5% of first-year students were considered “on track for graduation,” earning additional “Good” ratings.
Outside the classroom, Manning High students excelled in a wide range of extracurricular activities. The Golden Pride Band earned awards across all categories and placed 4th overall at the State Finals. The Academic Challenge Team finished 3rd in the region, and the school won the MUSC Boeing Center’s District Wellness Award. The Student Council was recognized as a Silver Council at the state convention, and the FFA Conduct of Chapter Meeting Team won the state title and advanced to nationals.
Athletics saw postseason success across multiple sports. The Varsity Football Team advanced to the Lower State Championship Game, with players also participating in the Shrine Bowl of the Carolinas. The Wrestling Team had three individual state qualifiers and placed 3rd at Region. The Track & Field and Cross Country teams each had athletes qualify for state meets, and the Soccer Team reached the playoffs.
The Class of 2025 has already earned admission to 299 colleges, universities, and military branches, collectively receiving more than $3.1 million in scholarship offers.
As the school continues its journey to “Watch Achievement Rise,” Dr. Lemon expressed pride in the progress made and optimism for the future. “By 2030, we aim for at least 70 percent of our students to achieve a grade of ‘C’ or higher in all subjects,” he said.
With gains across academics, extracurriculars, and student achievement, Manning High School is showing that Monarchs are indeed on the move.
High School Sports
5
Miami Hurricanes five-star offensive tackle commit, Jackson Cantwell, has earned national acclaim yet again. As the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, Cantwell was recently named one of MaxPreps top 100 high school athletes of the 21st century coming in at No. 80. Wow. Yeah that’s pretty cool. And with one more season to go […]


Miami Hurricanes five-star offensive tackle commit, Jackson Cantwell, has earned national acclaim yet again. As the No. 1 recruit in the 2026 class, Cantwell was recently named one of MaxPreps top 100 high school athletes of the 21st century coming in at No. 80.
Wow. Yeah that’s pretty cool.
And with one more season to go chase some goals and get better! #NSGB https://t.co/TOkoh9Q2Km pic.twitter.com/FaXkgxbcJz
— Jackson Cantwell (@jcantwell2499) July 10, 2025
Measuring an imposing 6-foot-8 and 325 pounds, Cantwell boasts 33.5-inch arms and explosive strength off the snap. He stormed through his junior season with 158 pancake blocks across 14 games (averages nearly 11 per game) helping his Nixa High offensive line pave the way for 3,710 total rushing yards.
Cantwell’s dominance extends into track and field as he claimed back-to-back Missouri Shot Put state titles, led the nation in distance among high school throwers as a junior, and was honored as Gatorade Missouri Boys Track & Field Player of the Year. His pedigree is unmistakable as his father, Christian Cantwell, is a five-time world champion and Olympic shot-put silver medalist, while his mother, Teri Steer Cantwell, competed in the Sydney Olympics.
MaxPreps also gave Cantwell its top national male-athlete award for 2024–25. Here’s what Kevin Askeland said about Cantwell:
“Although he still has a year left in high school, Cantwell has already snagged MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year honors. During the 2024-25 year, he earned state MVP honors in football as an offensive and defensive lineman and had the nation’s best mark in the shot put.”
Kevin Askeland
Recruiting services back the hype with Rivals, 247Sports, and On3 all putting Cantwell as the nation’s number‑one prospect for 2026. The list includes legends at the high school level and beyond. LeBron James of St. Vincent St. Mary in Akron, Ohio checked in a No. 1 on the list. The rest of the top 10 goes as follows:
2. Patrick Mahomes
3. Kyler Murray
4. Derrick Henry
5. Joe Mauer
6. Terrelle Pryor
7. Greg Oden
8. Elena Delle Donne
9. Missy Franklin
10. Candace Parker
High School Sports
5
One area to watch on Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats teams this season and future seasons is the frontcourt. How the Wildcats’ frontcourt defends and displays versatility is going to be a key to next season as the Wildcats pursue a ninth national championship. A 5-star prospect in the 2026 class, Miikka Muurinen, has whittled down […]

One area to watch on Mark Pope’s Kentucky Wildcats teams this season and future seasons is the frontcourt. How the Wildcats’ frontcourt defends and displays versatility is going to be a key to next season as the Wildcats pursue a ninth national championship.
A 5-star prospect in the 2026 class, Miikka Muurinen, has whittled down his list of schools that have offered him to seven. Kentucky is among those seven schools.
ESPN has the 6-foot-10, 185-pound Muurinen listed as the No. 11 player in their ESPN100 for the Class of 2026.
Muurinen is a native of Jarvenpaa, Finland, and he currently stars at Arizona Compass Prep in Chandler, Arizona.
Muurinen’s profile on 247 Sports Composite has him listed as the No. 9-ranked player in the country and No. 2 power forward. He is listed as the No. 1 player in Arizona.
Muurinen does not have an official visit to Kentucky scheduled. He only has visits scheduled at Michigan (Sept. 14) and Arkansas (Sept. 20).
If he commits to Kentucky, it would be a great addition to Kentucky’s frontcourt for the 2026-27 season.
NEWS: 2026 5
Miikka Muurinen is down to seven schools, he told @LeagueRDY:
Arkansas
Michigan
Kentucky
Indiana
NC State
North Carolina
DukeThe versatile 6-10 forward is one of the top prospects in all of high school basketball. #11 in the ESPN100. pic.twitter.com/vP40AQLF9g
— Sam Kayser (@KayserHoops) July 11, 2025
Kentucky Reacts
In this week’s Kentucky Reacts survey, the majority of fans voted for Denzel Aberdeen to be UK’s third starter in the backcourt next to Jaland Lowe and Otega Oweh.
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This survey was brought to you by FanDuel Sportsbook.
High School Sports
2026 5
Rising senior Miikka Muurinen has included Indiana in his final seven schools. The 6-foot-11 forward from Finland will also consider Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, NC State, and North Carolina going forward. According to the average of the national rankings, Muurinen is the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect and the No. 1 power forward in the […]


Rising senior Miikka Muurinen has included Indiana in his final seven schools.
The 6-foot-11 forward from Finland will also consider Arkansas, Duke, Kentucky, Michigan, NC State, and North Carolina going forward.
According to the average of the national rankings, Muurinen is the nation’s No. 8 overall prospect and the No. 1 power forward in the 2026 class.
The 5-star attends Compass Prep in Arizona for high school.
Muurinen has already visited Arkansas and Michigan. The IU staff is working to get him on campus for a visit.
Indiana has been involved with Muurinen since the new staff took over in the spring. He formally announced an IU offer earlier this week.
Muurinen has not laid out a timeline to announce his college decision. His junior season high school highlights are below.
For a complete look at all of Indiana’s 2026 targets, GO HERE.
For complete coverage of IU basketball recruiting, GO HERE.
The Daily Hoosier –“Where Indiana fans assemble when they’re not at Assembly”
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High School Sports
Bazzoli Announces Final Six Additions to 2025
ERIE, Pa. – After previously announcing a pair of recruits in the fall Gannon men’s basketball coach Easton Bazzoli has released the remainder of his recruiting class for 2025-26. Bazzoli added six players this summer – three transfers and three freshmen – for a total of eight newcomers on the roster this coming season. Freshmen […]


ERIE, Pa. – After previously announcing a pair of recruits in the fall Gannon men’s basketball coach Easton Bazzoli has released the remainder of his recruiting class for 2025-26. Bazzoli added six players this summer – three transfers and three freshmen – for a total of eight newcomers on the roster this coming season.
Freshmen Jaden Calloway, a 6-foot-2 guard from Bishop Hartley (Oh.) High School, and Carter Wamsley, a 6-foot-7 forward from Central York (Pa.) High School, are joined by fellow freshmen Jack Burchard (Meadville (Pa.) High School), Lathan Coleman (South Plantation (Fla.) High School), and Julian Rivera (Highland (Va.) High School). In addition twins Lucas Morgan and Mackenzie Morgan have transferred to Gannon along with Precious Idiaru. The Morgans will be junior, with Lucas Morgan previously playing at St. Cloud State and Mackenzie Morgan at West Texas A&M. Idiaru is coming in from Longwood.
Here’s a look at the newest Golden Knights:
Jack Burchard – G, 6-0, Fr., Meadville, Pa. / Meadville HS
Burchard is no stranger to area basketball fans after enjoying a stellar career not far down I-79 at Meadville High School. The 6-foot-0 guard finished his career as one of Meadville’s all-time leading scorers with 1,587 points. He was a three-time All-Region selection, earning first team honors as a junior and senior and second team as a sophomore. He was also an Big School All-District honoreehis final two seasons.
“I am really excited to have Jack in our program,” Bazzoli commented. “He is a proven winner coming from a top program in D-10 and has a competitive edge to him that fits who we are.”
Burchard is renowned for his outside shooting touch, finishing his career with 148 3-pointers. As a senior he led the Bulldogs to a 16-9 record. They were the District 10 Class 5A champions and advanced to the PIAA Tournament. As a senior he averaged over 20 ppg. for the second straight year, finishing at 20.2 ppg. along 8.2 rpg., 4.5 assists, and 2.1 steals. He shot 45 pct. from the floor (184-of-406), making 27-of-113 3-pointers, and went 105-of-154 (68 pct.) from the line.
As a junior Burchard posted averages of 21.9 ppg. and 5.3 rpg., with 3.8 assists and 1.9 steals per game. He shot 46 pct. from the floor (174-of-377), with 36 three’s in 120 attempts, and was 120-0f-172 (70 pct.) from the charity stripe.
Burchard scored in double figures all four years, finishing at 15.6 ppg. as a sophomore and 10.7 ppg. as a freshman. As a sophomore he made 44-of-134 3-pointers (33 pct.) after making 41-of-102 (40 pct.) as a freshman.
“I chose Gannon because I want the best,” Burchard pointed out. “I know that Gannon has the best basketball program and coaches that will give me the tools to succeed on and off the court. I am excited to be a part of a winning program where I can contribute in any way that I can.”
Lathan Coleman — F, 6-6, Fr., Plantation, Fla. / South Plantation HS
Coleman is an exciting frontcourt newcomer who played a key role for a South Plantation High School team that won 45 games the last two years. The 6-foot-6 swingman played for one of the highest classifications in Florida High School basketball.
“I am fired up for Lathan to be joining the program,” Bazzoli related. “His high energy personality carries onto his effort on the floor. Lathan is a big-time athlete that loves the work and has his best basketball ahead of him.”
The Paladins finished at 20-8 in 2024-25, qualifying for the 2025 FHSAA Class 6A Boys Basketball State Tournament. Coleman averaged 12.3 ppg. and 8.0 rpg,, along with 1.6 assists, 1.4 steals and 1.4 blocks. He shot 53 pct. from the floor (126-of-239), making 19-of-54 3-pointers, and was 73-of-110 from the line (66 pct.).
As a junior Coleman averaged 6.1 ppg. and 6.1 rpg. with 1.2 blocks as South Palisades finished at 25-6, reaching the FHSAA Class 6A regional semifinals. He shot 45 pct. from the floor (70-of-156) with 12 3-pointers in 38 attempts along with going 38-of-76 at the line (50 pct.).
“I chose Gannon University because from the moment I visited, I felt the genuine love and brotherhood that radiates throughout the campus,” exclaimed Coleman. “That strong sense of community, both within the university and in its connection to the surrounding area, made it feel like a true home where I knew I could grow and thrive.”
Precious Idiaru – F, 6-10, 240, R-Jr., Speyer, Germany / LA Premier Prep / Longwood / UMKC
A native of Germany, Idiaru provides Gannon with a large presence in the middle along with plenty of experience at the Division I level. The redshirt junior played two seasons at University of Missouri Kansas City before playing a year ago at Longwood, helped the Lancers to an 18-14 record.
“Precious is one of the more unique guys in the world,” Bazzoli pointed out. “He has an infectious personality, an elite work ethic, and has an enormous amount of versatility on the floor at 6’10”. Really excited for him to join us.”
Idiaru appeared in nine games last year, finishing with nine points and eight rebounds, along with an assist, a steal and a blocked shot. He made 4-of-7 field goals and 1-of-3 free throws. He had a season-high six points vs. Regent (3-of-4 FGs), adding four rebounds, and also had four rebounds vs. Mary Baldwin.
Idiaru redshirted at UMKC in 2023-24 after playing in 27 games as a true freshman in 2022-23. In his freshman season he averaged 2.3 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. That included a career- best 11 points at North Dakota State, along with six rebounds against Calvary.
He played in high school at LA Premiere Prep, averaging 9.2 points, 8.5 rebounds, 2.2 assists and 1.1 blocks per game. He previously played for the German National Team and was a three-time regional champion in Germany. His twin brother Promise also played at UMKC.
“I chose Gannon because of the incredible opportunities it offers!, Idiaru commented. “The young coaching staff brings fresh energy and a style that fits how I like to play, which made the decision easy. I’ve kind of forgotten how fun playing basketball can be, so after talking to the players and hearing that playing at Gannon was the most fun they’ve ever had reminded me how much I love the game and made me excited to be a part of it.”
Lucas Morgan – G, 6-4, Jr., Sydney, Australia / Marist Catholic College North Shore / St. Cloud State
Morgan is one part of the twin tandem of Morgan’s joining the Gannon program this season. A 6-foot-4 guard, Lucas Morgan played the last two seasons at St. Cloud State and joins the Golden Knights with 59 games, including 56 starts, and 635 points under his belt at the Division II level.
“Lucas is going to be a perfect fit in the system,” Bazzoli stressed. “He is a highly versatile player coming from another great division 2 conference where he has been a proven producer in all stat categories. His IQ and size will greatly benefit the team.”
A native of Sydney, Australia, Morgan helped lead St. Cloud State to a 20-12 finish in 2024-25, losing to Minnesota State in the NSIC quarterfinals. He started all 32 games averaging 27.9 minutes per game. Morgan ended the year as the third-leading scorer (11.4 ppg.) and rebounder (4.7 rpg.), adding 38 assists, 40 steals and 13 blocked shots. He was one of the top 3-point threats on the Huskies, making 34-of-92 from beyond the arc (37.0 pct.). He shot 45.1 pct. from the floor (115-of-255) and was 101-of-122 (82.8 pct.) from the line.
Morgan scored a season-high 21 points against Augustana (2/15/25) on 8-of-10 shooting while making three 3-pointers to go with five rebounds and three steals. All told he had ten games with 15-or-more points and scored in double figures in 21 games. He fell just shy of a double-double with 20 points and nine rebounds against Sioux Falls (1/24/25), going 11-for-11 from the line. He also scored 20 points against Winona State (1/17/25). He posted the third-longest consecutive free throw streak in program history, making 34 in a row.
As a freshman in 2023-24 Morgan appeared in 27 games, making 24 starts. He averaged 10.0 points, 5.7 rebounds, two assists, one steal, and 0.7 blocks. He made 29-of-76 3-pointers while shooting 44.3 pct. from the floor (90-of-203) and 81.3 pct. from the line (61-of-75). He scored a career-high 25 points in 21 minutes off the bench in his first career game against Pittsburg State (11/10/23), making 9-of-13 shots with three 3-pointers. Morgan recorded his first career double-double with an 11-point, 10-rebound performance against Mary (12/12/23), and tallied his second career double-double with 10 points and 10 rebounds against Southwest Minnesota State (2/28/24).
Morgan is a 2023 graduate of Marist Catholic College North Shore. He competed at the 2023 Australia U20 Championships with New South Wales and earned a silver medal. In addition to reuniting with his brother Mackenzie at Gannon, his older sister Issy just completed her career at Davidson as a member of the women’s basketball team, scoring almost 1,000 career points.
“I chose Gannon because it’s a great opportunity to compete for a championship and also play with my brother,” Morgan stated.
Mackenzie Morgan – G, 6-4, Jr., Sydney, Australia / Marist Catholic College North Shore / West Texas A&M
The second half of the Morgan twins is Mackenzie Morgan, who played the last two years at West Texas A&M. Like his brother Lucas, Mackenzie brings plenty of experience on the Division II level while appearing in 67 games for the Buffs, with 19 starts. He is used to a winning culture as West Texas A&M won 49 games during his two seasons, including 19-12 a year ago and 30-5 in 2023-24. The Buffs reached the Final Four his freshman year and were an NCAA Tournament team in 2024-25, as well.
“Mackenzie has a contagious positive attitude to him that will impact our entire roster,” Bazzoli pointed out. “He is a great fit to who we are as a program with his work ethic and shooting ability. I cannot wait to see him take the next big step in his growth as a player in the Gannon uniform.”
Morgan appeared in 31 games with 19 starts a year ago. The 6-foot-4 guard played just under 25 minutes per game and averaged 6.9 ppg. and 4.1 rpg. with 34 assists, 20 steals and six blocks. He shot 42.4 pct. from the floor (61-of-144), making 38-of-92 3-pointers (41.3 pct.), and was 55-of-68 from the line (80.9 pct.). He scored in double figures in seven games including a career-high 22 points vs. St. Mary’s (TX) (2/20/25), making 5-of-7 3-pointers. He had a high of eight rebounds vs. Fort Lewis (12/20/24).
In 2023-24 Morgan was a key reserve on the West Texas A&M squad that reached the Final Four, scoring 34 points and pulling down 28 rebounds. That included a season-high 13 points vs. Texas A&M International (12/12/23). He shot 37.9 pct. from the floor, 45.0 pct. from beyond the arc, and 75.0 pct. from the charity stripe.
Morgan also attended Marist Catholic College North Shore helping the team to a Combined Catholic Schools State championship where he averaged 22.1 points, seven assists, and eight rebounds per game.
“I chose Gannon because it felt like a good fit for me,” Morgan commented. “The coaches were super welcoming, the school’s in a great location, and it’s a great opportunity for me to play with my brother and compete for championships.”
Julian Rivera – G, 6-1, Fr., Gainesville, Va. / Highland (Va.) HS
Rivera was the starting point guard on a Highland High School team that reached the state championship game three straight years, winning the VISAA Division I State Championship earlier this year after finishing as the Division II runner-up in 2023-24 and the Division II state champion in 2022-23.
The Hawks ended the year at 42-7, winning the VISAA State Tournament Div. 1 championship with a 56-51 win over Bishop O’Connell in the championship game. The Highland Roster included Nate Ament, one of the top recruits in the country and a University of Tennessee signee. Ament is considered one of the top draft prospects for the 2026 NBA Draft. Rivera combined with Ament to lead the Hawks to the state title, finishing with six points with great ballhandling against a strong Bishop O’Connell defense. The state title helped Highland jump to No. 14 in the MaxPreps national rankings and No. 22 in the ESPN Top 25 rankings. The season also included a 61-57 win over Prolific Prep (Cal.), the top team in the country, in the Hoopball Classic in Springfield, Mass. Rivera contributed 10 points in the victory.
“I am fired up for Julian joining our program,” noted Bazzoli. “He filled the box score up for one of the best teams in America this year at Highland (VA). Impacting winning and people are the two key things that will be an easy transition for him.”
As a junior Rivera had 10 points and eight rebounds in the Div. II state championship game, a loss to Miller School of Albermarle. The Hawks ended the season with a 24-12 record. That came after a 2022-23 campaign which saw Highland capture the Div. II state title with a 42-40 win over Miller School and end the year at 30-3.
Highland competed in the Metro Private School Conference, but joined a second conference last season, joining the Elite Prep League that includes the likes of Fork Union, Mt. Zion Prep (MD), Perkiomen School (PA), Hargrave Military (VA), Winston-Salem Christian (NC), Canada Topflight Academy (Ottawa, Canada), the Skill Factory (Atlanta, GA), Andrews Osbourne Academy (Willoughby, OH) and Massanutten Military Academy (VA). The move allowed Highland to compete against prep and post-grad schools.
“I chose Gannon because I could feel the sense of community and the winning culture that’s displayed here,” Rivera commented. “I also felt so welcomed by everyone I met in Erie and I felt wanted by the basketball community.”
High School Sports
Man pulling knife inside Central Library highlights safety issues in downtown Portland area
Last Monday, before a shooting outside closed the library, a man had pulled a knife inside the building, using homophobic slurs and threatening staff and patrons. Author: kgw.com Published: 7:26 PM PDT July 11, 2025 Updated: 7:26 PM PDT July 11, 2025 1


Last Monday, before a shooting outside closed the library, a man had pulled a knife inside the building, using homophobic slurs and threatening staff and patrons.
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