HS BASKETBALL: Mid Valley's Nemitz named to Pennsylvania Sports Writers Class 3A all-state third team
May 3—Mid Valley coach Michael Abda knew this season would be a challenge.
His Spartans, who reached the District 2 Class 4A final and the PIAA playoffs in 2022, lost key players to the starting lineup for a variety of reasons. But he knew he had an ace in the locker room.
Danny Nemitz, a poised and determined leader, returned, and with him he brought an internal drive and passion that burned intensely to rise above the adversity.
He served as the on-court and locker room leader, played with an unmatched desire, and led the Spartans back to a district final and the state playoffs. His efforts offensively and defensively earned him The Times-Tribune Player of the Year.
And in the end, his 30-point game in a loss against highly-ranked Devon Prep in the second round of the PIAA playoffs drew a lot of attention across the state. It also helped land him a spot on the Pennsylvania Sports Writers All-State Basketball team announced Wednesday. Nemitz made the third team in Class 3A.
"I was very confident in Danny's ability to lead our team," Abda said. "He had been a team captain since he was a sophomore. He was always a great teammate. The coaching staff and I especially knew he would lead the team through the season.
"He took the responsibility of being a leader very seriously and is an incredible representative of our basketball program, school, and community."
A four-year starter, Nemitz guided the Spartans into challenging for the Lackawanna Division III title and led them through the District 2 Class 3A playoffs, where they eventually lost to Holy Redeemer in the final.
The 5-foot-10 senior guard averaged 17.4 points per game, 5.8 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2.0 steals per game this season. Coaches in Division III named him the player of the year.
In the postseason, Nemitz was at his best.
He scored 44 points in three district games and had 43 in two state playoff games, which included his 30-point effort against Devon Prep.
"It's one of those things where, when you look at the year he had, you are so impressed and thankful that it all worked out for the young man because he really dedicated himself to Mid Valley basketball," Abda said. "He made an incredible number of sacrifices off the court, as well, because he chose to work on his game. What is really great for him is that he played such an outstanding game in his last one against a very talented opponent. He put in an incredible amount of time, and he reaped the rewards."
For his career, Nemitz etched his name in the Mid Valley history books. He became the program's all-time leading scorer with 1,321 points and finished his four seasons, with one being reduced because of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 462 rebounds, 247 assists, 166 steals, and 47 blocks.
More importantly, the Spartans were 65-28 and won the Division III title in his junior season.
"Danny has always given his best effort on the court, in the weight room, and at films," Abda said. "He is a tremendous teammate, leader, and captain. The thing that makes him special is that he holds himself to an extremely high standard, and his number one priority is always winning.
"He is everything you want from a player."
2022-23 PENNSYLVANIA ALL-STATE BASKETBALL
CLASS 1A
Player of the year
Vinnie Cugini 6-1 senior Aquinas Academy
First team
Pace Prosser 6-1 junior Berlin Brothersvalley
Alier Maluk 6-11 sophomore Imani Christian Academy
Jaydis Kennedy 6-3 senior Geibel Catholic
Jack Bracken 6-4 junior Harmony Area
Craig Jarvis 6-1 junior Berlin Brothersvalley (tie)
Cameron Keyser 6-5 senior Jamestown Area (tie)
Second team
Drew Hoffman 5-11 senior High Point Baptist Academy
Xavier Spears 6-3 junior Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg
Derek Litzelman 6-1 senior North Penn-Liberty
Dame Givner 6-1 sophomore Imani Christian Academy
Daniel King 6-3 senior Linville Hill Christian Academy
Matt Stanley 5-11 senior Union Area
Third team
Ryan Blubaugh 6-1 senior Berlin Brothersvalley
Avery Kopcha 5-11 junior Mount Calvary Christian
Mason Kargo 5-11 senior Portage Area
Jack Swider 6-5 senior Phil-Mont Christian Academy
Adam Straub 6-3 senior Elk County Catholic
Lorenzo Gardner 6-4 junior Monessen
Coach of the Year
Tanner Prosser, Berlin Brothersvalley
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CLASS 2A
Player of the Year
Davion Hill 6-2 senior St. John Neumann Regional Academy
First team
Camden Hurst 6-2 senior Lancaster Mennonite
Shea Champine 6-1 senior Bishop Canevin
Cameron Lindsey 6-3 junior Aliquippa
Jackson Hubbard 6-2 senior Sayre Area
Ross Eyer 6-5 senior Muncy
Second team
David Weaver 6-7 senior Lancaster Mennonite
Brad Felix 6-3 senior United
Nathan Lapp 6-1 senior Dock Mennonite Academy
Richie Preston 6-5 senior West Middlesex Area
Marcus Cleveland 5-11 senior Leechburg
Kyree Latimer 6-3 junior Constitution
Third team
Donovan Walker 6-1 senior Aliquippa
Tyree Turner 6-0 junior Greensburg Central Catholic
Jordan Hesdon 6-0 senior Clarion-Limestone
Tanner Zawada 5-10 sophomore Mahanoy Area
Jake Mattocks 6-3 senior Mercer Area
Zaki Alston 6-4 senior Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter (tie)
Franco Alvarez 6-5 junior Greensburg Central Catholic (tie)
Coach of the Year
Seth Buckwalter, Lancaster Mennonite
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CLASS 3A
Player of the year
Makhai Valentine 6-3 senior Steel Valley
First team
Adam "Budd" Clark 5-10 senior West Catholic
Zion Stanford 6-5 senior West Catholic
Patrick Haigh 6-4 senior Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
Blake Morningstar 6-5 senior Wyalusing Valley
Garrett Harrold 6-4 senior Penn Cambria
Second team
Connor Spratt 6-2 senior Seton LaSalle Catholic
Owen Schlager 6-2 sophomore Trinity
Bryce Robson 6-0 senior Deer Lakes
Joseph Roth 6-5 junior Ellwood City
Damon Curry 6-5 junior Franklin
Jacen Holloway 6-5 senior Devon Prep
Third team
Karson Dominick 6-1 junior North Penn-Mansfield
Danny Nemitz 5-10 senior Mid Valley
Lucas Orchard 6-4 senior Devon Prep
Terek Crosby 6-2 junior Yough
Nasseem Wright 6-6 junior Math Civics and Sciences Charter
Jude Haigh 6-4 sophomore Bishop Guilfoyle Catholic
Coach of the Year
Miguel Bocachica, West Catholic
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CLASS 4A
Player of the year
Robert Wright III 6-0 junior Neumann-Goretti
First team
Brandin Cummings 6-4 junior Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter
Meleek Thomas 6-4 sophomore Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter
Rodney Gallagher 6-0 senior Laurel Highlands
Sultan Adewale 6-8 senior Neumann-Goretti
Izaiah Pasha 6-5 senior Cardinal O'Hara
Second team
Max Hurray 6-1 junior North Catholic
Jake Karnish 6-2 senior Fleetwood
Bryce Epps 6-0 senior South Allegheny
Keondre DeShields 6-3 senior Laurel Highlands
Khaafiq Myers 5-11 junior Neumann-Goretti
Elijah Hamilton 6-5 senior Octorara (tie)
Duce Jackson 6-6 senior Collegium Charter (tie)
Third team
Cole Miller 6-3 senior Clearfield Area
Austin Bausman 6-4 senior Eastern York
Nyerre Collins 5-10 senior Greater Johnstown
Bradyn Foster 6-8 junior Highlands
Dean Coleman-Newsome 6-4 senior Archbishop Carroll (tie)
Zach Kirk 6-0 junior Octorara (tie)
Zion Moore 5-11 sophomore Belle Vernon Area (tie)
Coach of the Year
Mike Bariski, Lincoln Park Performing Arts Charter
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CLASS 5A
Player of the year
Justin Edwards 6-7 senior Imhotep Charter
First team
Thomas Sorber 6-9 junior Archbishop Ryan
Ahmad Nowell 6-1 junior Imhotep Charter
Royce Parham 6-9 junior North Hills
Rahmir Barno 5-11 senior Imhotep Charter
Darren Williams 6-4 junior Archbishop Ryan
Second team
Jackson Hicke 6-5 senior Radnor
Anthony Caccese 6-7 senior Exeter Township
Trey Grube 5-11 senior Manheim Central
Kareem Diaz 6-4 senior Murrell Dobbins
Daemar Kelly 6-5 senior Penn Hills
Tasso Sfanos 6-2 senior Mars Area
Third team
Julian Pagan 6-3 senior Pocono Mountain West
Hayden Pardoe 6-5 senior Central Mountain
Zyion Paschall 5-10 senior Exeter Township
Jake Sambuchino 5-11 senior Cathedral Prep
Malachi Thomas 6-4 senior Milton Hershey
Kevin Rucker, Jr. 6-5 junior Bonner-Prendergast
Coach of the Year
Matt Ashcroft, Exeter Township
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CLASS 6A
Player of the year
Ruben Rodriguez 6-2 senior Reading
First team
Xzayvier Brown 6-1 senior Roman Catholic
Jalil Bethea 6-4 junior Archbishop Wood
Nick Coval 6-2 junior Parkland
Braeden Shrewsberry 6-3 senior State College
Dylan Blair 5-11 senior Downingtown West
Second team
Jacob Nguyen 6-4 sophomore Spring-Ford Area
Sam Brown 6-2 senior Lower Merion
Quidire Bennett 6-3 senior Plymouth-Whitemarsh
Greg Guidinger 6-7 junior Central York
Jaron McKie 6-2 sophomore St. Joseph's Prep
Nadir Myers 6-2 senior Upper Darby
Third team
Aris Rodriguez 6-5 senior Reading
Nasir Washington 6-3 senior Penn Wood
Myles Grey 5-10 senior Reading
Jonathan Anderson 5-9 senior New Castle
Donovan Fromhartz 6-4 sophomore Downingtown West
Miguel Pena 6-3 senior Hempfield (tie)
Jermal Stewart-Herring 6-3 senior Roman Catholic (tie)
Coach of the Year
Rick Perez, Reading
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CLASS NON-PIAA
Player of the year
Christian Bliss 6-4 junior George
First team
Andrew Phillips 6-4 senior Malvern Prep
Will Riley 6-7 sophomore Phelps
Dellquan Warren 6-0 junior Keystone Academy
Ryan Williams 6-3 junior Malvern Prep
Second team
Luke Bevilacqua 6-11 sophomore George
Jordan Dill 5-11 freshman Germantown Friends
Will Sydnor 6-8 junior First Love Christian Academy
Khali Horton 6-6 senior Keystone Academy
Kevin McCarthy 6-3 junior Episcopal Academy
Third team
Devin Booker 6-4 sophomore Cristo Rey
Matt Gilhool 6-11 junior Westtown
Matar Diop 6-10 senior Keystone Academy
Macon Emory 6-7 junior Perkiomen
Bahsil Laster 6-5 junior Academy of the New Church
Coach of the Year
Tom Baudinet, Perkiomen
Contact the writer: jbfawcett@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9125; @sportsTT on Twitter
