2017-2018 News
Curtis Aiken Jr. Commits To Pitt
North Allegheny senior guard Curtis Aiken Jr. has announced he will continue his academic and athletic career at the University of Pittsburgh. Aiken scored over 1,000 points during his career at North Allegheny and averaged 17.8 points per game in 15 games a senior.
Aiken’s father, Curtis Aiken Sr., was a four-year letter winner at Pitt from 1983-1987 and scored 1,200 points. Aiken Sr. helped Pitt to a 25-8 record during his senior season and a co-Big East regular season championship.
Aiken Jr. made the announcement of his commitment to Pitt on Twitter on Thursday night.
Zach Johnson, Curtis Aiken Selected To Roundball Classic
The North Allegheny boys’ basketball team will have two representatives at the prestigious Roundball Classic at Geneva College next month. Senior forward Zach Johnson and senior guard Curtis Aiken will take to the hardwood as members of the WPIAL Class 6A team on Saturday, April 21. The Class 6A squad will take on the Class 5A team at 8 p.m. in the grand finale of the two-day all-star event.
The top boys and girls players from each classification in the WPIAL and City League will play in a series of all-star games on Friday, April 20, and Saturday, April 21, at Geneva College in Beaver Falls. The weekend also includes a recognition dinner for players and their families on Thursday evening.
Both Johnson and Aiken battled through injuries during the 2017-2018 season but managed to play through the pain for solid senior campaigns. Johnson, a 6-10 forward, led the Tigers in rebounding with 159 on the season and averaged 7.6 boards per game. A force in the paint, Johnson also led the team with 34 blocked shots and averaged 8.6 points per game. Johnson was recognized by the Big 56 Conference as a second-team all-section pick for Section 1-6A.
A dynamic scorer and a threat to take over a game on any night, Aiken led NA in scoring with 17.8 points per game. The 6-0 guard also paced the team with 33 steals and 35 assists. On the perimeter, Aiken tied for the team lead in 3-pointers with 26 and hit at a 35-percent clip from beyond the arc.
Congratulations to Zach Johnson and Curtis Aiken and good luck in the Roundball Classic next month.
Zach Johnson Named 2nd-Team All-Section
The Big 56 Conference released the Class 6A all-section teams Monday afternoon and the North Allegheny boys’ basketball team had three selections.
Senior forward Zach Johnson was tabbed to the second-team, while junior forward Anthony Hattrup and sophomore guard Mike Iuzillino collected honorable mention laurels. Johnson was the team leader in rebounding, pulling down 159 boards and averaging 7.6 rebounds per game. The 6-10 standout averaged 8.6 points per game.
Hattrup and Iuzillino are examples of the team’s bright future. A tenacious defender, Hattrup was second on the team with 28 steals and averaged 6.2 points per game offensively. Thrust into a more significant role because of injuries to fellow teammates, Iuzillino took advantage of his playing time and finished tied for the team lead in 3-pointers made with 28, hitting at a 39-percent clip from beyond the arc. Iuzillino averaged 7.4 points per game
For a complete listing of the Big 56 Class 6A boys’ basketball all-section teams, click here.
