Juniata men's basketball announces newcomers for 2008-09
(Posted July 17, 2008)
Juniata College head men's basketball coach Greg Curley has announced that eight high school student-athletes and one transfer student have committed to attend Juniata College and compete for the Eagle men's basketball program beginning with the 2008-09 season.
The following is a list (in alphabetical order) of men's basketball newcomers for 2008-09; additional commitments may be announced at a later date.
Austin Ankney
C, Somerset, Pa./Somerset HS
"Austin is a fantastic student, an accomplished athlete, and a person of tremendous character. He will provide us some much-needed depth inside and will compete for a significant role in our program. He has the ability to make an immediate impact for us on the defensive end and on the glass, and with time he has the tools to develop into a dominant all-around player. We are all very excited to see just how good Austin can become," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Austin was a three-year starter at the post position at Somerset HS for coach Scott Close, earning All-Laurel Highlands Athletic Conference honors as a senior. He set a new Somerset record for career rebounds, and was selected to play in both the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat Senior Hoops Showcase and the Altoona Mirror Basketball Classic.
Austin was a National Honor Society member at Somerset, and was named to Who's Who Among American High School Students, the National Society of High School Scholars, and was a United States Achievement Academy All-American Scholar. The son of Dave and Ginger Ankney, he selected Juniata College over McDaniel College, Grove City College, Case Western Reserve, Penn State-The Behrend College, and Penn State-Altoona.
Matt Fritz
G, Allentown, Pa./Parkland HS
"Matt comes to us from a terrific high school program. He has been extremely well coached and has faced some of the best competition in the state. His versatility and understanding of the game make him the perfect fit for our style of play. His enthusiasm and passion for his teammates and the game make him an immediate asset to our program, and we think he can play a big role in our continued success," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Matt was a two-year starter at guard and four-year letterwinner at Parkland High School for head coach Rich Fatzinger. He earned all-star honors at the Via Classic and was an Eastern Invitational Top 20 All-Star, and was a member of the Lehigh Valley AAU team that qualified for the 2007 AAU Nationals.
At Parkland High School, he was a Honor Roll student for all four years, and was a member of the German Honors Society. He is the son of Bill and Beth Fritz, and selected Juniata College over Catholic University, New York University, and Gettysburg College.
Jason Greenberg
G, Redding, Conn./Joel Barlow HS
"Jason is a tremendously hard worker and terrific shooter. As he continues to develop the other facets of his game, we expect Jason to become a strong contributor to our program. His enthusiasm, love for the game, and understanding of how to play make him a great fit for our program," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Jason was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at guard for coach Seth Babikian at Joel Barlow HS. He was an Honorable mention Connecticut Interscolastic Athletic Conference All-State selection, and All-Division Team honoree in Connecticut SouthWest Conference, and played in the SWC All-Star game. He earned All-Tournament team honors in the Danbury News Times Tip-Off Classic.
Jason was a writer for both the Joel Barlow school paper and the Redding Pilot, and was a youth basketball referee. The son of Elliot and Ann Greenberg, he selected Juniata College over Bard College, Ithaca College, and Salve Regina University.
Ryan Jones
F, Coudersport, Pa./Coudersport
Ryan will be transferring to Juniata College from Catholic University of America, where he has been a member of the Catholic men's basketball team for the past two seasons. He will have junior athletic eligibility at Juniata
"We are extremely excited to have Ryan join our program. He is a very talented scorer, a terrific rebounder, and has a great understanding of how to play the game. Coming out of high school, we felt he was one of the top post prospects in the state and we were extremely disappointed when he chose to go elsewhere. That being said, the timing for him to join our program could not be better. Ryan's size, skill set, and experience directly address our most glaring team needs and we expect him to play a major and immediate role in our continued success," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Ryan saw action in 12 games during his sophomore season, averaging 3.2 points and 1.4 rebounds per game. He shot .462 from the field, including a 3-of-5 (.600) clip from beyond the arc. During his freshman campaign, Ryan averaged 2.2 points and 1.4 boards over 18 games.
At Coudersport, Ryan was a four-year starter at forward for coach Chris Fink. He completed his high school career as Coudersport's all-time leading scorer with 1,815 points, averaging 21 points and 14 rebounds during his senior season. He was named Northern Tier League Most Valuable Player following his senior campaign, and was a three-time First team All-League selection. Ryan earned All-District IX honors as a junior and senior, and led the Falcons to three Northern Tier League championships during his four years at Coudersport. Ryan is the son of Gary and Linda Jones.
Michael McCarry
G, Ambler, Pa./Upper Dublin HS
"Mike's basketball background makes him a great fit for our program. Having competed in one of the better high school leagues in the state, not much phases him. He has the ability to play both guard positions and is physically ready for the college level. Mike is a terrific leader with a maturity and confidence we will rely on over the next four years. His toughness, shooting ability, and competitiveness should play a big role in our program's success over the next four years," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Mike was a two-year starter and four-year letterwinner at both the point and shooting guard positions for coach Josh Adelman at Upper Dublin, where he earned First team All-Suburban League honors as a senior. He was his team's Offensive Player of the Year this past season, and earned the Coaches Award at the conclusion of his junior campaign.
Mike was an Honor Roll student in 2008, and was active in Upper Dublin's student government. The son of Michael McCurry and Pam Jameson, Mike selected Juniata College over Washington College (Md.), Catholic University, and Drew University.
Matt Regan
F, Downingtown, Pa./Devon Prep
"Matt's size and ability to shoot the ball make him a great addition to our program. His versatility and understanding of the game him a perfect fit for our system; as he adjusts to the speed and physicality of the college game he will continue to get better. Matt is a person of great character and a committed student who we can expect to be a big part of our program's continued success," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
Matt was a three-year starter at forward and a four-year letterwinner at Devon Prep for coach Bill Frio, earning First team All-Bicentennial League honors as a senior. He was a First team All-Star selection from the Main Line Times and Main Line Life, and also earned Second team All-League honors in baseball at Devon Prep.
Matt was a National Honor Society member at Devon Prep, maintaining Distinguished Honor Roll status in both his junior and senior years, and served on Devon's student council for four years. The son of Tim and Chrisie Regan, he selected Juniata College over RIT, Dickinson College, and Washington & Lee University.
Dan Sekulski
F, Douglassville, Pa./Daniel Boone Area HS
"Dan is a terrific student and an extremely talented athlete from a very successful program," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley. "He understands what it takes to win in a highly competitive environment and has the ability to make a big impact in our program. Dan is a play maker, an unbelievably tough competitor, and an outstanding leader, we expect him to bring a great deal of excitement to our gym over the next four years."
Dan earned Third team All-State (Class AAA) honors from both the Associated Press as a senior at Daniel Boone HS, averaging 16.8 points per game while helping the Blazers to a 25-8 record and the "elite eight" of the PIAA Class AAA state basketball tournament. He was an All-Berks County selection and was the Pottstown Mercury's Boys Basketball Player of the Year, after scoring 558 points during his senior campaign while averaging 6.5 rebounds, 2.2 steals, and 1.8 assists per game.
Dan also earned Daniel Boone Area High School's Outstanding Senior Male Athlete of the Year award, as well as a United States Marine Corps Distinguished Athlete Award for displaying courage, poise, self-confidence and leadership as a high school athlete. He was a National Honor Society member at Daniel Boone Area HS, received a President's Education Award for Outstanding Academics Excellence, as well as a Pottstown Chapter of American Business Clubs Award as an Honor Roll student.
He is the son of Paul and Sandy Sekulski, and selected Juniata College over the University of Scranton, Lycoming College, and Elizabethtown College.
Andrew Simpson
G, Jefferson, Md./Brunswick HS
"Andrew is a fantastic addition to our program. He has achieved at the highest levels as both an athlete and student at the high school level, and we fully expect him to bring the same expectation for success to our program. We look for him to compete immediately for a key role in our backcourt," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
"He is a very talented athlete who possesses a great feel for the game, and understands how to win. A pure point guard, Andrew's best attribute is his ability to make those around him better. He should provide us all with a very exciting four years."
Andrew was a two-year starter at both the point and shooting guard positions for coach Dan McClane at Brunswick, where he earned First team All-Conference and First team All-Gazette honors, and was selected to play in the Tri-State Elite All-Star game.
Andrew was a Maryland Distinguished Scholar, and National Honor Society member, and was active in the Volleyball Club and the Bible Club. The son of Kevin and Deborah Simpson, Andrew selected Juniata College over Randolph-Macon College and Messiah College.
Andy Wolfe
G, Carlisle, Pa./Boiling Springs HS
"Andy is the type of person, student and athlete that defines success. We think he has a fantastic future in front of him and can play a big part in the future of our program. He comes from an outstanding program and has been taught by a terrific coach. Andy is a great shooter who will fit right into our system of play, and I'm excited to coach Andy and help him reach his potential as a student and athlete," said Juniata head coach Greg Curley.
A two-year starter at shooting guard and four-year letterwinner for coach Pat Dieter at Boiling Springs High School, averaging 12 points per game with 50 three-point field goals while helping lead the Bubblers to an 18-7 record, the program's first Class AAA District III tournament appearance in five years, and the team's first-ever slot in the Mid-Penn Conference playoffs. Andy earned Mid-Penn First team All-Conference honors and was named to the Mid-Penn All-Star team as a senior. He was also named to All-Tournament teams at the Paul Corby Tip-Off tournament and the Mechanicsburg Holiday tournament, and was a state finalist in the Knights of Columbus Free Throw competition. Andy averaged
The son of Ray and Joan Wolfe, he selected Juniata College over Elizabethtown College and Messiah College.
All nine players will be joining a Juniata men's basketball program that is coming off back-to-back conference championship game appearances and berths in the ECAC Division III South Region Tournament. The Eagles posted a 17-11 overall record last season, 9-5 in the Landmark Conference, and advanced to the conference tournament. Juniata upset top-seeded Susquehanna University in a semifinal matchup on the Crusaders' home floor, before falling to the University of Scranton in the title game. Juniata's 17 wins last season matched a program record for wins in a season.
The Eagles are led by Head Coach Greg Curley, who will be heading into his eighth season at the helm of Juniata men's basketball.
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Contact April Feagley at feaglea@juniata.edu or (814) 641-3131 for more information.