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Nico Antoniacci had an impactful debut, and Michael Hughes provided leadership in his final season in high school boys basketball.
The standout players who led their teams to championships this winter were honored as two of the best in Pennsylvania. Antoniacci, who led Riverside to the District 2 Class 3A title, and Hughes, who powered Holy Cross to the Lackawanna League Division II crown and the PIAA semifinals, were named to the Pennsylvania Boys Basketball Writers Class 3A All-State first team Sunday.
Antoniacci and Hughes headline the group of Lackawanna League selections. Holy Cross senior center Matt Lyons (Class 3A), Abington Heights senior center Robby Lucas (Class 5A), Scranton Prep’s Brycen Martin (Class 4A) and Old Forge’s Cameron Parker (Class 2A) were named to third teams in their respective classifications.
Teams were voted on by high school sports writers from across the state.
Antoniacci, a 6-2 freshman guard, started his varsity career after earning an outstanding reputation at major travel team tournaments. He was the Times-Tribune Player of the Year and the Lackawanna League Coaches Division II player of the year at Riverside.
He led the Lackawanna League in scoring at 20.4 points per game with 572 points and 86 3-pointers. In addition, he contributed 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists and 2.5 steals per game and had 80 points in five postseason games, including 61 in three PIAA Class 3A playoff games.
“There was a lot of pressure and high expectations before he ever played a high school varsity game and he lived up to and exceeded them,” Riverside coach Josh Aniska said. “Anyone who saw us play in person could see that every opposing team’s game plan was focused on stopping him and he saw every defense imaginable. He did what he did against the toughest defenses you could play.
“He showed such great maturity at a young age. He accepted the pressure and embraced it and he is the type of competitor who fed off it. He never forced anything. We had a really good senior group around him, but he was a willing passer and supporting teammate.”
The move up in classification did not slow Holy Cross this season.
Hughes was a Class 2A first-team all-state selection as a junior. In his senior year, he averaged 15.3 points per game and scored 113 points in seven postseason games, including 67 points with six 3-pointers in four PIAA Class 3A playoff games for the Crusaders, who came within a buzzer-beating 3-pointer by West Catholic of reaching a second straight state final.
He finished his career, which included a year at Abington Heights, with 1,210 points and 151 3-pointers, and 1,188 and 149 at Holy Cross. Hughes also averaged 2.8 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 1.0 steals in 87 games at Holy Cross.
“It is an incredible honor for Mike,” Holy Cross coach Al Callejas Jr. said. “To receive this two years in a row is not an easy task. He is one of the hardest workers and his drive to compete to help the team win is second to none.
“He set a legacy at Holy Cross with this senior group and him being all-state is great.”
Lyons, who will play at Arcadia in college, teamed with Hughes to lead Holy Cross.
The 6-foot-6 senior center averaged 14.8 points, 7.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 1.3 steals and 1.5 blocks per game and had 106 points in seven postseason games, including 60 in four PIAA Class 3A games. He finished his career with 1,025 points, 567 rebounds, 96 assists, 104 steals and 132 blocks.
“Matt just is the pride of Holy Cross,” Callejas Jr. said. “He is a phenomenal teammate and did whatever he could to win. He would be as happy scoring eight points as he would to score 20 as long as we won the game.
“He is a great representative of Holy Cross on and off the court. It is sad losing him and this senior class. They were easy to coach and were driven to win.”
Lucas, who recently committed to Hartwick, took over as the leader at Abington Heights after helping the program to a 26-1 record as a junior.
As one of two returning starters, the 6-foot-3 center averaged 18.2 points per game, 6.1 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.0 steals per game. He helped Abington Heights win the District 2 Class 5A championship with 52 points, 19 rebounds and 13 assists in three postseason games.
A three-year starter, he finished with 1,091 points, 415 rebounds, 256 assists and 415 steals.
“The first thing that comes to mind with Robby is his character,” Abington Heights coach JC Show said. “He played tough, he was unselfish and he is a great competitor. He found a way to make it happen for his team in the clutch. He is a talented player, but his most valuable traits are his intangibles. He is somebody who you, at the end of games, you trust. I told him numerous times that I would sleep well at night, knowing I got the ball to No. 44 and he always delivered.
“Our team would not have the success at the end of the season without the stability that Robby Lucas provided. We did not get off to a great start and took our lumps, he was the glue that kept us together. He believed that we could be good and that resulted in us winning a championship.”
Martin was the Lackawanna League Coaches Division I player of the year after leading Scranton Prep to the title.
The 6-1 guard averaged 17.3 points, 3.0 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He scored 84 points in five postseason games that included 26 points and five 3-pointers in a win over Northwestern Lehigh in the first round of the PIAA Class 4A playoffs, finished his career with 1,125 points and will continue playing at Ursinus.
“He started to take strides in being a leader last year when we came up short of our goal and he set out to accomplish that as a senior,” Scranton Prep coach Larry Reagan said. “He put in a lot of work and he showed the consistency that is something you expect to see out of a division player of the year, an All-Region player and now an all-state player.”
Parker, a 6-0 guard, provided a spark for Old Forge, which won the District 2 Class 2A championship and reached the PIAA quarterfinals.
He averaged 15.4 points per game, had 49 3-pointers and averaged 2.6 assists, 3.1 rebounds and 1.7 steals. In the playoffs, Parker scored 66 points in five games and scored 22 points and made four 3-pointers in a win over Sayre in the PIAA Class 2A first round.
“I am extremely happy for Cameron,” Old Forge coach JJ Thomas said. “The amount of time and effort he puts in is unmatched. What a difference a year makes for him and our whole team. With the responsibility and emphasis we put on him to be our primary scorer and facilitator, he accepted that challenge and embraced it. It was really great to see. I am very proud of him.”
2024-25 PENNSYLVANIA BOYS BASKETBALL WRITERS ALL-STATE
CLASS 6A
First team
Kevair Kennedy 6-2 senior Father Judge*
Shareef Jackson 6-7 senior Roman Catholic
Jordan Ellerbee 6-3 senior St. Joseph’s Prep
Derrick Morton-Rivera 6-3 junior Father Judge
R.J. Smith 5-9 junior Imhotep Charter
Jaron McKie 6-4 senior St. Joseph’s Prep
Second team
Adrian Brito 6-6 senior Pocono Mountain West
Tyler Sutton 6-2 sophomore Roman Catholic
Ben Natal 6-3 senior Central York
Wayne Fletcher II 6-4 senior Central Dauphin
Tyler Robbins 6-10 senior Upper St. Clair
Sammy Jackson 6-7 junior Roman Catholic
Third team
Mani Sajid 6-5 junior Plymouth-Whitemarsh
J.J. Kelly 6-6 senior Chambersburg Area
Nolan Buzalka 6-3 senior Cumberland Valley
Ben Rill 6-8 senior Central York
Jacob Nguyen 6-4 senior Spring-Ford
Colton Hiller 6-5 freshman Coatesville Area
*Player of the Year
Coach of the Year: Chris Roantree, Father Judge
CLASS 5A
First team
Stephon Ashley 6-0 junior Neumann-Goretti*
Cameron Sweeney 6-3 junior Hershey
Jayden Davis 5-10 senior Chartiers Valley
Ama Sow 6-11 senior Montour
Donte Tisinger 6-3 senior Greater Johnstown
Matt Gardler 6-0 senior Marple Newtown
Second Team
Alassan N’Diaye 6-6 junior Neumann-Goretti
Korey Francis 6-3 sophomore Bonner-Prendergast
Chase Smucker 6-0 senior Lampeter-Strasburg
DeShawn Yates 5-10 junior Neumann-Goretti
Ryan Mulroy 6-3 senior Upper Dublin
Milak Myatt 6-4 junior Cardinal O’Hara
Third team
Amier Robinson 6-3 junior Greater Johnstown
Adrien Varella 6-3 senior Holy Ghost Prep
Mikey Mita 6-7 junior Penncrest
Brody Holmes 6-3 junior New Oxford
Maddox Bennett 6-7 junior DuBois Area
Jack Burchard 6-0 senior Meadville Area
Robby Lucas 6-3 senior Abington Heights
Lucas Luteran 6-0 senior Meadville Area
*Player of the Year
Coach of the Year: Paul Blackburn, Hershey
CLASS 4A
First team
Zane Conlon, 6-5 senior Devon Prep*
Rowan Carmichael 6-0 senior Avonworth
Luca Foster 6-6 junior Archbishop Carroll
Kingston McKoy 6-2 junior Berks Catholic
Zion Moore 6-3 senior Belle Vernon Area
Reese Craft 6-7 senior Devon Prep
Second team
Brady Mayo 6-1 senior Beaver Area
Aidan Sallie 6-3 senior Big Spring
Jahrel Vigo 6-4 senior Allentown Central Catholic
Carter Wamsley 6-7 senior Eastern York
Jason Fredericks 6-0 junior North Catholic
Sean Griffin 6-8 senior Bishop Shanahan
Third Team
Brycen Martin 6-1 senior Scranton Prep
Eli Muther 6-3 senior Central (Martinsburg)
Mikel Butts 6-7 junior West Philadelphia
Braison Patrick 6-2 junior Clearfield Area
Luke Kopetchny 6-2 sophomore Wyoming Area
Joey Hile 6-6 senior Shamokin Area
Jude Lazicki 6-3 sophomore Mt. Carmel Area
Mason Thear 6-0 senior Devon Prep
*Player of the Year
Coach of the Year: Jason Fisher, Devon Prep
CLASS 3A
First team
Josh Pratt 6-2 junior Aliquippa*
Owen Schlager 6-3 senior Trinity (Camp Hill)
Drew Cook 6-1 junior South Allegheny
Jayvon Byrd 6-0 sophomore West Catholic
Nico Antoniacci 6-2 freshman Riverside
Michael Hughes 5-11 senior Holy Cross
Second team
Cameron Epps 5-7 senior South Allegheny
Dylan Stohon 6-5 sophomore Forest Hills
Aiden McKee 6-8 junior Warrior Run
Isaac Cole 6-7 senior Universal Audenried Charter
Bobby Fadden 6-2 junior Mohawk Area
Kingston Wheatley 6-7 junior West Catholic
Third team
Matt Lyons 6-7 senior Holy Cross
Justin Whysong 5-8 senior Chestnut Ridge
Tanner Zawada 6-0 senior Mahanoy Area
Andy Retassie 6-2 senior North Star
Grady Snyder 6-0 senior Central Cambria
Jack Wesner 6-2 junior Westmont Hilltop
Jace Yedsena 6-1 senior Mahanoy Area
*Player of the Year
Coaches of the Year: Miguel Bocachica, West Catholic, and Tony DiCenzo, South Allegheny
CLASS 2A
First team
Stephen Smucker 6-1 senior Linville Hill Christian*
Lucas Stanley 6-3 senior Union Area
Khamal Orange 6-3 senior Delaware County Christian
Josh Miner 5-11 senior Northwest Area
Owen Koleno 6-0 senior West Branch
Giovanni Sejuste 6-2 senior Linville Hill Christian
Second team
Davis Fleming 6-4 senior Curwensville
Jake Dallas 6-2 senior York Catholic
Markus McGowan 6-3 sophomore Jeannette
David Kwiat 6-3 junior Neshannock
Alantay Dawson 6-3 senior Constitution
Lucas Grimsley 6-4 junior Sewickley Academy
Third team
Brayden Haney 5-11 junior Claysburg-Kimmel
Kymon’e Brown 6-0 junior Jeannette
Trae Kargo 5-10 senior Portage Area
Joel Evans 6-3 senior West Branch
Jase Ferguson 6-0 senior Clarion-Limestone
Cameron Parker 6-0 junior Old Forge
*Player of the Year
Coach of the Year: Mike Schatzmann, Linville Hill Christian
CLASS 1A
First team
Courtney Wallace 6-2 senior Neighborhood Academy*
Trey Keating 6-2 junior Nativity BVM
Avery Collins 6-2 junior Erie First Christian
Jeremy Dietz, Jr. 6-1 senior Conemaugh Valley
Nafis Dubose 6-4 junior Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter
Landon Francis 5-11 senior Otto-Eldred
Second team
Jerry Johnson 6-3 junior LaAcademia Partnership Charter
Jacob Lewis 6-1 senior Lehigh Christian Academy
Bryce Nicholson 5-8 senior Turkeyfoot Valley
Gabe Transue 6-3 junior Bethlehem Christian
Jace Casses 5-7 junior Bishop Carroll Catholic
Jacob Guillen 6-3 senior Aquinas Academy
Third team
Cameron Harrop-Wilson 6-3 senior Christian Academy
Preston Protheroe 5-10 senior Notre Dame-East Stroudsburg
Owen Dumbroski 6-0 senior Serra Catholic
Josiah Hutson 5-11 senior Chester Charter Scholars Academy
Asim Hardy 5-11 senior Sankofa Freedom Academy Charter
Jayden Stamm 6-0 junior Saint Joseph’s Academy
Wil Wortman 6-1 senior Elk County Catholic
*Player of the Year
Coach of the Year: Jordan Marks, Neighborhood Academy
NON-PIAA SCHOOLS
K.J. Cochran 6-4 senior Perkiomen*
Jake West 6-4 senior Penn Charter
Devin Booker 6-4 senior Cristo Rey
Jacob Meachem 5-9 senior Hill
Onyx Nnani 6-9 senior Phelps
Matthew Gilhool 6-11 senior Penn Charter
Justin Houser 7-0 senior Phelps
Silas Graham 6-4 sophomore Haverford
Ethan Johnson 6-6 junior Hill
*Player of the Year
