Connellsville post (6-4) finds her fit

When it comes to height, Sara Aumer likely has no peers among WPIAL girls basketball players.

She stands 6 feet 4.

A senior at Connellsville, Aumer now knows where she will play in college.

Aumer recently verbally committed to North Carolina A&T, which is located in Greensboro and competes in the Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference.

Curtis Williams coached Aumer’s AAU team, Legendz AAU. Williams said Aumer was also receiving interest from Rider, La Salle and Quinnipiac. He said that Aumer’s height isn’t the only thing that stands out about her game.

“Sara has great touch from the 15- to 17-foot range to be a good post player,” Williams said. “She has a really good release. I don’t think people realize she can catch and shoot so well. And she’s worked hard on her agility, quickness, jump and overall coordination.”

Aumer averaged seven points and nine rebounds per game her junior season at Connellsville, while also making a big impact defensively.

“When Sara is in the game and we’re playing man-toman defense, nobody drives middle,” Connellsville coach Shawna Little said.

With Legendz AAU, Aumer and Gateway’s Lexi Jackson helped form a supersized frontcourt. Jackson is 6-3 and has committed to Kent State.

Williams admits that Aumer’s college choice is interesting due to the fact that Aumer is a white player from rural Pennsylvania and North Carolina A&T is the largest traditionally black university in the country.

“She said it felt like home, which might sound a little strange, but when you find the right coach and the right fit, you know,” said Williams.

One of North Carolina A&T’s assistant coaches is Jaleesa Sams, a former player there and a New Castle native. Sams was the Post-Gazette player of the year in 2007 when she led New Castle to a WPIAL title.

Williams also coached

Sams.

“That started the conversation and I think she went down and loved it,” Williams said. “Honestly, I think it’s a really good fit for her.”

Little said Aumer’s upside is immense.

“Sara has barely scratched the surface of her potential,” said Little. “I think she will thrive in the college setting because there will be girls who will push her.”

Gordon to Penn State

Garfield’s D.J. Gordon, a basketball standout at First Love Christian who previously played at Obama Academy, verbally committed to Penn State last week.

Gordon, a 6-6 shooting guard, is ranked the No. 144 player in the country in the 2020 class by Rivals. Gordon trimmed his list of finalists to six last month. In addition to Penn State, he was also considering Pitt, Iowa, Minnesota, Providence and VCU. He took an official visit to Penn State the weekend of the Penn State-Pitt football game.

“Penn State has an excellent coaching staff,” Gordon said. “I feel like our relationship is a strong bond, as in like family. They have one of the best and strongest alumni’s in the country, and I also feel the academic support there will help me be successful.”

Gordon averaged 16.4 points per game last season, his first at First Love. He was an all-City League pick the previous season at Obama Academy.

He said he is excited to become the next in a long line of players from the city to play Division I basketball.

“It’s motivation for me because I want to represent where I’m from and the Garfield community,” he said.

Gordon said that he has long looked up to fellow Garfield natives Erick Taylor and Paris Ford. Gordon and Taylor are cousins, and Ford is a close friend. Taylor plays football at West Liberty and Ford at Pitt.

“Those two made me want to play up a couple of ages in the summer leagues in the hood to compete with them. And still to this day I look up to those dudes,” Gordon said.

Baseball commitment

Norwin’s Jake Kendro (Tennessee).

Lacrosse commitment

Upper St. Clair’s Bri Lang (Louisville).