Aquinas Academy’s Cugini makes college decision
Vinnie Cugini is the definition of a big fish in a small pond.
Cugini attends Aquinas Academy, a private school in Hampton Township, and said there are fewer than 30 kids in his senior class. But Cugini is a big scorer on the basketball court, so much so that he could become the WPIAL’s all-time leading scorer this upcoming season.
Needless to say, PittJohnstown hooked a big one when Cugini verbally committed to the school earlier this month.
Cugini, a 6-foot-1 guard who has already scored more than 2,000 career points, informed Pitt-Johnstown coach Bob Rukavina of his plans while on an official visit to the school Sept. 17. The Mountain Cats compete in the always strong Division II PSAC and have won more than 20 games each of the past two seasons.
“Honestly, it was because of how much love I felt from the coaches,” said Cugini, a three-time WPIAL scoring champion who plays AAU ball for Mason Elite. “They were the first ones to really recruit me. They came to almost every AAU tournament this year. They came to practices and to half of the Aquinas games. They made it feel like we were already a family. I’ve known them for over a year, and they’ve been nothing but good to me.”
Despite having a resume that includes scoring 2,078 points in three seasons and being a three-time Class 1A all-state choice, Cugini’s only scholarship offer was from Pitt-Johnstown. The Mountain Cats offered him the summer before his junior year. He said he also considered fellow Division II programs Malone and East Stroudsburg, and that several other PSAC schools were showing interest.
“I definitely feel like I was under recruited, but I feel like it’s God’s plan,” said
Cugini, who lives in Morningside.
Cugini said Rukavina has told him there are quite a few things he likes about his game. Rukavina has been Pitt-Johnstown’s head coach since 1989. His assistant, Pat Grubbs, is a former all-state player at Serra Catholic and Pitt- Johnstown’s career leader in rebounds.
“He said he loves how hard I play, how aggressive I am, how I can score, and that I’m not a selfish player,” Cugini said. “And he said he likes how I don’t fear anyone.”
Limiting Cugini’s points has been a scary proposition for opponents through his first three seasons. He averaged 34.1 points a game as a freshman, 39.2 as a sophomore, and 36.2 as a junior. He hit 2,000 points in his 55th career game, putting him at the 2K mark faster than any player in WPIAL history.
We’ll soon be on “Vinnie Watch,” as Cugini makes his run at becoming the WPIAL’s all-time leading scorer. Valley’s Tom Pipkins scored a record 2,838 points before graduating in 1993. Cugini (2,078) currently sits in 27th place on the all-time list.
“Going into high school, I had never heard of the [scoring record],” Cugini said. “But after scoring a good bit my freshman year, people were telling me that I could [break the record]. But I’m focused on winning. I don’t even try to score a lot of points. I just do what we need to do to win.”
Baseball commitments
Chartiers Valley’s Brendan Cruz (Washington & Jefferson); Shaler’s Connor Hamrick ( Waynesburg); Steel Valley’s Roman Donis (Pitt-Johnstown).
Soccer commitment
Kiski Area’s Anders Bordoy (Memphis).
Softball commitments
Ambridge’s Anita Szymoniak (Saint Vincent); Belle Vernon’s Olivia Kolowitz (Saint Francis).