Boys athlete of the week
The Post-Gazette’s top male performer for the past seven days
The past week: Lindsey had 19 points and 17 rebounds to lead Aliquippa to a 52-40 win against Northgate in the WPIAL Class 2A championship game Saturday at Petersen Events Center.
Check this out: Lindsey is a 6-foot-2, 196-pound junior who was one of the keys in Aliquippa winning its 13th championship in school history. He averages 15 points and 11 rebounds per game. Lindsey also is a standout linebacker for the Aliquippa football team who projects as one of the top defensive players in the state for next season. Pitt, Penn State, West Virginia and Cincinnati are among the colleges that have offered scholarships. Lindsey’s father, Dwight, is the Aliquippa girls coach. Both the Aliquippa boys and girls teams will be in the PIAA playoffs this weekend.
Do you feel like playing football helps you in basketball, and how? Just from a physical standpoint, knowing how to go get a rebound, knowing when to be physical
and when not to be and just pursing the ball.
And how does basketball help you in football? Definitely with lateral quickness, going left to right. I think it helps me in conditioning, too.
OK, what’s your mission when you go on a basketball court. Is it, like, 15 rebounds or what? I wouldn’t say that. People around me joke and say I have to get 15 rebounds and 15 points. It’s really just whatever the team needs to win. Someone said this basketball title feels better than the football title. Why? I definitely think it means more, just from the standpoint of getting to the championship game in basketball just seems more difficult than football. In high school football, most of the time when you have the better team, you’re going to roll over the other team. In basketball, even on your best night, you could have a tough game.
How many days did you take off before your first basketball practice? A day maybe.
Isn’t that just what Aliquippa guys do, and it’s just not a big deal? It’s definitely something we’re used to, transitioning from a long football season to basketball.
So where does your football recruiting stand? I’m still pretty undecided. When basketball ends, I’ll look at it and decide where I want to visit. But I’ve been locked in on basketball.
Favorite basketball player? I don’t watch college too much until the tournament. In the NBA, it’s Russell Westbrook.
Even still these days? Yes, just because of how hard he plays. He motivates me to go out there and, even when you’re not having your best game, play hard.
— By Mike White