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Stu Anglum, Shaler / Amy Johns, McKeesport
Thursday, December 09, 2004

STU ANGLUM

John Heller, Post-Gazette
Stu Anglum: Double-doubles in his first two games.
Click photo for larger image.
SCHOOL: Shaler.

WHO IS HE? A 6-foot-51/2, 215-pound senior who is a versatile player on Shaler's basketball team.

LAST WEEK: Anglum started the season with a bang, recording two double-doubles to lead the Titans to the championship of their tournament. Saturday, he had 19 points and 15 rebounds in a 70-61 victory against All Hallows, a perennial power from New York City. Sunday, Anglum had 29 points and 12 rebounds in a 67-61 victory against Mt. Lebanon.

SIZEABLE DIFFERENCE: Anglum saw plenty of varsity time as a sophomore when he was a 6-foot, 180-pound point guard and shooting guard. In the past two years, he has added almost 6 inches and 35 pounds and now plays forward or center.

"The kid has really worked hard in the weight room, too," said Shaler coach Howie Ruppert. "He's worked on his body and his game to become a real player."

Anglum averaged 14 points a game last year and was an all-WPIAL Class AAAA Section 3 selection. "I always thought I'd be kind of big, but I didn't think it would happen from one year to the next," he said. Although Anglum grew, he didn't lose the talents that are required to play guard. When standout Nick Sefscik got into foul trouble against All Hallows, Anglum played point guard for a quarter.

CARD COLLECTOR: Anglum's hobby is collecting sports cards. He has a baseball card of Nolan Ryan from Ryan's third season in the major leagues. He has a card of Robert Clemente and one of Minnesota Vikings receiver Randy Moss that he claims is worth $250.

THE FUTURE: Davidson, Columbia and Bucknell are among the schools interested in Anglum, who has a 3.6 grade point average.

FOR SIS: Before the interview for this story ended, Anglum asked if there was any way he could get his sister, Colleen, into the story. "She comes to every game and is one of the loudest people there," Stu said. "She's only 5 feet 2. I guess it's a good thing that I'm not 5-2 and she's 6-5."

-- By Mike White


AMY JOHNS

SCHOOL: McKeesport

WHO IS SHE? A 5-foot-9 junior guard for the basketball team.

THE PAST WEEK: Johns scored 39 points against Sewickley Academy in the opener Friday and followed with another 39-point performance a night later against Duquesne. Monday, she scored 25 points against Penn-Trafford.


Amy Johns
NEW POSITION: Johns played in the post her first two years with the Tigers but moved to guard this season.

"This is her true position, at guard," McKeesport coach Christine French said.

"We needed her to play down low at forward the past few years because she was one of the tallest girls, but now we're seeing her at her natural position. She always played guard growing up."

JUST LIKE SWIN: Like just about everyone in McKeesport, Johns reveres former Tigers' star Swin Cash, who won a gold medal with the U.S. Olympic women's basketball team in Athens, Greece, in August and is a member of the WNBA's Detroit Shock.

"Swin is someone who opened the gate for me and all the girls at McKeesport," Johns said. "She had to work for everything she got and kind of put McKeesport girls' basketball back on the map. She's a role model to me."

French sees some of the same qualities in Johns that have made Cash a success.

"Everyone looks up to Swin, and I know Amy does," French said. "I often tell the girls when I talk to them and they crowd around me in a circle that Swin stood in that same circle and you can achieve like she achieved. But you have to work hard. Amy definitely works hard."

BASKETBALL JUNKIE: Johns has been around the McKeesport program since fifth grade, when she first started keeping the scorebook for the Tigers, a job she held until she became a varsity player in ninth grade. She never misses an opportunity to scout an opponent and said: "I just love the game, I love to work on my game and get better. I'm always around a gym and around basketball."

French jokingly said: "Amy's my stalker, I can't get away from her. If she knows I'm going to scout or go watch a game, she calls me and tags along because she just has such a love for the game."

FUTURE: Johns is receiving interest from several Division I schools and will be one of the top recruits in the WPIAL next season.

First published on December 9, 2004 at 12:00 am
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