MCKEESPORT, Pa. - Scoring 1,000 points in a college basketball career is an extraordinary accomplishment for any player at any level. Having four players accomplish this feat in the same season is even more rare.
All eyes were on center court of the Wunderley Gymnasium as Penn State Greater Allegheny honored Bryce Phillips, Christopher Killings, Jeremiah Miller and Tomisha Pierce prior to the Tuesday, Feb. 20 men’s basketball game against Penn State Fayette. Jason Broadwater, athletic director, was joined by Jalyn Shelton-Burleigh, women’s basketball coach, and Daryn Freedman, men’s basketball coach, to honor the student athletes.
Phillips, a junior from Norfolk, Virginia, was the first to break the mark for the Penn State Greater Allegheny Men’s Basketball team on Nov. 28, at Penn State Fayette. He is approaching 1,400 points scored and has been recognized for by both the PSUAC and the USCAA for his play this season.
Killings, a junior from Charlotte, North Carolina, was the second men’s player to join the 1,000-point club on Jan. 16 when he scored 17 points against Penn State DuBois. He averages 14.2 points per game.
The third men’s player to reach 1,000 points was Miller, a junior from Philadelphia. His achievement came during the Feb. 1 game against CCAC. Considered the team’s two-way threat, Miller averages 14.5 points and 8.5 rebounds per game.
“Scoring 1,000 points in college basketball does not happen very often and is a huge accomplishment," Freedman, men's coach, said. "To have three of our guys do it in the same season is tremendous. All three have been leaders and champions as we have built this program up over the last few years and I am extremely proud of each of them.”
Pierce, a junior from Cleveland Heights, Ohio, scored her 1,000th point on Dec. 2, against Penn State Lehigh Valley. She sits at the top of the all-time scoring leader list for women’s basketball at Greater Allegheny and is approaching 1,400 career points.
“[Pierce] is a natural scorer who has been able to consistently get the looks she wants since her first year to help contribute to the team. She brings a lot of experience to the team and helps in various aspects as an upper-class student," said Shelton-Burleigh.
The men’s team is the defending PSUAC Champion. The women are in the hunt for a playoff berth and fighting to secure a postseason spot.
Learn more about Greater Allegheny athletics at www.athleticsga.com