Penn State Schuylkill men's basketball coach Travis Williams talks to the players and coaches in attendance at Sunday's Schuylkill League Basketball Media Day at the Schuylkill Haven Sports Performance Center (Photo by Leroy Boyer).

Schuylkill League holds second Basketball Media Day

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — There are going to be some extremely talented basketball teams in the Schuylkill League this season.

That was apparent Sunday evening as the Schuylkill League held its 2nd annual Basketball Media Day at the Schuylkill Haven Area School District’s Sports Performance Center.

Players and coaches from 29 of the league’s 32 girls’ and boys’ teams were in attendance, talking with media representatives from multiple outlets, including T102 Sports Now, the Pottsville Republican-Herald, Skook News and the Gilson Brothers videographers.

Players posed for head shots and did interviews with the media while coaches filled out information sheets and participated in the T102 Sports Now Preseason Coaches Poll. That poll will be released later this week.

The league’s media day was coordinated by former North Schuylkill boys’ coach Will Bracey and Shenandoah Valley boys’ coach Josh Dombrosky.

“It’s awesome just seeing everybody,” said Bracey, who will serve as an assistant coach this season at Shamokin Area. “We did a lot of AAU stuff with a lot of the kids. To see everybody in their different jersey is just a blessing. It’s good to get the kids get a little attention before the season.

“I think it’s going to be one of the more balanced leagues that we’ve had. Division I and Division II … I think it’s anybody game. It’s going to be fun to watch from the outside.”

Penn State Schuylkill men’s basketball coach Travis Williams was the guest speaker. The Schuylkill Haven graduate, who was a member of the Hurricanes’ 1997 PIAA Class A state runner-up squad, talked to the players in attendance about the importance of being a good teammate, listening to your coaches and parents and how school and athletics play a key role in life.

Williams mentioned how important two of his coaches, Jim Toomey and John Davis, were in his development, citing a key slogan from Davis, “Family means ‘Forget About Me, I Love You.”

“Him donating his time to youth is something I really cherish,” said Bracey, who played for Williams at Penn State Schuylkill.

The Schuylkill League will have 10 new coaches this season — four girls and six boys — some of them familiar names in new places.

The new girls’ coaches are Pottsville’s Damian Fritz, Marian’s Jeanette Shafer Barron, Nativity’s William Reed and Tri-Valley’s Kaylin Ryan. The new boys’ coaches include Minersville’s Chris George, North Schuylkill’s Anthony Agosti, Pine Grove’s John Rizzo, Pottsville’s Tyler Heffner, Marian’s Paul Brutto and Nativity’s Brady Burke.

The first official playing date for the 2025-26 basketball season is Friday, Nov. 28. The Schuylkill League slate opens Thursday, Dec. 4, for the boys and Friday, Dec. 5, for the girls.