By Clayton Sauertieg
New Castle News
K’Von Huddleston knew what was at stake when he stepped to the foul line with under a minute to play again Clairton last Thursday.
The Union High boys basketball team’s senior standout held in his hands a chance to send the Scotties to the WPIAL Class 1A semifinals.
Calmly and cooly, he stepped up, took a breath, and knocked down four shots in the final minute to hold off the Bears and give Union the victory. The feat earned him New Castle News Athlete of the Week honors presented by Washington Centre Physical Therapy and selected by the New Castle News sports staff.
“I just knew I had to knock them down for us to win,” Huddleston said of the free throws. “I knew it was a big situation but that’s normal, I’m used to that. I just did what I’m used to.”
Huddleston finished with 12 points in the contest, trailing only Tre Charles who scored 19. The 5-foot-8 wing player is also one of the Scotties’ best on-ball defenders and a tenacious rebounder despite being what some would would consider undersized while playing in the front court.
“K’Von brings a lot of energy, he doesn’t get cheated out there,” Union coach Mark Stanley said. “He plays so hard. And that’s really the only reason he comes off the bench, because we know he’ll bring that energy every time out. He’s got a great attitude, he’s always working, always causing problems for the other team.”
Huddleston is the third-leading scorer on the team with 8.7 points per game, behind both Charles and Dom Dudo. It’s the intangibles and things that don’t show up on the stat sheet, however, that set him apart.
“He’s a strong kid and he’s quick,” Stanley said of Huddleston. “If you bring the ball down on offense he’s going to strip you, and he’s a great athlete. He’s right up under you on defense, like a pest, you’re not going to get rid of him.”
Huddleston said that he tries to model his game after future hall of fame guard Dwyane Wade. Wade is a three-time NBA All-Defensive team selection and one of the best rebounding guards in the league.
“I just like the way he plays,” Huddleston said. “He’s unselfish and just goes out there to work for the team every single night and that’s what I try to do.”
His selflessness and team-first attitude is something that has caught Stanley’s eye in the past.
“I think he’s a very unselfish player,” Stanley said. “He’s not looking for just K’Von to score, he’s looking to help the team any way he can. He just wants to win and you love to have guys like that on your team.”
Stanley added that Huddleston’s work ethic and devotion to the team is something that can be used as an example for younger players.
“He’s just such a hard worker. He comes to gym day in and day out and in the summer he was almost always there. That’s not something that you can replace and that’s what you want all your guys to do,” he said.
Huddleston’s career on the court for the Scotties is winding down as they near the PIAA playoffs, and he said this year has been as memorable as any of those prior.
“It’s just been a great run,” Huddleston said. “We’re a great team and we work together well and we’ve accomplished a lot.”
(Email: csauertieg@ncnewsonline.com)