Oct 27, 2016 3 min read

Samson George has been described as a basketball player with an incredible motor, who possesses “elite athleticism.”

The 6-7-inch Nigerian, who plays for First Love Christian Academy in Washington, said Thursday that an up-beat, fast-paced style like Iona College’s is perfect and that’s why he committed recently to join the Gaels’ program to continue his basketball career.

“I think the big thing for me is they play really fast,” George said. “I fit in with that style in what I like to do on the court.

“I think I will just keep getting better in that system.”

George settled on Iona, located in New Rochelle, N.Y., after also considering Oregon State, Central Connecticut, Duquesne, Monmouth and Rutgers.

George, who is playing for First Love in its early exhibition games, will remain at the school through December and then will enroll at Iona early in January. He will not be eligible to play basketball for the Gaels until the 2017-2018 season.

“They allow their players to play and do things,” George said. “They play a lot of people and they allow you to play multiple positions.”

Washington native Dan Bradley has made his mark in a relatively short time as a WPIAL head football coach.

In his fifth year overall, and first as the top man at Our Lady of the Sacred Heart in Coraopolis, Bradley is again coaching a playoff-caliber team.

The Chargers are in the WPIAL Class A playoffs and can clinch third-place in the Big Seven Conference with a road win tonight at Sto-Rox.

OLSH, which benefitted from six transfers, takes an 6-2 mark into the game. The team’s two losses came against highly regarded Northgate and Rochester.

The Chargers were 0-9 last year and 1-8 in 2014. This is the seven-year-old program’s first time to qualify for postseason play.”

Bradley resigned from Ambridge after two seasons to take the OLSH position.

“Ambridge wasn’t a good fit for me,” said Bradley, who lives in in Ohio Township and is head basketball coach at Avonworth. “OLSH is closer to my home and it gave me a chance to leave Ambridge on good terms.”

He expected the Chargers to be competitive this season but said the team is exceeding expectations.

“We have some senior leadership and experience that has helped us,” Bradley said, “The offensive line has done a great job allowing us to run the ball and creating good balance offensively.

“I didn’t think we would be beating teams like we are.”

Bradley, a 1988 graduate of Washington High School, has found success at his three head coaching stops.

He compiled a two-year mark of 23-3 at Sto-Rox in 2012 and 2013. The Vikings were WPIAL runners-up both seasons. While at Ambridge, he posted an 8-11 mark in two seasons but led the team to the Class AAA playoffs last season.

Bradley has a 37-16 overall record in four-plus seasons as a head coach.

He also served as an assistant coach at Sto-Rox, Seneca Valley and South Fayette. He was a Lions’ assistant coach in 2010 when they won the WPIAL Class AA title.

He was a candidate for Washington’s heading coaching job when the school ultimately selected Mike Bosnic.

“I understand the process and I understand why I didn’t get it,” Bradley said. “Things happen for a reason and things have worked out for me. And for everyone.”