Feb 15, 2017 3 min read

Name: Jaden Altomore

School: Monessen

Year: Senior

Sport: Basketball

Altomore’s week: The 1,000-point scorer continued his hot shooting in Monessen’s final two games of the regular season. He scored a career-high 46 points last week in a 90-52 rout of Clairton that clinched the Section 2-A title.

On Monday night, Altomore scored 29 points in Monessen’s 75-72 double-overtime loss to Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic, the third-ranked team in Class AAA, heading into the playoffs.

“The only player I can remember scoring (46 points) in a game in my time here was Chad Scott, who had 50,” Monessen coach Joe Salvino said. “We have had others up there, but that is a lot of points.”

Altomore is averaging 21.9 points per game this season.

“I keep telling the team to feed the hot hand and they keep feeding me,” Altomore said while laughing. “We are distributing the ball well and that is how we score points.”

Early lesson learned: Altomore’s talent was apparent early, but as a freshman, he committed one of the cardinal sins set by Salvino.

“I think it was his first game as a freshman that he was going to dress,” said Salvino. “He was late and I have a rule that once I am on the bus, no one gets their uniform. Here was a young player, who is going to be good and he didn’t dress that game. But he was never late again.”

Salvino said Altomore leads by example.

“From that time when he didn’t dress as a freshman until now, he has really grown into a respectful young man,” he said. “He has always been respectful, but he is a good leader and when he is out there hustling in practice and in games, players follow that example.”

Altomore and fellow 1,000-point scorer Justice Rice approached Salvino before the season to talk about how they would fit in with the team.

“They were worried about them playing with the other players and I told them no, that doesn’t happen,” Salvino said. “I told them to make the other players play their way because they have been here the longest and their teammates have adjusted.

“Everyone realizes that there are two main people on that floor and they work together well.”

Altomore plays larger than his 6-3 frame. He has good jumping ability and draws difficult assignments.

“Jaden always plays against the other team’s biggest player,” Salvino said. “He plays big, and that’s a plus.”

Altomore and Rice helped Monessen to the 2015 WPIAL Class A title, the team’s fifth, and the Greyhounds are the top seed for the upcoming playoffs. The Greyhounds are 44-0 in section play during their four years together, and have never lost to a WPIAL Class A public school team.

“We have grown together and made each other better,” Altomore said. “We have to keep working hard until we get to the WPIAL (title).”

Compiled by Bill Hughes