The Lehigh football team hauled in a big catch Sunday when it received a commitment from a player known for making lots of them.
Pine-Richland senior wide receiver Raymond Falcone announced that he will be attending Lehigh next fall. Falcone led the WPIAL in receptions (65) and receiving yards (1,391) last season. He averaged 21.4 yards per catch and scored 14 touchdowns.
Falcone is an excellent student who has a 3.7 grade point average and was being recruited by Ivy League schools. Falcone said Princeton and Columbia were two of his favorites. He also had offers from a few other FCS schools.
“I took a lot of visits. I really enjoyed some of the other schools. I like the academics [at Lehigh], as well as the football. For me, academics is important. This was an easy choice,” Falcone said.
Falcone has received only minimal FBS interest despite his ultra-productive numbers, good size (6 feet 1, 190 pounds) and speed. Falcone had knee surgery to repair a torn meniscus this spring and he believes missing out on camps could have played a part in him having no FBS offers.
That’s not to say some won’t come before national signing day comes along.
“The door is still open,” Falcone said.
Mars player signs on the X
Robby Carmody isn’t the only Mars senior basketball player headed to play at a Division I school.
Lauren Wasylson, one of the top girls players in the WPIAL, verbally committed to Xavier last week. Wasylson, a 5-foot-11 guard-forward, averaged 16.5 points per game as a junior. She was named all-section her sophomore and junior seasons.
Wasylson had a good number of schools to choose from. She had 23 offers, including 21 from Division I programs. She said she also strongly considered Duquesne, Robert Morris, Providence, Richmond and Delaware.
“[Xavier] fit me very well. It just felt right. I know it’s cliche, but that’s how it was,” she said. “I’ve known the coaches. I met the players when I visited. Everyone was great. It’s a smaller school. But it’s also known as a great basketball school. That was a big thing. Education-wise, I’m looking to go into business. It’s a good school for that. And it’s right in Cincinnati, so that’s great.”
Other news
• West Allegheny senior soccer player Courtney Hurey committed to Robert Morris.
• Canon-McMillan senior soccer player Jaiden Williams committed to Robert Morris.
• Mt. Lebanon junior soccer player Julia LaLama committed to Lehigh.
• Central Catholic senior baseball player Andrew Walker committed to Xavier.
• North Allegheny senior baseball player Turner White committed to Cedarville.
• North Allegheny senior baseball player Caiden Wood committed to Seton Hill.
• Hempfield senior softball player Megan Monzo committed to Dickinson.
• Oakland Catholic senior volleyball player Moira Folan committed to Juniata.
• Chartiers Valley junior basketball player Gabi Legister committed to Kennesaw State.
Still looking
• Alexa Williamson had a big junior season for the Chartiers-Houston girls basketball team, averaging 23 points per game and leading the Bucs to their first WPIAL championship. A 6-foot-1 forward, Williamson also had an excellent summer on the AAU circuit playing for the Western Pa. Bruins and now boasts 19 Division I offers. Her list includes Pitt, Duquesne, Indiana, Colorado, St. John’s, Xavier, Temple, Seton Hall and Youngstown State.
Commit to a college recently? Tweet Brad Everett @BREAL412 with details.
First Published: August 23, 2017, 12:00 p.m.
