The 2018-19 season will be one of transition for 30^th-year Head Coach Bob Rukavina and a very young Pitt-Johnstown basketball squad.  Following the loss of three seniors, including First-Team All-PSAC West selections Dale Clancy and Isaac Vescovi and starting forward Levi Masua, the Mountain Cats will rely on junior guard Josh Wise and senior guards Olando King, Jr. and Romano Sebastiani to guide a talented, but inexperienced youngsters through a difficult PSAC schedule.
 
Despite returning a pair of starters in Wise and King, Jr. and a total of six lettermen, this year's team will be the youngest in Coach Rukavina's tenure at the helm of the Mountain Cats program.  Six freshmen were added to the roster, five of whom are former Pennsylvania or Ohio All-State selections, but it could take time for this group to adjust to the collegiate game.
 
In addition, last year's PSAC West Freshman of the Year Drew Magestro (7.6 ppg., 2.3 rpg., 2.6 apg.), whose 38 3-pointers ranked second behind Clancy's 76, will red-shirt this year due to an injury, taking away another player with experience from the Mountain Cats.
 
Pitt-Johnstown might be young, but there is talent and experience on the roster.  Wise wrapped-up his junior season as Pitt-Johnstown's third leading scorer at 15.0 points per game and second leading rebounder at 5.6 rebounds per game.  He also connected on 37 3-pointer and dished out 58 assists.
 
The Mountain Cats must also get production out of King, Jr. and Sebastiani.  King, Jr.'s athleticism sparked Pitt-Johnstown in 2017-18, averaging 4.4 points and 5.4 rebounds per game, while Sebastiani (2.0 ppg.) will be counted on for his leadership and high basketball I.Q.
 
Returning in the paint are sophomore forwards Marcin Wiszomirski and Adam Kline.  In 22 games-played a true freshman a year ago, Wiszomirski averaged 3.4 points and 1.5 rebounds per game.  With added playing time in 2018-19, those numbers should increase.  After red-shirting in 2016-17, Kline saw limited action in 11 games and scored 1.2 points and grabbed 1.5 rebounds per game.
 
Senior Noah Yartin earned a spot on the roster as a senior after serving as the team's manager the previous three seasons, and Darrell Brock, who will compete for playing time at one of the guard spots, will make his Pitt-Johnstown debut after red-shirting as a freshman last season.
 
Coach Rukavina will also need this year's freshman class to step up and be productive in key roles throughout the entire season.  With two-time Pennsylvania All-State choice and Central Cambria High School graduate Matt Holsinger expected to red-shirt in 2018-19, five other true freshman will be forced into action.
 
Fred Mulbah, a talented point guard from Northeastern High School could be the Mountain Cats' starting point guard. Mulbah, who averaged 14.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, 9.0 assists, and 3.0 steals per game in his high school career, was named the 2017-18 District 3 Most Valuable Player and was selected to the PIAA AAAAA All-State Team in both 2016-17 and 2017-18.
 
Fellow freshmen guards Joe Batt and Jared Jakubick will provide solid depth at the position.  Batt led Greenville High School to a pair district championships and a place in the PIAA AAA State Quarterfinals. Batt, a 2018 AAA All-State selection and a two-time District 10 Player of the Year, scored 1,709 points and averaged 20.9 points 6.7 rebounds, and 3.3 assists per game.  Jakubick was an Ohio First-Team All-State choice and the 2017 Ohio Division 4 State Player of the Year at Mansfield-St. Peter's High School.  Jakubick averaged 24.0 points, 9.0 rebounds, 4.0 assists, and 2.0 steals per game as a senior.
 
At the forward spot, John Paul Kromka and Caiden Landis are both expected to get significant playing time.  Kromka, an All-WPIAL 5A Fab 5 selection in 2017-18 at Gateway High School.  Kromka, a three-time All-Section performer in high school, averaged 13.0 rebounds and 6.0 blocks per game as a senior and 14.0 points per game for his career.  An Ohio Honorable Mention All-State selection in both basketball and soccer at Logan High School, Landis was also a Two-time All-District 13 performer.  He averaged 17.0 points, 6.0 rebounds, and 2.0 blocks per game, while shooting close to 60% from the field.
 
2018-19 is a season of change for the Mountain Cat basketball program.  However, if the returning players provide the leadership and experience and the five talented freshmen develop, Pitt-Johnstown could be in line for its fifth straight berth in the PSAC Tournament.