COLLEGE BASKETBALL: TIOGA'S SICKLER SIGNS TO PLAY AT PENN STATE-ALTOONA (2 PHOTOS) (2024-06-14)

By TIM BIRNEY
Valley Sports Report
TIOGA CENTER — Tioga senior Evan Sickler had a feeling Penn State-Altoona was where he belonged the first time he stepped on campus. On Monday, Sickler signed a National Letter-of-Intent to play basketball there.

Sickler signed his National Letter-of-Intent here Monday afternoon during a ceremony in the middle school auditorium that featured 13 Tioga seniors signing to play at the next level in four different sports.

"I went there twice," said Sickler. "The first time I thought it was going to be the place for me. The second time, it just blew everything else out of the water.

"I loved the coach (David McGreal), he’s a nice guy," noted Sickler. "I met most of the team, and they were nice guys, too; that was a factor, too."

Dave Sickler, Evan’s coach and father, has little doubt his son will succeed at the next level.

"(Evan) has an extreme passion for basketball," said Dave Sickler. "He doesn’t want to quit, and he gives 100 percent all the time.

"He’s not afraid to mix it up, be aggressive, and get into the action.

"At the next level it’s a lot more physical," added Sickler. "I think playing football at Tioga, that physicality carried over to the basketball court, and I think that will help him quite a bit in college."

Sickler, who also considered Mansfield, Elmira, and Oswego during the recruiting process, knows what he has to work on prior to his arrival at PS-Altoona.

"I definitely need to get in the weight room," he said. "I’ve been hitting the weights recently, and I’ll keep working at it.

"I need to gain more weight for sure … I have a couple goals in mind, hopefully I can get there by the end of the summer," added Evan Sickler.

Dave Sickler said Evan needs keep working on his shooting.

"I would say he needs to be a little more consistent with his 3-pointer when he gets to college," he said. "At times, he’s spot-on, but other times he’s a little off.

"He’ll probably being playing a lot more 2-guard, so he’ll be expected to score and shoot from 3," added Dave Sickler.

The elder Sickler, a Hall of Fame Player at University of Rochester, was pleased to have the opportunity to coach his son for his senior season.

"It was nice to get that front-row seat on the floor," he said.

"Of course, with the father-son thing, I’m not sure how much he was listening to me," laughed Dave Sickler. "At least outwardly, but I think deep down he was listening.

"It was just very special to be a part of it," added Dave Sickler.

Evan Sickler, who finished his career with 1,378 points, was also a two-time all-state football player. He says he’ll be a little sad in the fall.


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IN PHOTO 1: Evan Sickler. IN PHOTO 2: Evan Sickler is shown with his mother Stacy, father Dave, and brother Jake.

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