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Three Basketball Players Earn All-Region Team Selections

Posted March 19, 2025 at 2:37 pm

The National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) Region 20 announced that three Pennsylvania Highlands men’s basketball players were named to the All-Region 20 Team for their performances this season.

Freshmen Desmond Handon, Jr. (Baltimore, MD) and Byron Lavender, Jr. (Tampa, FL) were selected for the First Team, while sophomore Christian Harding (Washington, D.C.) was given Honorable Mention.

The trio helped lead the Black Bears to their first Region 20 Championship and the program’s third Western Pennsylvania Collegiate Conference (WPCC) title. Penn Highlands also made its first appearance in the Mid-Atlantic District Tournament in Pinehurst, North Carolina.

“I am proud of these young men for having a historic team experience, all while earning personal accolades within the WPCC and Region 20,” stated Sue Brugh, Director of Student Activities and Athletics. “Our goal is to claim both the conference and regional titles as we pursue our first district championship, a milestone that would secure our place in the National Tournament and build upon the success we’ve achieved this year.”

Handon topped the Black Bears with 15.9 points per game in 29 games. He averaged 6.0 rebounds, 3.2 assists, and 2.1 steals per contest. Handon ranked third in Region 20 in points per game, while being second in total points (460) and field goals made (166).

Lavender, the WPCC/Region 20 Tournament Most Valuable Player, appeared in all 32 games, making 25 starts, and averaged 13.9 points per game. He led Region 20 in three-point field goals made (83), was third in total field goals (149), and fourth in total points (417).

Both Handon and Lavender were awarded WPCC All-Conference honors.

Harding, one of three sophomores on the Black Bears roster and a team captain, averaged 6.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists, and 1.5 steals per game in 32 contests. His 49 total steals ranked third in Region 20, while being second in total rebounds (212), and fourth in both rebounds per game and total assists (89).

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