6-foot-11 center commits to La Salle

Steve Zack, a 6-foot-11 senior center from Red Land High, has committed to play basketball for La Salle.

Zack led the Lewisberry, Pa., school to its third Mid-Penn Conference Keystone Division championship in six years last season. He averaged 14 points and 8.5 rebounds as the Patriots went 24-6.

The Patriots lost, 74-31, to eventual champion Plymouth Whitemarsh in the opening round of the PIAA Class AAAA state playoffs. Zack had 10 points and eight rebounds in the defeat.

"It's a great match for both parties," Red Land coach Scott Slayton said. "He can catch and finish or create moves for himself. He's been the foundation of our defense for the past three seasons. He's also a very good student."

Slayton said the 240-pounder had been courted by a number of schools, including Penn, George Mason, Cornell, Holy Cross, and Bucknell. Zack, a former football player, spent the summer playing for the York Ballers, an AAU basketball team.

"I chose La Salle because I like Coach [John] Giannini and his staff, and I felt it offered me the best future playing basketball," Zack said.

He plans to study business management.