North Catholic girls basketball’s Sam Weir isn’t fazed by D-I recruiting offers. The sophomore is motivated
CRANBERRY TWP — Sam Weir’s sophomore basketball season at North Catholic did not start with a bang. She dealt with foot injuries and the flu.
Then again, it’s not how you start.
It’s where you end up.
A number of major college programs are hoping the 6-foot Trojanette sophomore guard ends up with them. La Salle is one of them, offering Weir a basketball scholarship this past fall, before her sophomore season even began.
Weir has also gone on invited visits to High Point, Davidson and Penn.
“I may have had one other player ever offered as a sophomore, and I’m not even sure of that one,” 28th-year North Catholic girls basketball coach Molly Rottmann said. “Then again, this is a new phenomenon. The college recruiting world is changing.
“Scholarships are being offered to kids based on a player’s potential ceiling. A number of Sam’s (Slaam) AAU teammates have been offered already, too.”
Weir averaged 10.6 points and three rebounds per game her freshman year at North. Her forte has been her outside shooting, though other facets of her game are catching up.
“I’ve been practicing all three levels of my shooting: the 3-point shot, driving to the hoop and the pull-up,” Sam said. “Defense and rebounding are important, too. I know I have a lot of work to do to get where I want to be.”
Also an 85% free throw shooter, she wants to be a major college basketball player. She has a head start.
Her father, Mike Weir, has been an assistant boys basketball coach at Quaker Valley, Keystone Oaks and Bethel Park. Her older brother, John, played college basketball at Grove City. Her family home in Peters Township has a basketball court inside.
“Sam played a year of basketball in fourth grade, then decided she didn’t want to play in fifth grade,” her father said. “She was into dance and soccer back then. She watched her older brother play in high school, saw the excitement of those games and it became something she wanted to be part of.
“She returned to basketball in sixth grade and has been playing ever since.”
While her siblings attended Seton LaSalle High School in the South Hills, Sam decided she wanted to attend North Catholic after doing a couple of basketball camps there. She is carrying a 4.7 grade point average.
“I love this program, I love this school,” Sam said. “The coaching staff here and the tradition of the basketball program have been a huge asset to me.”
Being around her father a lot has helped as well. The 50-minute car rides home from practice give Mike and Sam time to talk ball, and Mike knows how much time she puts into the gym at school and at home.
Rottmann said girls who have a parent involved in basketball “definitely gives them a head-start in their development.
“Sam’s been around basketball her whole life,” the coach said. “Nothing fazes her on the court. Her dad has been a great asset. She responds well to challenges on the court and in practice. She does individual film sessions as well.”
In due time, of course.
“I want to help us win a WPIAL and state championship first ... maybe a couple of them,” Sam said.
Sam is taking the early college attention in stride.
“Being offered a Division I scholarship could put some undue pressure on a sophomore, I suppose, but Sam uses it as motivation. She knows the possibility is out there, and she’s going after it.”
“It shows they have confidence in me,” she said. “Right now, I just want to go out there and do my thing. I’ll let the recruiting process play out over time. Playing experience will make me better.”
So will overcoming the foot and flu ailments.
“Sam scored 15 points and sank four 3-pointers against Freeport the other night,” her father said. “That’s more like people expect to see from her. She’s definitely coming around.”
