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Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day player poll: Preseason player of the year, most underrated, best uniforms, more

Butler’s Jace Gratzmiller, left, Andrew Gettinger and Stainton Forbes during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Butler County Family YMCA. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle

BUTLER — The first Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day was our chance to take stock ahead of the 2025-26 high school season.

It’s a chance to ask how players and coaches think the next three or so months will go, what they’re excited for, what’s new, what’s old and everything in between.

But what do Butler County’s top players think about their neighbors? What’s on their Spotify warm-up playlist? Which student section gives them the toughest time?

The Eagle handed out an anonymous poll to many of the players who descended on the Butler Family YMCA last week to find out their thoughts on a variety of subjects, including basketball, pop culture and other topics.

Related Article: What we learned at Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day: Butler’s PG committee, Mars accepting challenge, A-C Valley’s Rapp soon to take off

There were 24 boys and 15 girls who filled out the questionnaire. The results below highlight the top three answers for each question (ties included), separated by boys and girls. Included is some additional analysis and thoughts.

Here’s what players had to say:

Seneca Valley’s Natalie Hambly during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Butler County Family YMCA. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
1. Who will be Butler County’s best player this year?

Boys: Andrew Gettinger, Butler (9); Teegan Finucan, Knoch (4); Doug Senge, Slippery Rock (3)

Girls: Natalie Hambly, Seneca Valley (6); Naomi Venesky, Karns City (4); Brady Wehner, North Catholic (3)

Analysis: Two clear winners here, and hard to argue it. Gettinger was one of the best in the county last year, averaging 15.3 points, seven rebounds, 3.8 assists and 2.6 blocks while playing as a wing who also had sizable ball-handling duties. Hambly, a guard, committed to Pitt-Johnstown in August and was a Butler Eagle honorable mention and All-Big 56 first-team selection last season.

Related Article: Butler basketball’s Andrew Gettinger on commitment to Edinboro University: ‘I think I could succeed there’
2. Who is the most underrated player in Butler County this year?

Boys: Mike Graczyk, Freeport (3); Noah Gordon, Slippery Rock (3); 2 votes each - Austen Wroblewski, Mars; Jace Gratzmiller, Butler; Chase Thimons, Mars; Trent Fleming, Union

Girls: Brooke Dufford, Seneca Valley (5); Madison Romanovich, Slippery Rock (2); 1 vote each - Emily Matz, Moniteau; Brady Wehner, North Catholic; Erica Rebovich, Seneca Valley; Ella Omasits, Seneca Valley; Brielle Jordan, Slippery Rock; Gia Kovacik, Slippery Rock

Analysis: The fun of this exercise is getting a sneak peek at who teammates and local players who see their peers on the AAU circuit and in summer leagues think will have breakout seasons. But there’s a lot of parity in the polls.

Related Article: Meet Butler County’s girls basketball player of the year, all-stars from the 2024-25 season Related Article: Meet Butler County’s boys basketball player of the year, all-stars from the 2024-25 season
3. Which Butler County team will be the best this year?

Boys: Butler (12), Mars (4), Knoch (3)

Girls: North Catholic (6), Seneca Valley (4), Mars (3)

Analysis: Despite the loss of point guard and 3-point specialist Tayt Lucas, the Tornado return a ton of talent this year after a WPIAL Class 6A tournament appearance. And teams in the area, even those not competing in the WPIAL, clearly notice. The Trojanettes are in a similar boat, loaded in the starting lineup and experienced in the postseason. All six teams here are likely in store for big seasons.

Seneca Valley’s Andrew Omasits (3) during Butler Eagle Basketball Media Day on Wednesday, Nov. 5, 2025, at Butler County Family YMCA. Rob McGraw/Butler Eagle
4. Which Butler County team has the best uniforms?

Boys: Seneca Valley (8), Freeport (5), Mars (3)

Girls: Mars (4), Seneca Valley (4), North Catholic (3)

Analysis: Entirely subjective, but the Raiders’ threads slate gray and blue look at media day was sharp. But look at both sets for the Fightin’ Planets: an under-the-arm dotted accent on the girls’ white unis and stars and planets for the boys. Very unique.

5. Which is your favorite opposing gym to play in?

Boys: Karns City (5), Knoch (3), Montour (3)

Girls: Moniteau (4), Montour (4), Butler (3)

Analysis: Here’s where players could look within Butler County and without. Montour gets the “win” with both boys and girls teams from the area picking that gym as a favorite.

6. Which is the toughest student section to play against?

Boys: Deer Lakes (3); 2 votes each - Butler, Grove City, Karns City, Moniteau, Moon, New Castle, North Catholic, Red Bank Valley

Girls: Butler (4), Freeport (3), Moniteau (3), South Fayette (3)

Analysis: Alert to the student sections at local boys games this year: step your game up this season to get in players’ heads ahead of next year’s media day.

Related Article: Every 1,000-point scorer in Butler County: Top boys, girls basketball players at each high school
7. What’s your top pregame hype song this year?

Boys: Top artist - Drake

Girls: Top artist - Drake

Analysis: Have to pivot here a little bit, because there were no clear winning songs, which shows the individual styles and preferences of high school athletes. But Drake’s name came up more than any other artist.

8. Who is your favorite character from Kpop Demon Hunters?

Boys: Rumi (4), Jinu (3), Zoey and Mira (1)

Girls: Jinu (3), Rumi (2)

Analysis: I overestimated the popularity of the viral streaming movie at media day, but the two main characters, Rumi and Jinu, walk away easily with these titles.

9. Should there be a shot clock in high school basketball?

Boys: Yes (21), No (3)

Girls: Yes (9), No (6)

Analysis: Considering the PIAA seems poised to bring the shot clock into play by the end of the decade, joining a growing number of states, these players don’t have much choice. But there’s a pretty clear consensus, especially on the boys’ side, to adopt the timer.

10. Who is your favorite pro or college basketball player right now?

Boys: 2 votes each - Cooper Flagg, Anthony Edwards, VJ Edgecomb, Kevin Durant, Stephen Curry

Girls: Cameron Brink (3), Cooper Flagg (3), Paige Bueckers (2), Stephen Curry (2)

Analysis: Cooper Flagg and Stephen Curry are the most popular players in this generation, although this question got well over a dozen answers. LeBron James? Just one vote.

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