Belle Vernon’s girls basketball program is attracting national interest as three of its standout players secure multiple Division I scholarship offers.
Family Legacies Fuel the Program’s Surge
Aubrey Brown, Isis Almyty and Lyla McConnell each bring deep basketball roots to the roster. Brown’s father Bill Brown once coached at Cal (Pa.) while brother Aaron starred on the football field, giving the forward a unique blend of court vision and physicality. Almyty’s mother Latitia Williams scored more than 1,000 points at Monessen, and her uncle Mick Williams added a football pedigree from the same school and Pitt. McConnell, the second‑cousin of NBA guard T.J. McConnell and former WNBA player Megan McConnell, also descends from a basketball‑rich family that includes Susie McConnell‑Serio and former IUP coach Tom McConnell.
The 2025‑26 season marked a turning point, with the team posting a 23‑5 record, capturing its first section title in 27 years and advancing to the WPIAL quarterfinals. That run produced the program’s first PIAA playoff victory since 1998, a milestone that has reignited excitement across the community.
A Culture of Mutual Support
Coach Cornelious Nesbit has praised the squad’s chemistry, noting that each player pushes the others to excel. He emphasizes that hard work and teamwork, rather than individual accolades, will determine how far the program can go.
Brown, who averaged 10.6 points, 7.9 rebounds and 2.1 blocks last season, is reportedly close to finalizing a verbal commitment, while Almyty and McConnell remain focused on sharpening their games before the next recruitment cycle.
The resurgence of Belle Vernon’s program illustrates how intertwined family histories and collective effort can reshape a school’s athletic destiny, positioning the team as a credible threat in upcoming finals.