GRIFFIN STRAUB

ST. CLAIRSVILLE – St. Clairsville has had a lot of great boys’ basketball players in program history, but it’s been some time since one has received a full scholarship to play at the collegiate level.

Griffin Straub has become the first Red Devil to receive a full deal since 1990 when Jeremy Carter signed with the University of Wyoming. The 6-7 Straub recently announced his commitment to NCAA Division II power Indiana University of Pennsylvania (IUP).

“Making my commitment takes a lot of pressure off of me,” Straub, who averaged 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 blocked shots a game as a junior, said. “There was a lot of stress towards the end. I was getting pushed by a couple of coaches to make a decision quickly. Doing it now was a little quicker than I wanted, another week or two would’ve been nice, but I think I came up with the right place.

“It is a great campus and great basketball program that speaks for itself,” Straub added. “The coaching staff and players had a real good feel for them. I like what they bring to the game and in the locker room.”

Straub was recruited by Crimson Hawks head coach Joe Lombardi who has proven to be the most consistent and dominant coach in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, and one of the most recognized and respected not only in the Atlantic Region, but the entire nation. He enters his 18th season at IUP in 2023-24.

In 17 seasons, Lombardi has a 400-108 (.787) overall record with 12 NCAA tournament appearances, seven PSAC tournament titles (2010, 2011, 2013, 2019, 2020, 2022, 2023), three Atlantic Region Championships (2010, 2015, 2022) and two Division II National Championship Game appearances (2010, 2015).

“It’s really exciting for our program because we haven’t had one (a full scholarship guy) in a long, long time,” St. Clairsville boys’ basketball coach Ryan Clifford said. “On a personal note, I’ve coached Griff since he was in the third grade and on up, so this has been a fun process for me.

“He had a really good visit. He loved the campus because it had a (NCAA) Division I feel to it. He had a good relationship throughout the process with their head coach. It’s a successful program. I think he’s headed to a good place.”

Clifford said Straub had a lot of really good offers from a lot of good coaches who are good guys.

“I chose IUP over Cal (Pa.) and West Liberty,” Straub said. “Those were my final three.”

Playing on the AAU circuit for the past couple of summers also helped Straub get seen.

“It definitely put me out there for a lot of college coaches that wouldn’t have seen me play in high school,” he noted. “It also helped me to develop a lot more. I have become more physical and that came from playing against really good competition.

Straub, who set a program record by shooting 92 percent from the foul line last season, played for Midwest, which is based out of Columbus.”

“I’d like to thank my parents, Leanne and Austin Straub, Coach Ryan and my Midwest coaches, they really put a lot of time into me. I’d also like to thank all of my teammates throughout my career. They’ve pushed me to work harder.

“Coach Ryan has definitely helped me a bunch. Instead of using me like a big center, he allowed me to play on the wing and that definitely opened my game up,”

Straub knows playing at the next level will be tougher than in high school.

“I need to get in the weightroom, get stronger and put some muscle on my bones,” he admitted.

Straub said he wants to be a history teacher.

“I’m planning on majoring in social studies education. I’ll probably minor in physical education.”