WEST LIBERTY, W.Va. – Mohawk (Pa.) High School girls' basketball standout Karly McCutcheon has signed to continue her athletic and academic careers with head coach Kyle Cooper and the West Liberty University women's basketball program.
    McCutcheon took advantage of the NCAA's November early-signing period to officially become a Hilltopper before heading into her senior season at the New Castle, Pa. high school.
    "We are really excited to welcome Karly to the West Liberty family," Cooper said. "She's a high-motor kid with unlimited range from the 3-point line but she can also put the ball on the floor and attack the basket. Karly is a high-character kid with a tremendous work ethic who has already bought into the way we do things on the hilltop. She's a great fit for our program and our university."
    A 5-9 guard equally comfortable spotting up for a deep three-pointer or finishing at the rim, McCutcheon is back at 100 percent after missing nearly her entire junior season due to injury. She worked her way back onto the court in time to post 21 points and 11 rebounds in Mohawk's sectional playoff game.
    McCutcheon was an immediate impact player as a freshman, earning MVP honors at her first high school tournament and leading the team to the WPIAL Class AAA quarterfinals. McCutcheon was the only freshman named to the WPIAL Class AAA All-Section Team after averaging 13.2 points, 7.3 rebounds, 4.0 assists, 2.8 blocks and 3.7 steals per game.
    She picked up where she left off as a sophomore, averaging nearly a double-double with 14.1 points and 9.2 rebounds a game while tossing in 55 3-point bombs. The only sophomore named to the All-Section Team – and the second-leading vote-getter – she led Mohawk to the semifinals of the WPIAL Class AAA championships and the Pennsylvania state quarterfinals.
    An outstanding student with a 3.9 grade-point average, McCutcheon is a National Honor Society member and was voted Homecoming Queen.
    "We have a long tradition of producing outstanding guards at West Liberty," Cooper said, "and with Karly's skill set and basketball IQ, she definitely has the potential to follow in those footsteps. We wish her all the best in her senior season and can't wait to have her here on campus with us."
    Cooper's current Lady Hilltopper squad returns to the court on Wednesday with a non-conference game against Winston-Salem State. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m. at the ASRC.