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After leading the Glasgow-based Virginia Bandits to the state finals of the United States Specialty Sports Association (USSSA) in the high school boys division, Parry McCluer High School rising senior basketball player Landon Catlett was named to the USSSA allstate first team in early June.
Going up against players from ages 14 to 17, Catlett put up big numbers for the Bandits. In four games, Catlett averaged 20.5 points per game, 6.5 rebounds per game, 2.5 assists per game and one steal per game. In the semifinals, he led the Bandits with 36 points and hit the game-winning shot, a 3-pointer, to lift his team to a 66-65 victory over the Most Hated Squad. Catlett also grabbed eight rebounds, dished out four assists and had one steal.
Reflecting last week on making that game winner, Catlett said, “It was a pretty surreal moment. I had enough time to go down and shoot a layup to take it to the second overtime, but I had all the confidence in the world in myself to hit that pull-up 3-pointer, so I took my chances.”
In the finals, the Bandits lost 89-39 to the Virginia Warriors, when Catlett was held to eight points, four rebounds and one steal.
This was Catlett’s first time playing consistently with the Bandits, after making guest appearances last year.
Tyree, in her first year of coaching the Bandits, said she was impressed with how Catlett progressed and developed quickly into a leader. “Landon came in and adapted well with the rest of the players,” she said. “He scored some big buckets. He enjoys playing with us.”
Catlett was one of five PM players competing for the Bandits this year. Other PM varsity players joining him were a pair of rising juniors, guard Brayden Holdren and forward Jayvion Cash. From the Blues’ junior varsity team, rising junior forwards Ellis Hill and Dylan Tyree were members of the Bandits. Tyree was the second-leading scorer from the Blues, averaging five points per game.
Last winter, under the direction of first-year head coach Tyler Kerr, the PM varsity team bounced back from a 2-5 start to the season to go 17-10 overall and 10-2 in the Pioneer District to finish second in the district. The Blues concluded their season with a 75-48 loss to George Wythe in the Region 1C semifinals. Catlett was an all-district second team selection.
Catlett joined the varsity team the winter after the Blues won their first state title in program history. He is also a quarterback for the football team.
The high school journey has been a challenging one for Catlett, whose father, Eric, passed away at age 41 in October 2021 following complications from an automobile accident three months earlier. Just 17 days after his father’s death, Landon, who is raised by his mother, Jennifer, scored his first career touchdown on a 6-yard run during PM’s 49-0 win over Bath County.
In recognition of the obstacles he overcame, Landon received the Josh Leonard “Character, Courage and Commitment” award from WSLS 10 in February of last year.
Looking forward to his senior year, Landon has high hopes for the upcoming football and basketball seasons. He said one of his goals for basketball season is to be the Pioneer District player of the year.
The head boys basketball coaches at PM – Kerr and, for six years before last year, Mike Cartolaro, who led the Blues to the Class 1 state title in 2021 -- have taught Catlett a lot. Catlett said both coaches “have always encouraged me to stay active on the hardwood as much as I possibly can, and I have always wanted to do what I can while I can.”
Praising his coaches from the Bandits, Tyree and assistant coach Chad Bouchard, Catlett said they “have helped me with staying active on the hardwood while my high school team is in the offseason.”
Reflecting on Catlett’s all-state honor for the Bandits and excited about his upcoming senior year, Kerr said, “That does not shock me at all. Landon is an outstanding young man with an unbelievable work ethic. He deserves this recognition for the work he put in this summer. I’m looking forward to a great senior year out of him!”
