LIBERTY HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL STAR IS OUT FOR THE SEASON

Anthony Gonzalez, Liberty's star two-sport athlete, has apparently played in his last high school athletic event.

Liberty boys basketball coach Chad Landis revealed that Gonzalez, a four-year starter, will be undergoing surgery sometime next week for a torn meniscus in his right knee and will be out for the rest of the season.

Gonzalez, a 6-foot-3, 210-pound senior, is headed to the University of Pittsburgh on a football scholarship. Gonzalez missed two Liberty football games during the past season for a meniscus injury in his left knee.

"It's been a tough senior year for the guy," Landis said. "Anthony took his time, but he worked very hard, to get ready for basketball and he was really starting to hit his stride."

Landis said Gonzalez originally hurt the knee on Jan. 12 in a game against Parkland and had an MRI to find out the seriousness of the injury. He left for Pitt this past weekend for his official NCAA football visit and when he returned Monday, the MRI results revealed the tear.

Gonzalez was The Express-Times and PIAA Class AAAA Player of the Year in 2008 after quarterbacking Liberty to the Class AAAA state championship. He also was standout at free safety.

While Gonzalez was more associated with football, he was also an outstanding basketball player. As a junior in 2008-09, he was named to The Express-Times All-Area first team as a forward, averaging 12.9 points and 10 rebounds per game.

This season, Gonzalez was averaging 11.2 points per game for the Hurricanes (12-2), ranked No. 1 in the region.