Middle standout commits to play D2 basketball

Posted: November 22nd 2023

By BRIAN CUNNIFF

CapeAtlanticLive.com

One of the top basketball talents in the Cape-Atlantic League has made her college choice.

Madison Palek, a 6-0 center from Middle Township High School, has committed to play at Division II Clarion University, located a little more than an hour’s drive from Pittsburgh. Palek made her choice public earlier this fall.

“When I went for my official visit, the team just really clicked with me, and I could see how much they got along off the court,” Palek said. “The Clarion campus was beautiful and the town around it was awesome. It seemed like a great place for me to spend my time at college.”

Palek was an impactful player on eventual South Jersey Group II champion Middle Township last winter, even though she missed the last couple regular-season games, the Cape-Atlantic League playoff tournament and the entire state playoffs due to a foot injury. She averaged 9.6 points and 7.7 rebounds but her best attributes might just be her abilities at the defensive end, where she dominated the paint with her length and athleticism. Palek blocked a team-best 37 shots in 22 games last season. 

MADISON PALEK

She led Middle in total rebounds with 170 despite missing the team’s last 10 games.

Palek, who first played at Our Lady of Mercy Academy before transferring to Middle during her sophomore year, chose Division II Clarion despite receiving some Division I interest, including one scholarship offer.

Palek, though, is confident in her choice to matriculate to a Clarion program that plays in the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference, one of the top Division II conferences in the country. The PSAC sent four teams to the NCAA Division II Tournament last season.

“It’s definitely a huge relief coming off my shoulders,” she said. “I don’t have to go back and forth with the schools and having to go over it all with my parents. It’s nice to have that choice finished with.

“I’m so thankful for it. I’m so excited to play at the next level.”

Palek is one of the leaders for a Middle team that should again be one of the best in the CAL this winter. Her younger sister, McKenzie, is one of her teammates.

Palek’s older brother, Keith, has had great basketball success thus far in the PSAC. The junior from St. Augustine Prep is currently averaging 10.7 points and 2.7 rebounds through three games for California University of Pennsylvania, after posting 18.2 points and 6.8 rebounds per outing for the Vulcans last season.

Palek will join another former Middle Township High School athlete at Clarion. Ciara DiMauro recently completed her freshman soccer season there, scoring a team-best four goals.