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<p>Reknowned Northeastern Pennsylvania basketball coach John Bucci, who took Bishop Hannan to a boys state championship and led many others on a road to college as the owner of JB United, passed away Monday, leaving countless players and coaches throughout the region in mourning.</p><p>He was 57.</p><p>A well-known youth basketball coach in Lackawanna County, Bucci rose to Pennsylvania prominence by guiding Syracuse-bound star Gerry McNamara and Hannan to the 2002 PIAA Class A boys basketball title. He also served as a high school basketball analyst for WNEP-TV Channel 16.</p><p>But he found just as much reward &#8212; if not more &#8212; by bettering the games of thousands of boys and girls high school basketball players through his AAU programs Backcourt Hoops, JB Hoops and Riverfront Sports that he combined under the JB Hoops umbrella.</p><p>His reach extended throughout the Wyoming Valley, touching hundreds of past and present high school players who watched their games flourish in Luzerne County before they blossomed as college players.</p><p>Most recently, Dallas girls basketball player Lauren Charlton &#8212; who spent the last few seasons with JB United &#8212; committed to play at Penn next season in early November.</p><p>JB United management vowed to continue to serve the area basketball community in Bucci&#8217;s name in a message on his Facebook page.</p><style>
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Reknowned basketball coach Bucci passes away