The WPIAL Football Championships wrapped up on November 22, so it’s officially basketball season here in the Western Pennsylvania.
The basketball landscape changed quite a bit throughout the offseason with schools bringing in new coaches, players finding new homes, and a new group of players ready to emerge as stars. Here is a look at each classification as well as the top teams and players to keep an eye on this season.
6A (2024-2025 Champion - Upper St.
Clair)
This year’s group at 6A is loaded with tough teams, but heading into the season there’s a clear favorite, and that’s last year’s runner-up the New Castle Red Hurricanes. Coach Ralph Blundo is back for another year, and the vast majority of his roster is as well.
Their most notable loss is obviously his son, Ralphie Blundo, who graduated and is now playing at IUP, but the rest of the core is intact and there are some new faces to highlight as well.
The Canes return last year’s top freshman, Kai Cox, their super athletic wing, Damien Harrison, and their big man in Jayden Shaffer, all of whom star on their football team. Another football star that they’re excited to add to the squad is freshman sensation Marino Graham. He tore it up on the football field and will look to do the same on the hardwood.
There are a handful of other top teams to watch at the 6A level as well, including Butler, Central Catholic, Imani Christian, Mt. Lebanon, Pine Richland, and last year’s champion, Upper St. Clair.
Butler returns a ton of seniors, including their two stars in Edinboro commit, Andrew Gettinger, and athletic wing, Stainton Forbes. Central Catholic is led by senior guard Enzo Khalil, who can score as well as anyone in the 6A class. Imani Christian Academy is entering their first season in 4 years with someone not named RJ Sledge at the point guard position, but they still bring back a ton of talent in juniors Kieshaun Demus, Zay Bradshaw, and Donovan Gordon. They also will have some much-needed size this year with addition of 6’9” sophomore, Taireke Davis.
Mt. Lebanon will be led by senior Liam Sheely who is one of the craftiest offensive players in the class. The 6’3” guard has dealt with some injuries throughout his career, but when he’s healthy that Lebo team is a whole different animal.
Pine Richland is perhaps the most interesting team in 6A with first year Head Coach, Steve McNees, taking the reins this season. The Rams bring back senior sharpshooter, Grant Spacciapolli, and have added back senior big man and Ohio State volleyball commit, Doolin Stober, after not playing hoops last year. McNees wants to play fast and let it fly, so it will be interesting to see how that playstyle translates this year.
Rounding out the teams to watch at 6A is last year’s champ, the Upper St. Clair Panthers. USC’s star center from last season, Tyler Robbins, is now playing college ball for Miami (OH), but the Panthers still have plenty of size. Tyler’s younger brother, Ryan Robbins, isn’t quite as tall, but he’s a bigger body at 6’7” 280 pounds. The D1 football recruit has great footwork and touch around the rim and will be a load to deal with inside.
5A (2024-2025 Champion - Chartiers Valley)
The 5A classification is the most star-studded class in the WPIAL this season with several teams having Division 1 talent on their roster. Chartiers Valley and Head Coach Corey Dotchin will look to repeat this year, and they’ll have a great chance to do so. They did lose 2,000-point scorer, Jayden Davis, to graduation, but they return seniors Julian Semplice and Danny Slizik, and they’ll have one of the top sophomores in the WPIAL in Luca Federico. The 6’5” sophomore can do it all offensively, and has already generated some D1 interest. The Colts will be a very tough out in 5A this season.
The other team at the top of the class is the Lincoln Park Leopards. They have almost an entirely new starting lineup when you include transfers and freshmen. They snagged the top transfer of the offseason in Columbia commit, Josh Pratt, who is arguably the best player in the WPIAL this season and will look to lead the Leopards to another title. His younger brother, Miah Pratt will also start for Lincoln Park, as he came over from Aliquippa as well. He was one of the top freshmen in the WPIAL last season and will look to make his mark as a sophomore this year. Rounding out the notable new additions for the Leopards is freshman Amaizen Straughters. Straughters will be one of several freshmen starting around the WPIAL this season.
The 5A Class also is home to the biggest overall prospect in the WPIAL in Indiana’s 6’8” junior, Aaron Webb. If you haven’t seen Webb play yet, you need to. The Louisville Cardinals were in to see him practice in the pre-season and the 6’8” wing is one of the most athletic players the WPIAL has ever seen. Webb isn’t the only high-end prospect in 5A though, as Gateway’s Mykel Bruce-McCrommon put on a show throughout the summer and gained the attention of a number of D1 programs. Mykel is a 6’6” wing with point guard-like abilities. He has a great handle and can really shoot it as well.
Other teams to watch this year are Moon, Penn Hills, and Peters Twp. The Tigers have some new talent as well with senior guard and Rio Grande commit, Jackson Bauman, and his younger brother, Brody, transferring in from Knoch. The Penn Hills Indians will be a tough team to stay in front of with a bunch of athletic guards, led by senior Amon Hawthorne, who recently picked up an offer from local D2 program, Point Park, and Peters Twp. will look to get back to the title game this season behind the play of senior guard, Dylan Donovan, and junior big man, Jake Wetzel.
4A (2024-2025 Champion - Belle Vernon)
Belle Vernon went home with the 4A title last year, but it will be tough for them to repeat after losing 2,000-point scorer, Zion Moore, and big man Tommy Davis, to graduation. It’s last year’s runner up, North Catholic, who comes into this season as the favorite in the class. The Trojans bring back two high-scoring seniors in Jason Fredericks and Jude Rottmann, and they add one of the top freshmen in the WPIAL to the team in Brandon Pickett.
4A has a couple other stars to watch as well, some of who have gone a bit under the radar. Stanley Rajkovich is a 6’7” wing out of Derry who put on a show in the Rising Stars Invitational at Rize Sports over the summer. He’s a big kid who can step outside and knock down a three but can also take it to the rack for a dunk. Rajkovich is another D1 prospect for this talented junior class around the WPIAL. Another name to keep an eye on is Elizabeth Forward’s Tyler Basic. He’s an undersized guard, but he’s such a highly skilled scorer of the basketball and could end up as one of the leading scorers in the entire WPIAL.
3A (2024-2025 Champion - South Allegheny)
South Allegheny enters this season as the reigning champs and the favorites to win it again this year. They lost guard, Cam Epps, to graduation, but they still have the best backcourt in 3A with senior Drew Cook and junior Smaj Reason. Cook is a two-sport star and a D1 football recruit, but he averaged over 20 points per game last year and will look to do so again this season. Smaj Reason is another one of those under the radar guys in the WPIAL, but he is super quick off the dribble and can really shoot it from three. He could very well be around the 20 point per game mark as well.
The 3A Class may also have the best big man in the WPIAL in Luke Scarff from South Park. Scarff is a 6’8” forward that loves to play above the rim. In a class where there aren’t a lot of teams with legit big men, Scarff should have the opportunity to dominate. Bishop Canevin will be a tough out in the classification as well with their high-paced athletic team led by senior guard, Drew Allen. One noticeable omission from the top teams in 3A this year will likely be the Aliquippa Quips. They’ve been a staple in 3A the last few years, but losing Josh and Miah Pratt to Lincoln Park leaves a huge void for the Quips.
2A (2024-2025 Champion - Jeannette)
2A is looking like the most lopsided classification as we get ready to start the 2025-2026 season with Sewickley Academy coming in as massive favorites. This team is absolutely loaded and could compete in any classification. They roll out one of the best and tallest starting fives in the WPIAL, which includes 6’5” senior guard, Lucas Grimsley, 6’7” junior forward, Adam Ikamba, and 6’8” sophomore Mamadou Kane, who just might be the most physically imposing player in the WPIAL this year.
Another team to watch in 2A is of course last year’s champion, Jeannette Jayhawks, who are led by junior Markus McGowan. The 6’3” guard is a natural scorer who can get buckets inside and out. Look for David Kwiat and Neshannock to make some noise as well. The 6’3” senior guard can score with the best of them.
1A (2024-2025 Champion - Neighborhood Academy)
They don’t have Courtney Wallace, as he’s in college playing for the Yale Bulldogs, but Neighborhood Academy is still the top dog in 1A. Wallace has handed off the keys to junior guard, Kedron Gilmore, who will look to lead this team to another title. Joining Gilmore in the starting lineup is a familiar name in Pittsburgh basketball, but with a “Jr.” added to it, as Julius Page Jr., son of former Pitt basketball star, Julius Page, is a freshman for Neighborhood Academy. He’s as athletic as any freshman in the WPIAL and will be a big contributor for the Bullgods this season. Another freshman to watch in 1A is Nazareth Prep’s Ahsan Harrison. The 6’3” combo guard is a very crafty scorer. He’s big enough to play in the post but has a good enough shot to beat you on the outside as well.
City League (2024-2025 Champion - Allderdice)
The City League will likely come down to the same two teams that competed for the title last year in Allderdice and Obama.
Dice is going for a 5th straight title, and is led by senior forward, Lukas Stead, who is a three-sport athlete for the Dragons. 6’5” junior guard, Anthony Abrahms, will be expected to carry a lot of the load for them offensively. Their main competition will come from Obama again this year, who is led by senior point guard, Naron Jackson. Jackson is a pitbull type of point guard. He’s as tough as they come, can get to the bucket, and play lockdown on-ball defense.
Many teams began their seasons in Thanksgiving tournaments this past weekend, but every team will be in action this week as the non-conference schedule officially gets underway.