We turn the calendar to 2026 and, with that, comes the heating up of the high school basketball season. Last week, we saw a smattering of key section games and several holiday break tournaments featuring some strong individual performances.
This season, KDKA Radio will again nominate players each week to join the KDKA Radio Super 7 Awards watch list. Every Monday, a new crop of players will be unveiled based on their efforts that previous week. At the end of the year, KDKA Radio will announce the winners of the award for each WPIAL boys and girls classification, as well as the Pittsburgh City League.
Here are the top performances from Week 5:
Kedron Gilmore, The Neighborhood Academy
The Neighborhood Academy is looking for a second straight WPIAL basketball title following a dominant run a year ago.
Kedron Gilmore has the Bulldogs back in contention.
Last week, the junior scored 25 points in a 65-53 win over Shady Side Academy on Tuesday. He followed that effort with 35 points in a 74-53 win over Beaver on Saturday.
The Neighborhood Academy, which was without Gilmore for the first three games, is now 8-1 overall this season.
Mia LeDonne, Pine-Richland
Last season, LeDonne had to watch from the sidelines as Pine-Richland reached the WPIAL playoffs.
This year, the talented junior is helping lead the Rams back in that direction.
Last week, LeDonne scored 21, 13 and 11 points to lead Pine-Richland to wins over Plum, Shady Side Academy and Bethel Park.
LeDonne has Division I offers from Robert Morris and Manhattan. The Rams, meanwhile, have won five straight are 6-5 and 2-0 in Section 1-6A.
Julian Semplice, Chartiers Valley
Like The Neighborhood Academy, Chartiers Valley is in search of a second straight WPIAL title and appears to have the potential to do just that.
Semplice has been one of the veteran leaders of the Colts and just posted a massive week.
Early in the week, the senior scored 19 and 14 points in wins over Forest Hills and Beaver in the Central Valley Roundball Classic. He then posted 26 points in a solid 60-45 victory over Aliquippa on Saturday.
The Colts are now 9-1 and 3-0 in Section 4-5A.
Paige Klodowski, Burgettstown
Burgettstown picked up a couple of strong wins in holiday tournaments last week with Klodowski pacing the Blue Devils.
She scored 31 points in a 68-47 win over Monessen and then 20 more in a triumph over Weir (West Virginia) on Saturday, knowing down six 3-pointers in the win. Klodowski also scored 17 in a tight loss to defending WPIAL champ Aliquippa Friday.
The Blue Devils are off to an 8-2 start and unbeaten in Section 2-2A.
KDKA Radio’s coverage of WPIAL basketball continues Friday with Imani Christian at Mt. Lebanon. Listen to the game on 100.1 FM, AM-1020 or the Audacy app.