As KDKA Radio's coverage of high school football comes to a close, we now shift our focus to the 2022-23 basketball season.
This season, we will recognize two girls and two boys basketball players from throughout the WPIAL and Pittsburgh City League each week as members of the KDKA Super 7 Watch List. At the end of the year, representatives from each class will be named the KDKA Radio Super 7 Players of the Year.
To begin our awards, we present the Super 7 Preseason Players of the Year!
Girls 1A
Ashley Lippold, Bishop Canevin
The senior scored 16 points per game last season for the Crusaders, which won the WPIAL 1A title and reached the PIAA 2nd round. Lippold has offers from Allegheny and Chatham.
Boys 1A
Vinnie Cugini, Aquinas Academy
The WPIAL's leading scorer (36.2 points per game) from the 2021-22 season, Cugini has already surpassed the 2,000 point mark in his career already, and could become the district's all-time leading scorer this season. Cugini is committed to Pitt Johnstown.
Girls 2A
Iyanna Wade, Clairton
As a freshman last season, Wade scored a solid 23 points per game for the Bears, which went 15-4 and reaches the postseason. She accounted for nearly half of her team's points last year.
Boys 2A
Donovan Walker, Aliquippa
A standout on the gridiron and court, Walker returns after scoring 14 points per game last season. He led the Quips to a 19-9 record, a WPIAL semifinal appearance and a trip to the PIAA 3A Championship. Walker has received numerous Division I football offers.
Girls 3A
Mallory Daly, Seton LaSalle
One of the district's top girls scorers last year at 24.3 points per game, Daly could be in store for a big season. Then now-junior, Daly helped the Rebels to an 18-8 record and appearances in the WPIAL 2A Semifinals and PIAA 2nd round in 2021-22.
Boys 3A
Makhai Valentine, Steel Valley
An explosive guard, Valentine was one of the WPIAL's top point scorers last year at 29.4 per game. He was named the KDKA Radio Super 7 Boys 3A Player of the Year. He has offers from Sam Houston and South Alabama.
Girls 4A
Dacia Lewandowski, North Catholic
Lewandowski, who is committed to Akron, is one of the WPIAL's best all-around girls basketball prospects. The reigning Super 7 Girls 3A Player of the Year, Lewandowski scored 15.8 points per game last year as the Trojanettes won the WPIAL 3A title and reached the PIAA semifinals.
Boys 4A
Rodney Gallagher, Laurel Highlands
Class 5A's Super 7 Player of the Year in 2021-22, Gallagher and the Mustangs are now in Class 4A. The West Virginia football commit, and one of the WPIAL's best two-way athletes ever, scored 18.6 points per game last year as the Mustangs went 27-1, winning the 4A title.
Girls 5A
Maddie Webber, South Fayette
Webber and the Lions pulled an eyebrow raiser in the WPIAL 5A title game, knocking off power Chartiers Valley at The Petersen Events Center. South Fayette finished the year 23-5, and Webber lead the Lions with 17.0 points per game. Webber is committed to play at Villanova.
Boys 5A
Royce Parham, North Hills
Perhaps the WPIAL's top prospect, Parham (and his suitcase full of Division I offers) returns to a North Hills team coming off a 26-2 season. Parham scored 20.8 points and grabbed nearly 10 rebounds per game, and established himself as one of the area's best rim protectors. He has offers from a handful of top-tier Division I programs.
Girls 6A
Jasmine Timmerson, North Allegheny
The senior has been contributing to one of the WPIAL's top programs in North Allegheny for years. Last season, the Pitt recruit scored 14.0 points per game, and was selected to the all-state team, as the Tigers went 21-4. She chose Pitt over offers from Minnesota, Michigan State, Duquesne and others.
Boys 6A
Dante DePante, Central Catholic
DePante put together a stellar 2021-22 season, scoring over 20 points per game for the Vikings. Central Catholic reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA 1st round. The senior has received offers from Radford and North Florida.
Girls City League
Taylor Phillips, Obama Academy
Only a sophomore, Phillips will be stepping into a larger role this season following the graduation of KDKA Super 7 Player of the Year Samaree Perkins. Phillips helped Obama Academy to the City League title and a trip to the PIAA 1st round.
Boys City League
Sam Kelly, Allderdice
Kelly, a 6-foot-5 forward, scored nearly 10 points per game and grabbed over 6 rebounds per last season. He also blocked nearly 2 shots per game. The Dragons are heavy favorites to win the City League this season after winning the title last season.
The high school basketball season on KDKA Radio tips off Friday night, as Seneca Valley hosts North Hills. Rick Dayton will anchor coverage of the KDKA Radio Pregame Show, starting at 6 p.m. and Josh Rowntree will have the play-by-play of the game, starting at 7 p.m. Be sure to follow @KDKARadio on social media for updates throughout the night.
