The WPIAL and City League football season has come to an end, and now KDKA Radio shifts its attention to the hardwood, where basketball season is just getting underway for the region’s schools.
Throughout the season, KDKA Radio will put together a watch list of some of the best boys and girls basketball players in the region. At the end of the year, the top performer from each WPIAL classification, and one member of the Pittsburgh City League, will receive the prestigious KDKA Super 7 Award.
We begin with our preseason players to watch, including three top players in each classification in boys and girls basketball:
Boys 1A:
RJ Sledge, Jr., Imani Christian: Scored 11.0 points per game in 2022-23 and takes over following transfers of top players Alier Maluk and Dame Givner.
Lorenzo Gardner, Sr., Monessen: Led Monessen to a section title and WPIAL quarterfinal appearance while scoring 21.8 points per game last year.
John Wilkins, Sr., Neighborhood Academy: After scoring 18.5 points per last season, will form one of Class A’s top duos alongside Courtney Wallace.
Girls 1A:
Kelly Cleaver, Sr., Union: Leading scorer (15.4 points per game) for the 23-win WPIAL and PIAA Girls 1A champs. Committed to Millersville.
Kylie Fruehstorfer, Jr., Union: Do-it-all guard who dropped 12.5 points per last year and is receiving college interest as a junior.
Julie Spinelli, Jr. St. Joseph: A commit to Division II Frostburg State, Spinelli scored 19.2 points per game in 2022-23 and took the Spartans to the Class 1A semifinals.
Boys 2A:
Cameron Lindsey, Sr., Aliquippa: A bruising linebacker committed to Pitt football, Lindsey also toughs it out on the court. Scored 15.0 points per game for the Class 2A champs a year ago.
Tyree Turner, Sr., Greensburg Central Catholic: Another strong football player, Turner dropped 21.8 points per game last year for the semifinalist Centurions.
Josh Williams, Sr., Northgate: Helped lead the Flames to The Pete and the PIAA second round last season while scoring 20.8 points per game.
Girls 2A:
Iyanna Wade, Jr.
Clairton: The WPIAL’s top girls basketball scorer (33.3 points per game) last season, Wade has picked up an offer from Division I Mount Saint Mary’s.
Erica Gribble, So.
Greensburg Central Catholic: Division I recruit with offers from Buffalo and St. Joseph’s, she scored 16.9 points per as a freshman last year.
Shaye Bailey, Sr.
Freedom: Missed the postseason due to a broken collarbone, but scored 21.7 points per game for the Class 2A runner-up.
Boys 3A:
Joe Roth, Sr. Ellwood City: Finished fifth in the WPIAL in scoring at 30.1 points per game, over half of his team’s average scoring output.
Eli Teslovich, Sr.
Shady Side Academy: Carried the Bulldogs to the WPIAL quarterfinals and PIAA first round while posting 23.0 points per game last season.
Jay Wrona, Sr., Mohawk: A Youngstown State baseball commit and football quarterback, Wrona’s 16.2 points per last year helped the Warriors to 20 wins.
Girls 3A:
Mallory Daly, Sr., Seton LaSalle: A Buffalo recruit who racked up 21.3 points per contest last season and reached WPIAL postseason.
Greta O’Brien, Jr., Avonworth: After scoring 15.6 points per last year, she spearheads a dynamic duo for the Antelopes along with Rebecca Goetz that will look to repeat as Class 3A champs.
Maggie Spell, So., Shady Side Academy: Took the WPIAL by storm as a freshman by scoring 20.6 points per game. Reached the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.
Boys 4A:
Meleek Thomas, Jr., Lincoln Park: The highest ranked WPIAL recruit since ranking services began, Thomas looks for another WPIAL and PIAA title after dropping 24.9 points per game last season.
Brandin Cummings, Sr., Lincoln Park: Alongside Thomas, the Pitt recruit forms the WPIAL’s best duo in a generation after scoring 23.1 points per game last year and compiling 30 wins.
Peter Kramer, Sr., Hampton: After having to sit out last season’s playoffs, the Lehigh commit and his 20.2 points per game from 2022-23 make the Talbots contenders in Class 4A.
Girls 4A:
Alayna Rocco, Sr., North Catholic: Talented guard who is committed to Harvard and scored 17.2 points per game last season, helping the Trojanettes to another WPIAL crown.
Alena Fusetti, Sr., Blackhawk: A runner-up from a year ago, Fusetti is coming off a season in which she scored 18.1 points per. She has offers from Division I Merrimack and Division II Mercyhurst.
Mimi Thiero, So., Quaker Valley: The 6-foot-3 guard/forward and sister of Kentucky men’s player Adou Thiero scored 13.2 per game last season.
Boys 5A:
Jayden Davis, Jr., Chartiers Valley: A dynamic scorer who averaged 25.3 points per game last year, Davis and the Colts look to reach the postseason in 2023-24.
Evan Berger, Sr., Thomas Jefferson: Physical guard with Division II offers and who scored 23.1 points per a season ago before bowing out in the 5A first round.
Jack Dunbar, Sr., Peters Township: Scored 20 points per game as the Indians claimed the 5A championship over Penn Hills. Has an offer from Edinboro.
Girls 5A:
Meghan Murray, Sr., Hampton: A Kent State commit, Murray dropped over 20 points per game last season en route to the WPIAL Class 5A quarterfinals.
Emma Paul, Sr., Armstrong: Returns for one of Class 5A’s favorites following a 17.3 point per game season and 19 wins for the Riverhawks.
Rachael Manfredo, Sr., McKeesport: Averaged a double-double least season, including 16 points per game, helping the Tigers to the WPIAL semifinals and PIAA quarterfinals.
Boys 6A:
Braylon Littlejohn, Sr., Butler: A Miami (OH) football recruit who also scored over 21 points per last season and leads Class 6A’s preseason favorite.
Nate Wesling, Jr., Baldwin: Takes over as the top production threat for his brother, James, following a season in which he scored 12.9 points per game.
Tyler Robbins, Jr., Upper St. Clair: Long, 6-foot-9 post presence who is receiving Division I interest and who helped the Panthers to the 6A semifinals and PIAA first round last year.
Girls 6A:
Natalie Wetzel, Jr., Peters Township: Long guard with numerous Division I offers. Scored 19.0 points per game and reached the WPIAL Class 6A quarterfinals.
Rylee Kalocay, Jr., Upper St. Clair: Tremendous scoring threat who posted 19.6 points per game last year and has a handful of Division I offers, including several MAC schools and Duquesne.
Gemma Walker, Sr., Peters Township: Paced the Indians’ attack with over 20.1 points per game a year ago. Has already committed to Division I Saint Francis (Pa.).
Boys City League:
Major Rainey, Sr., Allderdice: Athletic presence who scored 11.6 points per game for the two-time defending City League champs.
Torrien Perkins, Sr., Obama: Tough, 6-foot-3 combo guard who led Obama Academy to the City League finals while scoring 16.8 points per in 2022-23.
Titus Gilett, Sr., Brashear: The City League’s top scorer last year at 24.5 points per, Gillet entered the season with 958 career points.
Girls City League:
Taylor Phillips, Obama Academy: 5-foot-7 guard who was the KDKA Radio City League Player of the Year in 2022-23 after racking up 15 points per game.
Bailey White, So., Allderdice: The City League’s second-leading scorer a year ago with 16.3 points per game. Helped the Dragons to the City League title game.
Giona Simmons, Sr., Obama Academy: Scored 10 points per game for the City League champion Eagles, who took home the crown for a second straight season.
KDKA Radio’s high school basketball coverage begins this week. On Friday, you can hear Butler vs Franklin Regional – with coverage starting at 6 p.m. On Saturday, it’s Woodland Hills vs Upper St. Clair at 2 p.m.. Both games will air on 100.1 FM and 1020 AM KDKA Radio. Follow @KDKARadio on X (Twitter) and Instagram for updates throughout the games.