WPIAL 2024&2025 Prospects to Watch on AAU Circuit

<p>&nbsp;</p> <p><a href="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/AnalysisEvaluations-1.jpg"><img class="size-medium wp-image-1003774 aligncenter" src="https://prephoops-uploads.s3.amazonaws.com/ph/uploads/2020/06/AnalysisEvaluations-1-300x188.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="188" /></a></p> <p>At the weekend we took a look at some of the top players in the WPIAL in the Class of 2023. Now we take a look at some of the younger talent in Pittsburgh. The current group of freshmen and sophomores are the most talented and deepest as a collective that the region has seen in some time. They feature several elite recruits. </p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1173989" first="Royce" last="Parham"]</strong>| 6’7” | F | North Hills 2024</p> <p>Parham is going to end up as one of the most dominating big men the WPIAL has seen in years. He plays within himself and possesses a quiet confidence. He’s fundamentally excellent on both ends of the floor. Offensively, he contributed in the paint and on the glass for a very senior laden and very guard oriented North Hills team. On the defensive side is where his real influence came through. Parham changed the trajectory or outright blocked numerous shots on a nightly basis and his imposing, but still filling out frame was a presence in the paint. Watched him almost a dozen times and he always played with intensity. His best test of the season came in a nail-biting victory over a very good Mars team, where Planets big man [player_tooltip player_id="991240" first="Chris" last="Dvorak"] gave him fits all night. Parham has tremendous upside and is receiving interest from a plethora of D1 schools. Duquesne and Pitt will make a push, but so will dozens of others. Parham has elite potential not seen in the WPIAL for a post player in some time and playing for Team Durant will set him on a trajectory that is sky-high.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991401" first="Brandin" last="Cummings"]</strong> | 6’3” | G | Lincoln Park Charter 2024</p> <p>Mike Bariski has turned Lincoln Park Charter into a power player in the WPIAL and the crop he has coming up now might be one that sets them into the elite level of Pennsylvania basketball. On a team with multiple D-1 underclassmen, Cummings is right at the top of the pile. He’s silky smooth and athletic. Scorer at multiple levels. He will receive major offers when its all said and done. He’ll be one of the top junior guards in the WPIAL and he’s also on Team Durant.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="991408" first="Meleek" last="Thomas"] </strong>| 6’3” | G | Lincoln Park Charter 2025</p> <p>One of the top freshmen in the WPIAL, Thomas has only just begun his journey to the top. He averaged 19PPG. Missed half the year with a foot injury. He rebounded well by earning an invite to the USA Basketball Junior National Team Minicamp. Thomas is incredibly quick and will continue to grow and physically mature. He has a pair of offers already from Pitt and Saint John’s and as he grows into his body, major offers will be on the table for him.</p> <p>&nbsp;</p> <p><strong>[player_tooltip player_id="1188606" first="Alier" last="Maluk"]</strong> | 6’10” | F | Imani Christian 2025</p> <p>Maluk is a phenomenal athlete who has been highly touted for the entirety of his freshman year. Playing for tiny Imani Christian, some may question his competition in season, but the video doesn’t lie. A big man who can handle the ball, get out in transition and hit the glass with intensity. He projects as another elite underclassman out of the WPIAL who will receive national attention thanks to his play on the AAU circuit. He’s got half a dozen offers but after the spring and summer circuit, he’ll have 30.</p>