Top WPIAL Stock Risers of Summer Circuit
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The WPIAL is back on the basketball map and is starting to make a big push towards returning to its glory days of the 1950s-1970s with the young talent coming through. In addition, there are upperclassmen also making noise this…
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Continue ReadingThe WPIAL is back on the basketball map and is starting to make a big push towards returning to its glory days of the 1950s-1970s with the young talent coming through. In addition, there are upperclassmen also making noise this summer. Today we look at five of the top returning players in the WPIAL making their names known on the AAU Circuit.
Dante DePante Dante DePante 6'3" | PG Central Catholic | 2023 State PA | 6’3” | G | Pittsburgh Central Catholic 2023
Folks in the Steel City have known for a few years that DePante was a leader and could flat out play. He enter this AAU circuit with a single offer—North Florida. He’s earned a second from Radford…More importantly, he’s blown up on the social reporting scene. Folks who don’t cover PA basketball are now tweeting out that colleges are missing the boat here. He’s a big lead guard with a high basketball IQ who’s scoring at will in the AAU season and also showcasing his ballhandling and court vision as well. He’ll be back as the driver of the bus of a Central Catholic team that is going to be the preseason favorite to win the WPIAL 6A tournament. DePante could make a run at Player of the Year awards from Pittsburgh media outlets.
Alier Maluk Alier Maluk 7'0" | PF Long Island Lutheran | 2025 State #62 Nation NY | 6’10”| F |Imani Christian 2025
Maluk is one of the top sophomores in the entire state and is rapidly rising to the elite level. He’s an above average ballhandler for a guy his size and as he continues to grow into his wide frame, he’ll only continue to improve. He’s a force in the low block who causes opponents at the elite level problems, much less the average HS player. He is piling up major D1 offers and will be an “at will” scorer in WPIAL Class A basketball this coming winter. It will be almost impossible to keep Maluk off regional all star lists in Pittsburgh this winter.
Virgil Hall | 6’8” | F | Imani Christian 2024
As if a national level recruit wasn’t enough to contend with for opponents, Imani has a second option in their frontcourt. Hall is a bruising forward who can score at multiple levels. He can beat you in the post, score facing the basket and even stretch out to the perimeter when the opportunity arises. He’s had an explosive season on the AAU Circuit and offers and interest are starting to flow in for him, most recently from Bethune Cookman.
Daemar Kelly Daemar Kelly 6'3" | SF Penn Hills | 2023 State PA | 6’4” | GF | Penn Hills 2023
Kelly has been a player of interest for colleges over the last year or so and has heard from over half a dozen programs thusfar. He had a rock solid junior year, showing that he’s a scorer, a facilitator and a guy who can do the dirty work when called upon. The spot that most recently saw his name shoot up the charts was Philly Live. He was able to showcase his advancing skillset in a 26 point performance vs Bethlehem Catholic and reporters have taken notice. He’ll make a strong push for a place on first team “All Pittsburgh” pieces from media this year. He also possesses a high GPA as well, which should be appealing to schools.
Vinnie Cugini Vinnie Cugini 6'2" | PG Aquinas Academy | 2023 State PA | 6’1” | G | Aquinas Academy 2023
A small school scoring machine who has been largely neglected on the recruiting front, Cugini is making the most of his final summer run with Mason Elite, forming a backcourt with DePante. They’ve played off of each other very well and more interest should be mounting for Cugini as the summer goes on. He’s showing he can finish against top level competition and is far more than just a “big fish in a little pond”… Basketball scouts and reporters are catching on to him and more coaches will also.