WPIAL Opening Weekend Takeaways
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With the basketball season kicking off in the Steel City, there were some top performances and key notes to take into account this weekend. Let’s break them down, shall we? Prospects Who Proved It Meleek Thomas Meleek Thomas 6'4" |…
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Continue ReadingWith the basketball season kicking off in the Steel City, there were some top performances and key notes to take into account this weekend. Let’s break them down, shall we?
Prospects Who Proved It
Meleek Thomas Meleek Thomas 6'4" | CG Lincoln Park | 2025 State #5 Nation PA is one of the top players in the country and he powered Lincoln Park Charter past Alier Maluk Alier Maluk 7'0" | PF Long Island Lutheran | 2025 State #62 Nation NY and Imani Christian on opening night, 77-74. Thomas exploded for nearly 40 in a statement performance against an elite level of competition.
Connor Spratt Connor Spratt 6'3" | PG Seton LaSalle | 2023 State PA of Seton LaSalle hit for an eye popping 81 points in two games, slicing up a good Upper Saint Clair, who features a trio of guards led by capable senior leader and college prospect Nick Sukernek, and also hitting Pine-Richland, who may be missing a player or two due to football playing in the state title game for 40. Spratt, along with Dante DePante Dante DePante 6'3" | PG Central Catholic | 2023 State PA of Pittsburgh Central Catholic, are the two most under-offered players in Western Pennsylvania at this early juncture of the season. Seton went 0-2 in tight losses against 5A and 6A competition, but Mark Walsh isn’t backing down from any challenges.
Teams That Made Statements
Allderdice took apart North Allegheny on Friday night, 79-62. A balanced attack from Devin Crummie’s Dragons featured highlight reel plays by 6’4″ junior Major Rainey Major Rainey 6'3" | SG Allderdice | 2024 State PA and steady backcourt play from junior Logan Golle Logan Golle 6'1" | PG Taylor Allderdice | 2024 State PA and senior Ethan Anish Ethan Anish 6'1" | CG Taylor Allderdice | 2023 State PA . A host of Dragons had double digits and they look capable of not only storming to the City League title as heavy favorites, but also competing outside the City. They’ll get to test themselves against Imani this weekend.
Mars went to D-10 and won the Sharon tournament in convincing fashion. After graduating several key players, questions remained about who would help out senior guard Tasso Sfanos Tasso Sfanos 6'1" | PG Mars | 2023 State PA . Plenty of help arrived and the Planets beat a talented Franklin High team on Friday and them took Meadville to the cleaners in a blowout final victory.
Laurel Highlands kicked off their final year of Keondre DeShields Keondre DeShields 6'3" | CG Laurel Highlands | 2023 State PA and Rodney Gallagher Rodney Gallagher 6'0" | CG Laurel Highlands | 2023 State #176 Nation PA by going 2-0 with wins over Mt. Lebanon and Erie McDowell. The pair of elite football and basketball recruits will look to keep the Mustangs in the hunt for a district title in a new classification.
Don’t Push Panic
Steel Valley took it on the chin at the weekend but it’s very important to know their football team was still playing until Friday night and the entire varsity basketball rotation was on the field. Once they find their legs, they’ll be very tough to beat and are led by one of the top players in the WPIAL, Makhai Valentine Makhai Valentine 6'3" | SG Steel Valley | 2023 State PA , an electric senior guard who was one of the top scorers in Pennsylvania last year.