PIAA Playoffs: Top WPIAL performers
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The PIAA playoffs kicked off last weekend with several teams from Western Pennsylvania in the hunt for a state title. Here are five top performers out of the WPIAL in the first round. Joseph Roth PA #24 PF #3 HEIGHT…
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Continue ReadingThe PIAA playoffs kicked off last weekend with several teams from Western Pennsylvania in the hunt for a state title. Here are five top performers out of the WPIAL in the first round.
Joseph Roth Joseph Roth 6’4″ | PF Ellwood City | 2024 State PA put up 31-17-7 to lead Ellwood City into the second round of the PIAA playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Roth — a multi-sport athlete — has athleticism that you rarely see out of a high school player. He eclipsed 2,000 career points a few weeks back and is a stat-sheet stuffer. Roth is at his best in transition, he finishes well through contact and has a great pull-up jumper to keep defenders off balance. Roth can score from anywhere on the floor, but the most underrated part of his game is his playmaking as he is a true offensive hub at the high school level.
Tyree Turner Tyree Turner 6’1″ | CG Greensburg Central Catholic | 2024 State PA scored a game-high 25 points to lead WPIAL runner-up Greensburg Central Catholic into the second round. Turner is a big guard who uses his body well to create scoring opportunities for himself inside. The senior has a tight handle and a quick first step making it very difficult to prevent him from getting to his spots. Turner is a real three-level scoring threat — he excels at finishing around the rim, possesses a solid floater and will make you pay from behind the arc if you go under screens. Turner’s 6’6″ wingspan makes him an elite passing lane disruptor on the defensive side of the ball and he reads the floor well on both ends.
Pete Burke
Pete Burke
Pete Burke led Serra Catholic with 29 points in the Eagles first round victory over District 6 Champion West Branch. Burke is an elite point of attack defender — he reads passing lanes well, is a great screen navigator and plays with active hands. He had seven steals on Saturday and turned defense into offense throughout the game, showcasing the ability to finish at the rim over taller defenders. Burke is an efficient three-point shooter — especially off the catch. He has a quick release and shows confidence against closeouts.
The stars were out at Lincoln Park High School on Friday night. The Leopards star duo of Pitt commit Brandin Cummings Brandin Cummings 6’3″ | SG Lincoln Park | 2024 State #132 Nation PA and Meleek Thomas Meleek Thomas 6’4″ | CG Lincoln Park | 2025 State #5 Nation PA combined for 52 points in the win, but Montour has a star of their own. Ama Tening Sow is a force on both ends of the floor and showed why he is receiving looks from several high majors throughout the country by scoring 20 points in a variety of different ways. Sow has elite lateral quickness and projects as a multi-positional defender at the next level. He’s a strong rebounder and has plenty of untapped potential — showing off an impressive handle by bringing the ball up the floor to initiate offense and run the floor in transition. He has an elite first step and freakish athleticism but also showed that he can hit shots from the outside when teams dare him to shoot it.
Hampton bounced back from its loss in the WPIAL Championship behind Liam Mignogna Liam Mignogna 6’7″ | C Hampton | 2024 State PA ‘s 22-12 double-double. Mignogna has a great understanding of post positioning and uses his body well to seal off defenders inside. The senior runs the floor well, is a terrific rebounder and showed off the ability to make strong outlet passes. Mignogna is a crafty finisher by using strong footwork, pivots and pump-fakes around the rim and can finish with both hands. He plays with anticipation on defense and displayed great timing when contesting shots.