Five Unsigned 2026 Western PA Standouts

These five players have stood out for the last few years and each of them are making an impact on the AAU circuit this summer. It's time for college coaches to start making some offers!    Nando Mirarchi has become one of Western Pennsylvania's most coveted unsigned seniors, and for good reason. At Cathedral Prep, he earned first-team All-Region recognition and recently showed off a scoring explosion of 30 points and 10 assists against elite East Coast talent during the Philly live period. Mirarchi's game shows elite shooting range, forcing defenders to step up and opening driving lanes where he excels. His pull-up jumper in the midrange is reliable, and he finishes around the rim with touch. On top of being a lights-out shooter, he's a true floor general with vision, making timely skip passes, leveraging high IQ reads, and knowing when to take over the game himself. His court awareness enables him to balance scoring and distributing, and his turnovers are minimal. He's significantly developed his playmaking with increased physicality—absorbing contact, pushing the pace in transition, and mixing in aggressive rim attacks. Defensively, he brings tenacity and strength, frequently outworking opponents while delivering quick hands in passing lanes and maintaining disciplined on-ball pressure. Mirarchi combines his elite basketball skill set with intangibles—leadership, elite character, and high academic performance.     At 6'5″, Michael pairs ideal size with explosive leaping ability and quickness. His pull-up mid-range jumper is strong, and he's comfortable shooting from NBA range. Thompson's handle and vision for a frontcourt player are exceptional. His ability showed strongly during the Philly Live sessions, where he averaged 20 points per game and repeatedly pushed the ball in transition, forcing defenses to account for his downhill burst. Beyond scoring, Thompson is an unselfish playmaker who finds teammates in stride. His efforts in AAU drew considerable attention—he received a D-II offer from Gannon and is reportedly on several mid-major radars. Defensively, Thompson brings the same physicality and intensity he shows on offense. He battles through screens, contests shots around the rim, and rebounds aggressively.     At 6'3″ and a solid 220 lbs, Stead has built a reputation as an inside force. He secures double-doubles by winning both ends of the rebounding battle and imposing himself physically in the lane. On AAU film, he has repeatedly caught defenders off-balance with a 12-foot turnaround or opened up space for mid-range jumpers after spin moves. Beyond his post skills, Stead demonstrates surprising perimeter range. He steps out to hit corner threes and occasional spot-up 15-footers. He gives it his all on the floor, diving for loose balls, crashing the glass aggressively, and making the little plays that often go unnoticed but swing momentum. That intensity makes him a natural leader. Stead is also a standout on the Allderdice football field, earning Division I interest.      On court, Priester stands out as a smooth spot-up threat and is confident in catch-and-shoot scenarios. His comfort in firing from the perimeter forces opponents to guard him tightly, opening space for his off-ball movement and slashing ability. What sets Priester apart is his growing confidence attacking the rim. Coaches I've spoken with noted a more aggressive approach this spring. Defensively, Priester's length and athleticism allow him to guard multiple positions. He shows enough mobility to bother perimeter players while crashing the glass aggressively on both ends. I see him as an academic-minded D-III prospect that would instantly boost a team on that level.     Messiah Armstrong is quietly ascending into one of Western Pennsylvania's most intriguing unsigned prospects. As a key contributor during Johnstown's breakout season—posting double-digit scoring in both PIAA state quarterfinals and early-season wins—Armstrong brought consistent offensive firepower and elite athleticism to the Trojans' rotation. Although playing alongside high-profile teammates, he carved out his own identity with reliable perimeter shooting, a willingness to attack downhill, and a knack for making plays in transition. Armstrong has never backed down from contact. What sets Armstrong apart is his consistent production, his confidence from deep with a smooth stroke off the catch, and his understanding of game flow.

These five players have stood out for the last few years and each of them are making an impact on the AAU circuit this summer. It's time for college coaches to start making some offers!