Pittsburgh Christmas Wish List
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With the Friday games in the WPIAL being cancelled due to it being as cold as it is in Murmansk right now, we’ve reached the point of December where we can put together our Christmas wish list for Pittsburgh basketball…Oh,…
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Continue ReadingWith the Friday games in the WPIAL being cancelled due to it being as cold as it is in Murmansk right now, we’ve reached the point of December where we can put together our Christmas wish list for Pittsburgh basketball…Oh, by the way, with the sub zero temperatures, coal doesn’t seem like such a bad gift this year!
Without further delay, we hope that ol’ Saint Nicholas brings some good gifts this Christmas…
For Connor Spratt Connor Spratt 6'3" | PG Seton LaSalle | 2023 State PA , Dante DePante Dante DePante 6'3" | PG Central Catholic | 2023 State PA , Keondre DeShields Keondre DeShields 6'3" | CG Laurel Highlands | 2023 State PA and Makhai Valentine Makhai Valentine 6'3" | SG Steel Valley | 2023 State PA , that college coaches at the scholarship level will recognize that all three are backcourt leaders capable of getting the job done at the next level in a variety of ways. Valentine is the pure scorer, Spratt is the shooter, Dante is the master facilitator and DeShields may be the most complete of them all. The scholarship programs in this region are asleep at the wheel on these four.
For Eden Christian senior guard Damon Astorino Damon Astorino 6'2" | CG Eden Christian Academy | 2023 State PA , a return to the floor at 100% to see out a promising season for Eden Christian. Astorino has put in a ton of work rehabbing an injury, with nearly a year of it behind him–an opportunity to return to the court and showcase his talents for 15 games prior to the playoffs would be the best gift he could receive, even moreso than the 10 points he needs to get to 1,000. Here’s hoping we see him back on the court in January.
Staying in the family, that WPIAL hoops fans learn the name Jared Astorino Jared Astorino 6'1" | CG Ambridge | 2026 State PA . Damon’s not-so-little, little brother is a 6’2″ freshman guard having a great start to his HS career at Ambridge.
That Allderdice gets the respect it deserves from the local basketball fans and media. Devin Crummie has a very talented lineup led by guards Logan Golle Logan Golle 6'1" | PG Taylor Allderdice | 2024 State PA , Ethan Anish Ethan Anish 6'1" | CG Taylor Allderdice | 2023 State PA and Jack Segall, plus a deep frontcourt powered by 6’5″ senior Sam Kelly Sam Kelly 6'5" | PF Allderdice | 2023 State PA , who may be the best all around player in the City, 6’4″ athlete Major Rainey Major Rainey 6'3" | SG Allderdice | 2024 State PA and 6’6″ big man Antwone Ward-Thurman Antwone Ward-Thurman 6'4" | PF Allderdice | 2023 State PA .
For Bryson Kirschner Bryson Kirschner 6'4" | PF OLSH | 2023 State PA , Rocco Spadafora Rocco Spadafora 6'0" | SG OLSH | 2023 State PA and OLSH, to be able to press the reset button after having their state record 74 game winning streak broken at the hands of Deer Lakes last night.
For Madden Clement Madden Clement 5'10" | PG Butler | 2023 State PA and Butler, and Isaiah Boice and New Castle to power through Christmas tournaments and collide on January 6th in one of the biggest games the northern portion of the WPIAL will have seen in some time as both “city” teams are now in 6A in the same section and can collide in the first of what could well be the two games that decide the divisional title. NC is undefeated as of today and Butler is one basket by Royce Parham Royce Parham 6'8" | PF Western Reserve Academy | 2024 State #53 Nation OH from also being undefeated.
That we get more games with tight defense to prepare teams for the postseason, as opposed to track meets…Much like we saw last night with Bishop Canevin vs Carlynton. While Shea Champine Shea Champine 6'0" | CG Bishop Canevin | 2023 State PA has been a scoring machine, he got help from the other Crusaders in a win where they had to play at 110% for all 32 minutes in a methodical, defensive battle–So much so that Champine cramped up late in the 4th quarter not once, but twice, and fought through it each time.
That coaches in the area who have top tier talent find ways to schedule each other more regularly. You become the best by playing the best, both at home and outside of the area. North Catholic is doing an excellent job of prepping Andrew Maddalon Andrew Maddalon 6'2" | SG North Catholic | 2023 State PA , Max Rottman Max Rottman 6'0" | SG North Catholic | 2023 State PA and Max Hurray Max Hurray 6'2" | SG North Catholic | 2024 State PA for the next level with their non-divisional schedule featuring one of the toughest slates in the WPIAL. Pittsburgh Central Catholic, ‘Dice, Seton and a few others have done the same, including Upper Saint Clair, who took a flight out west.
Lastly, that a more intimate venue is found for the WPIAL Championships. The Palumbo Center used to rock for all the finals. The Pete just doesn’t bring the same atmosphere. A return to “The Coop” would be a great atmosphere–and RMU also can make a strong case with their facility. Bigger isn’t always better–See the football finals, Hershey, Bryce Jordan etc…