PIAA Championships: Top WPIAL Performers

<!-- wp:paragraph --> <p>Imani Christian and Lincoln Park repeated as state champions and Aliquippa finally got over the hump to win its sixth PIAA title last weekend. Here are a few of the top WPIAL performances from the PIAA Championship games. </p> <!-- /wp:paragraph --> <!-- wp:acf/evaluation-block {"name":"acf/evaluation-block","data":{"player_evaluations_0_player":["991401"],"_player_evaluations_0_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_0_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_0_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"Pitt commit [player_tooltip player_id='991401' first='Brandin' last='Cummings'] is a top recruit in Pennsylvania but is still extremely underrated nationally. Cummings led Lincoln Park to a second straight PIAA championship by scoring a career-high 37 points on 14-18 shooting. Cummings made seven threes and got to his spots at will throughout the game. Cummings' game should smoothly translate to the collegiate level. He's a three-level scorer with deep range and is a difficult shotmaker. Cummings also has the frame to be a plus defender at the next level.","_player_evaluations_0_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_1_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"Joshua Pratt","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"2026","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"6'1u0022","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"77246","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"Aliquippa","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_1_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_1_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"Joshua Pratt burst on the scene this season and became one of the best young talents the WPIAL has to offer. Last season, Pratt didn't play in the state title game while at Lincoln Park as a freshman. This season, he scored a game-high 36 points to lead Aliquippa to their first PIAA championship since 2016. Pratt scored 30 points and made seven threes in the WPIAL championship a few weeks ago u002du002d showing that he is a big game player. Pratt has a dynamic first step and has the ability to create off the bounce while also being one of the most efficient catch-and-shoot players in the WPIAL. He has a quick, repeatable release making it hard to block his shot and he's a strong finisher at the rim with either hand. And he's only getting better.","_player_evaluations_1_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_2_player":["1621402"],"_player_evaluations_2_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_2_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_2_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"[player_tooltip player_id='1621402' first='RJ' last='Sledge'] is in the midst of a legendary high school career with three WPIAL and PIAA titles to his name. Sledge scored a game-high 22 points to lead Imani Christian to its second consecutive state championship after winning their first in program history last season. Sledge can take over games scoring the ball when needed but his playmaking ability is rare to find at the high school level. He displayed high feel as a playmaker and elite vision while in transition. Sledge is a true floor general but the ability to create space off the dribble and finish in the mid-range really pops. Sledge projects as a two-way player at the next level u002du002d his defense flies under the radar because of how dynamic he is on the offensive side of the ball u002du002d but he has great lateral quickness and plays with active hands making him impactful on both ends of the floor.","_player_evaluations_2_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":["not_in_db"],"_player_evaluations_3_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_selected_featured_image":"field_62cca28ffa4e7","player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"Nate Brazil","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_player_name":"field_62aba4c9ecf2f","player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"2024","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_graduating_class":"field_62aba4ddecf30","player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"6'0u0022","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_height":"field_62aba4e8ecf31","player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"77244","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_position":"field_62aba4f0ecf32","player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"Imani Christian Academy","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_school":"field_62aba4fdecf33","player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details_club_team":"field_62d20e723441a","player_evaluations_3_player_details":"","_player_evaluations_3_player_details":"field_62aba4afecf2e","player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"Imani's Nate Brazil forms one of the top backcourts in the state alongside Sledge. Brazil scored 48 points in the PIAA semifinal and played a massive role in the Saints repeat. Brazil's ability to get out in transition helped Imani play a faster style of basketball after losing a lot of size last offseason. Brazil is a high-efficiency player who plays fast but under control. His off-ball movement is terrific u002du002d he's a great cutter and knows how to position himself for catch-and-shoot threes when teammates get into the paint. He's also an underrated passer and plays well off two feet. The biggest strength in his game is his ability to create for himself and others in transition. Brazil has elite burst and is a great finisher through contact. While averaging just under 20 points per game on the season, Brazil doesn't force any shots. He takes what the defense gives him and takes a lot of high percentage looks.","_player_evaluations_3_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations_4_player":["1187940"],"_player_evaluations_4_player":"field_62ab9d62ecf2c","player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"","_player_evaluations_4_override_profile_image":"override-player-profile-image","player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"","_player_evaluations_4_not_in_database":"field_62aba48cecf2d","player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"Franklin Regional reached the PIAA Championship for the second time in school history and [player_tooltip player_id='1187940' first='Cam' last='Rowell'] was a big reason why. Rowell u002du002d one of four senior starters for the Panthers u002du002d led Franklin Regional in scoring against in-state powerhouse Imhotep Charter. They fell short of a massive upset, but Rowell's impact was felt throughout the game. Rowell is Franklin Regional's tallest rotation player, and he battled all night against Imhotep's massive frontcourt. He plays with a high motor and his finishing ability over taller players stood out. Rowell has a good back to the basket game and has a plethora of post moves to create space for himself down low, but he can also step out and hit the three with a quick release that allows him to get his shot off over close outs. Rowell's lateral quickness gives him the potential to be a multi-positional defender at the next level. He's an instinctive defender u002du002d he reads passing lanes well, plays with fast hands and doesn't get beat off the dribble often due to his athleticism. That athleticism really pops in transition where Rowell is a crafty finisher with either hand and can throw it down effortlessly.","_player_evaluations_4_evaluation":"field_62aba51aecf34","player_evaluations":5,"_player_evaluations":"field_62aba7547dc44"},"mode":"edit","alignText":"left","anchor":"acf-block-660560c8aa67a"} /-->