WPIAL Boys Basketball – 2013-2014 Preview

By: Bruce Markey
Wednesday, December 4, 2013 | 4:18 PM

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The boys basketball gold has been somewhat hoarded the last few years in the WPIAL. Of the twelve championships won over the course of the last three years, five schools (Gateway, New Castle, Montour, Beaver Falls and Vincentian Academy) have won ten of them. Could the 2013-2014 season mark a changing of the guard in District 7 boys hoops, or just more of the same golden antics from those teams listed above? Here is a rundown of WPIAL boys basketball Players to Watch and the Preseason Top Ten in all four classifications.

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Players to Watch:

Kason Harrell – Hempfield

Tony Pilato – Hempfield

Matt D'Amico – Fox Chapel

Brian Papich – Fox Chapel

Tom Kromka – Gateway

Ryan Luther – Hampton

Collin Luther – Hampton

Malik Hooker – New Castle

WPIAL CLASS AAAA Top Ten:

1.     New Castle Red Hurricane

2.     Hampton Talbots

3.     Fox Chapel Foxes

4.     Hempfield Spartans

5.     Upper St. Clair Panthers

6.     North Allegheny Tigers

7.     Gateway Gators

8.     Seneca Valley Raiders

9.     Plum Mustangs

10.   Pittsburgh Central Catholic Vikings

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WPIAL CLASS AAA Players to Watch:

Riley Stapleton – Indiana

Andrew Koester – West Allegheny

Chase Migliore – Blackhawk

Jordan Pratt – Uniontown

Ryan Gumbita – Mount Pleasant

JaQuan Davidson – Elizabeth Forward

George Protta – Elizabeth Forward

Ryan Maha – West Mifflin

Ajan Smith – Steel Valley

Matt McConnell – Chartiers Valley

WPIAL CLASS AAA Top Ten:

1.     Chartiers Valley Colts

2.     Central Valley Warriors

3.     Elizabeth Forward Warriors

4.     Thomas Jefferson Jaguars

5.     Montour Spartans

6.     Indiana Little Indians

7.     West Mifflin Titans

8.     Uniontown Red Raiders

8.     Blackhawk Cougars

9.     West Allegheny Indians

10.   South Fayette Lions

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WPIAL CLASS AA Players to Watch:

Tre Tipton – Apollo-Ridge

Elijah Cottrill – Beaver Falls

Ernie Burkes – Neshannock

Brian Graytok – Greensburg Central Catholic

Julian Batts – Jeannette

Kordell Thompson – South Allegheny

Dale Clancy – Seton-LaSalle

Levi Masua – Seton-LaSalle

Matt Indorante – California

Lenny Williams – Sto-Rox

WPIAL CLASS AA Top Ten:

1.     Beaver Falls Tigers

2.     Seton-LaSalle Rebels

3.     Greensburg Central Catholic Centurions

4.     Sto-Rox Vikings

5.     Jeannette Jayhawks

6.     Apollo-Ridge Vikings

7.     Quaker Valley Quakers

8.     Aliquippa Quips

9.     Neshannock Lancers

10.   Serra Catholic Eagles

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WPIAL CLASS A Players to Watch:

Maverick Rowan – Lincoln Park

Nick Miller – Western Beaver

Dane Jackson – Cornell

Ryan Wolf – Vincentian Academy

Keenan Hickton – Sewickley Academy

Brandon Lawless – Carmichaels

Dereck Riggleman – Mapletown

Clintell Gillaspie – Monessen

Troy Simons – Imani Christian

WPIAL CLASS A Top Ten:

1.     Lincoln Park Leopards

2.     Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic Trojans

3.     Vincentian Academy Royals

4.     Monessen Greyhounds

5.     Our Lady of the Sacred Heart Chargers

6.     Sewickley Academy Panthers

7.     Clairton Bears

8.     Wilkinsburg Tigers

9.     Carmichaels Mighty Mikes

10.   Western Beaver Golden Beavers