Trib HSSN 2024-25 City League boys basketball preseason breakdown

By: Bill Hartlep
Thursday, November 28, 2024 | 3:01 PM

Allderdice will again enter the 2024-25 City League boys basketball season as the favorite as the Dragons seek a fifth straight City championship.

The Dragons were hit hard by graduation but have a talented lineup returning that will try to hold off Obama Academy, Brashear, Carrick, Perry Traditional Academy and Westinghouse.

Here is a rundown of players to watch and top 3 teams in City League boys basketball this season.

Preseason Player of the Year

Trey Schachter, Allderdice

6-3, senior, guard

10.0 ppg last season

Players to watch

Brayden Fisher, Carrick

6-2, Sr., G/F, 18.0 ppg

Naron Jackson, Obama Academy

6-1, Jr., G, 11.0 ppg

Lukas Stead, Allderdice

6-4, Jr., F

Preseason Top 3

1. Allderdice (20-5 last season)

Allderdice won the City League championship last season by topping Obama Academy. The Dragons, who went 10-0 in league play, fell to McDowell in the PIAA regional semifinals. Senior sharp-shooting guard Trey Schachter has Division I offers from Wisconsin-Green Bay and UC Santa Barbara after a summer of AAU competition and is expected to be one of the top players in the city. Junior forward Lukas Stead started the second half of the season last year and is also a football and baseball standout for the Dragons. Junior guard Asher Schwartz was the team’s sixth-man last season. Ryan Zuckerbraun, a 6-4 senior forward, adds size to the lineup. The Dragons will miss All-City guard Logan Golle (22.9 ppg) and forward Major Rainey (16.4 ppg), who graduated. The Dragons have put together a challenging nonleague schedule that includes games in New York City and against WPIAL powers Mt. Lebanon, Montour, Pine-Richland, Butler, New Castle and Moon.

2. Obama Academy (10-14)

The City League runner-up last season, Obama Academy went 8-2 in City play in the regular season and defeated Brashear in the semifinals before falling to Allderdice in the finals. Junior guard Naron Jackson, the coach’s son, earned All-City League recognition last season and will be counted on to lead the Eagles this season. Junior Elijah Rawlings also returns to the starting lineup. The Eagles graduated all-league guard Torrien Perkins (18.1 ppg).

3. Brashear (9-11)

The Bulls swept Perry, Carrick and Westinghouse last season to secure third place in the City League. Brashear graduated all-league guard Titus Gilett (24.5 ppg). The Bulls don’t have any returning starters, but four seniors are back — guards Mike Lee, Lamya Turner, Jayden Ackins and center Kesean Jones.

Bill Hartlep is the TribLive sports editor. A Pittsburgh native and Point Park graduate, he joined the Trib in 2004, covering high school sports. He held various editing roles before assuming his current position in 2019. He can be reached at bhartlep@triblive.com.

Tags: Allderdice, Brashear, Carrick, Obama Academy, Perry, Westinghouse