Trib HSSN 2024-25 WPIAL Class 6A boys basketball preseason breakdown

By: Don Rebel
Saturday, November 23, 2024 | 10:16 PM

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Will there be a history-making repeat for Upper St. Clair as WPIAL boys basketball champion? Can a district team finally win an elusive PIAA Class 6A crown?

How will the five teams moving up, including two-time defending Class A district champion Imani Christian, fare in the world of Class 6A?

These are just a few questions facing the 16 boys basketball teams heading into a new season of Class 6A boys hoops.

Here is a rundown of players to watch, top five teams and other notable notes in WPIAL 6A boys basketball this season.

Preseason Player of the Year

Tyler Robbins, Upper St. Clair

6-10, senior, center

15.0 ppg last season

Players to watch

Ralphie Blundo, New Castle

6-0, Sr., G, 22.3 ppg

Bradley Gompers, Central Catholic

6-4, Sr., F, 11.4 ppg

Zach Pollaro, North Hills

6-3, Sr., G, 18.5 ppg

Liam Sheely, Mt. Lebanon

6-2, Jr., G, 15.2 ppg

R.J. Sledge, Imani Christian

5-10, Sr., G, 10.5 ppg

Preseason Top 5

1. Upper St. Clair (22-6 last season)

The defending WPIAL 6A champion Panthers are expected to be strong again this season with several big pieces returning. The biggest piece back is 6-foot-10 senior center Tyler Robbins. The Miami (Ohio) recruit averaged 15 points, 11.3 rebounds and 5.3 blocks per game. Coach Danny Holzer has a strong front court with Robbins and 6-6 senior Kaamil Jackson. Leading the backcourt is senior Julian Dahlem, who last year averaged 6.2 points, 7.1 assists and 2.8 steals per game.

2. Central Catholic (15-10 last season)

Last season, the Vikings won three of their last four Section 1-6A games to win the section crown by one game over North Allegheny. The 2023 district champions lost in the semifinals to eventual champion Upper St. Clair and had their season end with a consolation loss to Mt. Lebanon. Seniors Xxavier Thomas and Calvin Vento are back for Central Catholic, which also hopes to have one of the top players in the district in forward Bradley Gompers, who along with Thomas are still playing for the Vikings football team.

3. Imani Christian (19-10 last season)

Not since Kennedy Catholic in District 10 has a program volunteered to move up from Class A to Class 6A, but that is what defending WPIAL and PIAA champion Imani Christian is doing. After winning a second straight district championship and dominating in the smallest class, the Saints are marching to 6A led by senior guards R.J. Sledge and Markus Williams. The team received some good news this past week when the PIAA ruled that North Hills sophomore transfer Kieshaun Demus was eligible to play this season.

4. New Castle (14-8 last season)

It was a rare miss of the WPIAL playoffs last season for New Castle, which finished tied for fourth place in Section 1-6A, but lost the tiebreaker to Pine-Richland. The high expectations return for Ralph Blundo’s Red Hurricanes this winter. Leading the way is the coach’s son, Ralphie Blundo, who averaged 22.3 points per game a year ago. Also back for the ‘Canes are junior forward/guard Damian Harrison and senior guard Kyrell Harris.

5. Mt. Lebanon (20-6 last season)

Mt. Lebanon won the Section 2-6A championship last season, beating out eventual district champion Upper St. Clair by one game. However, Joey David’s Blue Devils took a hit with three all-section starters graduating in Nate Girod, Brody Barber and Riley Farabaugh. Lebo does return one of the top scorers in the classification in junior guard Liam Sheeley, who averaged more than 15 points per game a year ago. Also back is Blue Devils quarterback, 6-2 junior Patrick Smith and 6-2 junior Dane Barber.

Notable

• History is not on the side of Upper St. Clair to repeat as 6A champion. In the last 44 years, only three schools have repeated as boys basketball district champs in the highest classification. New Castle won consecutive Class 4A crowns twice, first in 1997, 1998 and 1999 and then again in 2013 and 2014. Gateway won consecutive Quad-A titles in 2011 and 2012 and Pine-Richland won the 2016 4A championship and followed up by winning gold in the first Class 6A tournament in 2017.

• Upper St. Clair won its second 6A championship in the last four years. This is the 20th anniversary of the second USC title back in 2005 when it knocked off rival Mt. Lebanon in the 4A finals. The Panthers’ first crown came in 1996 when they beat Franklin Regional in the championship game, 60-53. It was Holzer’s first season at Upper St. Clair. This is his 30th season.

• A year after the northern Section 1-6A had two teams in the title game with Central Catholic knocking off New Castle, the southern Section 2-6A had the last laugh a year ago. Three teams from the south reached the semifinals where Upper St. Clair ousted 2023 champion Central Catholic and Baldwin stunned Mt. Lebanon, setting up a section rematch for the second straight year. USC ended Baldwin’s historic run in the finals, 64-41.

• Other players to watch in 6A include Butler senior Tayt Lucas, Hempfield seniors Drew Gordon and Max Williams, Woodland Hills senior Amere Brown and juniors Scoop Smith and Lamar Williams, Seneca Valley senior Tyler Pepin and junior Owen Congdon, Canon-McMillan senior Evan Morris and junior Roman Koenemund, Norwin junior Mario Csukas and Fox Chapel senior Asher White.

• Some teams moving up from Class 5A could make some noise. Finalists from two years ago Fox Chapel and North Hills, along with Woodland Hills, have made the jump to 6A. The two teams that finished last in their respective sections could make some noise as well in Seneca Valley and Hempfield.

• In Section 2, Mt. Lebanon or Upper St. Clair has won outright or earned a share of the section championship in each of the last 11 years.

• In the seven-year history of the PIAA 6A playoffs, District 3 Reading (2017, 2021 and 2023) and Central York (2024) have won four state championships, District 12 Roman Catholic (2018 and 2022) has won twice and District 10 Kennedy Catholic won the 2019 title.

Alignment

Section 1: Butler, Fox Chapel, New Castle, North Allegheny, North Hills, Pine-Richland, Seneca Valley, Woodland Hills

Section 2: Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Connellsville, Hempfield, Imani Christian, Mt. Lebanon, Norwin, Upper St. Clair

Tags: Butler, Canon-McMillan, Central Catholic, Fox Chapel, Hempfield, Imani Christian, Mt. lebanon, New Castle, North Hills, Norwin, Seneca Valley, Upper St. Clair, Woodland Hills