WPIAL boys basketball Class 5A season preview for 2025-26

By: Don Rebel
Thursday, November 27, 2025 | 6:01 AM

Chartiers Valley galloped to the program’s seventh WPIAL boys basketball championship this past spring, which ties them on the all-time champions list with Lincoln Park for seventh place.

What made this run to gold different was it was the first title for the Colts without Tim McConnell being the bench boss as first-year CV coach Corey Dotchin led the way.

Here is a rundown of players to watch, the preseason Top 5 teams and other notables in WPIAL Class 5A boys basketball this season.

Preseason Player of the Year

Josh Pratt, Lincoln Park

6-2, senior, guard

22.2 ppg last season

Players to watch

Mykel Bruce-McCrommon, Gateway

6-6, senior, guard

21.3 ppg last season

Jackson Bauman, Moon

6-2, senior, guard

15.6 ppg last season

Aaron Webb, Indiana

6-8, junior, guard/forward

15.2 ppg last season

Dylan Donovan, Peters Township

6-2, senior, guard

19.5 ppg last season

Julian Semplice, Chartiers Valley

6-1, senior, guard

13.0 ppg last season

Preseason Top 5

1. Chartiers Valley (26-4 last season)

The Colts begin the season with a bull’s-eye on their back as defending district champions and without four-year starter and leading scorer Jayden Davis. However, four other starters and the top two players off the bench are back with seniors Julian Semplice, Danny Slizik, Logan Helfrick, Jake Lewis, Julius Best and super sophomore Luca Federico.

2. Lincoln Park (18-8 last season)

It was a strange down year for the Leopards, who did not win a single Section 4-5A game and finished with an overall record of 2-20. However, look for Lincoln Park to be in the hunt for a title again this season thanks to the transfer of the Pratt brothers, senior Josh and sophomore Jeremiah, from Aliquippa. Also back is sophomore Damar Johnson, a second-team all-section guard last season.

3. Penn Hills (12-10 last season)

The Indians finished in second place last season in Section 2-5A, but their stay in the playoffs did not last long as they fell to district runner-up Peters Township in the opening round. Penn Hills looks to make a longer run this season thanks to a pair of returning first-team all-section players in senior guard Amon Hawthorne (16 ppg) and senior guard/forward Calix Clark (14.4 ppg).

4. Peters Township (26-4)

The Indians have played in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game in two of the last three years as they search for that elusive title after winning it all in 2009. Some key talent graduated, including first-team all-section guard Nick McCullough, but back is senior Dylan Donovan (19.5 ppg) along with senior guard Lucas Rost and junior forward Jake Wetzel.

5. Thomas Jefferson (10-13)

Despite struggles that included a four-game losing streak, the Jaguars beat out Bethel Park and Trinity to earn a Section 4-5A playoff berth. TJ lost in the opening round to eventual champion Chartiers Valley. Hopes are high for a stronger season with the return of senior forward Nicholas Trklja, who averaged nearly 19 points. Also back is second-team all-section guard Justin Fry, a junior.

Notables

• In the nine-year history of the classification, Chartiers Valley will attempt to do something only one other team has done: repeat as Class 5A WPIAL champion. Mars won back-to-back 5A crowns in 2018-2019.

• On this 10th anniversary of Class 5A boys basketball, here is the championship scorecard. Three schools have won two 5A crowns: Mars in 2018 and 2019, Laurel Highlands in 2020 and 2022 and Moon in 2017 and 2024. The other winners were New Castle in 2021, Penn Hills in 2023 and Chartiers Valley in 2025.

• Some of the other players to watch in Class 5A include Montour senior Loic Kalau, Moon junior Brody Bauman, Uniontown senior Isaac Ellsworth, McKeesport senior Lamont Perkins, Latrobe seniors Ian Decerb and Rob Young, Penn-Trafford senior Zach Feldman, Shaler senior Jordan Epps, Kiski Area senior Amaree Gonzalez, Hampton seniors Zack Danner and Gavin Guinn, Ringgold junior Dennis Hawkins, Baldwin junior E.J. Golvash, Bethel Park junior Will Sabatos and Mars senior Austen Wroblewski.

• Other team just missing out on the Top 5 include Moon, Kiski Area, Indiana, Gateway and Uniontown.

Alignment

Section 1: Albert Gallatin, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Latrobe, Laurel Highlands, McKeesport, Penn-Trafford, Uniontown

Section 2: Armstrong, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area, Penn Hills, Plum, Shaler

Section 3: Baldwin, Bethel Park, Peters Township, Ringgold, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity

Section 4: Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Lincoln Park, Mars, Montour, Moon, West Allegheny

Tags: Albert Gallatin, Armstrong, Baldwin, Bethel Park, Blackhawk, Chartiers Valley, Franklin Regional, Gateway, Hampton, Indiana, Kiski Area, Latrobe, Laurel Highlands, Lincoln Park, Mars, McKeesport, Montour, Moon, Penn Hills, Penn-Trafford, Peters Township, Plum, Ringgold, Shaler, South Fayette, Thomas Jefferson, Trinity, West Allegheny