2011-2012 WPIAL Boys Basketball Preview

By: HSSN Staff
Friday, December 9, 2011 | 3:04 PM

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The 2011-2012 WPIAL boys basketball season tips off on Friday, December 9th as Gateway, Montour, Monessen and Vincentian Academy prepare to defend their championships won back in March. Here is a look at some of the teams and players to watch for this season in each section in all four classifications.

CLASS AAAA

SECTION 1

Favorite: Penn-Trafford. The Warriors have some experienced players and a few new faces on the team. Christian Rohaus, a 6-4 junior, averaged 12 points last season and 6-3 Zach Emerick 11 points and eight rebounds. Brian McDonough is another returning starter. In addition, Mike Cumberledge is back with the team after missing last year with a torn ACL. Corey Stanford also returns after attending Kiski School last year. Both Stanford and Cumberledge saw plenty of playing time two years ago.

SECTION 2

Favorite: Gateway. The Gators are the defending WPIAL champions and have the makings of a team that will challenge again for another title. Tyler Scott, a 6-6 senior, and Barnett Harris, a 6-10 senior, make for a formidable one-two punch. Scott averaged 20 points a game last season, and both have some Division I college scholarship offers. D.J. Boyce also returns at point guard. But the Gators will miss the inside presence of Devon Cottrell, who was a four-year starter.

SECTION 3

Favorite: Shaler. The Titans lost only two games last year and they believe they have some unfinished business after losing to Butler in the WPIAL quarterfinals. Standout point guard J.T. Schwartz will be missed. But there is still plenty of talent on Paul Holzshu’s team. Geno Thorpe is a junior guard who already has committed to Penn State. Football star J.P. Holtz is back for his fourth season for the Titans. Zack Taylor is a heady guard who can shoot. Central Catholic seems to be pretty even with Shaler in this section.

SECTION 4

Favorite: Chartiers Valley. The Colts don’t appear to be lacking in any area. They have experience, size and talent. Guards Christian Kuntz, Wayne Capers and Zach Wallace are all back, although Kuntz must still get clearance to play after sustaining a ruptured spleen in preseason football practice. Spencer Casson, a 6-6 junior, could have a big season on the inside. And two transfers will also help. Jerrad Tuite, nephew of coach Tim McConnell, transferred from Baldwin. Deayshawn Martin is an extremely athletic 6-3 player who transferred from Langley.

CLASS AAAA PLAYERS TO WATCH

Shakim Alonzo, Woodland Hills, 6-5, Sr., F

Andy Andrle, Pine-Richland, 6-4, Sr., G

Kamic Anyang, Mt. Lebanon, 6-5, Sr., F

Wayne Capers, Chartiers Valley, 6-1, Sr., G

Spencer Casson, Chartiers Valley, 6-6, Jr., C

Nolan Cressler, Plum, 6-4, Sr., G

Lincoln Davis, Central Catholic, 6-1, Sr., G

Luke Hagy, Mt. Lebanon, 5-11, Sr., G

Barnett Harris, Gateway, 6-10, Sr., C

J.C. Howard, North Allegheny, 6-1, Sr., G

Alex Maxfield, Seneca Valley, 6-2, Sr., G

Tyler Scott, Gateway, 6-6, Sr., G

Nate Snodgrass, Butler, 5-10, Sr., G

Geno Thorpe, Shaler, 6-3 Sr., G

Mike Worthy, Upper St. Clair, 6-0, Sr., G

 

CLASS AAA

SECTION 1

Favorite: Hampton. The Talbots have a nice mixture of a few seniors and a few sophomores. It could add up to big things this year. Mark Pilarski, a senior forward, led the team in scoring last year, but he will probably be out for a few weeks because of an appendectomy. The team has two of the best sophomores in the WPIAL in the Luther brothers – Ryan and Colin. Ryan is 6-6 and Colin 6-5 and both saw considerable playing time as freshmen. This section also features Highlands, with star guard Micah Mason. But there doesn’t seem to be much around Mason.

SECTION 2

Favorite: New Castle. The Red Hurricanes don’t have much size, but they are athletic, talented and have a number of good shooters. Senior Corey Eggleston averaged 18 points a game last season. Big things also are expected of junior guard-forward Shawn Anderson. Junior Brandon Domenick and sophomore David Richards are excellent shooters. This could be one of New Castle’s best teams in the past decade.

SECTION 3

Favorite: It’s hard to pick between Uniontown and Greensburg Salem as both have experience and talent. Uniontown is led by senior guard Marcus Thomas and senior forward Kerik Morris. Thomas was all-section last year after averaging 12 points a game. Greensburg Salem returns most of its top players. Senior guard Tyler Robbins, senior forward Julian Thompson and senior center Waylon Fink all averaged between 10 and 12 points a game last season.

SECTION 4

Favorite: Keystone Oaks. New coach Gene Mercuri inherits some talented players who could lead the Eagles to a section title. Senior guard Rocco Contristano is one of the top scorers in Class AAA. He averaged 20 points a game last season. Ricky Rogers is a talented sophomore who transferred to Lincoln Park and then back to Keystone Oaks.

SECTION 5

Favorite: Montour. The defending WPIAL champion Spartans might not start off the season too well because two top players – Devin Wilson and Dillon Buechel – are still playing football. Tyler Haas and Kevin Scuilli will be counted on more this season. Once Wilson and Buechel get back and get into "basketball shape," the Spartans will be tough to beat. Also, South Fayette was the section champ a year ago and lost to Montour in the WPIAL final. But graduation took away most of the Lions’ top players. Look for Zach Challingsworth to have a big season.

CLASS AAA PLAYERS TO WATCH

Shawn Anderson, New Castle, 6-3, Jr., G

Dillon Buechel , Montour , 6-4, Sr., G

Rocco Contristano , Keystone Oaks , 6-1, Sr., G

Corey Eggleston, New Castle, 5-10, Sr., G

Ryan Gumbita , Mount Pleasant, 6-3 , Soph., G

Colin Luther, Hampton, 6-5, Soph., F

Ryan Luther, Hampton, 6-6, Soph., F

Micah Mason , Highlands, 6-2, Sr., G

Cory Ostach , Blackhawk , 6-1, Sr.., G

Mark Pilarski, Hampton, 6-5, Sr., C

Tommy Szatkowski, Southmoreland , 5-9, Sr., G

Marcus Thomas, Uniontown, 6-4 , Sr., G

Tyrayl Veney, Indiana , 6-3 , Sr. , G

Devin Wilson, Montour , 6-3 , Sr. , G

 

CLASS AA

SECTION 1

Favorite: Shady Side Academy. Jake Ellis, a 6-2 senior forward, is one of the top players who could lead Shady Side to another section title. Also back is 6-1 junior guard Evan Lutins.

SECTION 2

Favorite: You never know what players will be at Summit from one season to the next. But the ones who are at the reform school this season are big and talented. The team could start two 6-8 players and one 6-6 player. One of the new players is 6-8 Elijah Minnie, who transferred from Monessen.

SECTION 3

Favorite: Monessen. A few top players graduated and 6-8 Elijah Minnie transferred to Summit Academy. But the Greyhounds still have enough to be a serious challenger for a section title. Jaisen Irwin, a 6-3 senior, was the team’s leading scorer a year ago. Jalen Madison also is back at guard. But Wilkinsburg is on the same level as Monessen. The Tigers are led by twin guards Elijah and Elisah Hill.

SECTION 4

Favorite: Greensburg Central Catholic. Jesse Reed was one of the best guards in the WPIAL last year, but has graduated. Still, the Centurions have enough to make a serious run at making the WPIAL title game for the second year in a row (they also lost in the state championship game last year). P.J. McLaughlin, a 6-7 center, averaged 13 points and 8.5 rebounds last season. Senior guard Ben Klimchock averaged 9 points and senior guard-forward Dan Sinwell also was a starter. And the Centurions are bolstered by Brian Graytok, who transferred from Latrobe. Graytok saw considerable playing time last year as a freshman at Latrobe. While GCC is good, Jeannette is on the same level. Football star Demetrious Cox averaged 17 points a game last season and is one of a few returning starters for the Jayhawks.

SECTION 5

Favorite: Sto-Rox. Rob Baltimore and Shawn Smith were a potent scoring combination last year, but both have graduated. Dontez Ford, a 6-4 senior and Syracuse football recruit, averaged 9 points and 7 rebounds for the Vikings last year. Also, Lamontae Harrison transferred from Oliver, where he averaged 16 points a game.

SECTION 6

Favorite: Beaver Falls: The Tigers feature one of the best players in Western Pennsylvania in 6-7 senior guard-forward Sheldon Jeter, who averaged 23 points and 9 rebounds last year. Jeter has scholarship offers from Division I colleges such as Dayton and Arkansas. Drew Cook is back at guard and Royce Watson at center. Also, sophomore Elijah Cottrill is a player to watch.

CLASS AA PLAYERS TO WATCH

Demetrious Cox, Jeannette, 6-2 , Sr., F

Jake Ellis , Shady Side Acad., 6-2, Sr., F

Dontez Ford, Sto-Rox, 6-4, Sr., F

Bobby Gustine Bishop Canevin, 5-8 , Sr. , G

Davion Hall , Aliquippa , 5-11 , Sr. , G

Elijah Hill, Wilkinsburg , 5-8, Sr. , G

Jaisen Irwin , Monessen , 6-3 , Sr. , G

Sheldon Jeter, Beaver Falls , 6-7 , Sr. , G

P.J. McLaughlin, Greensburg C.C., 6-7, Sr. , F

Elijah Minnie, Summit Academy, 6-8, Soph., C

Ty Negley, Waynesburg, 6-0, Sr., G

John Sansone, Neshannock, 5-11, Sr. , G

 

CLASS A

SECTION 1

Favorite: Lincoln Park. After losing in the WPIAL final the past two seasons, this could be the year the Leopards climb to the top of the ladder. They are led by 6-10 center Devontae Watson, a Temple recruit. He hads into his senior year with 821 points, 944 rebounds and an incredible 519 blocked shots. Guard-forward also returns and Trey Hosack is eligible this season. A player to watch is 6-6 Ryan Skovranko, a sophomore transfer from West Mifflin.

SECTION 2

Favorite: North Catholic. The Trojans lost a key inside player when Ryan Lewis transferred to Montour. But there is still reason to believe the Trojans will be one of the better Class A teams. Senior guard Grandt Gribbin and junior forward Dan Savulchak are the top two players. It looks like North Catholic and Vincentian will once again be the top teams. Although WPIAL champion Vincentian lost a number of key players, senior forward Chris Koryak averaged 14 points last season.

SECTION 3

Favorite: Bentworth. The Bearcasts have four returning starters. The leader is senior forward Gannon Mitchell-Walls, who averaged 14 points last season.

SECTION 4

Favorite: Serra. The Eagles will have to fight off Clairton and St. Joseph for the section title. Serra has a new player this year in Brandon Camic, a 6-5 senior who was ruled ineligible to play last year after transferring from South Allegheny. Camic averaged 21 points a game as a sophomore two years ago.

CLASS A PLAYERS TO WATCH

Stefan Arch, O.L.S.H., 6-2, Jr., G

Eric Blinn, Western Beaver, 6-1 , Sr. , G

Brandon Camic, Serra, 6-5, Sr., G-F

Bryon Clifford, Clairton , 5-7, Jr., G

Mike Connelly, St. Joseph’s, 6-3, Sr., G,

Brandt Griffin, North Catholic, 6-0, Sr., G

Cory Mackey, Cornell, 5-10, Sr., F

Carrington Motley, Sewickley Acad. , 6-3, Sr. , G

Andrew Orie, O.L.S.H., 6-3, Sr., F

James Sero, Trinity Christian, 6-1, Sr., G

Gannon Walls-Mitchell, Bentworth , 6-0 , Sr. , F

Devontae Watson, Lincoln Park, 6-10, Sr., C

Joe Yamber , Avella , 6-3 , Sr. , F