What an incredible season for so many of the top boys basketball players around the WPIAL this past year.
Some of the most difficult decisions were selecting one player from each class when there were several great choices.
While we salute all of those who participated in a memorable 2026 boys high school basketball campaign, we have a special seat in the front of the classroom for those players who were a cut above.
One of the players below is a repeat winner, this time with a different team. Another player represents one of the smallest schools in the district a year after his former teammate earned the same honor. One player is keeping a family tradition intact.
The following seven players will fill those seats after being named the Trib HSSN Head of the Class for the 2026 season in each of the six WPIAL classifications and one from the City League.
Class 6A
Ryan Robbins, Upper St. Clair
This marks the third straight year that a member of the Robbins family from Upper St. Clair was our Class 6A playoff of the year. Ryan follows in his brother’s large footsteps after Tyler, now a freshman at Miami (Ohio), was the Trib POW in 2024 and 2025. The junior center was the leading scorer in all three of the Panthers WPIAL playoff victories, averaging 20 points per game in the postseason. In a WPIAL championship game thriller against New Castle, Robbins had a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds along with four blocks, an assist and a steal.
Class 5A
Josh Pratt, Lincoln Park
Tough choice in a very deep class with the likes of Mykel Bruce-McCrommon of Gateway, Amon Hawthorne of Penn Hills and Aaron Webb of Indiana, but for the second straight year, albeit in a different uniform and in a different class, senior Josh Pratt is front and center. Josh and his younger brother Jeremiah transferred from Aliquippa to Lincoln Park and helped turn the program back into a district contender. The Leopards finished in last place in 2025, winning only two of 22 games. However, the Pratts, led by the scoring touch of Josh, helped Lincoln Park go 16-6 and finish one game behind eventual Class 5A champion Chartiers Valley in Section 4-5A.
Class 4A
Jason Fredericks, North Catholic
Jason Fredericks concluded an outstanding career in which he and backcourt mate Jude Rottmann formed a dynamic duo at guard that proved to be too much for many opponents to handle. Fredericks finished in the top 10 in scoring during the regular season in the district in helping North Catholic finish in a tie for the Section 1-4A crown with Knoch. Fredericks scored 26 points in the Trojans’ quarterfinals triumph over Elizabeth Forward. He averaged more than 22 points per game in three PIAA contests, including a game-high 29 points in a triple-overtime win over rival Knoch.
Class 3A
Drew Cook, South Allegheny
While there were growing pains for 2025 WPIAL champion South Allegheny early in the season, the one constant was the play of senior Drew Cook. He led the WPIAL in scoring this season and continued his hot hand into the postseason despite opponents gearing up to slow him down. He averaged 20 points a game in the Gladiators’ Class 3A playoff wins over Ellwood City, Mohawk and Shady Side Academy. In the district title game rematch against Aliquippa, Cook scored more than half of his team’s points, finishing with 28 points, eight rebounds, two assists, two steals and two blocks in the loss to the Quips.
Class 2A
David Kwiat, Neshannock
Neshannock did not have the postseason it envisioned after a strong regular season that included a share of the Section 4-2A championship with Our Lady of the Sacred Heart, but that doesn’t diminish the outstanding season of senior guard David Kwiat. Thirty-three years after his father David finished in the top five in WPIAL scoring, son David finished tied for sixth in district scoring. He led the Lancers in their Class 2A first-round playoff win over Fort Cherry with 17 points. He broke the school record in January for most 3-point shots made in a career and finished as the school’s No. 3 all-time scorer.
Class A
Kedron Gilmore, Neighborhood Academy
A year ago, Courtney Wallace Jr. made it a beautiful year in the Neighborhood. Now, a high-scoring junior guard has the tiny high school in the Stanton Heights neighborhood east of downtown Pittsburgh dripping in gold for a second straight season. Kedron Gilmore was a good student when it came to shining on the big stage. After averaging 21 points per game in the first two district playoff games for the Bulldogs, Gilmore scored 24 points in the WPIAL Class A finals win over Serra Catholic. Neighborhood Academy settled for silver in the PIAA playoffs and finished the season 25-4.
City League
Eric James, Obama Academy
Better late than never is what mom used to say. That is the likely sentiment Obama Academy had for the arrival of former North Hills guard Eric James, who joined the team in January and played a big role in the Eagles’ incredible postseason run. James was named MVP of the City League championship game after scoring 19 points to lead Obama over Allderdice in overtime. Then in the PIAA Class 4A state playoffs, James scored a combined 101 points (more than 20 points per game) in wins over Warren, Cathedral Prep, Deer Lakes and Philadelphia Carver E&S and a PIAA championship game loss to Devon Prep.