D2 School Building Team Out of WPIAL Basketball Stars

Western Pennsylvania is known for its football prowess.

However, basketball is played here, too. Good hoopers can be found across the Western PA region, specifically in the WPIAL. And one DII program is taking advantage of that.

Slippery Rock, led by head coach Ian Grady and assistants Jon Valeriano and Brad Henry, has done an excellent job since Grady took over. He has never had a losing season while manning the helm, and one again finished above .500 last year. The seventh-year head coach led the squad to an 11-9 record in league play, and this offseason, he has begun to retool the roster.

Grady and his hard-working staff have compiled a loaded high-school recruiting class led by former Western PA high school superstars Brady Mayo, RJ Sledge, and Dame Givner.

#gorock💚 pic.twitter.com/j9ONxugZEu

— Brady Mayo (@bradymayo24) May 3, 2025

Mayo committed over the weekend after recently re-opening his recruitment. A one-time D1 football prospect, he was previously committed to Bucknell for football.

“Basketball has always been my favorite,” Mayo told Pittsburgh Sports Now. “So even though I love both, I think at the end of the day I’ll be happier playing basketball.”

Mayo scored as many as 45 points in a single game this past high-school basketball season for Beaver, shining on the hardwood as well. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound guard who runs a 4.5 40-yard dash recently shined at the Pitt Jam Fest basketball event as well, earning 2nd Team All Pitt Jam Fest honors from Hoop Group. He recently earned Second Team All-PIAA Class 4A, as well.

Sledge committed to the program first, back in mid-April. The shifty guard has been a standout at Imani Christian for years, winning two state titles at Imani. He averaged more than 22 points per game this past season.

GO ROCK💚 @CoachGradyIG pic.twitter.com/rfDEROnP8Q

— RJ Sledge ✮ (@Jizzle1k__) April 19, 2025

Then, Givner, who won a PIAA State Championship alongside Sledge years ago at Imani Christian, also committed to The Rock. Givner recently played for LA Premier Prep in California after leaving the WPIAL initially. Now, he will return to Western PA to play for Grady and Co.

Congrats Dame Givner (@booda10_dgivner) on his commitment to Slippery Rock University!!!! We are proud of you! #LAPremier pic.twitter.com/tWmxEfXpHv

— LA Premier Prep (@LA_Premier_Prep) April 28, 2025