‘SHOOTERS SHOOT’
This year’s team has two juniors, three seniors
Looking at the history of the Post-Gazette girls Fabulous 5, you’ll find Final Four college participants, WNBA champions, an NCAA champ, the NCAA all-time leader in assists (Suzie McConnell) and Basketball Hall of Famer (Swin Cash). Who will be next to achieve future greatness?
The first Fab 5 was picked in 1980 and included a player (Sharon’s Wanda Holloway) who would go on to start on a Final Four team at the University of Georgia. This year’s team has two juniors and three seniors, including a player whose college future is in softball. This is the 44th year of the Fab 5 and the team is picked by the Post-Gazette scholastic sports staff, with help from coaches around the district.
Alayna Rocco
North Catholic • 5-11 • Senior • Guard
The scoop: Rocco played in four WPIAL title games in her career and won three. This season, she averaged 19 points, five rebounds, two assists and three steals a game. Shot 35% from 3-point range and 88% from the free throw line. Finished career with 1,716 points.
College: Rocco will play next season at Harvard in the Ivy League.
Most memorable moment this season: Winning a WPIAL championship, for sure.
Other than a parent, person who has inuenced you the most: My older brother, Zach, and also Mr. (Carl) Parker from the Boys Club in Shadyside. He passed away a couple years ago.
Favorite to follow on X or Instagram: Stephen Curry.
You can’t be an athlete or coach in the future, you’d be: A wedding dress designer. I don’t know, maybe it will happen someday [laugh]. You never know.
Signature move on the basketball court: I like to shoot 3s.
If you could have an NIL deal with anyone, it would be: Lululemon.
People might be surprised to know you … : I love to watch movies.
Your dad has been a boys basketball coach for a long time. How has he inuenced your career? He’s been most influential. He sees things that I don’t see. He helps me every day, even outside of basketball. He’s the person who’s there every day to help me.
Natalie Wetzel
Peters Township • 6-3 • Junior • Forward
The scoop: Wetzel is one of the top juniors in the state. With her size, she is effective inside but also plays outside, evidenced by her 41 3-pointers this season. Averaged 17.4 points and 8.2 rebounds this season. Has 1,136 career points.
College: Wetzel has numerous offers. Pitt, Arizona State, Kent State, Davidson and Richmond are among those that have offered scholarships.
Most memorable moment this season: The bus ride from our Mt. Lebanon game after we won the section.
Other than a parent, person who has inuenced you the most: My grandpa [Bob Swiatek]. He lives in Ohio, but pretty much comes to every one of my games.
Favorite to follow on X or Instagram: Caitlin Clark, just to see all of her highlights.
You can’t be an athlete or coach in the future, you’d be: I think a lawyer would be fun.
Signature move on the basketball court: Definitely a spin move.
If you could have an NIL deal with anyone, it would be: Nike, to get all that gear.
People might be surprised to know you … : I’m 6-foot-3, but my parents aren’t that tall.
You have a number of scholarship oers, do you have any kind of nal list: Not yet, I don’t.
Emma Paul
Armstrong • 5-5 • Senior • Guard
The scoop: Paul has signed to play softball next season at Fairmont State. But she was a star on the hardwood this season also. She averaged 22.2 points a game, had 10 3-pointers and 45 points in one game and had six 3s and 36 points in the WPIAL Class 5A championship game against South Fayette. She made 91 3’s this season and 231 for her career. She finished her career with 1,721 points.
Most memorable moment this season: I think the Oakland Catholic [WPIAL playoff] game because we weren’t expected to win. We upset them and we had a huge fan section there.
Other than a parent, person who has inuenced you the most: My grandpa [Ben Onofrey]. I feel like we act the same sometimes [laugh].
Favorite to follow on X or Instagram: I follow anyone on TikTok more.
You can’t be an athlete or coach in the future, you’d be: A pilot. I’m going to college for that.
What makes you want to be a pilot? I don’t think I could sit in an office or do something too boring. I like to go out and venture.
Do you y a lot now? No [laugh]. I did once.
Signature move on the basketball court: Euro step.
If you could have an NIL deal with anyone, it would be: Everyone is going to say Nike, but I’ll say Lululemon.
People might be surprised to know you … : I golf. I golfed on the Armstrong team and we made it to the WPIAL finals.
Alena Fusetti
Blackhawk • 5-8 • Senior •
Guard
The scoop: Blackhawk won a Class 4A state championship this season, and Fusetti was one of the main reasons. She is a versatile guard who averaged 15.7 points, 4.7 rebounds, 3.0 assists and 2.6 steals a game. She is an excellent shooter, making 72 3-pointers this season and shooting 40% behind the arc. She also shot 84% from the free throw line. Finished her career with 1,522 points.
College: Fusetti has signed to play at Mercyhurst, which is going from Division II to Division I next season.
Most memorable moment this season: Winning state championship in Hershey.
Other than a parent, person who has inuenced you the most: Probably my trainers, especially Steve Antuono at Reign 3D. He’s crazy [laugh].
Favorite to follow on X or Instagram: Caitlin Clark because she’s kind of cocky and I like it. She reminds me that shooters shoot.
You can’t be an athlete or coach in the future, you’d be: Something in business marketing.
Signature move on the basketball court: A 3-pointer.
If you could have an NIL deal with anyone, it would be: Under Armour.
People might be surprised to know you … : Like to golf. I’m not good at it, but I love it. I’m actually doing golf lessons this spring.
London Creach
Oakland Catholic • 5-8 • Junior • Guard
The scoop: Oakland Catholic was 24-0 with Creach. After a leg injury put Creach out in the playoffs, Oakland Catholic went 2-3. Creach was big to Oakland Catholic in a number of ways, averaging 13.4 points, 4.6 rebounds, 2.9 steals. She shot 54% from the field.
College: Creach has five Division I college scholarship offers. Robert Morris just offered recently.
Most memorable moment this season: We were at practice and our coach [Eddie Benton] was already mad at us and someone threw a pass that was going out of bounds. I jumped up, caught up and hit a wall and fell on the floor.
Other than a parent, person who has inuenced you the most: Our assistant coach. We call him coach Nitty. I don’t know his real name [Rushan Roberts].
Favorite to follow on X or Instagram: [Singer] SZA.
You can’t be an athlete or coach in the future, you’d be: A lawyer.
Signature move on the basketball court: The Euro step.
If you could have an NIL deal with anyone, it would be: Under Armour.
People might be surprised to know you … : I officiate basketball [in a junior officiating program].
Where did the name London come from? My older sister is named India and [I got] my name from the show “The Suite Life On Deck” because there’s a girl on there named London.