Maddie Webber plans on majoring in business in college, an appropriate decision considering she was all business in her final high school basketball season.
Webber, a 5-foot-11 senior guard and one of the top players in the state, capped a tremendous career by leading South Fayette to a second consecutive WPIAL Class 5A championship and first PIAA championship appearance. Webber’s contributions have earned her a big honor, as she has been selected the first Pittsburgh Union Progress girls basketball Player of the Year. All WPIAL and City League players were considered for the award picked by the PUP sports staff.
This ace player used to shoot for aces on the golf course. Webber was a member of the South Fayette golf team her freshman and sophomore years before deciding to drop the sport in order to focus on a blossoming basketball career. And quite a high school career it was. A three-year starter who will soon be a two-time all-state pick, Webber finished her career with 1,387 points. The Lions went 51-8 over her final two seasons.
Webber saved her best season for last, averaging 17.3 points, 4.2 rebounds, 3 assists and 3 steals per game this season. Webber was not only good, but she was clutch. Her 3-pointer at the buzzer allowed South Fayette to rally from a 12-point deficit to beat Cathedral Prep, 40-37, in the PIAA quarterfinals. A game later, Webber connected on another late 3-pointer to vault the Lions to a 58-54 triumph against Oakland Catholic in the semifinals. The Lions saw their season end with a 61-54 loss to Archbishop Wood, which claimed its third consecutive PIAA title.
A sought-after recruit, Webber, who is of Korean ancestry, had about two-dozen Division I offers. She ultimately picked Villanova, which went 30-7 and reached the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament this season.
Q: Most memorable moment from your career?
A: I’d probably say winning the WPIAL championship last year, only because that honestly made people look at us because no one had. It definitely helped me a lot to have people notice me and the team. It definitely gave me a lot more confidence.
Q: Playing for a state title, what was that experience like?
A: It was great and obviously a little scary because I’ve never been there before. Every time we get together it’s so much fun. Even though we lost, it was still a great experience.
Q: You and teammate Ava Leroux are close friends. What was it like experiencing your final high school season together?
A: From the beginning, we said that we couldn’t believe this would be the last time we’d be playing together. We were sad, but it didn’t let us mess up at all. We just didn’t take anything for granted.
Q: What do you think you’ll miss the most about high school basketball?
A: Definitely just being with my friends. Obviously having become such a close team, I haven’t met a team closer than us. We always had a great time together.
Q: You had a lot of scholarship offers. Why did you pick Villanova?
A: I picked Villanova because I was watching their games before I committed and I loved their style of play. Ever since I got that offer, I thought it was the place I wanted to be. I really like the coaches a lot. I love how they coach, and I never see them freaking out in tough situations. And it’s the whole community; it definitely felt like home.
Q: Should Western Pa. folks be worried that you’ll become a Philly sports fan?
A: [Laughs] No. I will always stay with Pittsburgh sports.
Q: You have a large tattoo on your right leg. What is it and what’s the story behind it?
A: It’s a Korean dragon. I got it to represent my Korean culture. I got it in red because I like red and the dragons are popular in Korea. It stands for courage and hope and just all positive stuff. I got it last year right before the season.
Q: One thing that most people would be surprised to know about you?
A: I love to do makeup, girly girl stuff. I always do my friends’ makeup for prom and homecoming.
Brad is a sports writer at the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, but he's currently on strike. Email him at beverett@unionprogress.com.