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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.23.21
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Pants!
11:32
BOYS FAB FIVE guesses:  Carney Spadafora Reynolds USC Guy? and Gallagher
Mike White
11:33
I don't like talking that much ahead of time about Fab 5. People lose their minds because you don't mention s
You don't mention "so and so."
Big Todd
11:33
You're correct The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has gave them "love". But you yourself have not.
Mike White
11:35
I have no idea how I'm supposed to give them "love." There are over 130 teams in WPIAL, boys and girls. Believe it or not, I can't cover all of them or write about all of them. OK how's this: "I love the Mohawk Warriors." You good now?
Ballin
11:35
Hi Mike. I did not like home courts for the PIAA games. I felt it was not needed and lazy on the PIAA's part. Neutral sites could have been found for these games. These are district winners, and no one should have a home court advantage. Your thoughts?
Mike White
11:37
I understand your point and don't disagree. But when PIAA decided this, the pandemic was in full swing. And you have to admit. You minimize chance of spread at least a little when you have one team playing at home. You take one school out of the equation. For this year and what was going on, I don't have a problem with it. Plus, I know a number of road teams that won.
Melvin
11:37
Seeing the disparity between public and private schools in the state semi-finals and championships makes me appreciate teams like New Castle and Moon winning state titles with kids from the same communities.  I know things won't change but still appreciative of NC & Moon's accomplishments.
Mike White
11:38
Most definitely. Number of public school teams have made it this year also. Like Hickory boys, and Mohawk and Neshannock girls. Hey, there's some "love" for Mohawk.
Guess 412
11:40
If canevin wearing masks didn’t help there situation than why did teams even wear masks I thought they wore them to prevent these things
Mike White
11:42
I'm sorry but I still don't understand your point. Who says Canevin player got COVID from his team? And people in all walks of life still got COVID even though they wore a mask, didn't they?
D1 Tracker
11:43
Per Ron's comments about Morton, do you see a similar challenge for Johnson at UNC?
Mike White
11:44
I think Puff Johnson got hurt this year. No, he didn't play much, either. But I think there is something we have to keep in mind. Morton and Johnson went to big, big time programs. Sometimes at programs like these, you have to wait a year or two to play. Will that be the case with these two? Not sure. But they aren't the first freshmen who didn't play much at a big-time school.
Pops
11:44
The derose situation was predictable.  The only one who didn't see it coming was Bozzuto.  Are you surprised it happened so soon or that it took that long?
Mike White
11:44
Ahhhh, I don't think I better answer that.
Recruit
11:45
Mike, you do a fabulous job...not sure why you put yourself through these chats.  Anyways my question is more about the extra year of eligibility that the NCAA has given out at all levels.  I know it has impacted the 2021 HS classes, but do you think that this will continue to trickle down?
Mike White
11:47
Hey Recruit, thanks. I actually like the chats. But yes, some of the people and questions sometimes are ... never mind. As for your question, I did a story in January that is affecting this year's seniors the most at the NCAA Division II level. I think that's still true. I think things will be back to normal more for the 2022 class. Although maybe not totally.
Joe
11:47
Mike you talked about it a little earlier but what do you think about the PIAA titles this year with there being far less teams in? Is it better or worse only having teams that won the district titles in?
Pops
11:47
I think Mohawk girls get too much attention.  They remind me of Hines Ward.  They both complain that no one gave them their due.
Mike White
11:48
OK, Pops. I've learned by now, pretty much no one gets enough attention. And so many teams get NO RESPECT.
RoscoeLuce
11:48
Why is there no video streaming of PIAA basketball playoffs when there's no live PCN coverage yet?
Mike White
11:49
I believe many - if not all - semifinal games are available live streamed through NFHS, although I'm not totally sure. You have to pay for that, though.
Guest
11:49
Saw that Purdue has a lot of freshman. I believe around 6 play in the rotation, don’t you think Morton could start at another Power 5 school?
Mike White
11:50
Yes, Purdue has a great freshman class. Honestly, it will be interesting to see if they all stay - not just Morton. You know Purdue won't want Morton to leave. Tremendous team guy. Doesn't complain. Good insurance policy if someone gets hurt. But big question is what do they think of his future.
Chuck Taylor
11:51
20 years ago teams built around post oriented centers in college and the NBA.  Now the old-fashioned, back to the basket, big man seems to be extinct.  It seems to have trickled down to high school too.  Will we ever see a resurgence of the post up player again or is that a thing of the past?
Mike White
11:54
I agree with you. But that's just the way basketball is now. So much dribble drive. So many 3-pointers. But that's OK. As for this area, for whatever reason, we hardly have any big guys anyway. Must be something in the water. We also don't produce many of those 6-5 or 6-6 wing players who are so athletic. But there are some big guys doing things on college and pro level. Look at Embiid. Look at Garza at Iowa. But the 3-pointer has become way over the top in NBA. It's analytics, man. I watched tape of Pacers-Bucks last night. Indiana shot 50 3-pointers. 50!!! Made I think 12 - and lost.
Chuck Taylor
11:54
Is baseball still a popular sport in high school?  I know you have discussed how football participation has dwindled but I am seeing less and less young boys playing at local fields.  Is aau basketball taking kids away from baseball?
Mike White
11:57
This is just anecdotal evidence. Nothing scientific. But I do think fewer kids are playing baseball - at younger ages. Remember Little League in house leagues? Nowhere near as many teams any more. So many kids, even at ages 10-11, don't play community teams. Go play travel ball. I think smaller high schools don't get as many baseball players, either. Has AAU basketball hurt? I'm not sure that's a big factor. I think popularity of spring soccer past three decades for young kids has maybe hurt baseball the most.
Guest
11:59
Who do you think is the next wpial power 5 recruit?
Mike White
12:00
Probably Rodney Gallagher from Laurel Highlands because he already has a few Power 5 offers. Then again, he also has Power 5 offers for football. We'll see. I don't see any Power 5 basketball players in junior class. There are a couple freshmen to keep an eye on, though. It's possible.
12:01
A lot will depend on how much the freshmen grow.
12:03
Well hey, an hour goes fast. Good stuff as always. We'll have coverage of all WPIAL teams in state championship games this weekend in Hershey with myself and Brad Everett. I gotta go now. Time for lunch. I might call Uber also and send some "love" up to the Mohawk girls.
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