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Mike White's high school sports chat: 03.26.19
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Mike White
11:27
That's hard to say. I don't know their current enrollment figures. They were the fourth largest 4A school in WPIAL. Last enrollment figures from two years ago had them with 307 boys in grades 9-11. That's only 19 away from 5A. But New Castle isn't exactly a growing district. But it's just hard to say. New classifications will be based on next year's students in grades 9-11. I mean, for the 2019-20 school year.
Gball
11:27
What are the chances Will Bednar at Mars actually attends Miss St?
Mike White
11:28
Hard to say. I think we'll get a better feel for his draft prospects as the spring goes on. I think he would have to go fairly high to forego college. But it's a good question. I don't think even he would know the answer yet.
5A Fanatic
11:28
Will you cover the two April Roundball Classics at Geneva College and Montour High School?
Mike White
11:31
Haven't really thought about it. We usually do something with Roundball at Geneva. Now there is The Roundball at Montour. Crazy. It's funny. Years ago Allen Deep's Roundball was referring back to old Dapper Dan Roundballs. Now The Roundball is claiming to be the return on the Roundball. Please. Bottom line is it's nice to have these all-star games for local kids. It's great for them. But neither is "the Roundball."
North side Jim
11:31
Oscar vs. Fortson, who do you think was a better HS player?
Mike White
11:34
Great question. Oscar has more skills than you think, like a shot. Just didn't see it much. Not saying he doesn't need to get better with some skills. But he is something else. He's a freak. Oscar is definitely more athletic than Fortson. But man, could Fortson play.  That's a really tough call. Oscar's motor is tremendous. But Fortson's was pretty good, too. If you just go by high school, I'll take Fortson by an inch. Remember, Fortson was a lottery pick and had a pretty long NBA career. Oscar could be lottery pick also. Really, it's probably a tossup.
Jimmy Chitwood
11:34
Mike, any WPIAL pitchers bringing the heat this year close to 90 on the JUGS radar gun?
Mike White
11:35
Will Bednar of Mars. Been documented before. Easily one of the hardest throwing pitchers in WPIAL ever??? Yes. He was clocked at 95 a few times last year.
5A Fanatic
11:35
Did you get a chance to spend any time with the Moon kids after the game?  They seem like a tight knit group and good representatives of the Moon Community!
Mike White
11:36
Yes, they seem like excellent kids.
Panther MBA
11:36
How about a shout out to Ringgold for winning PIHL D2 hockey championship and the other winners as well.
Mike White
11:36
Woooooo hooooooo.
Tony
11:36
Why do all the Fayette Cty Schools struggle in athletics? Especially football?
Mike White
11:38
No idea.  If someone could figure that out, maybe they could fix it. But it's really pretty easy for questions like this. It ain't about Xs and Os, it's about Jimmys and Joes. Not enough talent.
Matt
11:38
Mike, no pressure - give me your HS boys Mt Rushmore of coaches
Mike White
11:39
Ed McCluskey, Ed Olkowski, Butler Hennon and Bill Swan.
Coacher
11:39
Hey Mike, did you see a drop in attendance overall at games thie year? It seems as though the attendance, not just in playoff games, was down. Feel like people aren't coming to games anymore.
Mike White
11:42
Nope totally disagree. A good high school basketball game, especially on a Friday night, still draws. At least from what I see. I saw  many, manyplayoff games packed. I saw some Tuesday night games in regular season packed. WPIAL championships had best attendance by far in three years of six classes. Hard to compare with other years of four classes. PIAA attendance was better than last year. WPIAL finals probably outdraw PIAA title games. Sure, attendance for playoffs certainly isn't like it was in 1960s, 70s and 80s, but I think it's still pretty darn good. In my mind, WPIAL basketball semifinals are the best events all year in high school sports. Better than football.
Gball
11:42
Remember back in the 70's and 80's when a 90mph fastball was unheard of and it brought scouts from everywhere? Now it seems like every large school has a pitcher in the upper 80's or low 90's
Mike White
11:43
Totally agree. I remember the same thing. It's that way even in major leagues now.
JP
11:43
Justin Walther to Central? What do you think?
Mike White
11:43
He'll have to beat out Buddy Valinsky.
Moon Hoops Fan
11:43
How major of an upset in your opinion was Moon beating Archbishop Wood?  All the talk in the Giant Center before the game was Moon didn't have a chance?  Made it sweeter (pun intended) that Moon won! :)
Mike White
11:48
Well, it certainly should be considered an upset just from fact that WPIAL was 1-7 in title games vs. Philly Catholic League. But actually, I picked Moon to win. So did colleague Brad Everett on our Varsity Xtra show last week. Moon is good. And 5A turns out to be one of the best classes for WPIAL to win a state. Mars played with Abington Heights last year. Moon had great mix and Adam Kaufman is one of best coaches in WPIAL. They had a big time player in Puff Johnson. But those three senior guards - Smith and the Ryans - are terrific high school players. I didn't say for college. I said high school. And then Teru Jones had a big game. Hey, Adam Kaufman had a Montour team lose by a few points in a state final to Neumann-Goretti one year. So really, it shouldn't have come as a big surprise. I just thought Moon had a good chance with those three, talented experienced guards. And maybe Wood wasn't quite ready with three sophomores.
North side Jim
11:48
How about Ethan Morton vs. Dante Calabria, who was the better HS player, knowing Ethan still has one more year
Mike White
11:49
Totally different players. Ethan is a point guard. Dante was more of a 2. Dante had a really good career at UNC. Not fair to compare them because they are different players. Ethan certainly not the shooter that Dante was. Dante not the point guard Ethan is. I'm not picking one over the other. Not fair because they're different.
Tom Thumb
11:50
With the recent PIAA championships ending, I saw the private/charter schools were well represented again. Does Mr. Lombardo still think that this is a fair playing field? I wonder what would happen if our beloved WPIAL leader would take a stand against this unfair playing field and pull out of the PIAA? I wonder how the ADs and Head Coaches of District 7  schools would feel about a pullout until this is resolved??
Mike White
11:51
C'mon Tom Thumb. WPIAL isn't going to pull out of the PIAA, nor should they. You can't pull out of PIAA for just certain sports. Many may not like the private and public thing, but WPIAL isn't going to pull out of PIAA. Even Tim O'Malley said so.
11:52
There is a chance that WPIAL will consider maybe going back to four classes in football but still sending six reps to state playoffs. They have been working on a possible plan for that.
North side Jim
11:52
Tough to think of who to compare Ethan Morton from past WPIAL players, he's an amazing player.  Who do you think he most closely resembles?
Mike White
11:54
Honestly, I don't remember 6-6 point guards from here. It's not like there have been a lot of them. He's one of the best passing point guards I've seen in WPIAL in past 25 years. His passing is the most overlooked thing. It's superb. Throws one-handed, left-handed passes from the left wing to the opposite corner for a 3. Very unusual. He also likes to pass, which also is unusual for high school kids today.
Tony
11:54
WPIAL school that would have the best all time starting lineup for hoops?
Mike White
11:56
That's asking a lot. There were teams back in the olden days that had three and even four Division I guys. Ambridge in 1967 is still considered one of the best teams ever from WPIAL. Three starters went to Duke, North Carolina and Purdue. I'd say that's pretty good. But heck, that Schenley team in 2007 had players start at Pitt, St. Johhn's and Iowa State. Blair and Kennedy both made the NBA. Kane was a college star his senior year at Iowa State.
CentralViking1984
11:57
Hearing Jordan Marks is a strong candidate for the Central job. Is this true?
Mike White
11:57
Yes, I believe he is a candidate. I still would be a little surprised if Buddy Valinsky doesn't get it.
Tom Thumb
11:58
Maybe Tim O' Malley needs to be replaced with someone who would? I believe there was a questionnaire sent out a year or so ago asking the districts their feelings on this issue. I would like to see the results published then ask the question why not pullout of the PIAA???
Mike White
11:58
Please. You know something like that isn't one person's decision.
11:59
Hey, that's about it. Was really a good basketball season. Many memories. Chats were good, too. Everyone, be good.
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